Same Both Sides by Lloyd E Jones - Book

Excerpt from Foreword by Lloyd E Jones

"The problem of what to do with playing cards that are the same on both sides has bothered me or should I say, intrigued me for nigh thirty years. Very little has been written on them and most every magician has them in his paraphernalia but not in his working group of tricks.

You'll find these cards, which I have shortened to S.B.S. or SBS (same both sides) in the double face decks of U.S Playing Cards. One is in the FA-KO deck and I was delighted to learn that in England an entire deck of them can be obtained (International Magic Studio: Ron MacMillan). Currently they seem only to be had in Bridge Size although years ago, the Poker Size was obtainable.

As you'll note in the pages that follow, I asked (in THE BAT) in 1944, what could be done with them and received no response. I did work out a trick of my own and followed it with another when the FA-KO Deck was first marketed. On receiving a quantity of the old style cards from Theron Fox, I again asked (this time in S.O.B. jr - The Song of Bat, jr.) what could be done with them an to my surprise receive not only a lot of answers, but as you'll read some very fine tricks!

So, this is one of the charms of MAGIC - most anything when studied can be developed in many ways, And a little research will discover tricks using the basic principle. I doubt however, that Jack Potter has a section in his Monumental Master Index to Magic In Print a section on same both sides cards!

But I'll not make the mistake that Ted Anneman did and state that this is all that can be found on the subject that this is all that can be found on the subject. But I seriously doubt that another book such as this will ever appear.

Pages 43 - Saddle Stitched