Defying Gravity

131 entries in Cards / Effect Themes / Animation / Defying Gravity
Creators Title Comments & References Year Source Page AA Categories
To make a Card stand upright by itself on the Table tin slip
 		1876
Modern Magic
132
Der Karten-Jongleur card balances on hat or elsewhere, thread
Related to 1896
Der moderne Kartenkünstler
71
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
Magnetischer Kartenspiegel only selection adheres to mirror
 		1896
Der moderne Kartenkünstler
188
Karten- und Ei-Balance egg and upright card balanced on wand, card with needle inside
Related to 1896
Der moderne Kartenkünstler
189
The Terpsichorean Card card stands upright on table, then even dances to music
Related to 1897
New Era Card Tricks
92
The Balanced Card on hat, thread
Related toAlso published here 1897
New Era Card Tricks
146
The Bridge of Cards long spread between hands, elastic underneath
Related toVariationsAlso published here 1897
New Era Card Tricks
170
A Hypnotic Experiment cards adhere to each other and cling together, cards with thread preparation
 		1897
New Era Card Tricks
186
Card and Egg Balance impossible balancing stunt with card and egg on wand
Related to 1897
New Era Card Tricks
198
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
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
 		1903
Moderne Magie
80
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
Card Balancing single card (gaffed) or deck (ungaffed) stand upright
 		1909
The Art of Magic
23
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
Franklin M. Chapman A Tip card balanced upright on back of hand, thumb tip
 		1936
Another Six Bits
7
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 (Vol. 2 No. 3)
66
Neal Elias No Gimmick Card Spread long spread, using perpendicular card
Related toVariations 1946
At the Table Tricks
18
Rowland Brandwem Matchbook Discovery card is selected and shuffled back in the deck, second selection is placed unseen on the table, then 13 cards placed in a row and matchbox held over each card and one card sticks to it which turns out to be selection and unseen card's value matches position
 		Oct. 1946
Hugard's Magic Monthly (Vol. 4 No. 5)
261
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 card stands upright on performer's palm, thread
Also published here 1951
Pet Secrets
13
Bruce Posgate Ribbon-Spread Cards Suspension spread remains suspended in mid-air, combined with arm spreads, lazy tongs gimmick
 		July 1956
Ibidem (Issue 6)
17
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
Use Thumbtip For Standing Card On Hand No. 452, card balanced on back of hand with thumb tip
 		1972
Jacob Daley's Notebooks
128
Roterberg New Era No. 691, on hat, thread
Also published here 1972
Jacob Daley's Notebooks
187
Roterberg Bridge Of Cards No. 693, long spread between hands, elastic underneath
Also published here 1972
Jacob Daley's Notebooks
187
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
Also published here 1979
Close-up Entertainer
66
Peter A. 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 stands 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
Gaëtan Bloom Impossible Is Not French card balances on edge, torn card balances on torn edge
Variations 1986
Gaetan Bloom 86
8
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 card 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 June 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
Michael Close, Gaëtan Bloom Bloom in Your Hand thread set up to balance card on hand and making matches fly from matchbox
Inspired by July/Aug. 1993
The Magic Menu (Vol. 3 No. 18)
200
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
Also published here 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
Also published here 1996
The Trapdoor — Volume Three (Issue 60)
1155
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
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 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
Jason Alford Floating Deck deck is on table and clings to fingers when lifted up, hidden fork
 		1998
Thinking & Wondering
34
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
Mark Aspiazu Pen Production pen appears on in-the-hands spread, or under the spread with floating spread sequence
  • Variation
 		1999
Cyber Sessions
89
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
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
Al Baker The Balancing Card card stands upright on performer's palm, thread
Also published here 2003
The Secret Ways of Al Baker (Issue Pet Secrets)
361
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
Doug Edwards The De Suspension deck suspended on fingers, first in card case then without, ungaffed
Also published here July 2003
MAGIC (Vol. 12 No. 11)
86
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
Also published here 2006
Brass Knuckles
108
Chastain Criswell Box Balance case balances on finger in impossible configuration, hidden coin
Also published here Nov. 2006
MAGIC (Vol. 16 No. 3)
98
Joel Givens Lean Time deck stands upright on palm
Also published here 2007
Session
227
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
Alexander de Cova Drei Sekunden Schweben deck balances on fingertip in an impossible way
 		2015
Burners — Vol. 2
315
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
Doug Edwards The De Suspension deck suspended on fingers, first in card case then without, ungaffed
Also published here 2022
Talk About Tricks (Issue 1)
207
Chastain Criswell Box Balance case balances on finger in impossible configuration, hidden coin
Also published here 2022
Talk About Tricks (Issue 1)
555
Mortenn Christiansen Take Annnnny Card long spread between hands that defies gravity
Related to 2023
Mortenn's Notes
40