The Box Illusion
EFFECT
The entire deck vanishes from the card box with the
exception of one card.
PREPARATION
I found there is a clever way to fold the flap of most card
boxes to make it look like there is a complete deck inside.
Let’s take a look: Open the flap of your card box. Notice
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there are three creases inside. Use a pencil to draw some
straight lines across the flap between the outer and middle
crease (photo 1). Note that drawing these lines is not entirely
necessary, but it does help to enhance the illusion. Fold the
innermost crease toward the inside of the box and fold the
middle crease outward (photo 2). This creates a secret double
flap that will masquerade as the edge of the deck. Hold the
flap in place by squeezing the sides of the box at the front
corners between your right thumb and middle finger. Push
your index finger down to prevent the box from bowing
upward. Fold the circular portion of the main flap upward
2 slightly and fold the small side flaps inward (photo 3).
Slide a card into the box (I use the Ace of Spades). Imagine
that this card is indeed the top card of the deck; it should be
parallel to the top panel of the box (photo 4). Make sure the
card does not slope down inside the box. The grip of your
right hand will help keep the card in place. It helps to turn the
box upside down first to get the card in optimal position.
Look into the opening of the box. Depending on the angle,
you could swear there is an entire deck inside. The
presentation will guide you through optimal angles. Before
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performing the effect, place the balance of the deck inside
one of your pockets (the Ace is in the box as described).
METHOD & PRESENTATION
Say, “I’d like to show you a card trick…and we don’t
even have to remove the cards from the box.” Hold the
box with the opening of the card box toward the audience, as
described above. Reach in with your left fingers and partially
pull out the face down Ace of Spades; be sure to keep it
parallel to the ground and directly against the upper panel of
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the box (photo 5). Continue, “I keep my favorite card, the
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Ace of Spades on top of the deck.” Rotate your right hand
palm up so the face of the protruding Ace is visible. Bend
the Ace downward a bit with your left hand so the audience
can get a clear view of the Ace (photo 6). The idea here is to
give your audience another view of the “deck” inside
without drawing too much attention to it. Also, keep in mind
that you do not want the audience to look straight down on
the box, which would expose the secret fold.
Rotate the box to its original position and push the Ace 5
inside.
Tilt the box up with the opening toward you. Pull straight up
on the flap to dislodge the secret fold (photo 7) and tuck the
flap in the box.
Gently place the box on the table as if it has some weight to
it. Say, “If I snap my fingers over the deck, I can make
the Ace of Spades fly to my pocket.” Suit actions to words,
then reach in your pocket and remove any card from the
deck you placed there earlier. Turn the card over and act 6
disappointed that it didn’t work. Repeat these actions a few
more times, eventually removing groups of cards from your
pocket. Continue until all the cards have been removed. This
is reminiscent of David Williamson’s “51 Cards to Pocket.”
Pick up the box and turn it upside down. Pull open the flap
and tilt your hand forward to let the solitary card fall out.
If you squeeze the sides of the deck, you can cause it to open
up widely so the spectators can get a clear view of the
completely empty box.
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Note that you can have a spectator open the box to discover
the sole Ace, but if you prepared the flap with pencil lines, they might be noticed.
ENDNOTES
You can also present “The Box Illusion” as a mental effect. Start with any card in the box, but do not
reveal its identity. Do the introductory display and place the box on the table. Use equivoque to have the
spectator narrow down a mental selection to the card you have in the box. At the end, show that every
card except the spectator’s card has vanished from the box.
If you’re really brave, instead of tabling the card box, place it directly on the spectator’s palm. If you
apply downward pressure, it simulates the weight of a full box. Gradually release pressure as the trick
proceeds, then ask the spectator to toss you the box.
You can also begin “The Box Illusion” without any cards inside and let the secret flap alone masquerade
as the deck. Used in this way, you can flash a deck inside, then instantly show the deck has jumped to
your pocket. This could make a great quick and visual opener.
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