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Arcane
14 Issues, Complete File
by Jeff Busby, with illustrations by Don Albrecht
1980-1985, 1995, published by Jeff Busby

The first ten issues of this magazine were only available to customers of Jeff Busby who made a purchase, with the last four issues being available via magazine subscription. 214 pages, 8 1/2 x 11 inch format. Issue #11 includes a letter to subscribers, and issue #14 includes a 8 1/2 x 11 inch card prop.

Please note: While this item is new and unused, it has been sitting in storage for decades, so issues such as rusted staples or bowed pages may be present.

From Jeff Busby Magic, Inc 1984 advertising flier, announcing the subscription for Arcane’s last four issues:

As many of my readers and customers know, we discontinued the publication of ARCANE magazine a year ago. The loss of this publication was felt by connoisseurs of fine close-up and stand-up magic the world over. However, as promised at the time that I ceased publication, ARCANE is available once again, as a subscription magazine.

There will be no changes in the high quality of the material offered, the editorial policy, or the graphic production of ARCANE. It will remain, as before, a quarterly publication devoted to giving the reader top professional routines – practical magic of the highest caliber by the best men in our field. The new series of ARCANE will begin with Issue Number Eleven. The past ten issues have become rarities sought after by both workers interested in fine magic and collectors. Copies, when they can be found, have changed hands at high prices. The first ten copies (no longer available) contained magic with cards, coins, cigars, cigarettes, dollar bills, ropes, rings, balls, Poker chips, etc. by such noted men as Larry Jennings (two routines), Hans Trixer, Ken Beale (three effects), Paul Swinford (four routines), Mike Close (two routines), Ray Grismer, Michael Skinner, Frank Shields, Bill Zavis, Charlie Miller, Cal Emmett, Harry Riser (four routines), Neal Elias, Jim Swain, Darwin Ortiz, Paul Gertner, Jon Charles, Martin Lewis, Francis Pelkey, Jeff Busby (two routines), Paul Fox, Dai Vernon, Ed Marlo, and Stewart James (twelve effects and routines). Every taste in subtle magic was catered to, and with the best material that I could find.

As noted, the first ten issues of ARCANE are not available. They’re past history. But, the tradition of innovative excellence continues. The new series will publish magic of the same high quality as the old series.

The first issue of this new series, Number Eleven, features the magic of Fred Kaps, Allan Slaight, and Reinhard Mueller. The late Fred Kaps – acknowledged the world over as the premier close-up and stand-up magician of our generation – developed a brilliant close-up routine for table work with the Okito Box. I have obtained permission to publish this four phase routine in its entirety. As with all of Mr. Kaps’ magic, it is subtle, beautifully structured, designed for maximum impact with ease of working, and is extremely commercial – a superb version of a classic effect that has been kept under wraps for years. On top of this, the issue contains some excellent card magic: Allan Slaight contributes one of his pet routines with cards – a close-up routine combining mentalism and gambling in several phases with a stunning climax. Reinhard Mueller of West Germany, well known around the world for his innovative ideas with cards, gives us three handlings of a novel card effect based on Out of This World – but in these versions the spectator separates the deck into the four suits! And, as has been traditional in the past, the issue wraps up with the News and Notes column covering news, comments, and other material of interest that can’t be found in other publications.

ARCANE Number Eleven is currently in the production stages and will be published in June of this year. The next few issues are already in preparation, with material from Martin Gardner, Dai Vernon, Bill Miesel, Hans Trixer, Father Cyprian, Roger Klause, and including the legendary Emil Jarrow’s close-up method for his Bill in Lemon given in detail by one of his students, and more – all in the next few issues of ARCANE.