Defying Gravity

113 entries in Cards / Effect Themes / Animation / Defying Gravity
Creators Title Comments & References Year Source Page AA Categories
Unknown To make a Card stand upright by itself on the Table tin slip
 		1876 Modern Magic 132
Unknown Der Karten-Jongleur card balances on hat or elsewhere, thread
Related to 1896 Der moderne Kartenkünstler 71
Unknown Die Kartenbrücke long spread between hands that defies gravity, hidden rubber thread
Related to 1896 Der moderne Kartenkünstler 72
Friedrich W. Conradi-Horster Der Kartenturm severals cards placed upright on table to tower/house
 		1896 Der moderne Kartenkünstler 76
Unknown Magnetischer Kartenspiegel only selection adheres to mirror
 		1896 Der moderne Kartenkünstler 188
Unknown Karten- und Ei-Balance egg and upright card balanced on wand, card with needle inside
Related to 1896 Der moderne Kartenkünstler 189
Unknown The Terpsichorean Card card stands upright on table, then even dances to music
 		1897 New Era Card Tricks 92
Unknown The Balanced Card on hat, thread
Related to 1897 New Era Card Tricks 146
Unknown The Bridge of Cards long spread between hands, elastic underneath
Related toVariations 1897 New Era Card Tricks 170
Unknown A Hypnotic Experiment cards adhere to each other and cling together, cards with thread preparation
 		1897 New Era Card Tricks 186
Unknown Card and Egg Balance impossible balancing stunt with card and egg on wand
Related to 1897 New Era Card Tricks 198
Unknown Das Ei des Columbus egg balanced upright, then card balanced upright on egg and coin on that, all on wand
Related to Sep. 1897 Der Zauberspiegel (Vol. 3 No. 3) 38
Unknown Die Kartenbrücke No. 3, deck spread out between hands about fifty cm, stays suspended, secret rubber band/thread set-up
 		1900 Der Amateurzauberer 65
Friedrich "Fritz" Hügli III. Aus dem papierenen Königreich card is balanced on hat, deck is divided into two glasses and card floats from glas to glas, two cards are placed under two plates and the cards change places, selection is placed inside a book and performer shows envelope with miniature duplicate with correct page number and part of the text on that page written on it
  • 1. Die Karten-Balance
  • 2. Die Karte als Königin der Luft (with assistant)
  • 3. Die Kartenwanderung
  • 4. Eine magische Hypnose
 		1902 Moderne Magie 80
Unknown Die magnetischen Karten three cards taken and apparently magnetised, they cling to each other, making a row of three cards that is held at the top, threads across back
 		Apr. 1904 Der Zauberspiegel (Vol. 4 No. 4) 53
Unknown Card Balancing single card (gaffed) or deck (ungaffed) stand upright
 		1909 The Art of Magic 23
Unknown The Valladon Cards on Glass cards adhere to sheet of glass, spectator shoots on glass but candle goes out, performer shoots and all cards drop except selections
 		1909 The Art of Magic 235
Friedrich "Fritz" Hügli Der misslungene Eifersuchtsmord deck is balanced on single card, card placed in envelope and pierced with knife and then found restored
 		1922 Zwölf Schlager der Magie 51
Friedrich "Fritz" Hügli Balancieren eines Kartenspieles auf den Fingerknöcheln balancing deck on back of hand
 		1930 Zauberkunststücke 92
Tom Sellers New Magnetic Card card adheres to pencil
 		1935 Quick Tricks 23
Lloyd W. Chambers Molecular Cards deck is pulled open into a stream of cards, selection is only reversed card in facedown stream, tape
 		1941 Original Ideas in Magic 14
Jean Hugard The Balanced Deck deck balanced on hand
Related to Aug. 1944 Hugard's Magic Monthly — Volumes I, II, III and IV (Vol. 2 No. 3) 66
Neal Elias No Gimmick Card Spread long spread, using perpendicular card
Related toVariations 1946 At the Table Tricks 18
Unknown Making It Stick card does not stick to wall above door, but when performer gives him the power it works
 		1946 50 Tricks You Can Do, You Will Do, Easy to Do 58
Al Baker The Balancing Card thread
 		1951 The Secret Ways of Al Baker (Issue Pet Secrets) 361
Dr. William Weyeneth Williams magnetische Hand cards are attracted by magnet
 		1959 Hokus Pokus (Vol. 20 No. 4) 845
Charlie Miller Two Dollars and Aces aces appear in two envelopes that contained a dollar bill before, P&L Phantastic Card Reel for long spread in air
Inspired by 1961 The Magic of Charles Earle Miller 58
Jerry Andrus Air Borne Spread long spread between the hands with faro-shuffled deck
 		1973 Kurious Kards 38
Karl Fulves Suspense card balanced between upright card case and deck, then it remains suspended (chair levitation like) when case is removed
Also published here 1978 The Chronicles (Issue 7) 1134
Terry LaGerould Kinky-Pinky deck balanced upright on fingers while card rises
 		1979 Close-up Entertainer 66
Peter McDonald Die Standhafte Karte card stands upright
 		Aug. 1979 Intermagic (Vol. 6 No. 2) 69
Greg Wissmueller High Spread spread between the hands floats in the air
 		Oct. 1980 Apocalypse (Vol. 3 No. 10) 401
Karrell Fox Ballast balancing card on back of hand, thumb tip
 		June 1981 Apocalypse (Vol. 4 No. 6) 493
Don England Long Spread wire gimmick
 		1981 Don England's T.K.O.'s (Issue Hearts) 5
Paul Harris The Vacuum Cleaner Card Case case stuck to deck
Variations 1981 Close-up Fantasies Finalé 5
Curtis Kam, Chris Kam The VCCC Cleans Up Its Act case stuck to deck, gag routine with case as vacuum cleaner
Inspired by 1982 All the World's a Stage 30
Gaëtan Bloom One-Card Card Castle card stand on its edge, uncredited
 		1983 The Mendoza Portfolio No. 1 190
Mike Bornstein Stretch Out long spread of card between the hands without visible support, rubber band
 		1985 Best of Friends — Volume II 544
Meir Yedid Cliff Hanger long spread of card between the hands without visible support
Related to 1985 Best of Friends — Volume II 546
Randy Wakeman Spreading it a Little Too Thin too long spread is suspended in mid-air, perpendicular
Inspired by 1985 Formula One Close-Up 11
Steve Beam Charged Cards several phases, apparently cards are charged with electric energy
  • 1. single card rises from deck
  • 2. half of a card stands on table on the long end
  • 3. half of a card stands on table on the short end
  • 4. four quarters of a card cling to the fingers
  • 5. card spread is picked up (Jerry Andrus)
see also p. 243 for additional idea by Jim Surprise
Related to 1985 The Trapdoor — Volume One (Issue 10) 161
Jerry Andrus Picking Up Card Spread
Also published here
  • "Some Ideas With Ribbon Spreads" in Jerry Andrus' "Kurios Kards" 1973, p. 32
 1985 The Trapdoor — Volume One (Issue 10) 167
Steve Beam More? card case sticks to wall
 		1985 The Trapdoor — Volume One (Issue 10) 168
John Riggs Airspread card spread in hands, one hand lets go, spread suspends in air, ungaffed
 		1985 The Trapdoor — Volume One (Issue 12) 199
Steve Beam Airspread II gimmick version
 		1985 The Trapdoor — Volume One (Issue 12) 200
Karrell Fox "Baffling Balance" balancing card on back of hand
 		1986 For My Next Trick... 52
Hippie Torrales The Leaning Tower of Pasteboards card only supported on one side "floats" on hand
Related to Feb. 1987 Apocalypse (Vol. 10 No. 2) 1309
Ken Krenzel Incredible Full Deck Levitation paper clip gimmick
 		1987 Incredible Full Deck Levitation 1
Ken Krenzel The "Cases" Deck Levitation deck in case floats at hand
 		1987 Incredible Full Deck Levitation 6
Ken Krenzel Purist Non-Clip Variations ungaffed version
Inspired by 1987 Incredible Full Deck Levitation 11
Ken Krenzel A Gimmicked Incredible Levitation alternative
Inspired by 1987 Incredible Full Deck Levitation 14
Ken Krenzel, Hippie Torrales Hippie Torrales' Magnetic Spinner - Krenzel Variation deck floats on finger and moves
Related to 1987 Incredible Full Deck Levitation 15
Ken Krenzel 180° Magnetic Spin deck floats on finger and moves
 		1987 Incredible Full Deck Levitation 17
Steve Beam Airlift deck is balanced on fingertips, various methods
Related to 1990 The Trapdoor — Volume Two (Issue 35) 619
Steve Beam Power Pack half of deck balanced on other half
Variations 1990 The Trapdoor — Volume Two (Issue 35) 622
Scott Robinson Fan Flight half of deck balanced on other half, which is fanned
 		1990 The Trapdoor — Volume Two (Issue 35) 623
Steve Beam Light Spread long spread of card between the hands without visible support
Related to 1990 The Trapdoor — Volume Two (Issue 35) 633
Steve Beam Carded business is suspended on other business card
 		1990 The Trapdoor — Volume Two (Issue 35) 635
John Riggs Back to Business card on hand
 		1990 The Trapdoor — Volume Two (Issue 35) 639
Ken Krenzel Powering Up
Inspired by 1991 The Trapdoor — Volume Two (Issue 36) 654
Ken Krenzel Floating Deck deck on fingertips, in Leftovers
 		1991 The Trapdoor — Volume Two (Issue 40) 736
Dan Harlan Auto Suspension deck of cards suspends on hand
Related to 1991 The Minotaur (Vol. 3 No. 2) 8
Neal Elias Setting Up for No Gimmick Card Spread from June 1990 letter
Inspired by 1991 Cheat Sheet (Issue 8) 81
Howard Wurst Magnetic Marker Ace of Spades is marked with X on back and shuffled into deck, long in-the-hand spread then is supported by itself, case clings to spread when touched with spread, then Ace and other four Royal Flush cards are found in case
 		1991 Cheat Sheet (Issue 9) 88
Steve Dusheck Kling-On a card balances and sticks to another, coin produced and vanishes again
 		1992 Dusheck's Card Magic 87
Steve Dusheck Spread Em long spread between hands, reel
 		1992 Dusheck's Card Magic 98
Steve Beam Charged Cards several phases, apparently cards are charged with electric energy
  • 1. single card rises from deck
  • 2. half of a card stands on table on the long end
  • 3. half of a card stands on table on the short end
  • 4. four quarters of a card cling to the fingers
  • 5. card spread is picked up (Jerry Andrus)
Related to 1993 Semi-Automatic Card Tricks 101
Muneo Yokoi Stand Up Spread Table spread made to stand up vertically on its edge, self-standing, then two selections produced from it
 		1993 Volum 5 Lecture Note 16
Sid Fleischman A Flourish From the 30x perpendicular card under the deck holds long spread
  • The Extender (two perpendicular cards)
Related to 1993 The Charlatan's Handbook 109
Robert Parrish Do the Spirits Return? rapping hand answers questions, rising cards with the hand, card stands upright
Inspired byRelated to 1995 Great Tricks Revisited 25
Terry LaGerould Kinky Pinky deck balanced upright on fingers while card rises
 		1996 The Art of Astonishment — Book 2 (Issue Close-up Entertainer) 153
Patrick Snowden Tensegrity display construction with two cards and a pencil, impossible object, using thread and gaffed card
 		1996 The Art of Astonishment — Book 2 (Issue Astonishing Friends) 295
Joel Givens Lean Time deck stands upright on palm
 		1996 The Trapdoor — Volume Three (Issue 60) 1155
Unknown Sticky Cards card sticks to wall, spectator cannot duplicate, static electricity
 		1997 The Fred Braue Notebooks (Issue 8) 25
Lee Asher Erect Aces four Aces stand upright on table
VariationsAlso published here 1997 The Trapdoor — Volume Three (Issue 65) 1299
Richard Bartram, Jr. Suspended Change card is suspended on fingers then it changes to selection
 		1997 Trephine 40
Jon LeClair Static Card card stands on hand on edge
Inspired by
  • "Standing Card" (Gaëton Bloom)
 1997 The Art of Invisible Thread 135
Unknown The Magnetic Rise card sticks to handkerchief and is risen out of deck
 		1998 The Rising Card Book 9
Nob Yoshigahara Magnetic Aces four Aces face-down on table in a row, right first finger presses on first Ace, it clings to finger, places it on next Ace, both cards cling to finger, and so on
Related toAlso published here
  • "Invisible Glue" (Nob Yoshigahara, The Physics Teacher, Feb 1992 & MAGIC magazine ca. 1993)
 1998 Underworld (Issue 9) 118
John E. Mintz Magnetic Aces - Notes cards cling to finger and are picked up one by one
Related to 1998 Underworld (Issue 9) 119
Nob Yoshigahara Static Cling "an offbeat ace assembly"
four Aces face-down on table in a row, right first finger presses on first Ace, it clings to finger, places it on next Ace, both cards cling to finger, and so on
"in Science Magic Martin Gardner credits it to Nob Yoshigahara of Tokyo"
Related to 1998 The Fine Print (Issue 8) 232
Christian Scherer Sensitive Finger five phases blindfold routine with sense of touch presentation
  • 1. finger print, by touch
  • 2. think stop
  • 3. rising card under handkerchief, magnetism presentation
  • 4. card identity divination
  • 5. location of selection
Inspired byRelated to 1999 Sensitive Finger 9
Ellis Stanyon Balancing Any Card on a Hat No. 11, card moves in hat and then stands
 		1999 Ellis Stanyon's Best Card Tricks 160
Ellis Stanyon The Card and a Glass of Wine Balance on a Hat No. 12, glass balanced on end of playing card (with hinged flap) which is balanced on hat
 		1999 Ellis Stanyon's Best Card Tricks 160
Ellis Stanyon The Mysterious Chain of Cards No. 13, corners of two cards are rubbed together and they adhere, more cards are attached like that
Variations 1999 Ellis Stanyon's Best Card Tricks 161
Karl Fulves Supplementary Note different gaff
Inspired by 1999 Ellis Stanyon's Best Card Tricks 161
Ellis Stanyon The Electric Pack of Cards No. 48, floating spread between hands
 		1999 Ellis Stanyon's Best Card Tricks 184
J. A. Jackson Balancing the Pack on End - on the Back of the Hand No. 12
Variations 1999 Ellis Stanyon's Best Card Tricks 302
Karl Fulves Supplementary Note routine for the stunt
Inspired by 1999 Ellis Stanyon's Best Card Tricks 302
Ellis Stanyon A Bridge of Cards Between the Hands No. 32, elastic cord, long spread
 		1999 Ellis Stanyon's Best Card Tricks 311
Martin Gardner The Balancing Deck deck sands upright on back of hand, with comment by Joseph K. Schmidt
Related to 2000 Latter Day Secrets (Issue 2) 25
Jack Avis Jack Avis balancing deck with rubber band around it, clings to hand when hand is turned
 		2000 Latter Day Secrets (Issue 2) 26
Lee Asher Put Your Treys in the Upright Position "Erect Aces", four Threes stand upright on table
Also published here 2001 Close Cover Before Striking 9
Karl Fulves Suspense No. 38, card balanced between upright card case and deck, then it remains suspended (chair levitation like) when case is removed
Also published here 2001 My Best Self-Working Card Tricks 83
Neal Elias A Long Spread using perpendicular card
Related to 2001 New Card Controls 50
R. Paul Wilson Hovercraft deck is balanced on card case
 		2002 13 17
Unknown Egg, Card, and Wand egg balanced on card balanced on wand
Also published here
  • Will Goldston, Tricks and Illusions, 1908, p. 102
 2002 The Encyclopedia of Egg Magic 95
Dámaso Fernández La Carta Acróbata card stands on hand of performer and then flies to the other hand
 		2003 La Magia Española del Siglo XX 262
Karl Fulves Vulcan Deck rubber band around deck vanishes, then long spread between hand is made
Inspired by 2004 Under Tension 81
Karl Fulves Magnetic Mix-Up two rubber banded halves on top of each other, bottom one is lifted when top one is lifted
 		2004 Under Tension 90
Nathan Kranzo Tip Trey selection stands on table
Inspired by 2004 Semi-Automatic Card Tricks — Volume 5 151
Dirk Losander The Card Stands Alone
Inspired by
  • "One-Card Card Castle" (Gaeton Bloom)
 June 2004 Genii (Vol. 67 No. 6) 64
Karl Fulves Loco-Motion follow-up for "Auto Kinetic", toy car replaced in card case, then full deck removed from it, case balances on edge of one-handed fan, signed card to case
Inspired by 2006 Prolix (Issue 1) 5
Doug Edwards Deck Suspension deck suspended on fingers, variation with card case
  • Opener
 		2006 Brass Knuckles 108
David S. Anderson Magnetic Card borrowed card balanced on thumb and seems to cling to it
Also published here
  • Linking Ring, March 1961
 2009 Prolix (Issue 6) 388
David Gabbay Dizzy Tenkai (The Card That Falls Up) card shoots from one hand to other, used as flourish or “muscle pass” effect
 		2012 Noteworthy 55
Nico Scholl Tapped Deck is sucked back into card case while magician tries to remove it.
Related toVariations 2015 Semi-Automatic Card Tricks — Volume 10 20
Stephen Hobbs Matter of Balance deck balances on back of fingers, can be used as production when deck is tossed up and selection remains between fingers
 		May 2017 Genii (Vol. 80 No. 5) 61
Alexander Kölle Tapped Out additional handling for Nico Scholl's Tapped
Inspired by 2018 Semi-Automatic Card Tricks — Volume 11 20
Lorenz Schär Strapped deck is sucked back into card case while magician taps on it, only card sticking out is selection
Inspired by 2018 Semi-Automatic Card Tricks — Volume 11 21
Marty Kane A Stretch of Time long spread between hands, using a watch
Inspired by 2018 Semi-Automatic Card Tricks — Volume 11 36
Joaquín Navajas La carta que se mantiene en pie convincing handling for Gaëtan Bloom's Standing Card
Inspired by 2019 Monedas Personales Y Más 175
Steve Forte the floating cut bottom half seems to cling at upper half during tabled cut
 		2020 Gambling Sleight Of Hand — Volume 2 987