In addition to visual explanations on DVD by Steve Draun, Jim Cellini, Tony Clark and Bill Malone, and a performance-only presentation by Slydini himself, there appear to be four printed sources for "Slydini's Knotted Silks": Lewis Ganson's "The Magic of Slydini" (1960), Karl Fulves's "The Magical World of Slydini" (1979), where is called "Slydini's Silk Knots," and Ganson's and Gene Matsuura's "The Annotated Magic of Slydini" (2001), as well as a similar effect that predates the others, Charles Edwards's "Dissolving Knots" from Ganson's "Routined Manipulation Finale" (1954).

I would welcome any corrections or additions to this list. I would also be grateful for assistance in developing a chronology for the routine. Specifically, which is the latest printed version?

At first glance it would appear to be the Matsuura annotated edition published in 2001. In the book's introduction (page xi), however, Matsuura states that "since 1971, I had the good fortune to spend countless hours with Slydini, during which time he elaborated on the explanations for his classic routines, describing and demonstrating details not in his published texts." Given the 30-year span between 1971 and the 2001 publication, it is impossible to discern from this information alone the precise dates of Matsuura's annotations.

This makes it difficult to determine which came later -- Matsuura's annotated explanation or Fulves's 1979 instructions in "The Magical World of Slydini."

Fulves seemingly anticipated this problem when he wrote that "the reader should keep I mind that the methods described here, while bearing a faint similarity to previously published methods, are in fact different. ... This means that what you are about to read is a second approach to the Slydini 'Silk Knots' routine. When work on these chapters was completed, I was astonished to learn that Slydini has devised yet a third system."

From a historical perspective, then, if someone wanted to learn the "latest" Slydini "Knotted Silks" routine in print, should she turn to Ganson/Matsuura of Fulves? Further, if quality rather than age were the sole criterion, which alternative would those who have studied both alternatives recommend?

Your question depends on if you wish to become a clone of Slydini, or do you want to John Kokot. Many of the magicians who study Slydini, wind up using Slydini mannerisms and style. Thus they become almost laughable.

You entered the dates of publication yourself, that should tell you the order. All Matsuura did was take the old publication and add his notes from the personal instruction he received from Slydini. The text did not change, just Matsuura's hopefully clarification of the printed work by Lewis Ganson.

I am sure if many of the students that studied with Slydini published annotations of the Lewis Ganson works would all have varying notes that are slightly different.

I know a person who studied Slydini works, and he found the best work and explanation was from the books called the Magical World of Slydini. He was so good, he did a short tour in Japan performing many of the Slydini routines. He simply was on vacation and met an influential Japanese magician. This was the time the books of Slydini was published in the United States. Slydini did give the instructions that is described in the text. It is not just a rewrite of the Lewis Ganson material.

If English is not your 1st language, then I can understand your confusion. As written, Matsuura was simply stating that he had a long learning relation with Slydini from 1971 to whenever he stopped. It does not mean that the book was written in 1971. The Lewis Ganson wrote the book in England when Slydini did a lecture tour in late 1960's. It was first published by Harry Stanly Unique Magic Studio's, then it was published by Supreme Magic, finally L&L Publication published it with cleaned up photos. Finally, it was published again by L&L Publication with the annotations.

Hope the answers your question.