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A '''Topit''' is a pocket installed inside a jacket used by [[Magician (illusion)|magicians]] to dispose of objects secretly. It plays a similar role in the magician's toolkit to pulls, holdouts, [[servantes (magic)|servantes]], and techniques such as [[sleeving]] or [[lapping (magic)|lapping]]. While the original Topit booklet by Patrick Page was put out by Lewis Davenport Ltd. in [[London]] decades ago, it was [[Michael Ammar]] who popularized the Topit with his refinement of Topit technique and inspired a number of well-known close-up magicians to adopt it.
A '''topit'''<ref>Sometimes spelled ''top-it'' or ''toppit''.</ref> ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|t|ɒ|p|ɪ|t}}), also called a '''poacher's pouch''', is a pocket installed inside a jacket for use by [[Magician (illusion)|magicians]] in disposing of objects secretly. Used while standing up and popular in closeup magic, it plays a similar role in the magician's toolkit to pulls, holdouts, [[servantes (magic)|servantes]], and techniques such as [[sleeving]] or [[lapping (magic)|lapping]].

<ref name=wilmarth>{{Cite news
==History of use==

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Poachers' pouches were employed by [[pickpocket]]s and thieves in the nineteenth century.<ref name=fitch>{{Cite news
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| first = Fitch
⚫
| last = Bob
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| title = A Topic On The Topit
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| work = The Linking Ring
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|date=March 1999}}</ref> The use of poachers' pouches then developed, like many other forms of magic, in [[symbiotic relationship]] between magicians and [[confidence trick|grifter]]s, both [[sleight of hand]] artists.

Topits were first widely introduced to magic by Harold Comden in the 1920s, under the name "The 'Topit' Vanisher". Magician [[Pat Page (magician)|Pat Page]] popularized them in his booklet ''The Topit Handbook'' (1966), and [[Michael Ammar]] further refined topit technique in ''The Topit Book'' (1983) and ''The Topit Book 2.0'' (2014), inspiring a number of closeup magicians to adopt their use.<ref name=wilmarth>{{Cite news
| first = Phil
| first = Phil
| last = Wilmarth
| last = Wilmarth
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| page = 124
| page = 124
|date=October 2003}}</ref>
|date=October 2003}}</ref>

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Topits were employed by [[pickpocket]]s and thieves during the 19th century. This primitive form of the topit was called the "Poacher's Pouch".<ref name=fitch>{{Cite news
⚫
| first = Fitch
⚫
| last = Bob
⚫
| title = A Topic On The Topit
⚫
| work = The Linking Ring
|date=March 1999}}</ref>
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The art of Topit has developed, like some other forms of magic, in [[symbiotic relationship]] between magicians and [[confidence trick|grifter]]s, both considered [[sleight of hand]] artists.


==References==
==References==

Latest revision as of 07:56, 23 April 2024

A topit[1] (/ˈtɒpɪt/), also called a poacher's pouch, is a pocket installed inside a jacket for use by magicians in disposing of objects secretly. Used while standing up and popular in closeup magic, it plays a similar role in the magician's toolkit to pulls, holdouts, servantes, and techniques such as sleeving or lapping.

History of use[edit]

Poachers' pouches were employed by pickpockets and thieves in the nineteenth century.[2] The use of poachers' pouches then developed, like many other forms of magic, in symbiotic relationship between magicians and grifters, both sleight of hand artists.

Topits were first widely introduced to magic by Harold Comden in the 1920s, under the name "The 'Topit' Vanisher". Magician Pat Page popularized them in his booklet The Topit Handbook (1966), and Michael Ammar further refined topit technique in The Topit Book (1983) and The Topit Book 2.0 (2014), inspiring a number of closeup magicians to adopt their use.[3]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Sometimes spelled top-it or toppit.
  2. ^ Bob, Fitch (March 1999). "A Topic On The Topit". The Linking Ring.
  3. ^ Wilmarth, Phil (October 2003). "Ramon's Topit Pattern (review)". The Linking Ring. p. 124.


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