May Magic Auction

Johnny Thompson’s Close-Up Case. Large and heavy metal briefcase with combination locks owned and used by Johnny Thompson to carry the props for his close-up performances. Filled with effects and props for many of Thompson’s signature routines, including his Chop Cup, Cap and Pence (with English coins), Color Changing Knives, a miniature magic wand, handkerchiefs and balls for his version of the Mora Balls and Net trick, a Fast and Loose chain in pouch, Card to Wallet, Bottle Through Table gimmick, over twenty decks of cards (including several prepared decks), wallets filled with prepared cards and packet tricks (a quantity), a Scotty York Passport Wallet and other gimmicked wallets, the Fortune Teller’s Book of Days, bottle caps, dice, imitation cigarettes, a corner-rounding device, and gimmicked envelopes, among other articles. All told, a snapshot of the repertoire of one of the twentieth century’s great practitioners of sleight of hand. Many of the items in this case were used by Thompson for decades, and are the same article pictured in his 2018 book, The Magic of Johnny Thompson, which explains the working, routine, and philosophy behind the performance of each effect.