Modern Coin Magic. J. B. Bobo

fourth fingers a little as the right forefinger points to the closed left hand. After a brief pause the left hand slowly crumbles the coin to nothingness and the hand is shown empty.

      A prettier and more convincing method of vanishing a coin has not been devised. At least, I do not know of it.

      The sleight can also be used as a switch or as a pass.

      As a switch, use it this way: Have one coin concealed in the right hand in finger palm position at the base of the third and fourth fingers. The other coin is lying on the table.

      Pick up the coin from the table with the left hand and place it flat on the middle joint of the right forefinger. This should be done under the pretext of showing the left hand empty. Now as you go through The Drop Vanish moves the finger palmed coin is released and falls into the waiting left hand below, while the other coin drops down to finger palm position, occupying the place originally held by the finger palmed coin. At first the sleight will appear a little awkward when used as a switch but with a little practice you will find it quite easy.

      The illusion is enhanced if both coins are of the same denomination. The left hand can show its coin momentarily before the fingers close over it.

      As a pass, use it this way: Show three coins on the table. Pick up one of them with the right hand and pretend to place it in the left, but retain it classic palmed in the right instead. The left hand is closed. Pick up coin number two with the right hand and apparently place it in the left, but execute The Click Pass (a), (page 41). To the spectators it appears that you are holding two coins in your left hand—the sound created by The Click Pass offering audible proof that this is so. Actually the left hand holds only one coin, while the other is classic palmed in the right. While reaching for the third coin with the right hand, transfer the coin in that hand from classic palm to finger palm position, so it will lie at the base of the third and fourth fingers. Pick up the third coin with the right forefinger and thumb and slide it back to the middle joint of the forefinger in position for the Drop Vanish. Now execute the Drop Vanish moves. As the coin drops from the right forefinger it lands on the finger palmed coin and creates the exact sound it would have if it had fallen into the left hand on top of the coin(s) there. The illusion is perfect. The left hand apparently holds three coins, but actually it holds only one. The other two are finger palmed in the right hand.

      Of course, these additional suggestions are not offered as tricks in themselves but as a means for accomplishing other effects.

      Many other ideas will suggest themselves by experimenting with the two moves—The Click Pass and The Drop Vanish.

      THE BOBO COIN VANISH

      The main point in favor of this and the three coin vanishes that follow is an illusive element called retention of vision. In other words, not only does the coin actually appear to be placed in the left hand—the spectators think they see it in that hand AFTER the hands separate. The result of the perfect illusion these sleights create is complete deception.

      Hold a half dollar by its edge between the tips of the right thumb and middle finger and place it squarely in the palm of the left hand, Fig. 1. Retain this grip on the coin as you close your left fingers over it. Open the left first two fingers so the spectators may see that the half dollar is actually in the left hand, Fig. 2.

      Although the following moves are carried through as one complete action they will be described separately for better understanding.

      Close the first two fingers of the left hand over the coin and hold that hand quite loosely and relaxed. Left little finger rests on outer joint of the right thumb. Study the position of the hands in Fig. 2. The left little finger and the outer joint of the right thumb act as a pivot for the two hands as they turn inward together. The left hand turns clockwise as the right hand turns counterclockwise. And both must turn simultaneously, until the backs of both hands are toward the spectators, Fig. 3. The right thumb and middle finger still retain their grip on the coin and they bend inward as the two hands turn over. Hands are still together at this point and the half dollar is outside the left fist. (Fig. 4 shows how the hands appear from the rear.)

      Although the spectators are never conscious of the hands being in this position because there is no hesitation in the action, they are pictured in this position for clarity.

      At this juncture the right hand moves inward toward the left shoulder and thence outward again, making a pass over the back of the left fist a couple of times. As the right hand moves back toward the body at the start of this action the coin is thumb palmed.

      Going back to Fig. 4 you will observe that the half dollar is held by the thumb and middle finger of the right hand. In order to thumb palm the coin place the forefinger on top of it and remove the thumb, holding the coin between the first two fingers. These two fingers deposit it in thumb palm position as the hand swings inward and outward making the first pass over the left fist. Continue passing the right hand over the left fist a couple more times. Finally, diminish the passes, open the left hand and show that the coin has faded away.

      A great many words have been necessary to describe this vanish which only takes a moment to perform and is not difficult once the exact mechanics are thoroughly understood.

      THE SLIDE VANISH

      JOHN MULHOLLAND

      This sleight to cause a coin to disappear was devised by John Mulholland when he was about twelve years old. Because of the reliable peculiarity of the eye called retention of vision, the spectator “sees” the coin go into the hand and is very much surprised when the magician shows it isn’t there. The Slide Vanish has the added advantage of being a completely natural move.

      This is the effect: The magician holds his right hand out flat to show a half dollar resting on the center of the palm. Tilting his hand he permits the coin to slide from the palm, down his fingers and into the cupped left hand held below to catch it. The left hand is closed about the half dollar and raised to shoulder height. After a rubbing movement of the fingers of the left hand, or with the pronouncement of the magic words, the hand is opened to show that the coin has disappeared.

      The sleight depends upon the fact that a half dollar is of such size that it will wedge between the tips of the first and little fingers when those fingers are squeezed tightly against, and just a little above, the two middle fingers. By holding the fingers in this manner, a coin sliding from the palm toward the tips of the fingers will become wedged at the tips of the fingers. As the coin slides down the hand, which should not be tilted so much as to make the movement fast, the left hand is brought underneath and held like a cup. Just at the instant the coin has reached the position on the fingers where it will stay, turn the hand over so that the back is toward the audience. This is done by turning the wrist and in no other way changing the position of the hand. The turn over seems merely to be proof that the coin has left the hand. The instant the right hand is turned it is moved away from the left hand, which then closes “about the coin.” The left hand, by the way, should be held so that the palm almost touches the tips of the fingers of the right at the moment the right hand is turned over. The hands being that close together provide complete cover and hide the fact that the coin never goes into the left hand.

      Once the left hand is closed the right hand can be dropped to the side. In that position the coin can be brought to the back of the hand so that the palms of both hands may be shown empty after the vanish has occurred. For those who do not back palm, it will be found that the coin is in a position