History of Card Magic

Playing cards first appeared in Europe in the late 1300s, when people began using them for gambling and entertainment. This set the stage for sleight of hand, and by the 1500s, street performers and card cheats grew. As cards became more popular around the 1600s and 17000s, more card cheat techniques such as false shuffles, for card controlling were made. Books like "The Discoverie of Witchcraft" by Reginald Scot described basic sleight of hand. In the 1800s, magic moved from the streets to the stage, making card tricks a part of larger acts. People like  Jean Robert-Houdin, a French magician, popularized magic cards and sleight of hand. As magicians began to push the boundaries of magic up until today, television like "The Magic Castle" and social media have made card magic boom in popularity. Today, magicians like Shin Lim or Chris Ramsay carry popular card magic, especially with younger audiences. There are also now online magic courses and Youtube videos that give people access to learning card magic like never before.