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Shufton - Actually, there's more to the story.

The Elmsley Count was born out of count shown to Mr. Elmsley by Eric De La Mere, and another count (I can't recall it at the time). both of these counts WERE done at the fingertips (but only in one hand). Elmsley himself said that Vernon's use of the fingertip to fingertip count may have come as a result of not fully understanding the instructions he sent. It was Dai Vernon who popularized the fingertip to fingertip count, while Alex Elmsley performed with the cards being counted into a dealer's grip.

Jack Avis also performed a version of Elmsley's 4 card trick, using jumbo cards at the fingertips.

Neither way is wrong, it's all about personal preference, but Alex Elmsley himself did not use a fingertip to fingertip count.

If anyone's interested in hearing the man himself talk about this, and the full history of his count - check out Volume 1 of the Magic Of Alex Elmsley DVD.

Demitri wrote:Alex Elmsley performed with the cards being counted into a dealer's grip.

I had to do the count again, but you're absolutely right. The way I learned it counts from the fingertips of the left hand into a dealer's grip in the right hand.