Rota Die (Rota Dice) by Marvillo

Although the Badlands Bob effect has long been considered a Collectors’ Workshop original and credited to Phillipus (Phil) Postma of the Netherlands, the same effect was also invented and called Rota Die by Marvillo of West Germany and sold by Magictrix c. 1968 in the UK.

Marvillo created many dice tricks and also wrote a book on dice magic called Dice-Coveries (c. 1976).  So although this could be a case of independent invention given that Anverdi, was from The Netherlands, and was friends with Marvillo it seems more likely that Postma saw it first through Anverdi and/or Marvillo, forgot about it, and then re-invented it years later, rather than actually independently inventing it.

Phil Postma passed away in 2004 so we’ll probably never know the real story.  Until I can see some evidence to the contrary I am going to make the reasonable assumption that Marvillo is in fact the inventor of this very clever effect which is responsible for some very clever variations over the years.

Effect: A dice is shown sealed in a small plastic box with a transparent cover. Dice and box is handed out for examination with the request to the spectator to try to change the number showing on top of the box.

After they have shaken the box violently and determined that the number on top is indeed impossible to change, the dice is handed back to you, per, former shakes it once and returns it to spectator with a different number on top of the dice.

This is a real fooler and one that you will do often. Remember it can be minutely examined before and after.

What is Rota Die?

• It’s a NEW Pocket Trick.
• It’s Unbelievable.
• It Looks Impossible.
• It’s Good Fun and MYSTERY.

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