Effect:
The magician shows an envelope to be empty, seals it closed and a spectator sits on it. The selected card is vanished while the spectator is holding the deck. The envelope that the spectator has been sitting on is torn open and the selection is miraculously found inside.
Equipment:
Himber Envelope – Get two letter sized white envelopes. On one envelope cut along the bottom and both edges, as near the edge as you can. Take the front piece of the envelope, with the flap, and insert it into the standard envelope. Place the selected card in between the two flaps. Seal the back flap to the front flap. This should leave an apparently empty envelope, with a normal flap.
For instructions on how to make a Himber Envelope see the blog post – Here
Fielders Flier – Buy the gaff card if available. If not, you can make one (Instructions are below). Take your selected card and split it. Glue it to the back of a joker – place it so it looks like the cards are fanned.
Method:
Remove the “selected” card from the deck.
Show the envelope empty, seal the envelope. Select your volunteer from the audience and have them sit on the envelope – Do not let them hold the envelope as they would feel the card inside.
Take the deck of cards and remove the two jokers, face up. The top face up joker is the gimmick. You can lightly spread the jokers and flash the back. Do not be showy about it, and do not let the gaff flash. This just makes it look like the backs of both cards are normal, without bringing attention to it. Place the jokers down on the table, face up (gaff on top).
Explain to the assistant and demonstrate while explaining.
Spread the cards and say that you will use a joker to allow them to select a card. You will move the joker and they will say ‘stop’. Insert the joker and spread the cards fully to show the actual card in the deck. You will need to square up the gaff with the card below it, so not to show the gaff. The example card is whatever is truly below the joker.
Square up the deck and fan them again. This time allow the assistant to say stop at any point. Insert the joker and spread the cards. Show the gaff “selected” card. Square up the deck and set the joker back with the other joker.
Square the gaff card with the card above it, and when you spread the cards, leave a large gap under the gaff. The gap should be almost the full width of the card below the joker. This leaves a space for the gaff force card to show. Keep your hands covering the bottom of the deck, so the gaffiness below the joker does not show.
Hand the deck to the assistant, then tell them that you will make their selected card vanish from the deck. Do a magic move (I like to clap one time) and tell them the card has vanished. Allow them to go through the deck and tell you if it is gone.
Have them stand up and let them take the envelope. Ask them if they feel a card shaped object in the envelope. Have them hold it to the light and see if there is a card shaped shadow.
Clearly show your hands are empty. Take the envelope from them and rip off one end. Remove the card and crumple the envelope. Show them that the selected card was inside the envelope.
Tips:
Practice the 3 spreads with the joker: casually showing the backs of the joker, random card showing, and gaff selected card showing. Be sure you can spread them without looking at the faces. Practice in a mirror.
Do not let the assistant feel the envelope before sitting – they will feel the card.
Because the envelope is gaffed, you cannot allow the spectator to open the envelope.
Rip the end off of the envelope so not to mess with the double flap.
Crumple the envelope to hide the gaffed envelope.
With the gaffed joker put away, and the envelope tossed, you end clean.
Making a Fiedler’s Flier gaff force card
If you cannot purchase a pre-made Fiedler’s Flier you can make one fairly easily. Select a card that you have duplicates of (never throw out worn out decks of cards). Split the card and remove the face of the card. For instructions on how to split a card see the video HERE, or the blog post HERE. You will also need a joker, or two, to make the gaff.
You only need the top portion of the card, so you can use the bottom to make a 2nd gaff at the same time. Use the picture as an example of the angle for the gaff. Glue the card face to the back of the joker and press it under a book while the glue dries.
After the glue has dried, carefully cut around the joker to remove any excess from the gaff.
Click HERE to see the YouTube video on Splitting Cards and making the Fiedler’s Flier force card gaff.
