Shop

For anyone serious about card magic, Ed Marlo’s name represents the pinnacle of innovation and creativity. This legendary figure created more than 7,000 effects and techniques throughout his career, fundamentally reshaping how we approach card magic. His influence runs so deep that if you’ve performed a card trick, you’ve almost certainly encountered something touched by Marlo’s genius.

Marlo’s Magazines represents our most ambitious publishing venture yet. It’s a beautiful, towering, six-volume collection spanning over 2,250 pages. These aren’t magazines in the traditional sense, despite their name. They’re substantial hardcover books representing the very best of probably the most prolific creator in card magic history.

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Marlo grew increasingly frustrated with traditional magic publishers. He watched as editors held his material for years, creating opportunities for others to independently develop or hear about similar ideas and beat him to publication. In an era where getting credit for new card magic techniques was crucial, Marlo decided to take control.

The solution was bold, to say the least: self-publish six massive “magazines” containing his finest work. Each book was hand-numbered by Marlo himself, with only 300 copies of each volume ever printed. This scarcity, combined with the exceptional quality of the material, transformed these books into the Holy Grail of card magic literature.

The scope of material within Marlo’s Magazines is staggering. These volumes contain comprehensive examinations of techniques that have become fundamental to modern card magic. You’ll find in-depth explorations of Card-To-Pocket handlings, the Punch Deal, Marlo’s Convincing Control, and countless effects including Ace Assemblies and Oil and Water variations.

Each magazine presents at least 200 techniques, and effects. This is where legendary sleights like the Snap Change, Olram’s Jinx Switch, and the Unit Upjog Control first saw print. The breadth is so vast that every time you open these volumes, you discover something new: a technique you missed, a subtle handling detail, or an approach that suddenly clicks into place.

Original first editions now command $350 or more on the collectors’ market. The scarcity isn’t artificial. These books have been genuinely hoarded by those lucky enough to own them.

This situation created a paradox in the magic community. The very books that should be studied and learned from became too valuable to handle regularly, locked away in collections rather than being used as the educational resources Marlo intended.

Vanishing Inc. has addressed this problem with their comprehensive reprint project. Working with Lee Freed, who was entrusted with the rights to the magazines, they’ve produced what they rightfully call the definitive edition.

Every book has been thoroughly edited, with corrections made using notes from Marlo’s personal copies of the originals. The thousands of illustrations have been digitally remastered, and every page redesigned to showcase Marlo’s brilliance while making the material easier to study than ever before.

Technical Specifications and Content

• The physical specifications reflect the serious nature of the content.
• Each book measures 8.5″ 11″, providing ample space for detailed illustrations and clear explanations.
• The page counts tell the story of Marlo’s prolific output:
  – Volume 1: 309 pages
  – Volume 2: 317 pages
  – Volume 3: 341 pages
  – Volume 4: 381 pages
  – Volume 5: 487 pages
  – Volume 6: 363 pages