HOFZINSER, JOHANN NEPOMUK

born June 19, 1806, Vienna, Austria died March 11, 1875, Vienna Austrian amateur conjurer who was one of the most brilliant inventors of small manipulative tricks, especially with playing cards. Hofzinser, who never appeared outside Austria, was one of the first to advocate simplicity of performance, eliminating elaborate costumes and stage apparatus. Although he requested that his magic secrets be buried with him, Ottokar Fischer searched Hofzinser's correspondence to friends to compile Kartenknstler (1910; Card Tricks).