Detachable thumb

First stage of the detachable thumb illusion

Second stage of the detachable thumb illusion

The Detachable Thumb (unknown originator) is a very simple close-up illusion.

Effect

The performer appears to remove the end of his own thumb; moving it back and forth along his hand or lifting it up.

Method

There is no particular secret to this illusion: the performer simply holds out one hand sideways with the palm out and the tip of the thumb folded down behind the hand. Then he places his other thumb bent so that the tip appears to be connected to the folded-down thumb with the forefinger bent to cover the joint.^[1]

Credits

There is no known originator of this trick, and it is likely to be among the oldest tricks in the world.

Magic and illusion
General	Assistants Clubs Conventions Exposure Mentalists Stores
Genres	Bizarre Card Cardistry (history) Children's Close-up magic Coin Escapology Gospel Mathemagic Mental Platform Séance Stage Street
Tricks and techniques	Levitation Equivocation Misdirection Sleight of hand
Lists	Conjuring terms Films about magicians Magicians Manufacturers Museums Publications Timeline Tricks
History	Indian magicians The Discoverie of Witchcraft Modern Magic Tarbell Course

References