150 entries in Paper / Topological Effects
Creators Title Comments & References Year Source Page AA Categories
Die Kunst, in ein ringförmig geschlossenes band einen Knoten zu machen "The art of making a knot into a closed circle", moebius/möbius strip routine, seven different rings are cut with up to three double-twists
Aug. 1899
Die Zauberwelt (Vol. 5 No. 8)
125
The Afghan Bands rings of paper cut lengthwise
1903 471
Frank Lane, U. F. Grant The Boomerangs idea for the Jastrow illusion, cutting off pieces to make them the same length repeatedly
1935 5
James Wobensmith The Afghan Bands topological bands that are torn
1938 860
Ellis Stanyon The Evolution of the Afghan Bands extension for topological bands that are torn
1938 861
"Paper Wizard" Grimes The "Grimes" Paper Chain moebius/möbius strip routine
1939 119
Francis J. Rigney Cutting a Dido story trick, tearing a long strip
May 1944
Hugard's Magic Monthly (Vol. 1 No. 12)
51
Neal Elias Screwy Square optical thing with a line on a square sheet of cardboard
Variations 1946 16
L. Vosburgh Lyons Discus Chinese compass, arrows on circle point always in same direction
Related to Mar. 1946
The Phoenix (Issue 102)
410
Milbourne Christopher The Afghan Bands - The Mobius Strip
Jan. 1946 185
R. M. Jamison Turn the Button optical thing with a line on a square sheet of cardboard
Inspired by July 1947 336
Dr. Fred Bertsche Crazy Cardboards lines on paper, paper turned over lines change orientation, fake turnover
1948
Ireland's Yearbooks (Issue Yearbook 1948)
37
Der Hokus-Pokus sendet.... no proper title, on three free tricks added to this issue, Jastrow illusion, compass trick and multi-pip card
  • 1. Die Zwillinge
  • 2. Die Verwandlungskarte
  • 3. Der Compass
1948
Hokus Pokus (Vol. 9 No. Sondernummer 3)
1
Martin Gardner The Afghan Bands
  • Muslin Version
  • Effect No. 1
  • Effect No. 2
Dec. 1949 615
Paul Curry Fourth Dimensional Turning idea for S.S. Adams money printing machine, performer and spectator write names on both sides of a paper, when put in machine paper turns inside out and back
Also published here Apr. 1952
The Phoenix (Issue 252)
1009
Adolph Boldt Idea for the Boomerang Trick idea for Joseph Jastrow's optical illusion with two boomerangs, as a give-away
1953
Ireland's Yearbooks (Issue Yearbook 1953)
35
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)
1956 70
Martin Gardner Flexa Tube Puzzle flexagon-related puzzle about folding a tube inside out in a certain way
Related to Sep. 1956
Ibidem (Issue 7)
13
Tom Ransom Flexa-Tube Solution
Related to Mar. 1957
Ibidem (Issue 9)
12
Ronald B. Edwards Flat Flexible Folding Reversible Four Dimensional Die flexagon idea
July 1959
Ibidem (Issue 17)
21
Jochen Zmeck Die Unzerstörbarkeit der Materie paper strip is measured, 10 cm are cut off and burned, strip has same length, repeat
1960 14
Amazing James Randi Sticky Stuff using wide adhesive tape for clippo and Afghan Bands
May 1960
Ibidem (Issue 20)
18
Norman Houghton Bring on the Band! Afghan Bands routine with ribbons
Oct. 1960
Ibidem (Issue 22)
24
Robert E. Neale Insideout & Stretchit topological origami tube for several effects:
  • Stretchit
  • Insideout
  • The Chinese Wand
  • Additional Notes
  • With a Sponge Ball
  • The Square Circle
  • Flexible Transpo
for simplified folding method see reference
Related toVariationsAlso published here Mar. 1968
Epilogue (Issue 2)
14
Gene Anderson Afghan Bands Mobius strip routine
1968 119
Francis J. Rigney A New Twist Mobius Strip routine
1968 121
Louis Bertol Chinese Version Chinese Mobius strip routine
1968 123
Tommy Thompson Look! No Twist! Variant of Mobius strip routines
1968 127
Robert E. Neale Thru & Thru white pop-up cardboard die slides through black die and vice versa, see also p. 439 & p. 486 for suggestion by Al Weyfield
Aug. 1971 435
Robert E. Neale Fold, Cut, and Fail pre-folded paper square with sixteen digits in two colors, folded and cut, all digits of one color except chosen one is in one pile
  • Part One
  • Part Two
  • Part Three
  • Final Notes
Also published here Feb. 1973 595
Paul Curry Turnabout arrows on squares turn so they always end up pointing in the same direction
Related to 1974 42
Paul Curry The Twist Turnover secretly gives a quarter turn in the act of turning over
1974 43
The Magic Circles afghan band
1974 38
Martin Gardner Hyper Card posed as problem with illustration
Related to Aug. 1975 1042
Robert E. Neale "Die Innere Außenseite" und "Ausgeflippt" topological origami tube for several effects:
  • Ausgeflippt
  • Die innere Außenseite
  • Der Chinesische Schnurstab
  • Fantasta
  • Platzwechsel
  • Anmerkungen
  • Mit Schaumgummibällen
Also published here Nov. 1975
Intermagic (Vol. 3 No. 1 & 2)
33
Hans E. Trixer Compas-sion
Related to 1977 48
Karl Fulves, Kim Iles, Mel Stover, P. Howard Lyons Hyper Card various ideas with the Hypercard
Related toVariations 1978 1067
Karl Fulves Notes hypercard constructed from double facer with attached back piece
  • Elastrik
  • Oddments
Inspired by 1978
The Chronicles (Issue 11)
1173
Karl Fulves Hypercard on the idea of combining Hypercard with Moebius strip
Related to 1979
Interlocutor (Issue 28)
108
Karl Fulves Another Link old topological puzzle in which three parts must be linked, credit information on no-gaff linking cards
Related to 1979
Interlocutor (Issue 36)
142
Karrell Fox, Tommy Windsor Windsor/McAthy Applause Card apparently three sides on card that is turned over to read different messages
1979 201
Karl Fulves Siberian Chain No. 14, paper strips link and unlink with paper ring
1980 14
Karl Fulves Labyrinth maze made up from five paper cards, four entrances, three chosen by spectators, they cannot get to the center of the maze and the performer can with his left-over entrance
  • The Bait
  • Presentation
  • Practical Considerations
  • Maze History
  • Impromptu Approach
1980 1
Hypercard No. 79
1981 99
Mel Stover, P. Howard Lyons, Karl Fulves The Fifth Dimension No. 80, hyper card routine
Related to 1981 100
Paul Curry Die vierte Dimension idea for S.S. Adams money printing machine, performer and spectator write names on both sides of a paper, when put in machine paper turns inside out and back
Also published here June 1981
Intermagic (Vol. 8 No. 2)
71
Karl Fulves Space Station tower of Hanoi variation
1982 8
Steve Beam Upside Down Chinese compass effect with the words "up" and "down", square plaque, several moves, see also p. 51 for additional ideas and remarks by Martin Gardner, Dan Garrett and Sid Lorraine, more ideas on p. 990 by Lee Fred
Related toVariations 1983 1
Pavel Zickzack Elefant zig-zag effect with picture of an elephant in a frame
1983 7
Martin Gardner Twist And Link spectator holds end of paper construction which must be entangled in seemingly impossible way
Also published here
  • puzzle in Marin Gardner's "Scientific American" column
1983 2
Robert E. Neale Submarine Card spectator holds card frame with center torn out, its orientation changes while spectator closes his eyes
Variations 1983 3
Robert E. Neale The Trapdoor spectator holds card with trapdoor with hole cut-out, it is entangled in seemingly impossible way while spectator closes eyes
VariationsAlso published here 1983 6
Robert E. Neale Belt Buckle different design
Inspired by 1983 9
Robert E. Neale Double Buckle different design
Inspired by 1983 10
Robert E. Neale Flat Klein paper construction with only one surface
1983 11
Karl Fulves Slade's Braid comment on connection with Slade's impossible braiding
Related to
  • "The Church of the Fourth Dimension" (The Unexpected Hanging, Martin Gardner)
1983 11
Karl Fulves Easy Unlink simple topological unlinking
1983 11
Karl Fulves Topological Untrap topological linking and unlinking of one-piece rubber figure, solution to problem on p. 1
1983 12
Jerry Andrus Parabox optical illusion
May 1984
The Collected Almanac (Vol. 2 No. 21)
200
Shigeo Takagi, Karl Fulves Japanese Checkers No. 1, paper folded and cut into squares, really the squares remain all connected at a corner for form a sort of chain, challenge to get all squares out of a bag with one grip
1985 1
Robert E. Neale The Trapdoor No. 63, card frame turns inside out while spectator is holding it
VariationsAlso published here 1985 112
Robert E. Neale Inside Out No. 65, topological origami tube
Also published here 1985 116
Robert E. Neale Stripes Make You Thinner No. 66, trick using the Inside-out Tube
Also published here 1985 117
Robert E. Neale Stretchit No. 67, trick using the Inside-Out Tube
Also published here 1985 118
Robert E. Neale Bill Tube shape-changing tube from dollar bill, square shape to rectangular shape
Inspired byAlso published here 1985 74
Papier
  • Das Doppelte Moebius-Band
  • Die "6er-Prophezeiung"
Dec. 1986
Intermagic (Vol. 12 No. 3 & 4)
136
Terri Rogers The Pirish Compass cardboard arrow that can change direction, tube
  • The Improved Arrow
  • A Final Tip
Also published here 1986 15
Gordon Bruce Gordon Bruce on Parallax coin vanishes and returns in trapdoor of card
Inspired by May 1987
The New Talon (Vol. 1 No. 3)
46
Eric Mason Eric Mason on Parallax name of thought of card appears on paper combined with Parallax
Inspired by May 1987
The New Talon (Vol. 1 No. 3)
71
Mike Gancia Mike Gancia on Parallax card in envelope
Inspired by May 1987
The New Talon (Vol. 1 No. 3)
80
Karl Fulves Step by Step Trapdoor step-by-step instructions of "The Trapdoor"
Inspired by 1987 ca. 13
Harry G. Franke Harry Franke's Topological Tricks two square papers with a square hole used for topological fold, another with rectangles with holes
1987 ca. 15
Tooru Suzuki Linking Cardboard squares of cardboard with holes in them are linked and unlinked
1988 97
Terri Rogers False Witness sculpture made from two rings on table, two spectators describe it very differently
Also published here 1988 50
Terri Rogers Squaring apparatus, disc with round hole in it visibly changes into square with square hole
Also published here 1988 64
Terri Rogers Der Östfriesische Kompass cardboard arrow that can change direction, tube
Also published here Apr. 1989
Intermagic (Vol. 14 No. 3)
94
Terri Rogers Falsches Zeugnis sculpture made from two rings on table, two spectators describe it very differently
Also published here July 1989
Intermagic (Vol. 14 No. 4 & 5)
167
Terri Rogers Kreisquadratur apparatus, disc with round hole in it visibly changes into square with square hole
Also published here July 1989
Intermagic (Vol. 14 No. 4 & 5)
175
Michael Weber Appealing Illusion picture in magazine, apparently peel the top layer and see under the picture (car and engine, woman and underwear), removing the torn paper part and everything is normal again
Variations 1991 115
Michael Weber A Better Mousetrap three phases, based on Robert E. Neale's "The Trapdoor Card"
Inspired byRelated to 1991 130
Karl Fulves Paper Race four papers sticking out underneath cover, whoever choses the paper that is on top of the other's choice when cover is removed wins
1991 34
David Harkey Sunburst grid printed on business card, part of the design is twisted when seen through a ring, printing remains permanently twisted
1991 209
Masao Atsukawa The Knotted Letter knot in strip of paper disappears
1992 25
Ken Bowell Kreisquadratur paper folded, half-moon cut out, when unfolded the hole is a square though
Mar. 1993
Intermagic (Vol. 17 No. 4 & 5)
181
William Larsen Im Zirkus patter for moebius strips
July 1994
Intermagic (Vol. 18 No. 4 & 5)
160
Karl Fulves Trisecting the Paper No. 15, tearing a paper into three pieces with one tear, spectator has to close eyes
Related to 1995 20
Karl Fulves The Rings of Saturn No. 35, moebius strip
1995 48
Jim Steinmeyer The One-Man Band
  • Conjuring
routine for the Afghan/Möbius bands, with fabric
Sep. 1997
Magic (Vol. 7 No. 1)
71
Terri Rogers Top of the Bill Boomerang (Jastrow) optical illusion with names of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy
1998 11
Terri Rogers Buckled Bunkum Invert a flexible plastic buckle threaded on a cloth belt. Inspired by Bob Neale's Floppy Buckle / Get Out of Jail technique
1998 33
Terri Rogers StarGate Two card frames glued back to back turn inside out to become glued face to face
Inspired by 1998 50
Terri Rogers The FlexiCard Flexagon with playing cards
1998 82
Terri Rogers Blink Three colored plastic rings shown separate, then become linked while spectator is holding them, impossible to separate
1998 93
Rudolf Braunmüller Gags im Zusammenhang mit Tricks Eröffnung, Daumenfesselung, Afghanbänder, Fischtrick, Geldfang aus der Luft & Münzen, Handguillotine, Handschellen, Karten, Mentalmagie, Persiltrick, Schallplatten, Schaumgummi-Backstein, Schwebekunststücke, Seile, Würfel, Zeitungen & Zeitschriften, Party & Restaurant
1999
Intermagic (Vol. 23 No. 2)
63
Paul Curry Turnabout arrows on squares turn so they always end up pointing in the same direction
Related to 2001 335
Paul Curry The Twist Turnover secretly gives a quarter turn in the act of turning over
2001 336
Davide Costi Boomerangs routine for Joseph Jastrow's optical illusion with two arcs
2004 137
Wesley James Hyper-Warp "final", ending with Hyper Card stapled to other card as souvenir
2004 89
Jerry Andrus Jerry Andrus's Parabox optical illusion
Sep. 2004
Genii (Vol. 67 No. 9)
78
David Acer Caffeine Overdose exploiting Jastrow/"boomerang" optical illusion with signed cardboard sleeves of coffee paper cups
Variations Oct. 2005
Genii (Vol. 68 No. 10)
35
Gene Taylor Inverter Converter topological puzzle, Trapdoor variation with "Me" and "You" written on different parts
Inspired byVariations Dec. 2006
Antinomy (Vol. 2 No. Annual 2006)
6
Gene Taylor Warp Central using trapdoor puzzle card as outside wrapper for card warp type routine in which center of inside card goes missing
Inspired byVariations Dec. 2006
Antinomy (Vol. 2 No. Annual 2006)
11
Gene Taylor Warp Central Plus ends with examinable card
Inspired by Dec. 2006
Antinomy (Vol. 2 No. Annual 2006)
17
Robert E. Neale Crossing the Threshold Presentation and handling for The Trapdoor Card
2008 139
Robert E. Neale To the Other Side of No Similar effect to Trapdoor Card, but the paper is cut in a circle with a bar through it (standard STOP sign), paper is turned inside out despite holding on to it
2008 151
Robert E. Neale Boros the Boastful Boa Story about snakes twisting themselves using a strip of rubber, twists vanish and appear on the strip of rubber
2008 160
Robert E. Neale Fold, Cut and Fail Pre-folded paper square with sixteen digits in two colors, folded and cut, all digits of one color except chosen one is in one pile
Also published here 2008 188
Robert E. Neale Wheel of Life Presentation for a flexagon
2008 202
Robert E. Neale A Very Personal Computer Presentation for a trihexaflexagon
2008 211
Robert E. Neale The Card Presenting the Hyper Card
Inspired byRelated to 2008 229
Robert E. Neale Moves New moves that can be done with the Hyper Card to make the presentations more fooling and interesting
Related to 2008 237
Robert E. Neale Hyperflexagon From a Hyper Card to a a flexagon, uses business cards
Related to 2008 250
Robert E. Neale Hoaxcard Variation on Hyper Card
Related to 2008 263
Karl Fulves The Hole Thing "Unexplained"
envelope with hole, paper card without, condition reverses, also as card revelation, posed as a problem
2009
Prolix (Issue 6)
405
Karl Fulves Trisection trisecting a paper square by folding (three equal parts), bet
  • The Folding Process
Related to 2009
Prolix (Issue 6)
409
Karl Fulves Flexagons - Part One longer article, credit information
  • Flexagon History (Early Himber)
  • Terms & Conditions (the parameters)
  • Flexagon Described (the double hinge)
2009
Xtra Credit (Issue 4)
13
Karl Fulves X-Ray Card Case accordion/flexagon fold with card case, two cards underneath paper straps/grid, they transpose
2009
Xtra Credit (Issue 4)
22
Karl Fulves Flexagons - Part Two intro, credit information on Cherchez La Femme
2010
Xtra Credit (Issue 6)
29
Cherchez Again sailor in flexagon, lady picture is hard to find by folding
Inspired by
  • "Cherchez La Femme" (Martin Gardner)
2010
Xtra Credit (Issue 6)
30
The Magic Book "Cherchez la Femme", flexagon construction, one part of the paper hard to locate by folding
  • Flexing The Device
Also published here
  • Willane's Wizardry (1947)
2010
Xtra Credit (Issue 6)
32
Karl Fulves Flexagons - Part Three more credit information
Related to
  • Jacob's Ladder in "Magic" (Albert Hopkins, 1897)
2010
Xtra Credit (Issue 8)
41
Martin Gardner 2-Way Flexagon folded square with 2x2 grid, map folding presentation with coincidence
2010
Xtra Credit (Issue 8)
42
Karl Fulves Casey At The Bat "the real story"
card travels from flexagon type paper folder to case
2010
Xtra Credit (Issue 8)
48
Karl Fulves Out Back "simple double hinge"
flexagon type paper folder, card changes in it
2010
Xtra Credit (Issue 8)
50
Karl Fulves Z-Flex "z-fold to flexagon"
on z-fold vs. Himber (flexagon) wallet
Related to 2010
Xtra Credit (Issue 8)
52
Karl Fulves Flex Escape "Unsolved - magic & flexagons" [1]
strip of paper in flexagon behaves in certain way, "I consider this the fundamental unsolved problem connected to flexagons", posed as a problem
2010
Xtra Credit (Issue 8)
54
Karl Fulves Deconstruction "Unsolved - magic & flexagons" [2]
flexagon with loose parts, posed as a problem
2010
Xtra Credit (Issue 8)
54
Karl Fulves Pass Thru "Unsolved - magic & flexagons" [3]
passing objects to different sections of a flexagon, posed as a problem
2010
Xtra Credit (Issue 8)
54
David Acer Coffee Break exploiting Jastrow/"boomerang" optical illusion with cardboard sleeves of coffee paper cups
  • Identity Theft (two cardboard sleeves with names on them transpose)
  • Sizeable (cardboard sleeve grows)
Inspired by 2011 125
Karl Fulves 3 Easy Pieces "Unexplained"
tearing a paper into three pieces with one tear, posed as a problem
Related to 2012
Prolix (Issue 10)
679
Karl Fulves Paper Caper "Unexplained"
bet in which spectator cannot guess how many separated pieces there are after a folded paper piece has been torn, posed as a problem
Related to 2012
Prolix (Issue 10)
680
Michael Weber, Tim Trono Impossible Optical Illusions comments on optical illusions
(website bonus from Dec. 2012)
Dec. 2012
Real Secrets (Vol. 1 No. 9)
1
Chad Long Scratch picture in magazine, apparently with a special x-ray scratch piece on can see under the picture (car and engine, woman and underwear, ...)
(website bonus effect from sometime around 2012)
Inspired by Dec. 2012
Real Secrets (Vol. 1 No. 9)
1
Michael Weber, Tim Trono Hyper Stamps Hyper Card with stamps
(website bonus from Feb. 2013)
Feb. 2013
Real Secrets (Vol. 1 No. 11)
1
Karl Fulves East-West Magnet card with E and W put in slit in paper pocket flexagon and turns around
2015
Errata (Issue 1)
29
Karl Fulves Tricks With Flexagons introduction
2015
Folderol (Issue 1)
1
Karl Fulves Pocket Flexagon for switching flat small objects
  • Construction
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Manipulation - Double Flip
Related to 2015
Folderol (Issue 1)
2
Karl Fulves Starter Tricks some ideas with the Flexagon wallet
  • More Basics
    • Dissolvo
    • Spirit Switch
    • Outside Inside
    • Mayan Mystery
    • Trunk - The Untold Story
    • Upmanship
    • Texas Holdout
2015
Folderol (Issue 1)
6
Karl Fulves Change of Direction different way to handle the pocket flexagon wallet
2015
Folderol (Issue 1)
10
Gene Anderson, Tadashi Tokieda Precocious Paper Chain
  • A. Introduction
  • B. Preview to precocious
  • C. The Möbius strip
  • D. The precocious Möbius strip
  • E. Gene's presentation
2016 199
Harapan Ong Flexacard tritetra-flexagon from cards, two cards can be revealed, self-animated
2018 193
Robert E. Neale Trump's Members "An Optical Illusion Presented as a Psychosocial Illusion"
presentation for Jastrow illusion
2018 85
Christian Scherer, Sveroni Fischerlatein fish on cardboard change size with scale, magic trick based on Jastrow optical Illusion, medal on chain vanishes
Inspired by
  • Toru Suzuki's "Sakkaku Scale" in Richard Kaufman's "Tenyoism - Volume Two", p. 843.
Related to
2019 3
Michael Sondermeyer Der Bananentrick children routine for Jastrow Illusion, with paper bananas
2019 30
Ben Harris Unhinged "(Examining the TrapDoor Card from a New Perspective)"
Feb. 2019
Genii (Vol. 82 No. 2)
77
Michael Weber, Tim Trono The Props Jastrow Illusion, six parts
2022 1
Michael Weber, Tim Trono The Quick Fit wooden curved ruler does not fit into curved box and lid does not fit either, but then all fits
2022 3
Michael Weber, Tim Trono The Complete Fit multi-phased routine with wooden curved ruler, curved box and more wooden pieces
  • Showing All The Pieces Are The Same Length
  • One Piece Gets Smaller
  • One Piece Gets Longer
  • The Pieces No Longer Fit The Box - One Is Too Short And One Is Too Long
  • The Short Piece Grows
  • The Long Piece Shrinks
  • The Lid Is Too Short But Grows Back To Fit The Box
2022 7
Michael Weber, Tim Trono History credit information for Jastrow Illusion
2022 23
Tom Stone The Suss postcard is chosen and signed, it is torn into four pieces which are replaced with pieces from another postcard one by one, the original pieces vanish and the pieces from the new postcard have the spectator's signature
Inspired by 2024 2