The Herrmann pass (also Herrmann shift) is a
sleight of hand
Sleight of hand (also known as prestidigitation or ''legerdemain'' ()) refers to fine motor skills when used by performing artists in different art forms to entertain or manipulate. It is closely associated with close-up magic, card magic, card ...
move used to control cards. This style of the move is different from
the Classic Pass
''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in En ...
.
The sleight is named after
Alexander Herrmann
Alexander Herrmann (February 10, 1844 – December 17, 1896) was a French magic (illusion), magician, better known as Herrmann the Great. He was married to magician Adelaide Herrmann, known as the Queen of Magic.
Biography
Early years
Alexande ...
or his brother
Compars (Carl) Herrmann and one of the earliest publications of the move was in Stanyon’s ''Serial Lessons in Conjuring''. This is supposed to be Herrmann’s actual handling of the move.
In 1897, a version was published as an
Invisible Turnover Pass
Invisibility is the state of an object that cannot be seen. An object in this state is said to be ''invisible'' (literally, "not visible"). The phenomenon is studied by physics and perceptual psychology.
Since objects can be seen by light in ...
for the first time, by Roterberg.
The Herrmann pass differs from the Classic Pass as it is the bottom packet which is taken to the top, not the top packet that is taken to the bottom. There are numerous variations of this pass.
According to the Austrian magician
Magic Christian, author of ''Non Plus Ulta – Hofzinser's Card Artistry,'' the Herrmann pass is erroneously named after Alexander Herrmann or his brother Compars (Carl) Herrmann. In reality,
Johann Nepomuk Hofzinser
Johann Nepomuk Hofzinser (19 June 1806 – 11 March 1875) was an Austrian-Hungarian magician and illusionist. He used the moniker "Dr. Hofzinser" as a stage name after retiring in 1865.
Ottokar Fischer spread the story that upon his death in 1875 ...
was the inventor of the sleight. In his book, where the pass is explained in detail, Christian writes "It is hoped that, after the publication of this book, the Herrmann pass will come to be correctly known as the Hofzinser pass."
Card tricks
Sleight of hand
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