212: Fred Kaps' own Smoking a Thumb gimmick.

Fred Kaps' Smoking a Thumb gimmick. Dutch [?], ca. 1970. Small wooden gimmick used by the great Dutch Magician Fred Kaps (Abraham Pieter Adrianus Bongers) to apparently draw thick, cloudy smoke from his thumb as if it were a pipe. The thumb-smoking trick was a signature piece in Kaps' repertoire; he performed the trick in countless stage shows. The exact choreography of the routine and method behind the trick were closely guarded for years. This small gimmick and Kaps' masterful sleight-of-hand turned what is typically a novelty in other magicians' acts into a feature mystery long remembered by audiences. Though several manufacturers of magic tricks have attempted to recreate Kaps gimmick, the original, offered here, is different than most marketed versions. Accompanied by a video of Kaps performing the routine, a length of fibrous cord used to create the smoke, and an ALS from Del Cartier to Tom Mullica describing when and where the gimmick was purchased, on Mullica's behalf. Gimmick well worn from professional use, but good condition.