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INTRODUCTION
Contrary to popular belief, the “Impression Card Case” is not a recent inven-
tion. In fact, it was actually conceived well over a half century ago by
Theo. Annemann. In addition to giving you Annemann’s original presenta-
tion; which includes several important performance subtleties that are
sometimes lost in more contemporary explanations, we’ll also walk you
step-by-step through the process of constructing your own gaffed card
case. You’ll ind it amazingly easy and quick to do. All you’ll need to get
started are a new Bicycle deck and case, a small piece of carbon paper,
some plain paper, a ruler or straight edge, an X-acto® knife* and a small
jar of rubber cement.

*IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTICE: Only adults using appropriate protective eye-
wear should attempt to use an X-acto® knife. These knives are extremely sharp
and and must be handled with extreme care. Please follow the manufacturer’s
precautions.The tips of the blades can also break off and cause serious eye or
other injury. Never use these knives around small children.

CONSTRUCTING AN IMPRESSION CARD CASE

Splitting and Preparing a Card
Begin by soaking a playing card in cold water for 20 minutes. This can be
any card with a regular Bicycle back that matches your box, including the
extra Joker. Once the card is soft, you can peel or split the card into two
pieces, as shown in Photo 1. Photo 2 shows the back of a split card.

Place the “Bicycle back” half of the split card on a lat, smooth, semi-
absorbant surface to dry. Almost any unprinted, uncoated (non-glossy)
cover or card stock will do. Do not use a magazine or other printed surface.
Once the card is completely dry, place it lat between the pages of a
book and then place several heavier books on top of it. Leave it this way
overnight.

Now, using an X-acto knife and a
straight edge (ruler), carefully trim to
the border all the way around the
the split card. See Photo 3. Photo 4
shows the trimmed split card.

ANNEMANN’S MENTAL MASTERPIECE

Photo 1

Photo 2

Photo 3

Photo 4

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ANNEMANN’S MENTAL MASTERPIECE

Preparing the Card Case
Now take a Bicycle card case. Begin by removing and
throwing away any cellophane wrapping covering the
case. Next, carefully peel off any portion of the blue
and white Bicycle brand “quality seal” covering the
cut-out tab area. But don’t throw this piece of the seal away – save it! We’re
going to glue it back on the completed card case later.

You’re now ready to cut a window out of the card case. The white “dashed
rectangle” in Photo 5 shows the area. It is approximately 1/4” inside of the
thin blue border outining the card design. Before attempting to cut the
box, place the deck back inside the case with a couple of advertising cards
on top (nearest the portion of the box to be cut). The deck will help keep
the box from collapsing while you are cutting and the extra advertising
cards will protect the good cards in the deck from getting cut marks.
Using a ruler and an X-acto® knife, cut out this area. When cutting the
box, it’s best to score the area lightly several times until the blade eventu-
ally penetrates the cardboard. This technique also offers you the greatest
control.

Now, place the rectangular piece you’ve cut out of the card box on top of
your piece of carbon paper (non-carbon side). See Photo 6. Using this piece
as a template, cut out the same size rectangular shape from the carbon
paper.

You’re now going to glue the piece of carbon paper to the uninished side
of the trimmed split card. Coat the surface of the (non-carbon side) of
the cut out piece of carbon paper with a thin layer of rubber cement and
center it on the the split card, as shown in Photo 7. Press down lightly and
smooth it out. Wash off any carbon on your ingers.

You’re almost done. Now place a thin layer of rubber cement on the outer
edge of the uninished side of the split card. Coat this margin all the way
around, but do not get any rubber cement on the carbon. Immediately,
turn this piece over and place it over the cut out in the card box. See Photo
8. The design of the split card should line up with the one printed on the
card box, so they appear to be one in the same.

Photo 5

Photo 6

Photo 7

Photo 8

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ANNEMANN’S MENTAL MASTERPIECE

Note:  For the strongest bond, place the split card down for a moment to allow
both surfaces to become coated.  Then, pull them apart for about 20 seconds
and allow the solvents to dissipate. When you press the split card down again,
it will form an immediate bond with the card box; so align one corner and edge
before attempting to press it down the rest of the way.

Coat the the back of the quality seal removed earlier and reposition it on
the card box in its former position over the cut-out tab area. This lends
a touch of authenticity. If the border on the box doesn’t align perfectly
with the split card, you can do a little touch-up with a dark blue, ine point
marker. Photo 9 shows the completed card box and Photo 10 shows an
exposed view of the gimmick inside.

Cut out a piece of copy paper, slightly smaller than a playing card and glue
this to the face of one of the jokers with rubber cement. See Photo 11. This
card will serve as your “impression card.” In performance this card is placed
on the bottom of the deck, so the piece of paper faces the carbon gimmick
on the card case. Change the paper after each performance. One inal tip,
you can remove or clean up excess rubber cement by lightly rubbing your
ingers over it until it “balls up,” then discard.

When someone uses the card case as a writing surface, the impression will
be transferred to the paper. Photo 12 shows an exposed view after the
name of a card has been written down.

Photo 9

Photo 10

Photo 11

Photo 12

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ANNEMANN’S MENTAL MASTERPIECE

SET-UP
To perform, begin with the deck inside the “Impression Card Case.” The impression card – the joker with the
piece of paper glued to its face – faces the prepared side of the card case. You’ll also need a few slips of paper,
2-1/2” x 3-1/2” in size, and a small golf pencil. The smaller the pencil the better, since it forces the spectator
to press down harder – resulting in a better impression. You can also use a ballpoint pen. If you do, shake it
once as you hand it to the person, mentioning it may be running low on ink. This will make the person press
down harder as well.

ANNEMANN’S PRESENTATION
In reading these instructions, remember that a correct and showman like presentation is essential. The means
may be simple, though subtle, and, in this case, the information comes into the performer’s hands in the most
natural and clean manner possible.

I contend that this is as direct an exhibition of apparent thought reading as can be presented, that is, outside of
a GENUINE demonstration, which at present is impossible.

A spectator (generally a prominent party of your gathering) is asked forward. The performer explains that he
is about to attempt something which heretofore has been considered impossible. The spectator is asked to
merely THINK of any card in the pack of 52* playing cards and to change around as often as he wishes until
satisied. When the spectator acknowledges this latter point, the performer picks up the paper and pencil and
explains that because of the fact that the spectator has changed his thoughts several times, he had better write
the name of the thought of card on the paper and then fold same and put in his own pocket. No one is to see
it and the real reason for same is to prevent further changes and to protect performer. It is remarked that a
catastrophe would certainly result if the spectator were to again change his mind at the last moment.

As an afterthought, the deck is picked up, the paper placed on same and all handed spectator. The performer
turns his back while the writing is done. When the paper has been placed in pocket, the performer takes the
pencil and deck, telling the spectator to merely keep thinking of the card intently. Opening the case, the deck is
removed, facing performer always, and the case dropped into pocket or on table as desired. The pack is fanned
and performer looks through same, inally removing a card which he places face down on the spectator’s
outstretched hand. Walking away the performer requests the spectator to name his card for the irst time and
then hold up the card so all can see. IT IS THE CARD HE MERELY THOUGHT OF!

Of course, it is obvious that when the pack was removed, the face card bore the exact impression of what
the spectator wrote and therefore in the most simple and natural manner possible, the performer learned the
name of the correct card to locate and proceed with.

The lack of cumbersome material or apparatus, the cleanness of the working, and the general effect of this trick
make it one of the most perfect of its kind ever conceived.

*For historical accuracy, it is important to point out Annemann would ask the spectator to think “of any card in the
pack of 53 playing cards,” obviously allowing for the choice of the joker as well. Unless you’re attempting to mentally
force the joker, a choice of 52 cards is advised.