Sleightly Original

by Tom Gagnon

Sleightly Original was published in 1981, and offers unique material using coins, folding coins, thumbtips and card/coin moves. 

"I was truly amazed to see the beautiful coin magic by Tom Gagnon, who is the illustrator of the Vernon Chronicles. I have never seen better."

-Dai Vernon

"You have effectively expanded the use of a limited number of sleights so that anyone wishing to learn an assembly routine would be able to do so by selecting one from your many variations."

-Ross Bertram         

"The coin magic is excellent, and you do them exceedingly well. I've been telling the local magicians how great the routines really look. You've got me practicing the necessary moves."

-Ed Marlo

"Please do not blush when I tell you that I think your coin magic (as well as you other close-up magic) ranks with the best I have ever seen. Unlike many so-called 'legendary' coin-men who have been 'hyped' by a number of magic's elder statesmen, your magic truly breaks new ground."

-Harvey Rosenthal

Before Tom Gagnon became widely known for his expert card work and his beautiful illustrations in major magic publications, he released Sleightly Original, his first book — a creative collection of close-up magic with a strong emphasis on coins.

Originally published in 1981, Sleightly Original contains original material using coins, folding coins, thumb tips, card-and-coin combinations, matrix-style work, productions, vanishes, and clever sleight-of-hand ideas. This is not a beginner’s “101 tricks with coins” book. It is a working collection of offbeat, practical, and inventive close-up magic from a highly creative mind.

The contents include routines and techniques such as coin productions, thumb tip coin vanishes, Miser’s Dream-style ideas, coin-through-handkerchief work, matrix moves, copper/silver-style routines, and Gagnon’s pickup and displacement work. Many of the ideas are bold, visual, and designed for magicians who enjoy exploring fresh handling and unusual methods.

Dai Vernon praised Gagnon’s coin magic, saying, “I have never seen better.” That is a pretty strong nod from The Professor.

This is a worthwhile book for coin workers, close-up magicians, collectors of 1980s magic literature, and anyone interested in Tom Gagnon’s early creative work.

Condition: New/old stock
Format: Softcover / comb or spiral style binding, illustrated.
Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced. Best suited for magicians with some sleight-of-hand experience.

Contents Include: 

iv Introduction by Obie O'Brien
v Forward

Chapter One Thumb Tipping Quickies
3 Coin to Pocket Ruse
6 Flip Up Production
10 Bomb Bay
13 Double Duty Departure
16 Twofold Vanish
18 Coin-Cidence
22 Flash Coin Production

 Chapter Two Skullduggery
26 Miser's Daydream
31 Alchemorphosis
36 Contemporary Purse Swindle
43 Twilight's Last Gleaming
47 Newfangled Matrix
51 Puffed
54 The Phantom Coin
62 Gypsy Coin

 Chapter Three Hodgepodge
69 The Tiddywinks Change
71 Shanghai Express
81 Silver and Two Copper Interlude
84 Split Level
87 Transposition Under Glass
88 Popeyed
89 Soda Jerk
92 Flick Your "Trick" Load

Chapter Four Departures
95 New Theory Pickup Move
100 Snap Over Display
103 Pickup and Displacement Move
109 Open Procedure Load
111 Flee Flicker

Note: To our knowledge, the copies we have in stock are First Editions and never out of the shrink wrap.

Details: Slightly Original by Tom Gagnon

112 pages, soft covers, spiral bound, size: 8 1/2" by 11".