Gibecière 16, Summer 2013, Volume 8, No. 2

288 pages and nearly 2 lbs this issue opens with a long-anticipated piece by Barry Wiley on the Piddingtons. Syd Piddington was a magician who was captured and imprisoned as a POW in Changi prison, Singapore during World War II. During his captivity, with the help of Russell Braddon, Fergus Anckorn and others, he created one of the greatest mind reading acts ever staged. After the Japanese lost the war, Piddington toured the world and became a sensation. Mr. Wiley gives us the details he discovered from his firsthand interviews and excellent research.

One of the world's great historians and a favorite contributor, Enrique Jiménez, has truly outdone himself this time. His expanded and greatly detailed checklist of Minguet's classic Engaños a ojos vistas is in this issue. In addition to more details on Minguet's life and work, a full facsimile and translation of an outrageously rare Spanish booklet by Francisco Papuè is also included. A reference to this early 18th century pamphlet was discovered a few years ago, but no copy could be located. Mr. Jiménez diligently scoured the world and found what might be the only copy; it was being held in a famous Spanish monastery. Upon request the monks made the book available, and now through Lori Pieper's translation this wonderful little book is available to you.