Si Stebbins
Encyclopedia
The Si Stebbins is a card
stack system which arranges the cards in a predetermined order to perform mentalism
and card tricks with a gambling
theme.
The system was originally published in the United States
around 1898 by William Coffrin (alias Si Stebbins), in a booklet titled Si Stebbins' Card tricks and the Way He Performs Them. It is not clear whether the original publication of this booklet was made in New York
or Boston
. There was also a later edition titled Card tricks and the Way They are Performed.
In this system every card is three values higher from the preceding card, and the suit
s rotate in clubs, hearts, spades and diamonds order (known as "CHaSeD" order). This arrangement allows the performer to know the identity of a chosen card by glimpsing the next card, or determining the exact position of any card in the pack by a mathematical calculation, although many other properties of the system are known and have been applied to different card tricks. Since this particular order of the cards is easy to learn, it allows the magician to spend more time perfecting the acting
part of the performance and emphasize the dramatic elements that make the act entertaining and varied.
This type of arrangement of the cards is considered to be a mathematical arrangement (i.e., an arrangement based in a mathematical progression
) as opposed to a "rosary stack", where the cards from ace to king are arranged following an easy to memorize formula, or a memorized stack (introduced by the English conjuror Louis Nikola in 1927) where a truly random sequence
of cards is memorized.
Although the Si Stebbins stack became popular after the publication of Stebbins' pamphlet in America, mathematical arrangements of this kind were used to perform divination card tricks much before 1898. As per Juan Tamariz
in his book Mnemonica, several books previous to the publication of the Stebbins pamphlet describe this system or variations in which the cards progress by five, four or three. Examples of these books are an Italian pamphlet titled "Il Cartaginese" (Verona, 1597), the book "Les Fantasies de L’Escot" by the French writer L’Escot (Paris, 1621), "Giochi di carte bellissimi di regola, e di memoria", by the Italian writer Horatio Galasso (Venice, 1593), the "Thesouro de Prudentes" (Coimbra, 1612), by the Portuguese writer Gaspar Cardoso de Sequeira and the book "Engaños a Ojos Vistas" by the Spanish writer Minguet (in added print, with the same licences from 1733), that describe the mathematical card arrangement known today as "Si Stebbins" or variations of it. Si Stebbins himself, in a later book titled Stebbins' Legacy to Magicians (1935) admits having learned the system from the Spanish
or Syria
n magician, Salem Cid.
Despite the ambiguous origins of the card stack, it is generally known by the name "Si Stebbins" because of the influence of well known magic authors of the 20th century, such as Charles Jordan and Theodore Annemann
, who invented tricks based on the properties of this mathematical arrangement of the cards. As most of these American authors published in Jean Hugard's Encyclopedia of Card Tricks refer to this arrangement as "Si Stebbins", the stack is generally known by this name in the United States. Tony Corinda
, in his book Thirteen Steps To Mentalism
also calls the system "Si Stebbins", thus making this particular name for the system popular among English magicians too.
Other magicians and authors, such as Howard Thurston
, refer to the stack by other names. In chapter IV of Howard Thurston's Card Tricks, Thurston credits himself with being the author of the system and tricks performed with it, while giving credit to Si Stebbins for providing "many valuable suggestions and ideas with regard to its conception." He calls this particular arrangement of the cards "The 'Thurston' System of Expert Card Manipulation."
In 2006, German card magician Dr. Hans-Christian Solka devised a version of the Si Stebbins stack called "Si Stebbins Pro". This modern version also uses simple arithmetic and mnemonic aids for determining card-to-position relationships, while improving some possible weaknesses of the standard stack. Instead of a rigid alternation of suit colours and strict suit rotation, Si Stebbins Pro arranges the cards in a seemingly random sequence of colors and suits, allowing for the deck to be spread face up without risk of detection.
Playing card
A playing card is a piece of specially prepared heavy paper, thin cardboard, plastic-coated paper, cotton-paper blend, or thin plastic, marked with distinguishing motifs and used as one of a set for playing card games...
stack system which arranges the cards in a predetermined order to perform mentalism
Mentalism
Mentalism is a performing art in which its practitioners, known as mentalists, appear to demonstrate highly developed mental or intuitive abilities. Performances may appear to include telepathy, clairvoyance, divination, precognition, psychokinesis, mediumship, mind control, memory feats and rapid...
and card tricks with a gambling
Gambling
Gambling is the wagering of money or something of material value on an event with an uncertain outcome with the primary intent of winning additional money and/or material goods...
theme.
The system was originally published in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
around 1898 by William Coffrin (alias Si Stebbins), in a booklet titled Si Stebbins' Card tricks and the Way He Performs Them. It is not clear whether the original publication of this booklet was made in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
or Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
. There was also a later edition titled Card tricks and the Way They are Performed.
In this system every card is three values higher from the preceding card, and the suit
Suit (cards)
In playing cards, a suit is one of several categories into which the cards of a deck are divided. Most often, each card bears one of several symbols showing to which suit it belongs; the suit may alternatively or in addition be indicated by the color printed on the card...
s rotate in clubs, hearts, spades and diamonds order (known as "CHaSeD" order). This arrangement allows the performer to know the identity of a chosen card by glimpsing the next card, or determining the exact position of any card in the pack by a mathematical calculation, although many other properties of the system are known and have been applied to different card tricks. Since this particular order of the cards is easy to learn, it allows the magician to spend more time perfecting the acting
Acting
Acting is the work of an actor or actress, which is a person in theatre, television, film, or any other storytelling medium who tells the story by portraying a character and, usually, speaking or singing the written text or play....
part of the performance and emphasize the dramatic elements that make the act entertaining and varied.
This type of arrangement of the cards is considered to be a mathematical arrangement (i.e., an arrangement based in a mathematical progression
Arithmetic progression
In mathematics, an arithmetic progression or arithmetic sequence is a sequence of numbers such that the difference between the consecutive terms is constant...
) as opposed to a "rosary stack", where the cards from ace to king are arranged following an easy to memorize formula, or a memorized stack (introduced by the English conjuror Louis Nikola in 1927) where a truly random sequence
Random sequence
The concept of a random sequence is essential in probability theory and statistics. The concept generally relies on the notion of a sequence of random variables and many statistical discussions begin with the words "let X1,...,Xn be independent random variables...". Yet as D. H. Lehmer stated in...
of cards is memorized.
Although the Si Stebbins stack became popular after the publication of Stebbins' pamphlet in America, mathematical arrangements of this kind were used to perform divination card tricks much before 1898. As per Juan Tamariz
Juan Tamariz
Juan Tamariz-Martel Negrón is a Spanish magician.He is an experienced cardician, a magician specializing in magic with playing cards, and well respected by his peers as an authority in the field of misdirection...
in his book Mnemonica, several books previous to the publication of the Stebbins pamphlet describe this system or variations in which the cards progress by five, four or three. Examples of these books are an Italian pamphlet titled "Il Cartaginese" (Verona, 1597), the book "Les Fantasies de L’Escot" by the French writer L’Escot (Paris, 1621), "Giochi di carte bellissimi di regola, e di memoria", by the Italian writer Horatio Galasso (Venice, 1593), the "Thesouro de Prudentes" (Coimbra, 1612), by the Portuguese writer Gaspar Cardoso de Sequeira and the book "Engaños a Ojos Vistas" by the Spanish writer Minguet (in added print, with the same licences from 1733), that describe the mathematical card arrangement known today as "Si Stebbins" or variations of it. Si Stebbins himself, in a later book titled Stebbins' Legacy to Magicians (1935) admits having learned the system from the Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
or Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
n magician, Salem Cid.
Despite the ambiguous origins of the card stack, it is generally known by the name "Si Stebbins" because of the influence of well known magic authors of the 20th century, such as Charles Jordan and Theodore Annemann
Theodore Annemann
Theodore 'Theo' Annemann born Theodore John Squires was an American professional magician who specialized in the field of mentalism...
, who invented tricks based on the properties of this mathematical arrangement of the cards. As most of these American authors published in Jean Hugard's Encyclopedia of Card Tricks refer to this arrangement as "Si Stebbins", the stack is generally known by this name in the United States. Tony Corinda
Tony Corinda
Tony Corinda was an English mentalist, magic dealer, magic inventor and businessman who wrote the book Thirteen Steps To Mentalism. Corinda did not make his birthdate or birthplace public, but his birth year is believed to be about 1931....
, in his book Thirteen Steps To Mentalism
Thirteen Steps To Mentalism
Thirteen Steps to Mentalism is a book on mentalism by Tony Corinda. It was originally published as thirteen smaller booklets as a course in mentalism, and was later, in 1961, republished as a book...
also calls the system "Si Stebbins", thus making this particular name for the system popular among English magicians too.
Other magicians and authors, such as Howard Thurston
Howard Thurston
Howard Thurston was a stage magician from Columbus, Ohio.-Life:Thurston had the largest traveling magic show for the time, requiring more than eight entire train cars to transport his props across the country...
, refer to the stack by other names. In chapter IV of Howard Thurston's Card Tricks, Thurston credits himself with being the author of the system and tricks performed with it, while giving credit to Si Stebbins for providing "many valuable suggestions and ideas with regard to its conception." He calls this particular arrangement of the cards "The 'Thurston' System of Expert Card Manipulation."
In 2006, German card magician Dr. Hans-Christian Solka devised a version of the Si Stebbins stack called "Si Stebbins Pro". This modern version also uses simple arithmetic and mnemonic aids for determining card-to-position relationships, while improving some possible weaknesses of the standard stack. Instead of a rigid alternation of suit colours and strict suit rotation, Si Stebbins Pro arranges the cards in a seemingly random sequence of colors and suits, allowing for the deck to be spread face up without risk of detection.