Peter Groning is a clever guy and his effects in the book are all excellent. You should be made
aware that almost all will require certain gaff cards as well, double face, double back, mirrored
(both sides show the same card) and duplicates, so if you're considering purchasing the book, go
ahead and get some of those as well. My personal favorite of the lot is called 'Bit by Bit' where
the face of the signed (on the back) card fades and disappears each time an envelope is waved over
it. The spectator opens the envelope to find his signed card inside! These aren't self workers and
some sleight of hand is required, though none difficult.
If you're thinking secret gimmick
or secret writer / duplicator, you'd be mistaken. There are none of that used in the methodology
here. Without saying too much, it takes advantage of a previous effect you'd performed already. Phil
Goldstein refers to it as 'ecological magic', where the waste product gets recycled. It also relies
on laypeople's general assumption once a trick is over. The very last trick in the book, 'Signed
Sealed Delivered' is the only one that is impromptu, the rest require a previous effect being
performed on the spectator(s) already. For the magic niche pertaining to signed card effects, the
book is a gem.
Hermetic Press has always produced quality books and this is no exception.
Magic with Wasted Signatures
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