I know, I know, I sell books. Hence the name, "Don's Magic & Books." But I also collect ESP Cards, decks and effects, and I thought I'd share some of the many ESP items I've collected over the years.
I started collecting ESP items around 1983, when I learned of the wonderful mathematical properties of an ESP deck. In case you're not familiar with ESP cards, each of the five main designs is represented by the numbers 1 through 5.
The CIRCLE, made with 1 continuous line, represents the number 1. The CROSS, made with 2 lines, represents the number 2. The WAVY LINES is 3, the SQUARE is 4, and the STAR is 5. Some creators have replaced the wavy lines with a triangle, but I like the classic designs.
Because of those numbers, when an ESP deck is marked on the backs, the marks usually use 1 through 5 to designate the design on the face. Mathematical principle #1.
When you have an entire deck of ESP cards, there are 5 of each design, making a full ESP deck of 25 cards.
Now, if you put those designs in cyclical order (CIRCLE, CROSS, WAVY LINES, SQUARE, STAR, CIRCLE, CROSS, WAVY LINES, etc.), you then have mathematical principle #2: No matter where you cut the ESP deck, the cards will remain in cyclical order, regardless of what card is on top.
Because of that, glimpsing the bottom card tells you what the top card is (always the next card in the cyclical order). If you glimpse the bottom card and it is the circle, you automatically know that the top card is the cross. It works with each card, as long as they remain in cyclical order.
You can show that you are "mixing" them very convincingly by using the Charlier Shuffle, learned in many different magic books, especially those teaching card magic. It looks very haphazard, but keeps the cards in the cyclical stack. You can also use any false cut that you already know.
And now, let me show you some of the many ESP items I own, and I'll tell you why I like each of them, for different reasons.
I primarily use 2 different sets of ESP cards, depending on my performing situation, and whether I need just 10 cards for a matching routine, or a full deck for other routines.
When I am strolling at fairs and festivals, I use the Card Shark ESPionage Set, because of the larger size of the cards, and also because of the easy-to-read markings (which I won't give away here).
The second set that I use quite often, because of the easy to read markings, but also because they are printed on a plastic yardstick, one that wipes clean should they get wet or dirty, is Michael Murray's Naked ESP Set. Very BOLD symbols, and marks that can be read from 5 feet away.
Speaking of marked cards, one set has really stood out in the last couple of years. It is the Eclipse ESP deck from www.the1914.com. This set is marked in such a way that they can be "read" from as far away as 12 feet.
One time at Band Camp... I mean Magifest, I was demonstrating the Eclipse cards, and someone asked if they can really be read from a distance. I had him stand 4 feet back, then 6 feet, then 10 feet, and even at 12 feet, he was still able to identify which card I was holding. I sold about 6 decks within the next 5 minutes!
Now, how about some unique sets of ESP cards.
The Aged ESP Cards from Alakazam Magic have a unique, "aged" look to them.
Dead Rebel Productions released the Dr. Nevin's set that looks very "old world."
Dead Rebel also put out a Zoological edition of ESP cards. Very creative.
The late Thom Peterson released "Just Fate," a set of 10 cards with a darker theme.
How about a set with a desert theme?
Finally, there is the very easy to read ESP cards from the Tenyo company, known primarily for their plastic ingenuity. These cards can be read better from 6-8 feet away than they can up close.
Then, there are the ESP routines and effects, some of which require special cards or other props.
CodeName Oracle, a game utilizing ESP cards, Color Test Cards from Steve Dela, EmojESP, ESP By The Numbers from John Bannon, ESP Chips, ESP Test Kit from Steve Cook, High Five Finger Match Set, the ashes on the arm effect with an ESP symbol stamping gimmick, RandomEyes/Paranormal set, Sequence ESP cards by Rich Relish, Symbol from Steve Cook (I use this one a lot), The Experiment by Vinny Sagoo (I use this a lot also), X-Ray Vision Block from Tora Magic, and The Zener Murders from Jamie Daws.
Finally, where do magicians learn routines using ESP cards?
The Answer is many places, but here are a few:
Every one of the Subtle Card Creations books from Nick Trost have an entire chapter devoted to ESP card routines and effects.
Aldo Colombini released 20 DVDs with ESP card routines from various authors and texts. Twenty! An amazing amount of work, compiled together.
Some other great places to learn ESP routines from:
And the best 5-for-5 matching routine, from Dave Humphrey and Michael Murray, Jazz Mentalism.
How many ESP decks are there?
The answer, I believe, is infinite. I personally own over 75 different ESP decks, dating from 1936 until the present. As for ESP effects, I own at least 60, and I'm sure I own less than half of all currently available routines and props. Please realize that not everything shown here is still available; they are just a small part of my collection.
There are many that I haven't listed, that are really good, but this article has to come to end sometime. :)
I have three pages of items for sale on my site related to ESP card magic. Take a look, and see if I have struck on a new possibility for your magic.
Until we meet again, thanks for spending your time with me today.
Don "you collect ESP cards?" Bursell
Don's Magic & Books