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Effect: The performer takes out the four aces and put them face down on the table in a square. One ace is designated as the "Leader ace". Three indifferent cards are placed on top of each ace. Magically all the aces jump out of their pile and assemble in the "Leader ace" pile. {{Youtube Thumb|Zm3EWeaEgvM|400|'''Copperfield performing his Grandpa's Aces'''}}
Effect: The performer takes out the four aces and put them face down on the table in a square. One ace is designated as the "Leader ace". Three indifferent cards are placed on top of each ace. Magically all the aces jump out of their pile and assemble in the "Leader ace" pile. {{Youtube Thumb|Zm3EWeaEgvM|400|'''Copperfield performing his Grandpa's Aces'''}}


In the same period, between 1857 and 1875, Hofzinser created the so-called MacDonald's Aces for the final of an effect called ''The Power of Faith'' using FOUR double face Jack/Eight. We can't give a precise date because this trick was eventually published in [[J.N. Hofzinser Kartenkunste]] '''(1910)''' written by [[Ottokar Fischer]] and translated in English as [[Hofzinser's Card Conjuring]]) by [[Samuel H. Sharpe]] in '''1935'''.
In the same period, between 1857 and 1875, Hofzinser created the future MacDonald's Aces for the final of an effect called ''The Power of Faith'' using FOUR double face Jack/Eight. We can't give a precise date because this trick was eventually published in [[J.N. Hofzinser Kartenkunste]] '''(1910)''' written by [[Ottokar Fischer]] and translated in English as [[Hofzinser's Card Conjuring]]) by [[S.H. Sharpe]] in '''1931'''.


One of the first to have the Aces move one at time (rather then disappear all at once) was [[Stanley Collins]]' ''Another Four Ace Trick'' in The [[Magazine of Magic]], Vo. 1, N° 1, oct. 1914, page 40. Reprint in [[J. G. Thompson, Jr.]]'s book [[My Best]] (1945) as ''The Alpha Four Ace Trick'', page 131.
One of the first to have the Aces move one at time (rather then disappear all at once) was [[Stanley Collins]]' ''Another Four Ace Trick'' in The [[Magazine of Magic]], Vo. 1, N° 1, oct. 1914, page 40. Reprint in [[J. G. Thompson, Jr.]]'s book [[My Best]] (1945) as ''The Alpha Four Ace Trick'', page 131.

Revision as of 11:54, 19 July 2008

For the public record, the Ace Assembly or Four Aces Trick is a classic plot in card magic first described (but not created) by Jean-Nicolas Ponsin in Nouvelle Magie blanche dévoilée (1853).

Effect: The performer takes out the four aces and put them face down on the table in a square. One ace is designated as the "Leader ace". Three indifferent cards are placed on top of each ace. Magically all the aces jump out of their pile and assemble in the "Leader ace" pile.

Copperfield performing his Grandpa's Aces

In the same period, between 1857 and 1875, Hofzinser created the future MacDonald's Aces for the final of an effect called The Power of Faith using FOUR double face Jack/Eight. We can't give a precise date because this trick was eventually published in J.N. Hofzinser Kartenkunste (1910) written by Ottokar Fischer and translated in English as Hofzinser's Card Conjuring) by S.H. Sharpe in 1931.

One of the first to have the Aces move one at time (rather then disappear all at once) was Stanley Collins' Another Four Ace Trick in The Magazine of Magic, Vo. 1, N° 1, oct. 1914, page 40. Reprint in J. G. Thompson, Jr.'s book My Best (1945) as The Alpha Four Ace Trick, page 131.

Another variation dubbed "O'Henry Four Aces" by Frank Garcia's in Super Subtle Card Miracles (1973) which added a surprise ending was first featured in the Trevor Lewis' prize-winning act for the Magic Circle in 1969*, The IBM in 1971, FISM in 1976 and published as Topsy Turvy and Slow Motion Plus in The New Pentagram, Vol. 3, N° 11, march 1972, page 90. In USA, Roger Smith published the same idea as Slow Motion Ace Switch-A-Roo in Revolutionary Card Compositions (1971).

Another surprise ending is the "Backfire Assembly" in which the Aces travel back to their original packets.

Progressive (or Succession) Aces is a variation of the plot by Ken Krenzel in which the first ace joins the second, then those two join the third and finally all arrive in the last packet in sequence.

Lin Searles created the variation where the Aces had a different color back then the rest of the cards in Ultimate Aces (1958).

Peter Kane's Jazz Aces popularized a streamlined Ace Assembly where just 4 indifferent cards were used.

Larry Jennings took it took the extreme with the "Invisible Palm Aces" (also known as Open Travellers*) where the four aces assemble one by one under the performer's hand.

  • See The Open Travelers by Edward Marlo in The New Phoenix N° 375, dec. 1962, page 329.

The most popular marketed gimmmicked Ace Assembly was MacDonald’s Aces.

Variations

There have been many gaffed and ungaffed versions created.

Ricky Jay performing Exclusive Coterie

References

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