House of Mystery – Vol. 1 by Teller, Todd Karr,David P. Abbott

This two-volume set includes Abbott’s Book of Mysteries, a collection of super-mysteries which, so far as I know, has never been surpassed. Abbott was a genius who built his work on the devious principles he learned from spirit mediums, who could not afford to get caught. With these miracles, Abbott fooled Houdini, Kellar, Okito, Ching Ling Foo, and all the greatest minds in magic, and recorded his secrets in step-by-step detail in two of the most delightful and detailed books ever written on the art of magic. This edition’s annotations and the newly-rediscovered articles and letters, including seven original hand-illustrated Kellar letters, make this set as essential for the history buff as it is for the professional performer. – Teller FORTY essays on technique, magic psychology, and presentation by TELLER, plus his own top-secret billet-switch method.

Over 100 diabolically clever close-up, stage, and mental effects

More than 700 illustrations

The complete writings of David P. Abbott, including the legendary Book of Mysteries, Behind the Scenes with the Mediums, and previously unpublished material.

Bonus chapter on the life and mysteries of illusion genius Joseffy with a biography by Jim Steinmeyer.

Contents:

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
INTRODUCTION Todd Karr
PREFACE Walter Graham
BEHIND THE SCENES Teller

BEHIND THE SCENES WITH THE MEDIUMS

CHAPTER 1
HALF-HOURS WITH THE MEDIUMS
1. Introduction
2. Bishop’s Sealed Letter Reading in a New Dress
3. Trick Envelope Test
4. Stolen Letter Test
5. The Mystic Oracle of the Swinging Pendulums
A Rapping Hand and a Light and Heavy Chest
6. Store Room Tests
7. Billet with Trick Envelope
A Spirit Message Written on a Slate in the Sitter’s Presence
8. Flower Materialization
9. The Dark Séance
A Deceptive Grip
Mental Tests
Spirit Voices, Taps, and Lights
10. Materialization
Preparation of Luminous Costumes, Method of Presentation, etc.
11. Hotel-Room Tests
Slate Writing on Slates Selected, Cleaned, and Held by Sitter
Test Wherein the Sitter’s Own Slates are Used
Billet Work in Connection Therewith
The Prepared Table
12. Reading Sealed Billets in Absolute Darkness

CHAPTER 2
MEDIUMISTIC READING OF SEALED WRITINGS

1. Introduction
2. Preparation of the Writings
3. Reading the Writings
Production of a Spirit Message
4. The Secrets Explained
Slate Trick Requiring a Special Chair

CHAPTER 3
SPIRIT SLATE WRITING AND BILLET TESTS

1. Introduction
2. Stack of Slates: First Method
Method Using a Rug or Newspaper
3. Stack of Slates: Second Method
How to Pass the Slates from One Hand to the Other
4. Two Slates
Some Expert Maneuvering and the Importance of the “Pass”
5. Stack of Slates: Third Method
Message Written with a Gold Ring
6. Reading Questions
Duplicate Envelope Method
Token Production
7. Slate Under Table
8. Three Slates
Conjuring Version
Preparing the Slates
9. Double-Hinged Slate
10. Independent Paper Writing
Torn Corner Version
11. Single Slate and Flap
Forcing the Page
Binding Method
Sum of Figures
Two Slate Method
Colored Three-Slate Version
12. Impressions and Billets
Assisted Method
A Test Using a Prepared Book
Clipboard Method
Card Switch
One-Handed Billet Switch
Billet Reading Behind Spectator
Dummy Billet Method
Sponge in Hat Method
13. Challenging Conditions
Trapdoor Methods
Magnet Method
Baseboard Switch
Window Switch
Trespassing Ruses
Fastened Slates
14. Various Methods
Rubber Stamp Method
Coat Switch
Chemical Methods
Writing Secretly
Speaking Tubes

CHAPTER 4
SOME MODERN SORCERY
1. Presentation of the Tests
2. Explanation of the Secrets
3. Double-Parlor Work
4. Card Servante and Blackboard

CHAPTER 5
SOME UNUSUAL MEDIUMISTIC PHENOMENA
1. Schlessinger’s Living and Dead Test
2. Death Location Billet Test

CHAPTER 6
MATERIALIZATION

CHAPTER 7
THE RELATIONSHIP OF MEDIUMSHIP TO PALMISTRY, ASTROLOGY, AND FORTUNE-TELLING
Reading a Burnt Question

CHAPTER 8
PERFORMANCES OF THE ANNIE EVA FAY TYPE

CHAPTER 9
VEST TURNING

CHAPTER 10
AN IMPROVED BILLET TEST

ADDENDA
Another Billet Test
The Swinging Pendulums Again
A Billet Test Improved
The Dr. Schlessinger Act Improved
Wireless Eleectrivity for Mediumistic Tricks
Postscript
Table Lifting
Mediumistic Materialization David P. Abbott

APPENDIX
Open Court Correspondence
Mediumistic Séances
A Puzzling Case
Spirit Portraiture

ADDITIONAL WRITINGS

THE MARVELOUS CREATIONS OF JOSEFFY
INTRODUCTION
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3

JOSEFFY: AN APPRECIATION Carl Sandburg
INSIGHTS INTO JOSEFFY Jim Steinmeyer

THE HISTORY OF A STRANGE CASE
INTRODUCTION
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3

THE WONDER GIRL
INTRODUCTION
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3

MUSINGS
Time, Space, and Existence
A Continuum of Homogeneity

Table of Content “taken” with the kind permission of Todd Karr from http://www.miraclefactory.org