I have to confess a lot of things, related to magic and otherwise. But when it comes to card magic, I am prepared to admit that to me…
1) illustrations are much clearer and thus much more helpful in understanding and learning a move than photographs and
2) it’s fun to compare the personal style and techniques of magic’s great illustrators.
By the way, a fine book which celebrates the art and artists in and around magic is Chuck Romano‘s The Art of Deception from 1997. This tome inspired me to go-a-hunting for a dozen exemplified card illustrations and challenge you to find out from which well-known books and authors on card magic they originated.
So here is the first one from the not too distant past. Take a guess or rush to the better part of your magic book shelf.

(To be continued)