When magicians did actual parlor performances in the Victorian era, what tricks did they do? What could a spectator expect to see? And, if you know, who did what?

My favorite topic.
I suggest Victorian Magic by Geoffrey Lamb 1976
ISBN 0710084536
9780710084538

http://www.amazon.com/Victorian-Magic-Ge......10084536

Proffessor Hoffman series of books.

http://www.amazon.com/Modern-Magic-Profe......83958906

Stanyon's Magic - Free:

http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/36659

Magic catologs from that era.

I own a reproduction catalog for Peck and Snyder Sporting Goods, which sold everything from baseball uniforms and ice skates to magic tricks and Punch & Judy sets.

That magic section of the catalog, except for the style of engraved illustration, looks amazingly similar to, say, a Tannen's catalog from 100 years later. Many of today's ppopular tricks were in use--bird cages, card swords, passe-passe bottles, the ball and vase, coffee vase, linking rings, cups and balls, egg bag,inexhaustible bottle, drawer box, fire bowl, sands of India, trick funnel, appearing and blooming flowers, multiplying balls, aerial treasury (miser's dream). And in many cases the designs of the props have not changed at all either. . .

Exactly, magic has changed for little in 500 years.

Start with you appearnce:

http://www.gentlemansemporium.com/mens_v......hing.php

You may have what you need already. It's just a matter of down dating your props (instead of updating).
Example: I took the disco tape off my crystal casket and replaced it with wood and brass. I strip the circus paint off all my props and stain the wood. I have a lot of metal props and would never show a plastic anything, unless I resurfaced it first (copper/stone/wood).

I've had great service and good prices on 19th century clothing here: http://wwmerc.com/cgi-bin/Category.cgi?c......pe=store Some of the same stuff that's on the Gentlemen's Emprium site, but less expensive.

Thank you, kind sirs. Bit tardy on the reply. All excellent advice and info. I did read G. Lamb's book. I have an outfit that looks much like the Gentleman's Emporium Maxwell Smoking jacket ensemble, but in the evening fashion. I'm going a bit more Victorian / Edwardian in time frame, early 1900's, home parlor mode. Striped pants, stiff stand-up collar, puff tie with pin, waistcoats in various options; that's the look. The magic includes ball and vase, nice ones, using two, my own routine with a ball color switch and back; card stab with a sword cane from the time; a half-dyed-like routine, themed;etc. I even have my great grandfather's doctor's bag to carry items in. Again, thanks. Any further thoughts are always welcome.

Wood ball and vase are still available.

http://themagicwarehouse.com/MB1036/Ball-and-Vase-Wood.html

Don't forget the spats for your shoes.

Jerry - Since I'm partially Edwardian, do you think the spats essential? I believe wingtips were just coming into style around 1910. Your thought?
Do you have that ball and vase set? Is the vase solid and of some weight?Do you know if the balls are of a size where I can get duplicates, so that I can have a different color, or paint to?

BTW: I did ask and am awaiting reply from M Warehouse.

I am not a thread counter, and I'll bet most audiences are not either. Go ahead wear wingtips. Styles change over long periods of time, so I believe you don't have to precise.
A good waist coat, frock coat and spats really sell it fast, in my opinion. I really like spats, that's just me and why I brought it up.
The most important thing is you and your audence have fun.

I do not have the ball vase from Warhouse. I plan I getting it or one similar to it (wood).

I have aged my props. Take the reflective tape off, removed the circus paint (that's what I call it) and stain it so it meets the time period.

It's not me, but go here: http://www.victorianmagic.com/

I would love to see David Ben show:

http://davidben.com/gallery/the-conjuror/

I'd love to see Ben and Victor Ian, both. Alas, my extensive traveling days are behind me. Thanks for the links. I've always wanted to do this show in genuine venue, and after extensive outreaches found a place that is excited about it as I am. The show premiers August 6th and will have a three month run. Needless to say, all of your input has been helpful. Thanks for your ongoing input. And thanks to all of you above, as well.

I'm a big fan of smoking jackets. Unstructured enough to hide a host of sins and tricks with large sleeve openings as well. I've own the below smoking jacket but its a bit too "costume-y" for my tastes if that makes any sense:

http://www.gentlemansemporium.com/store/005031.php

I also own this jacket from a seller on Ebay and its far and away the best smoking jacket I own. I just wish the pictures on the site did it justice. Besides inner breast pockets it also has a inner pocket for a cigar and also a hidden tie to keep the jacket closed beyond just the other sash. I simply cannot recommend this enough. I too go the whole vest, wing tip shirt, ascot, and striped tuxedo pants look.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/171114444647

I read Victorian Magic. It is good but almost all of it is about large stage magic, which doesn't interest me.

I'm reading Magic Words http://www.amazon.com/Magic-Words-Boy-Interpreter-Frontiers-Estimable-ebook/dp/B007SHGJD0/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1434249297&sr=1-3&keywords=magic+words&pebp=1434249290693&perid=9BD28250A9B74D659DD2. Not really my trip.

Here is another resource:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Magic-Catalogu......76902735
I have this book in hardback. It is a bit more of history book over broad era of magic, but includes a lot of Victorian items.

Exclusive Magical Secrets, has both stage; parlor and pocket (close-up) magic.
I have the Dover version, but that is no longer in print.
Go here for a reprint:

http://www.goldenageofmagic.com/index.html