Hofzinser was born at the beginning of the 19th century and lived in Vienna during a time called the 'Biedermeier'. This was a time where people enjoyed art and entertainment in drawing-room presentations and at little receptions in the houses and villas of the rich and famous. Hofzinser thus never performed on a stage but perfected the branch of magic today known as 'Close-up'. One could argue that Hofzinser is the grandfather of close-up magic in particular close-up card magic. And this book is all about card magic. We have to thank Ottokar Fischer for collecting Hofzinser's material about hundred years later. But a gap of hundred years is difficult to bridge. And today scholars argue about many details of Hofzinser's life and particularly his tricks and inventions. Disregarding all the little details, Hofzinser without a doubt was one of the giants of close-up magic who discovered and invented many great pieces of deception. Anybody who wants to call himself a serious card man must study Hofzinser's material.