Houdini's Union Card
Type: Close-up, Walk-around
Skill Level: 
Retail Price: $20
Effect: You tell the audience of your recent trip to an antique
shop, where you found Houdini's "Magicians' Union Card" After
removing the card from it's protective holder you pass it around for examination.
Going on with your show you proceed to do a card trick in which the spectator's
card vanishes. Apologetic and embarrassed you pull out Houdini's Union
card from its protective folder, which a spectator has been holding all
along . When the union card is flipped over it is seen to contain the vanished
card laminated inside.
Dafoe Magic Works
83 Purdy St.
Belleville, Ont.
Canada K8P 1Z2
Performance Time: 2-3 minutes
Reset Time: About 30 seconds.
Angles: 
Quality: The cards are NOT common Bicycle brand. They are "off
brand" cards. The union card is laminated and looks good. The routine
is well written and logical.
Dr. Mitch: This is a INTERMEDIATE level trick. I really like the routine. It's the old "magician's credit card" but with a much nicer and more realistic looking prop. Also included is a special envelope from an "Antique Dealer". The handling is free and easy and the spectator's handles the card and the envelope. It is a good idea brought to a fun conclusion.
Mike Maione: I think this is more of a beginner's trick than a intermediate level trick. If your a beginner, this is a great trick for you. It's very easy to use and pretty clever. Lay people will be fooled by it and the story line is pretty cute so they'll be entertained too. I don't think its good enough for two 'thumbs up' though, here's why: The switching case is a little too hoekey looking for me..being held together with staples. Also, the cards are not Bicycle, Aviator or other quality deck. Finally, the union card is laminated. I don't know if they had laminated cards in Houdini's day so the story line, although cute, was hard to buy. Actually, I think the trick would be stronger if the 'antique' union card had "Made in Japan" or "© 1997" printed on the back . Then you could change the patter and say you found a genuine antique and let the spectators examine it. Of course, they'll find the writing and think you nuts...then go ahead and do the trick and blow them away.
Here's what I like about the trick. The forcing gimmick is great...it's not an original idea but great just the same. You'll use it to force a card even if you don't use the union card revelation. And, some of the suggested handling for the switching envelope is very deceptive.
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