Diminishing Cards

Diminishing Cards is a classic plot in card magic where the deck, usually fanned, becomes smaller and smaller until it completely vanishes.

Described by Robert-Houdin in 1868 and later performed by Joseph Buatier (De Kolta) around 1875 at London's Egyptian Hall.

Advertisements for effect show up in Mahatma, page 222, April 1899 by C. B. Schindel.

Charles Bertram introduced a method of switching a full-sized deck for smaller ones.

Edward Victor created the concept of placing a sample card aside to demonstrate the size change.

Martin Chapender devised a method of nesting pockets within the cards (1907), which was modified by Ellis Stanyon and Edward Proudlock (around 1929) and then later by Al Baker (in 1935).

Some other gaffed decks were created by U.F. Grant, Bob Haskell, and Tommy Wonder.

Published and marketed versions

• The Expanding and Diminishing Cards (Sleight of Hand method with a Stripper Deck) in Card Tricks and Stunts By Jean Hugard (ex Card Manipulations No. 4, 1935.)
• Tommy Wonder's Shrinking Cards in The Books of Wonder written by Stephen Minch (1996)
• Diminishing Cards Al Baker style by Viking
• Al Baker instructions are included in The Secret Ways of Al Baker (2003)