I do not know who thought of putting a stamp on the ceiling, but I’ve never seen it in print. Many magicians do not even know of the effect and it has proven itself to be a great advertising factor for me. It causes a lot of talk and although fairly easy to do, appears very difficult and skillful.
Use a half dollar and an ordinary stamp. Wet the stamp and then wet the coin on one side. Lay the stamp with the moistened side up on the wet side of the coin and hold it down for a few seconds with the fingernail so that it sticks for the moment. Hold the coin by the edge between the right forefinger and thumb. The second finger is underneath. Now throw the coin to the ceiling judging the distance so that it will connect with force. The coin, however, is spun by the forefinger so that it turns like a merry-go-round, instead of being flipped. This revolving will tend to keep the coin flatwise with the ceiling where otherwise it could never be thrown with a certainty of hitting correctly. The moistening of the coin, which is my own thought, will keep the stamp from being skidded off by air currents. So much for that.
For a variation I have used foreign stamps (which can be purchased for a dime in foreign stamp packets) and because of their oddity, they get more attention than domestic stamps. I’ve used stamps from India and after letting it be looked over, remarked that the stunt was taught to me by a Hindu juggler.
My best variation has been to have several domestic stamps on the back of which has been written, very finely in the center, the name of a card. The coin and stamp are in my pocket and after borrowing one from the hotel desk, I reach into my pocket and bring out the coin and marked stamp. The stamp is wet, but only on the corners and tossed to the ceiling. Perhaps a week later, or whenever I can be back in the same spot doing a few tricks, I manage to force a card and have it pocketed. Pretending to forget it I go on with others until the selected card is mentioned, whereupon I say that I have no way of telling what it is unless I look on the underside of the stamp on the ceiling. Try it once and see how quickly they all rise to the bait. They’ll bet most anything that you are bluffing, especially when they know you took one of the house stamps and put it there a week before.
Have the selected card shown to everyone and then tell the spectator that it is up to him from then on. I’ve had them call the house boy with a ladder and get it down, and I’ve had them (especially the goat) talk about it for a week and wonder every time they look up whether or not the name is really there. Anyway you look at it, the stunt makes talk.
Write on the stamp with ink. Pencil writing doesn’t take on the glue surface. Use small stamps. Commemorative or double width stamps overlap the coin and the wind catches them. A silver dollar will put them up however. If you want to have printed up some gummed stickers with your name in bold type, use them instead.
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