Arcane
14 issues, complete collection
by Jeff Busby, with illustrations by Don Albrecht
1980–1985, 1995, published by Jeff Busby

The first ten issues of this magazine were available exclusively to Jeff Busby customers who made a purchase. The last four issues were available via a magazine subscription. A total of 214 pages, in 8 1/2 x 11-inch format. Issue #11 contains a letter to subscribers, and issue #14 contains an 8 1/2 x 11-inch card prop.

Please note: Although this item is new and unused, it has been in storage for decades. As a result, signs of age may be present, such as rusty staples or slightly warped pages.

From a 1984 promotional brochure by Jeff Busby Magic, Inc., announcing a subscription to the last four issues of Arcane:

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 worldwide by connoisseurs of refined close-up and stand-up magic. However, as I promised when I discontinued the publication, ARCANE is now available again as a subscription magazine.

There will be no changes to the high quality of the material offered, the editorial policy, or the graphic production of ARCANE. It remains, as before, a quarterly publication focused on offering top-tier professional routines: practical magic of the highest caliber, from the best people in our field. The new series of ARCANE begins with issue eleven. The first ten issues have since become rarities, sought after by both working performers interested in strong magic and by collectors. Copies, when they can be found at all, have changed hands for high prices. The first ten issues, which are no longer available, feature magic with cards, coins, cigars, cigarettes, dollar bills, ropes, rings, balls, poker chips, and so on, by well-known names such 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 within subtle magic has been considered, with the best material I could find.

As mentioned, the first ten issues of ARCANE are no longer available. They are a thing of the past. 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 magic by Fred Kaps, Allan Slaight, and Reinhard Mueller. The late Fred Kaps, recognized worldwide as the leading close-up and stand-up magician of our generation, developed a brilliant close-up routine for table work using the Okito Box. I have been granted permission to publish this four-phase routine in its entirety. As with all of Mr. Kaps’ work, this routine is subtle, beautifully constructed, designed for maximum impact with simple execution, and highly commercial: an exquisite version of a classic effect that has been kept secret for years. In addition, this issue features excellent card magic: Allan Slaight contributes one of his favorite card routines, a close-up routine that combines mentalism and gambling in multiple phases, with a stunning climax. Reinhard Mueller from West Germany, known worldwide for his innovative ideas with cards, presents three versions of an original card effect based on Out of This World—but in these versions, the spectator divides the deck into the four suits! And, as has been customary in the past, the issue concludes with the News and Notes section, featuring news, commentary, and other interesting material not found in other publications.

ARCANE Number Eleven is currently in production and will be released in June of this year. The next issues are already in preparation, featuring material by Martin Gardner, Dai Vernon, Bill Miesel, Hans Trixer, Father Cyprian, Roger Klause, and, among other things, Emil Jarrow’s legendary close-up method for his “Bill in Lemon,” explained in detail by one of his students—and much more, all in the upcoming issues of ARCANE.