See’n Spots Card (Seein’ Spots) by Merv Taylor

Divided Cards, where the card is misprinted such that when one part is covered the card looks like one value and when another part is covered it looks like another, have been around at least as early as 1593 with Horatio Galasso (see Hofzinser’s Card Artistry pg. 69). But Hofzinser really took their use to another level c. 1847. Hofzinser’s ideas were copied and extended by Professor Hoffman  in Modern Magic  c. 1876 (e.g. To Make Four Cards change from Eights to Twos pg,  71) and others over the years.

By c. 1904 Theodore L. DeLand was creating some amazing creations with items such as his Wonderful Changing Cards and Disappearing Spots that he printed for Roterberg as featured in their Catalog # 8.  For most of the 20th century almost every magic set produced had some variations of these Divided cards.

The modern day standard for these types of cards is of course Tenyo’s What’s Next which has spawned countless variations of Spot Card effects ever since. But in between Deland and Tenyo was good old Merv Tayler and his See’n Spots Card.  It was not mechanical and did not have any moving spots.  However, it was a jumbo card (4.5″ x 7″) and made from Dural (an early form of Aluminum) and was released c. 1942.

And apparently it was a big seller.  I really quite like the simple no-nonsense presentation that was provided by Merv as described below.

(Notice: the Houdini bookmark is just used in place of a hand to give the impression of the effect of covering up various spots. It is not included.)

Effect: (Holding card with five spots facing the audience, and finger covering the space where the sixth spot should be).

“I’m not going to fool you, but rather show you how you have been fooled by magicians. You see this card with six spots on one side and three spots on the other?” (This is said with fingers covering space where third spot should be; turn card) “A magician will try to make you believe there are only four spots on this side and one spot on the other.”

(Repeating same moves as before except cover the center spot of the five spots, letting only four show, and covering the end spot on the side with two, letting only one show. At this point, repeat the whole procedure, saying) “You can see there are six spots on this side and three on this-NOT four on this side and one on this, as he tries to make you believe.”

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