Hi all,

I am looking for some help with crediting Charles Jordan's "A Shuffle Secret". I understand that it was put out in the 1930s and subsequently republished in 'Charles Jordan's Best Card Tricks' by Karl Fulves (Dover Magic, 2000). Can anyone add to this e.g. provide details of the original 1930s publication?

Any pointers most appreciated.

Ross

Hi Ross, I don't have the original publication, but I have the Dover book. Page 114 "90. A Shuffle Secret". What else do you need?

Hi marc_carrion,

Thanks. I was wondering if anyone had any details about where it was originally published. Subsequent research has informed me that the concept was included in Charles Jordan's 30 Card Mysteries published in 1919. I think that'll do but if anyone knows of an earlier reference I'll use it.

Cheers,

Ross

The chapter in the Karl Fulves book is called Shuffle Systems, and it states "Although the basic premise was published earlier in the century by C. O. Williams, Jordan's writings are considered the outstanding treatment of the subject".

Then it explains the "A shuffle secret" by introducing it as : "The basic secret discovered by Jordan can be illustrated with a simple example." And it explains the shuffle with a limited group of cards A to 8 of hearts and A to 8 of spades.

You may want to find references to C.O. Williams but Fulves seems to credit the principle to Jordan.

Marc

Thanks Marc!

Ross

I would use that as the originally published reference. Jordan also mentions C.O. Williams in the preface of 30 card mysteries. An obscure earlier reference that is sometimes given is

Williams, C. O. (1912) A card reading. The Magician Monthly 8 67.

But this is an effect that uses a principle, rather than a discussion of the principle itself. And anyway the effect is called 'card reading extraordinary' so why it is given as 'a card reading' I'm not sure. It's also written up in EOCT, under yet another name.

30 Card Mysteries at CARC:
http://shop.conjuringarts.org/store/pc/T......p836.htm