Locked Books

Locked Books was a series of books by Will Goldston which were published with a padlock and keyclasp built into the book to keep the book closed from prying eyes.

Goldston first started advertising the books in 1910 and they included:

• Exclusive Magical Secrets (1912)
• More Exclusive Magical Secrets (1921)
• Further Exclusive Magical Secrets (1927)

Only 1,000 copies of each were printed, each with the name of the subscriber gold-stamped on the cover in cheap red leather binding. The subscriber also had to sign an agreement in order not to disclose the secrets therein.

Its been told that some of the original subscribers, when passed away, asked to be buried with their copy of the book, to prevent it from falling in the wrong hands.

The list of contributors included (although some never agreed to have their tricks explained) were Chung Ling Soo, Chefalo, Oswald Williams, J. N. Maskelyne, Servais Le Roy, Cyril Yettmah, G. W. Hunter, Lafayette, and Conradi. Some of the tricks are explained but not taught.

Goldston's also published another book in similar size and format, which could be considered part the series was Great Magicians' Tricks, but did not come with the clasp and lock.

Some magicians found these books as a collection of material which was wrong, pirated or over-rated.