A Peek Inside French Pasteboards

(I still remember that afternoon, 25 years ago in Paris, when Bernard first performed the Torn Card for me. The effect was stunning and the method was devilishly clever. See if you don’t agree.)

Torn Card

Effect A sticker is placed on the face of a selected card and a spectator initials the sticker. With a straight razor the magician cuts the card in two parts, which he shows well separated. The two pieces of the card are placed on top of the deck and with just a wave of the hands, the selection is restored. This version of the Torn and Restored Card is based on a very clever application of an optical illusion.

Set-Up

Get two cards matching the back design of the deck you are going to use. Place then pack to back and with a pair of scissors, cut them in half from side to side slightly askew. (Fig.1)

Take two of the half cards which are back to back and stick them together with a little bit of magician’s wax. You’ve got yourself a perfect "half double lift". Let’s suppose it shows on one side the three of hearts and on the other side the eight of cubs. Place it in your right outside coat pocket, three of hearts side next to your body. Place a straight razor in the same pocket. Have the eight of clubs on top of your deck and a sticker handy.

Routine

1. Remove the deck from its case, shuffle the cards, keeping track of the eight of clubs, then force it to a spectator. With the deck face down in the left hand, place the selected eight of clubs face up on top of the deck. Place the sticker on the face-up eight. Position the sticker on the lower half of the card. Have the spectator initial the sticker.

2. Reach into your pocket for the razor and at the same time, palm the gimmicked half-card.

3. Give the blade for examination and while the spectators are trying not to cut their fingers, your right hand casually squares the deck adding its palmed half to the top. Tilt your left hand slightly towards you in order to kill the top of the deck for the next step.

4. Take the razor in your right hand and fake the move of cutting the face card of the deck in half. Set the razor on the table and tilt the left hand towards the spectators. They can now see the top of the deck with the eight of clubs apparently cut in half.

5. The right hand moves above the two half cards and picks the top half off, separating the wax. The illusion created is that the signed part of the selection has remained face up on top of the deck. And a convincing illusion it is. (Fig. 2)

6. Replace the half in your right hand on top of the deck, aligning it with its mate and adhere it to the wax. Place the deck on the table in front of you. Square it up.

7. Now, use a flat or angle palm with right hand while waving the fingers of both hands over the deck. The restoration is fast and visual. The left hand tosses the restored card onto the table. Get rid of the palmed half-cards in your lap or leave them in your pocket when you replace the razor.

Notes

1. For a repeat, you can use the other side of the "half double lift" with the three of hearts showing this time.

2. At step 6 you can perform "Rise, Rise, Rise" described in The Table Palm Booklet by Edward Marlo.

3. If performing the effect standing, the half-cards can be retained on top of the deck by the left thumb as the right hand deals the "restored" card onto the table. The left hand must turn inward to kill the top of the deck. If seated, the gimmicked halves can be lapped from this position.

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