Win all of these!
Drawing on April 1st, 2024
Details

Thumb Fun

Illusion Concepts - Devin Knight

(Based on 3 reviews)
This was one of Sid Lorraine's most popular tricks. It has been off the market for more than 40 years. Devin Knight obtained permission from the Abbott Magic Company to release this again and to update the original directions. How good is this effect? Well, it was one of the late Doug Henning's favorite tricks and was personally taught to him by Sid. Doug Henning used it everywhere, including in some of his touring stage shows, showing it on a big screen behind him.



EFFECT: A playing card is selected and kept a secret from the performer. The performer shows five small white cards blank on both sides, the size is roughly 1.5 x 2.5. He cleanly removes a card and shows it to be blank on both sides (no double-lift).

The performer shows there is nothing on his thumb and presses it against the blank card, when he lifts his thumb, there is seen to be a black thumbprint with a small replica of the chosen card inside the thumbprint. One of the most novel and commercial card revelations ever invented and a favorite of many professional magicians. Everything can be examined. You can repeat the effect later and have a different card appear. Appeals to all ages. You are not limited to playing cards, you can make numbers, ESP symbols or even the person's initials appear within the thumbprint. You can leave the thumbprint with the spectator to show to others.

This effect comes with Sid's complete directions updated by Devin Knight. A highly sought-after effect by collectors that is now available again. The effect looks so good you will almost fool yourself. Learn to do it in five minutes.

NO CHEMICALS USED
NO GIMMICKS USED
NO SLEIGHTS NEEDED
NO FUSS, NO MESS
CAN BE REPEATED WITH DIFFERENT RESULTS
EASY TO DO

"I really do think this gem is something that many magicians will find as a 'keeper' as they perform it and realize the wonderful effect it has on an audience. You have revived an exceptional piece of magic for many to enjoy! I'm impressed and very happy that you've gone through all that you have to make this available again."
- Chester McBain

Reviews

Doc Johnson

Official Reviewer

Jan 15, 2016

PROS

This is a classic of magic and a blast from the past! It was released in the 1950s by Sid Lorraine, famous for his illustrations for Abbott Magic. The product was discontinued many years ago, and more recently brought back to life by Devin Knight.

The effect is you show several blank pieces of paper front and back. You show your thumb clean. You press your thumb to one of the blank cards and it leaves a thumb print. You receive five blank pieces of cardstock that are 1.5 by 2 inches, or approximately 4 by 5.5 centimeters. In addition, you receive five pieces of cardstock the same size with various thumb prints on them. One has the number 2 ½, another the numbers 1 through 9, another has a small two of clubs, another has a three of spades, and the last has a five of clubs. Finally, you receive five cards with thumb prints that have a blank space in the middle that you can customize.

You also receive a four page instruction sheet. No DVD or online video, just written instructions.

The method is very easy, and involves the easiest of “moves”. The ad copy says there are no sleights. I’m not going to disagree, given the one “move” you must do really isn’t much of a sleight. I would call it a simple move, not a sleight.

The instructions cover a variety of presentations, covering all the thumb print cards you have. Each card is a different presentation and really slightly different effect. The presentations also run the spectrum of card revelation, gag, and even mentalism.

The premise is pretty simple, but the various routines can be very effective and very entertaining. I never saw Sid perform, but there is a section on the last page of the instructions that is a list of comedy bits that Sid used in conjunction with this effect. Many of the bits are reminiscent of old vaudefille bits and they may not work well today, but some might be brushed off and used, or at least, used as inspiration for more up to date bits. For example, using one of the bits as a guide, you would have a participant hold out their thumb in the same position as a hitch-hicker. You would then ask them to move it forward and backward and you help guide them. You then say: “I am going to do a little reading… you like to travel, but you are cheap."

CONS

I don’t know what to say here. You should know that the cards are quite small, the dimensions given above. I don't know if that is a con or a pro. I my mind, it’s more of a pro, but it is something you should be aware of.

VERDICT

A great blast from the past, brought back to life!


Suggestions

I think this effect would lend itself wonderfully to a give-away, however, you only have a limited number of fingerprint cards. One particularly good give-away would be for a special couple, celebrating a wedding or an anniversary. Take one of the fingerprint cards with a blank space and make a photocopy of it. Using a fine tip pen, modify the fingerprints to be in the shape of a heart. Find out the initials of the special couple in advance. Let’s say they are RT and LT. Inside the heart, write “RT + LT”. Make another photocopy of this onto card stock. Perform the routine as outlined in the instructions.
(Top ▲)

James Wood

Oct 09, 2015

With this trick, you show the spectator five small blank cards about one-third the size of playing cards. You then rub your thumb vigorously against your sleeve and press it against one of the cards. When you take your thumb away, it leaves an FBI-type thumb-print in the middle of the card. In the middle of the print is a blank space with a small image --- of a previously selected card, a predicted number, or whatever else you want to put inside the tiny space.

Thumb Fun, first marketed by Sid Lorraine many years ago, has recently been revived by Devin Knight. I bought my version from Lybrary.com as an $8.00 download. It contained instructions and templates for making the thumb-print cards. I took the templates to Office Depot and had them printed on business card stock. Some dealers sell a somewhat more expensive version of Thumb Fun with ready-made cards.

This trick packs small and plays much bigger than I expected. I present the cards as “scratch-off lottery tickets.” I try to scratch off one of the cards but fail. Then I give the card to the spectators and ask if they can scratch it. Of course, they fail too, but this allows them to handle the card and realize that it’s just ordinary white card-stock, blank on both sides. Afterward I make the thumbprint and image appear on the same blank card they just handled (or at least, what they think is the same card).

I’m enthusiastic about this trick for three reasons. First, it’s very, very easy to perform. Second, despite the simplicity of the method, it’s a genuine fooler and looks magical. Spectators really want to examine that card again -- and you can let them, or even give it to them as a souvenir. Third, the trick can be personalized. For example, I performed Thumb Fun for the bride and groom at a wedding reception and made their names appear together in the middle of the thumbprint.

There’s only one “con” I can think of: If you want to personalize the image in the thumbprint, as I did for the newly-weds, you will have to do some extra prep. But if you aren’t interested in personalizing the trick, you can simply make a selected card appear in the middle of the thumb-print and re-use the same card again and again (in fact, the templates include three thumb-prints, each with a different card image, so that the trick can be repeated with different outcomes).

(Top ▲)

Stuart Philip

Official Reviewer

Aug 20, 2015

This is a great classic. It is easy and fun to perform and spectators get a huge kick out of this trick. With Thumb Fun, the performer allows the spectator to pick a card and does not reveal it to the performer. The performer then shows a stack of 5 small blank pieces of white paper and after displaying that his thumb is clean, he presses it onto one of the pieces of papers and reveals a thumb print with a tiny image of the selected card, printed on the paper.

I have a dim recollection of seeing this trick as a kid, many decades ago. Discontinued since then, it was brought back and updated by Devin Knight, with permission .

This trick comes with the necessary small pieces of white paper and two double sided pages of instructions. The instructions are clearly printed with excellent illustrations, which are easy to follow and understand. This is not like so many tricks where the written instructions have been copied over and over so that it is blurry and barely legible. These instructions are newly printed and not only contain the instructions, but suggested patters and Sid Lorraine's one-liner gags he used to use when performing this trick. The one liners are a bit outdated and probably won't be used.

You can reveal different outcomes, different selected cards, ESP symbols or even a custom word or drawing.

The ad copy is accurate except for the statement that there are "no sleights." That is not accurate. There is a move that needs to be done, but it is as easy as waving hello to a friend.

This is fun for audiences of all ages, fun in a close-up or strolling situation and can be carried around in your wallet at all times.
(Top ▲)