Magic Tricks

This is a normal deck with 4 gaffed cards, a d/b, a gaffed card for making the case appear empty (please read the last paragraph), a card with an image of a Mechanics Industries coin in the card and torn out, and lastly a gaffed card that creates an optical illusion of a hollowed out deck with the queen of hearts poked into the side about halfway down.

The deck and inking is very nice, typical USPC fare which you're familiar with if you've ever handled a Bicycle deck and I imagine you have. The hollowed deck and empty case gaffs are interesting and seem they wouldn't fool anyone so when you look at them remember how you were fooled enough to purchase this. I tested the hollowed deck illusion on my usual suspect (wife) and she freaked out. I don't have an Mechanic Industries coin so that gaff is useless to me, and personally I doubt I'll ever mess with the empty case gaff as well for another reason which I'll now get to.

In the description here at Penguin Magic, it's mentioned to not damaged the box's seal because it's used in a trick. It is, the empty box illusion. But, here's the thing. I used a blade and cut my seal along the edge and moon cut out as I and most magicians normally do to keep the seal appearing pristine and not leave any sticky portion exposed, but that was wrong. It needed to be cut straight across the top, not along the moon cutout. That way the sticky portion of the seal will be exposed in the moon cutout of the box and which is needed for the gaffed card. I wish Penguin would have elaborated a little further on this aspect since I'm surprised they're not aware of how their instructions would be interpreted, maybe it's just oversight. The website where all the tutorials are located isn't anything secret, it's Mechanic Industries' normal website. Penguin should have simply referred us to there to get an understanding of how the seal needs to be cut. So, because of this lack of specific detail, my empty case illusion is ruined. For the price, it's a good buy and done quickly and tongue in cheek the hollow deck illusion is very disarming and surprising. It does require sleight of hand, and honestly not easy sleight of hand either. If your hands are thin with very long fingers, you'll have no problems. For the rest of us however we're limited to how much of this deck's capability is accessible.