findley's four-card trick\nfour cards secretly placed in pocket as prediction, pull out the necessary cards to form suit and value (using binary system)\narthur finley\n findley\nthe secret mathematician\n findley\ncharles t. jordan
1956
Arthur Finley, Findley
Findley's Four-Card Trick
Four cards secretly placed in pocket as prediction, pull out the necessary cards to form suit and value (using binary system)
a baffling prediction\nform four piles using the number ten, then count down the sum of the cards to the 40th card to match prediction\n unknown\nhenry christ's improvement\nhenry christ
1956
Unknown
A Baffling Prediction
Form four piles using the number ten, then count down the sum of the cards to the 40th card to match prediction
henry christ's improvement\nsame as a baffling prediction, but with a selection controlled to the 40th position, and the count is done backwards from ten\nhenry christ\na baffling prediction\n unknown
1956
Henry Christ
Henry Christ's Improvement
Same as A Baffling Prediction, but with a selection controlled to the 40th position, and the count is done backwards from ten
the cyclic number\na packet containing six cards forming the number 142857, when multiplied by any number from 2 to 6, gives a result which the cards themselves reveal\nlloyd e. jones
1956
Lloyd E. Jones
The Cyclic Number
A packet containing six cards forming the number 142857, when multiplied by any number from 2 to 6, gives a result which the cards themselves reveal
jordan's method\ncharles jordan's method for clocking a deck, with a tip from martin gardner to use the raising of your fingers to help keep track of the clocking\ncharles t. jordan\nmartin gardner\nthe missing card\n unknown
1956
Charles T. Jordan, Martin Gardner
Jordan's Method
Charles Jordan's method for clocking a deck, with a tip from Martin Gardner to use the raising of your fingers to help keep track of the clocking
the royal pairs\npacket of kings and queens are cut many times and held behind back, magician can take out the matching king/queen pairs of the same suit\n unknown
1956
Unknown
The Royal Pairs
Packet of Kings and Queens are cut many times and held behind back, magician can take out the matching King/Queen pairs of the same suit
matching the colors\ndeck shuffled face up and face down, magician can separate into two piles containing the same number of face up cards. alternative is to shuffle red and black cards.\nbob hummer
1956
Bob Hummer
Matching the Colors
Deck shuffled face up and face down, magician can separate into two piles containing the same number of face up cards. Alternative is to shuffle red and black cards.
hummer's reversal mystery\ncato trick, magician can name correctly number of face up cards after cut and turn over procedure. oscar weigle variation: colors are also separated\nbob hummer\noscar weigle\nthe little moonies\nbob hummer\nstitches in time\nstephen tucker
1956
Bob Hummer, Oscar Weigle
Hummer's Reversal Mystery
CATO trick, magician can name correctly number of face up cards after cut and turn over procedure. Oscar Weigle variation: colors are also separated
the little moonies\ncato trick, uses cards with drawing of either smiling/frowning face. two cards are marked on the back and after mixing, shown to be the only ones frowning while other cards are smiling\nbob hummer\nthe little moonies\nbob hummer\nhummer's reversal mystery\nbob hummer\noscar weigle
1956
Bob Hummer
The Little Moonies
CATO trick, uses cards with drawing of either smiling/frowning face. Two cards are marked on the back and after mixing, shown to be the only ones frowning while other cards are smiling
the magic of manhattan\ncut the deck into two piles, one pile is counted, the two digits in the number of cards is added together to get a single digit, count down to that number in that pile to find selection, the phrase the magic of manhattan is spelled to find selection\nbill nord
1956
Bill Nord
The Magic of Manhattan
Cut the deck into two piles, one pile is counted, the two digits in the number of cards is added together to get a single digit, count down to that number in that pile to find selection, the phrase THE MAGIC OF MANHATTAN is spelled to find selection
predicting the shift\npacket of thirteen cards (ace to king), spectator shifts any number of cards from top to bottom, magician can immediately take out a card with a value corresponding to the number of cards shifted\n unknown
1956
Unknown
Predicting the Shift
Packet of thirteen cards (Ace to King), spectator shifts any number of cards from top to bottom, magician can immediately take out a card with a value corresponding to the number of cards shifted
the keystone card discovery\ntwo numbers named, predicted card is found at position equal to the difference between the two numbers.\ncharles t. jordan
1956
Charles T. Jordan
The Keystone Card Discovery
Two numbers named, predicted card is found at position equal to the difference between the two numbers.
spelling the spades\npacket of ace to king of spades, spell ace to king one after another, originally titled the improved chevalier card trick\ncharles t. jordan\nthe spelling bee\njack chanin\njohn mcardle\njohn weiss\nal flosso
1956
Charles T. Jordan
Spelling the Spades
Packet of Ace to King of Spades, spell Ace to King one after another, originally titled The Improved Chevalier Card Trick
elmsley's card coincidence\ndeck cut into two piles, a card selected in each pile, later shown to turn up at the same position, handling is by vernon\nalex elmsley\ndai vernon
1956
Alex Elmsley, Dai Vernon
Elmsley's Card Coincidence
Deck cut into two piles, a card selected in each pile, later shown to turn up at the same position, handling is by Vernon
magic by mail\ndivination of selected card by mail, deck is sent through the post, deck is shuffled and card is selected, only half the cards are sent to the magician, yet card is divined. uses interlocking chains\ncharles t. jordan\nlong distance mind reading\ncharles t. jordan
1956
Charles T. Jordan
Magic by Mail
Divination of selected card by mail, deck is sent through the post, deck is shuffled and card is selected, only half the cards are sent to the magician, yet card is divined. Uses interlocking chains
belchou's aces\npoker player's picnic, four aces found via dealing and transferring cards between four piles, credited to steve belchou\nsteve belchou\na poker player's picnic\n unknown
1956
Steve Belchou
Belchou's Aces
Poker Player's Picnic, four Aces found via dealing and transferring cards between four piles, credited to Steve Belchou
the tit-tat-toe trick\npacket of nine cards used to play tic-tac-toe with a spectator (face up and down cards). finale is revealed that the result is a magic square, each row/column/diagonal adds up to fifteen\ndon costello\ndai vernon\nmartin gardner\ndraw for the devil\nrobert e. neale\ntic tac toe force\nmartin gardner
1956
Don Costello, Dai Vernon, Martin Gardner
The Tit-Tat-Toe Trick
Packet of nine cards used to play tic-tac-toe with a spectator (face up and down cards). Finale is revealed that the result is a magic square, each row/column/diagonal adds up to fifteen
from gergonne to gargantua\nchapter intro, describes gergonne's pile problem, which is basically the 21 card trick using twenty seven cards\njoseph diez gergonne\nnaming the position of the card\n unknown\nbringing the card to a named position\n unknown\nwalker's method\nthomas walker\nnaming the card\n unknown\nrelation to ternary system\nmel stover\ngargantua's ten-pile problem\nmel stover\nhummer's die mystery\nbob hummer\nsorcerer's sevens iii\ncharles hudson\npile driver\nmatt baker
1956
Joseph Diez Gergonne
From Gergonne to Gargantua
Chapter intro, describes Gergonne's Pile Problem, which is basically the 21 card trick using twenty seven cards
naming the position of the card\n21 card trick with twenty seven cards, spectator can assemble the piles in any way\n unknown\nfrom gergonne to gargantua\njoseph diez gergonne
1956
Unknown
Naming the Position of the Card
21 card trick with twenty seven cards, spectator can assemble the piles in any way
bringing the card to a named position\n21 card trick with twenty seven cards, spectator can name what the final position of the selection should be in the packet\n unknown\nfrom gergonne to gargantua\njoseph diez gergonne\nwalker's method\nthomas walker
1956
Unknown
Bringing the Card to a Named Position
21 card trick with twenty seven cards, spectator can name what the final position of the selection should be in the packet
walker's method\neasier method for gergonne's pile problem, lets spectator name the position of the selected card\nthomas walker\nfrom gergonne to gargantua\njoseph diez gergonne\nbringing the card to a named position\n unknown
1956
Thomas Walker
Walker's Method
Easier method for Gergonne's Pile Problem, lets spectator name the position of the selected card
naming the card\n21 card trick with twenty seven cards, magician can name the selection at the end\n unknown\nfrom gergonne to gargantua\njoseph diez gergonne
1956
Unknown
Naming the Card
21 card trick with twenty seven cards, magician can name the selection at the end
gargantua's ten-pile problem\n21 card trick but done with ten billion playing cards\nmel stover\nrelation to ternary system\nmel stover\nfrom gergonne to gargantua\njoseph diez gergonne
1956
Mel Stover
Gargantua's Ten-pile Problem
21 card trick but done with TEN BILLION PLAYING CARDS
frank dodd's prediction\nnumber "selected" with dice is predicted by number of matches\nfrank n. dodd\nthe double steal\nfrank n. dodd
1956
Frank N. Dodd
Frank Dodd's Prediction
Number "selected" with dice is predicted by number of matches
hummer's die mystery\nmagician uses dice to divine number thought of by spectator, principle is similar to 21 card trick / gergonne's pile problem. spectator thinks of a number between one and six, a die is put under performer's hand and without looking at it the performer shows three sides of the die several times and asks if the selected number is visible, number is eventually divined\nbob hummer\ndevil's die\njack yates\nfrom gergonne to gargantua\njoseph diez gergonne
1956
Bob Hummer
Hummer's Die Mystery
Magician uses dice to divine number thought of by spectator, principle is similar to 21 card trick / Gergonne's Pile Problem. spectator thinks of a number between one and six, a die is put under performer's hand and without looking at it the performer shows three sides of the die several times and asks if the selected number is visible, number is eventually divined
the row of thirteen\nspectator secret shifts around a number of dominoes from a row of thirteen dominoes, magician divines how many have been shifted\n unknown
1956
Unknown
The Row of Thirteen
Spectator secret shifts around a number of dominoes from a row of thirteen dominoes, magician divines how many have been shifted
magic squares\nthree by three square drawn on calendar, magician is told smallest number in square, can then divine total sum of the nine dates in the square\n unknown\ncalendar conjuring\ntom sellers\nbreathtaking\nstephen tucker
1956
Unknown
Magic Squares
Three by three square drawn on calendar, magician is told smallest number in square, can then divine total sum of the nine dates in the square
gibson's circled dates\nfive dates are circled on a calendar month, magician asks how many mondays/tuesdays... are circled, magician can divine the sum total of the circled dates\nwalter b. gibson\nroyal vale heath
1956
Walter B. Gibson, Royal Vale Heath
Gibson's Circled Dates
Five dates are circled on a calendar month, magician asks how many Mondays/Tuesdays... are circled, magician can divine the sum total of the circled dates
stover's prediction\nfour by four square drawn on calendar, four circles drawn (draw circle and cross out row and column each time), magician divines the sum\nmel stover
1956
Mel Stover
Stover's Prediction
Four by four square drawn on calendar, four circles drawn (draw circle and cross out row and column each time), magician divines the sum
tapping the hours\nspectator think of any hour on the clock, magician tap the clock at random points, eventually will end counting on the thought-of hour. variation by eddie joseph using blank cards with words\n unknown\neddie joseph\ncrazy time\ntom hamilton\nheath's "tappit"\nroyal vale heath\ntap-a-drink\nmartin gardner\ntap-an-animal\nmartin gardner\nthe riddle card\nmartin gardner
1956
Unknown, Eddie Joseph
Tapping the Hours
Spectator think of any hour on the clock, magician tap the clock at random points, eventually will end counting on the thought-of hour. Variation by Eddie Joseph using blank cards with words
die and watch mystery\ndie is used to start counting clockwise and anticlockwise on a clock, count to thought-of number, the two hours are added together and magician can divine the number on the die\nmartin gardner
1956
Martin Gardner
Die and Watch Mystery
Die is used to start counting clockwise and anticlockwise on a clock, count to thought-of number, the two hours are added together and magician can divine the number on the die
the three heaps\nstart with three heaps of matches, magician can (without looking) form a single pile of matches equal a number called out by spectator\n unknown
1956
Unknown
The Three Heaps
Start with three heaps of matches, magician can (without looking) form a single pile of matches equal a number called out by spectator
match folder mind-reading\ndivine thought of number with matchbook of twenty matches, spectator is instructed to tear out matches in some mathematical way\nfred demuth\na divination with matches\nfred demuth
1956
Fred DeMuth
Match Folder Mind-reading
Divine thought of number with matchbook of twenty matches, spectator is instructed to tear out matches in some mathematical way
the purloined objects\npenny, ring, key distributed to three spectators. each spectator then takes a number of matches corresponding to some rules, magician then divines who has which object\n unknown
1956
Unknown
The Purloined Objects
Penny, ring, key distributed to three spectators. Each spectator then takes a number of matches corresponding to some rules, magician then divines who has which object
the nine mystery\ncoins placed in a q shape, spectator counts clockwise and anticlockwise, predict the endpoint of the count\n unknown\na penny for your thoughts\nstephen tucker
1956
Unknown
The Nine Mystery
Coins placed in a Q shape, spectator counts clockwise and anticlockwise, predict the endpoint of the count
heath's variation\nwhich hand, divine which hand holds nickel and which hand holds penny\nroyal vale heath\nwhich hand?\n unknown
1956
Royal Vale Heath
Heath's Variation
Which Hand, divine which hand holds nickel and which hand holds penny
heads or tails?\ndetermine whether hidden coin is heads or tails after spectator has turned over the coins randomly, provides variation by walter gibson using pieces of colored cardboard\n unknown\nwalter b. gibson
1956
Unknown, Walter B. Gibson
Heads or Tails?
Determine whether hidden coin is heads or tails after spectator has turned over the coins randomly, provides variation by Walter Gibson using pieces of colored cardboard
hummer's checker trick\nspectator moves three checker pieces around on the board via spelling, magician can divine the starting positions of the checker pieces\nbob hummer
1956
Bob Hummer
Hummer's Checker Trick
Spectator moves three checker pieces around on the board via spelling, magician can divine the starting positions of the checker pieces
hummer's three-object divination\nthree objects switched around, spectator then thinks of one and switches the other two, magician can divine thought of object (mathematical 3 card monte 1951)\nbob hummer\nyates' four-object divination\njack yates\nstrangers from two worlds\nstewart james\nmathematical 3-card monte revisited\njohn born
1956
Bob Hummer
Hummer's Three-object Divination
Three objects switched around, spectator then thinks of one and switches the other two, magician can divine thought of object (Mathematical 3 card monte 1951)
yates' four-object divination\nthree matches facing one way and one match facing the opposite way. after moving matches around, magician correctly can divine which is the reversed match without looking\njack yates\nmatch miracle\njack yates\nhummer's three-object divination\nbob hummer
1956
Jack Yates
Yates' Four-Object Divination
three matches facing one way and one match facing the opposite way. After moving matches around, magician correctly can divine which is the reversed match without looking
the afghan bands\nmoebius strip used for magic, provides the basic method and a history/bibliography of the moebius strip in magic (afghan bands was named by prof hoffmann)\n various
1956
Various
The Afghan Bands
Moebius strip used for magic, provides the basic method and a history/bibliography of the Moebius strip in magic (Afghan Bands was named by Prof Hoffmann)
tabor's interlocked handkerchiefs\ntwo handkerchiefs wrapped around each other, penetrates through each other, topological\nedwin tabor
1956
Edwin Tabor
Tabor's Interlocked Handkerchiefs
Two handkerchiefs wrapped around each other, penetrates through each other, topological
number cards\nset of cards with numbers, spectator thinks of a number and chooses cards that has the thought of number. magician divines the number. binary system\n unknown\nwindow cards\n unknown
1956
Unknown
Number Cards
Set of cards with numbers, spectator thinks of a number and chooses cards that has the thought of number. Magician divines the number. Binary system
window cards\nmore complex version of number cards with holes cut out in the card to be stacked up\n unknown\nsam loyd's version\nsam lloyd\nnumber cards\n unknown
1956
Unknown
Window Cards
More complex version of Number Cards with holes cut out in the card to be stacked up
heath's "tappit"\ntapping the hours type of trick, but with colored tiles and numbers printed on them\nroyal vale heath\ntapping the hours\n unknown\neddie joseph
1956
Royal Vale Heath
Heath's "Tappit"
Tapping the Hours type of trick, but with colored tiles and numbers printed on them
tap-a-drink\ntapping the hours but with names of different drinks in a clock shape\nmartin gardner\ntapping the hours\n unknown\neddie joseph
1956
Martin Gardner
Tap-a-drink
Tapping the Hours but with names of different drinks in a clock shape
the riddle card\ntapping the hours type of trick with a card with riddles\nmartin gardner\ntapping the hours\n unknown\neddie joseph
1956
Martin Gardner
The Riddle Card
Tapping the Hours type of trick with a card with riddles
heath's "di-ciphering"\nfive dice with different three digit numbers on each face. roll the dice, magician can very quickly give the sum of the numbers rolled\nroyal vale heath\ned balducci
1956
Royal Vale Heath, Ed Balducci
Heath's "Di-ciphering"
Five dice with different three digit numbers on each face. Roll the dice, magician can very quickly give the sum of the numbers rolled
sure-shot dice box\nsmall box that allows dice in it to rattle but not turn over. includes trick by stewart james (sum prediction)\neli hackman\nstewart james
1956
Eli Hackman, Stewart James
Sure-Shot Dice Box
Small box that allows dice in it to rattle but not turn over. Includes trick by Stewart James (sum prediction)
blyth's domino box\ndominoes in a box shifted, the spots on the dominoes will predict how many have been shifted\nwill blyth\nblocks of india\n unknown
1956
Will Blyth
Blyth's Domino Box
Dominoes in a box shifted, the spots on the dominoes will predict how many have been shifted
hummer tricks\nhummer's poker chip trick: numbered poker chips, magician can divine sum of the numbers on three concealed poker chips\nbob hummer
1956
Bob Hummer
Hummer Tricks
Hummer's Poker Chip Trick: numbered poker chips, magician can divine sum of the numbers on three concealed poker chips
sam loyd's flag puzzle\ngeometrical vanish, cut an american flag into two pieces, rearrange to form onto thirteen stripes instead of fifteen\nsam lloyd
1956
Sam Lloyd
Sam Loyd's Flag Puzzle
Geometrical Vanish, cut an American flag into two pieces, rearrange to form onto thirteen stripes instead of fifteen
stover's variations\ngeometrical vanish / transformation of objects, face becomes beer mug or red pencil becomes blue pencil\nmel stover\ndeland's paradox\ntheodore deland
1956
Mel Stover
Stover's Variations
Geometrical Vanish / transformation of objects, face becomes beer mug or red pencil becomes blue pencil
fibonacci series\nabout the mathematics behind geometrical vanishes where the area of a shape changes. based on work by v. schlegel, e.b. escott and lewis carroll\nmartin gardner\nv. schlegel, zeitschrift fur mathematik und physik, vol. 24, p. 123 (1879)\ne. b. escott, open court, vol. 21, p. 502 (1907)\nlangman's version\nharry langman
1956
Martin Gardner
Fibonacci Series
About the mathematics behind geometrical vanishes where the area of a shape changes. Based on work by V. Schlegel, E.B. Escott and Lewis Carroll
Related to
V. Schlegel, Zeitschrift fur Mathematik und Physik, Vol. 24, p. 123 (1879)
langman's version\nrectangle changes in area when pieces are moved around, related to fibonacci series\nharry langman\nfibonacci series\nmartin gardner
1956
Harry Langman
Langman's Version
Rectangle changes in area when pieces are moved around, related to Fibonacci series
curry's paradox\nvarious geometrical vanishes of squares in rectangles and squares\npaul curry\ncurry triangles\nmartin gardner\ntorn uncut card sheet\ntomas blomberg
1956
Paul Curry
Curry's Paradox
Various geometrical vanishes of squares in rectangles and squares
the mysteries of nine\nnumber forces using the number nine (e.g. 1089), includes variation by t. o'connor sloane using money\n unknown\nt. o'connor sloane\n6801 prediction\nsteve beam
1956
Unknown, T. O'Connor Sloane
The Mysteries of Nine
Number forces using the number nine (e.g. 1089), includes variation by T. O'Connor Sloane using money
digital roots\nnumber force using digital roots\n unknown\npersistent root\n unknown\nguessing someone's age\n unknown\nan addition trick\n unknown\na multiplication trick\n unknown
1956
Unknown
guessing someone's age\nusing digital roots to estimate the age of someone\n unknown\ndigital roots\n unknown\njust a few wrinkles...\nstephen tucker
1956
Unknown
Guessing Someone's Age
Using digital roots to estimate the age of someone