52 Memories - Retrospective Edition
52 Memories - Retrospective Edition





52 Memories honors the legacy of one of the most promising card magic creators of our time. It is one of those rare magic books that pass on the most fruitful creations from a lifetime of tinkering, experimenting and performing. It is an important book that shares the late Jack Parker's lifelong mission to create the most amazing miracles ever decoded from a single deck of fifty-two.
52 Memories is one of the most important magic books to be published in the last ten years.Tomas Blomberg
Jack Parker had a knack for producing card tricks that were beyond extraordinary. He had an uncanny ability of twisting plots in new directions while using as few sleights as possible. His magic was typically easy, often visual and always astounding. He received praise from many of card magic's elite and several even heralded the first edition as one of the most important published this decade.
As Peter Duffie predicted in his glowing review in MAGIC Magazine, 52 Memories went out of print quickly. This retrospective edition offers expanded text, more gorgeous two-color illustrations by Tony Dunn and a brand new layout. One reviewer said of the book,"It's so nicely done that it's almost hard to believe someone would care this much about card tricks." This second edition is done with even more care and attention to detail.
With fifty-two items, just under 300 large pages, you are invited into a one-time tour of Jack Parker's life in magic. The attractive two-colour printed pages in 52 Memories sit between thick hard backed covers, and contain all the elegance to sit alongside your most prized books on magic.
Customer reviews for 52 Memories - Retrospective Edition
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So eager to get into learning from and enjoying it in detail - having just arrived and sitting in my hotel room, Jacks 'The Three Stooges' (his version of McDonald Aces) has just brought a huge smile to my face.
What a happy legacy it would appear to be indeed.
I bought the book the day that it came out, and I didn't have the time to open the box until yesterday. WOW, what a great book! it is beautifully produced, I loved the section of "Set ups", that is an index of the tricks that need set up AND the set up, so you don't need to go back to reread the effect if you only forgot the set up.
I just read the first two chapters and they are GREAT! Also I read the Final Palm and Liar booklets that came with the book (because I was one of the first persons that bought the book), and they are also GREAT!
I can not recommend this enough. This is not a 5/5, or a 10/10, this is a 100/100
Vanishing Inc is truely a superb QUALITY magic shop with good old fashioned caring..regards,Fred
The book itself is one of the easiest reads I have come across in the world of magic books. Much like a John Bannon book, I like to read it, just to read it. I then go back to the effects with cards in hand to work thru those that jumped out at me and there are sooooo many in this book. In addition to the great effects throughout the book, there are some awesome sleights to be learned.
Grab it up while you can, you won't regret it and you will become a better card magician for doing it. In addition, you will get to know a little bit about who Jack Parker was and how much he added to the art. Andi wrote this book in a way, you almost feel like you met Jack somewhere along the way.
You can learn 44 tricks and 8 moves in total, which are divided into 8 chapters. There is also an essay by Jack Paker including and a feature of the book that will surprise you: A 'Trick Setup Reference list’ - the setup for each trick in the book. This is really useful to refer back to!
The book has hard cover and is printed on gloss paper. The interesting thing is the illustrations, which are printed in 2 classic card-face color red and black. And I love the pack they have used! Tally Ho is my favourite pack.
You will find every trick in the book useful and no trick makes you disappointed. Each trick comes to learner in 4 sections: Memory, Sleights Used, Method, Comments, and Credits.
I recommend this book for those who want to practise card magic.
The magic in the book goes without saying, there are masterpieces inside. Their difficulty ranges from easy to challenging, but all doable with practice and all with a great reward for your arsenal. The very 1st trick is a card trick that I guarantee you'll be doing from then on.
Roger black
Been spending so much time with it, that I still haven’t created a shelf space for it next to 52 Explorations.
Definitely an important book.
As I’ve said before, books are magical in themselves.
Go for it!
This book, along with its companion sequel, are bookshelf essentials for card magicians.
Parker's repertoire, meticulously detailed across 298 large-sized pages, showcases his unique talent for crafting astonishing miracles with minimal sleights. His tricks, often visually stunning and deceptively simple, stand as a testament to his creative genius and profound understanding of card magic.
Despite the perceived complexity of some effects, the book's expanded text, enhanced illustrations, and refined layout provide invaluable guidance for aspiring magicians. Each trick is presented with clarity and precision, inviting readers on an immersive journey through Parker's magical legacy.
The second edition's meticulous production, featuring hardback covers and elegant two-color printing, underscores the reverence with which Parker's work is held within the magic community. While the tricks may demand practice and persistence, the sheer beauty and depth of "52 Memories" make it a worthy addition to any magician's library—a testament to Parker's enduring influence and unparalleled artistry.
What I love in this book is that sleights used in the trick are listed before the method! Some tricks list even 10 sleights...
Also there is a credit section after every method which gives you valuable information and further references.
At the end of the book you find handy trick setup reference.
The book is very well written and clear drawings are used only when needed for clarification.
BTW - I believe all of us have seen and learned the 21 card trick, where you deal cards in three rows several times to reveal the thought of card (maybe the first trick learned). Jack has three clever versions that will totally fool you audience as they are expecting to see that old boring trick. These are tricks for those clever guys among the audience that are trying to spoil you show by telling everyone that they've seen the trick already... well they have not!
Andy is a genius when it comes to writing books and this one is no exception
I don't know how Andy gets time to do other things as he's always writing a book or doing a gig etc.... but he's one of the best writers in magic as far as I'm concerned
Community questions about 52 Memories - Retrospective Edition
Have a question about this product? It's possible others do too. Ask here and other Vanishing Inc. Magic customers will be able to respond with assistance! Alternatively, email us and we can help too.
Seth asks: I am a beginner, schooled in the Royal Road, which I understand and execute just fine So I bought this book, hoping to expand my repertoire I can't get past page 2 of Kung Fu...I've sat and followed along, only to encounter unclear instructions and references to other sleights, assuming the reader knows them I googled the trick and all of the vids only show the trick, no explanations Is there a tutorial somewhere? I don't know what to do here, I cannot comprehend these tricks And I’m a pretty smart fellow At least I thought I was My email is leseth@aol.com, if anyone cares to help Thanks!
Yves asks: What happened with Armadillo Aces? I thought it would appear in 52 Explorations but it did’nt.
- 1. Vanishing Inc. Magic responds:It’s clear throughout his work that Jack loved creating Ace Assemblies. He created a series of routines as part of a personal project that he called The Infinity Aces Project, which was essentially a collection of modular setups, vanishes and reappearances that could be interchanged. His plan, I believe, was to put them on video in a Choose Your Own Adventure style, but alas that wasn’t to be. The fruits of his study was his published as “Old Fashioned Aces” in 52 Memories (page 221, revised edition), which contained the best of his unpublished tricks from the series, which he called “Ace Express,” “Amarillo Aces,” and “Diggler’s Aces”.
John asks: I am working through 52 Memories, and I have the first edition. I am wondering if there is much changed in the Retrospective Edition? Thank you! ~ John
- 1. Vanishing Inc. Magic responds:Mainly editing differences but the same effects
Yoel asks: Are these tricks a begginer could do
- 1. Vanishing Inc. Magic responds:Andi says yes, there are lots a beginner could do.
Dave asks: Does this version have the Daniel Rhod Variation of the D'Amico Spread like the original did?
- 1. Vanishing Inc. Magic responds:Yup!
5 questions


