Lexicon is the trade name for a pack of cards used in a very popular word game. They are of the same size as playing cards but are made with letters on their faces. All department and Woolworth stores carry them.

Two packs, one a deck of playing cards regular, and one a Lexicon pack, are shown and both shuffled by the performer. A spectator takes a card from the ordinary deck, replaces it, and without any false moves the pack is placed face down on the table or spectator’s outstretched hand.

Now the performer asks for the value only of the chosen card. We will suppose the card to be the “Ten of Clubs” so the answer is “Ten“. The Lexicon deck is now taken and ten cards counted off face down on a card display stand or table.

The ordinary deck is now taken and fanned. In the center is seen the chosen card reversed. The ten Lexicon cards are turned to face the audience and they are found to spell “TEN OF CLUBS” correctly.

The secret is quite simple but the effect has the appearance (to the audience) of a real complicated mystery. The ordinary deck has the 10 of Clubs on top and a duplicate reversed second from bottom. The deck may be given dovetail shuffles without disturbing them. The Lexicon pack has the top ten cards arranged to spell the Ten of Clubs. This deck also may be likewise shuffled and the ten kept in place. The card may be forced with a slip cut and replaced at that spot. A simple cut brings the reversed duplicate to the center. The rest works itself.