Eight Ball was one of the first packet tricks I ever bought back in 1975 or so, and I have always found that this packet trick plays exceptionally well for lay audiences, and somehow rises above the potentially "too cute" design of the cards.   When the original run of Eight Ball's sold out, Emerson & West re-issued the trick again in the late 1970's, and again (and again) throughout the 1980's.   So I guess I was not alone in my feeling that the trick is great for lay audiences.   Another version using poker sized cards was issued by Fun Inc in the early 2000's.

This original EMERSON & WEST set is a very early re-issue of the trick.    The card set did not change from the original issue, but the trick was packaged in a larger vinyl wallet, and the printed vinyl sleeve was changed to white printing, so the name of the trick (printed on the sleeve) would show up better against the black vinyl wallet when being displayed in the magic shop showcase.   (The original Eight Ball sleeves were printed in black, and were harder to read when backed with the balck vinyl wallet.   The original Eight Ball wallets were smaller also, just slightly bigger than the bride-size cards they held.)    So I date this set from the early 1980's. 

Okay, probably more than you wanted to know about Eight Ball packaging changes...

The effect:  five blank (on both sides) cards are shown, and one more with a picture of an Eight ball on it.   The back of the eight ball card is blank, so when it is mixed ball-down among the blanks, it is impossible to know which card is the eight ball.   But the spectator successfully finds it, using their "magic eight Ball" psychic powers!!   This can be repeated.   For the big finish, they miss finding the eight-ball card, and instead turn up a blank.     But it turns out they still found the only "oddball", because all the other cards now have eight-balls on them!

This set from the early 1980's is complete with all cards, original sleeve and original black vinyl wallet (with cool faux-leather texture!).  Also includes the original instruction card that fits right into the wallet so you won't lose it.     I would say this set was mint condition, EXCEPT the double blank card has some minor toning spots on one side, as a result of storage next to the vinyl window of the wallet.   The toning is white-on-white, so not something your audience will notice, and will not change the impact of the effect.  (I could not make it show up in a photo...)   Other than this, the cards appear completely unused.

A great collectible packet effect, and also a great performance item!

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