November 3: Verbeck

Eugene Verbeck, the brilliant French magician, was born on this day in 1844. He was a success in London from 1885, performing with apparatus but specializing in sleight of hand, including his astonishing Coin in the Enchanted Envelopes. In his Chameleon Card routine, a card was selected. By touching it to different articles of clothing in the audience, the pips changed from red to green, blue, yellow, or black. When he touched the card to a white shirt, the pips seemed to disappear. When he pressed the card against his forehead and showed it again, it was engraved with Verbeck’s portrait—which was awarded as a souvenir.