Phoenix The admirable trick of this name resembles in effect and principle the trick just described. After a card has been selected (preferably a court card, say the King of Diamonds), the performer places it aside and proceeds to tear off a corner of the card. Handing the corner and card to another spectator, the performer requests the spectator to take charge of the corner until it is wanted. This card itself is then placed on an unprepared china plate and set on fire by a spectator or the performer, who previously asks the spectator to compare the corner with the card (which are found to match exactly). After the card has been consumed by the flames, the conjurer places the ashes in any piece of apparatus, say for instance the Card Box and closing it, gives it to a second spectator to hold. The burnt card is now commanded to become completely restored. The box is opened and the performer's wishes found to have been obeyed. Instead of the ashes the original King of Diamonds (minus a corner) is found in the box. The card is passed to the spectator who retained the corner, and they are found to fit exactly. In order to be able to perform this trick, it is necessary to have a duplicate King of Diamonds from which the upper corner has been previously torn and destroyed, as it is not required in the course of the trick. The card itself is secreted in an easily accessible place in the performers clothes. A second King of Diamonds is then forced and retrieved. In the act of placing the pack (for which there is no further need) on the table, the performer obtains possession of the card already concealed and palms it face downward in the right hand. Receiving with the left hand the selected King of Diamonds, the performer places the right hand over it leaving the palmed card on top. Holding both as one card, the performer deliberately tears off a corner of the selected King, carefully following the exact form of the tear in the other card. Handing the piece just torn off to a spectator, the performer shows the double card (which the company believes to be only one), and then making the Excelsior Change, exhibits the duplicate King of Diamonds in place of the chosen one. The corner may be safely applied to this duplicate card, without any danger of the substitution being suspected. The duplicate card is then burned as described, the palmed original card to be found in any place optional with the conjurer. Home | Card Tricks | Card Trick Skills | The Pass | The Force | Changes False Shuffling | The Glimpse | Card Palm | Card Sleights Copyright © 2003-2006 HowToDoCardTricks.com. All rights reserved worldwide.   You can quickly get a copy of every trick on this web site in a downloadable PDF book. That's over 40 classic card tricks to amaze and astound your friends, all stored on your computer to refer to at any time! Just click the link below to get your own copy today for just $5.