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Looking for a definitive David Blaine Split Spades list

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Looking for a definitive David Blaine Split Spades list
« on: March 15, 2012, 12:13:29 PM »
 

Linguist_

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I don't yet have any of David Blaine's playing cards, but trying to find out about them is proving difficult. There seems to be several different ones, each with several colour combinations. I'm pretty darn confused about the whole thing and was wondering if anyone could help me get my head around this series so I know what I need to look for when I decide to seek them out for my collection.

The information I can find (mostly from Playing Cards Wikidot) gives me this list:

Split Spades in red, blue, and black;
Split Spades Lions in red, blue, and black;
Split Spades Bee Back in black and inverted black;
Split Spades White Lions.

Is that all of them, or am I missing some? Also, I'd like to know about their respective value/rarity. They all seem to be sold out everywhere I look on reseller places. Is that the case? Is it a series that is continuing or is that all of them for the forseeable future?
« Last Edit: March 15, 2012, 12:15:37 PM by Linguist_ »
Oh, Lawd!
 

Re: Looking for a definitive David Blaine Split Spades list
« Reply #1 on: March 15, 2012, 12:19:34 PM »
 

Reylek

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Looks like a pretty complete list of the regular Split Spades to me.  There were also Split Spades Marked, Stripper, and Svengali decks that were sold to the public at Target, etc.

As for the non-trick decks, you have them all listed.  The original Split Spades (Tally-Ho Style box) came out around 2005 or 2006.  Then came the Bee versions.  The Lions were a couple of years ago, and the White Lions are the most recent.

I'm not sure about the value/rarity of them all, but they're all getting harder to find.  The first 3 versions are all out of print, and I'm not sure what the status is regarding new prints on the White Lions.

Every deck has terrific quality and design.  I'm sure you can get an idea of value in the sales forum, on ebay, etc.
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Re: Looking for a definitive David Blaine Split Spades list
« Reply #2 on: March 15, 2012, 12:25:57 PM »
 

siote

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I think you forgot about the
Bicycle Trick decks that David Blaine have
The Prototype Decks,
Red lion and Rainbow lion. I think thats about it.

Split Spades in red, blue, and black;  goes for 20-35 usd
Split Spades Lions in red, blue, and black; goes for 10-15 usd
Split Spades Bee Back in black and inverted black; goes for 25-??? I don't know the current market value for these. Check some magic site some still have them in stock but you have to look very hard,
Split Spades White Lions, goes for 12-18 usd
 

Re: Looking for a definitive David Blaine Split Spades list
« Reply #3 on: March 15, 2012, 12:29:42 PM »
 

CBJ

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Here are the trick deck boxes... and the prototype boxes



And the Prototype decks

(click pics for larger view)

« Last Edit: March 15, 2012, 12:30:12 PM by CBJ »
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Re: Looking for a definitive David Blaine Split Spades list
« Reply #4 on: March 15, 2012, 01:09:40 PM »
 

Paul Carpenter

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And the blue split spades lions in the Sepia box.
Paul Carpenter
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Re: Looking for a definitive David Blaine Split Spades list
« Reply #5 on: March 15, 2012, 01:19:48 PM »
 

phantom1412

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The white lions are
1. Blue white lions
2. Red white lions
3. Rainbow deck that came with the AIP bottle
4. UV deck that came with the variety box.
 

Re: Looking for a definitive David Blaine Split Spades list
« Reply #6 on: March 15, 2012, 01:25:35 PM »
 

CBJ

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The white lions are
1. Blue white lions
2. Red white lions
3. Rainbow deck that came with the AIP bottle
4. UV deck that came with the variety box.

I have a variety box... how do you tell the UV deck from the others?
And doesn't the rainbow deck look just like the red one
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Re: Looking for a definitive David Blaine Split Spades list
« Reply #7 on: March 15, 2012, 01:32:53 PM »
 

phantom1412

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I have variety box too, there is one deck with a black dot which I guess it should be the UV deck. (Not sure, I heard this somewhere else)

The red white lions/ UV white lions/ Rainbow deck are all in the red box.
The difference is inside the box.
The red white lions is red back, UV white lions is Blue back, Rainbow deck is purple back.
 

Re: Looking for a definitive David Blaine Split Spades list
« Reply #8 on: March 16, 2012, 01:01:40 AM »
 

Don Boyer

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To summarize...


These are ALL the David Blaine decks, in approximate order of release.


Original Split Spades (also called Tally Ho Split Spades, with Tally Ho Ace of Spades)
Comes in red (red box back, red seal), black (black box back, red seal) and blue (black box back, blue seal).


Bee Split Spades
Comes in black and "inverted black".  Both came in a Bee casino box with a clear cellophane window in the back, the black had a black seal, the inverted black had a white seal and they were sold as a two-deck set.  Most inverted black decks were sold unwrapped and autographed by David Blaine; the only ones that were sealed and unautographed came in the recent Variety Box.  Has the Bee AoS.


Split Spades Lions
Came in red, black and blue, matching backs and seals on the boxes, unique AoS.  A sepia-back box was also created - the color was considered and rejected, but the boxes had already been created, so the small number of them were "recycled" to pack blue decks in.  Despite being the third Split Spades release, the boxes were marked "1st Edition".  They were also the only Blaine deck to NOT have a one-way mark.


(I don't have the full details on these, but there were apparently some gaffed cards in these and possibly other decks created for Blaine to use in performance.  I've seen photos here of a Split Spades Lions joker autographed by Blaine with a gaffed back to appear like four or five cards layered in a staggered stack - this type of gaff is used to fool a spectator into thinking you're holding more cards than you are.  If any of you know more about these, by all means, don't keep it to yourself!)


Bicycle Split Spades - the trick decks.
These were Bicycle-branded and had the Split Spades Lions design.  The color indicated the deck type: the blue "Discover Magic" was a stripper deck, the red "Transformation" deck was a Svengali deck and the black "Mind Reading" deck was a marked deck (at the time of release, it was one of the cheapest marked decks of respectable quality on the market).  The release versions had the "split spade" logo on the front, ace pointing up.  Prototype versions were also created, never intended for sale, but have made it "into the wild" - two were included in the recent Variety Box release.  These boxes have the SS logo pointing down; it reads as "db", Blaine's initials.  There was a white prototype box in addition to the other three colors, it was another prototype model for the red Svengali deck.  The blue and black prototype decks were included in the Variety Box.


White Lions - "Series A Blue"
This deck originally came in a single color, blue - "Series A Blue" was marked on the box front.  In addition to having a simpler, repetitive back design, they also had a simple marking system hidden in the back design allowing you to determine value, but not suit, of the card.  Blaine also released a special two-deck set similar to the Bee SS: one deck sealed, one deck unwrapped and signed.


Split Spades Lions gaff pack
This was a two-deck boxed set released shortly after the the Series A Blue White Lions consisting of a red and a blue Split Spades Lions deck and a black envelope containing eight gaff cards meant for those decks: two red double backers, two blue double backers, two blue Ace of Hearts cards with a "thumbprint" 8 of Hearts reveal in the pip, a blue 7 of Spades with a one index altered to 9 of Spades, and one blue 5 of Spades with only four diamond pips on it.


White Lions - "Series A Red"
There were three special "rainbow edition" decks made - the boxes were all marked "Series A Red" on the front but mentioned the rainbow edition on the bottom in the copyright text.  Inside the "Anything Is Possible" bottle created by Jamie Grant for David Blaine was a red deck and was packaged with a two-deck box containing another red deck and a "purple" deck - the purple wasn't a consistent shade of purple, but a transitional color created when changing ink for the card backs in the middle of the print run from blue to red, so different purple decks could be different shades of purple.  The Variety Box came with a red deck as well, along with a blue UV deck - the stock glows under an ultraviolet lamp, and is believed by some to be the same UV500 stock that Ellusionist used on its earlier decks before it became prohibitively expensive.


As mentioned above, the AIP bottle was three decks in a set: one red in the bottle, a red and a purple in a box.  They were limited to 100 individually-numbered sets.


The Variety Box consisted of a dozen decks from Blaine's entire production run.  It consisted of:
2 White Lions blue deck
1 White Lions "Rainbow" red deck
1 White Lions "Rainbow" UV blue deck
1 Bicycle Split Spades prototype blue stripper deck
1 Bicycle Split Spades prototype black marked deck
1 Bee Split Spade black deck
1 Bee Split Spades inverted black deck, wrapped, no autograph
2 Split Spades Lions blue decks in sepia boxes
1 Split Spades Lions blue deck
1 Split Spades Lions red deck
and the envelope of gaffed Split Spades Lions cards included in the gaff set


250 Variety Boxes were created.  249 were simply autographed by David Blaine.  Exactly one was both autographed and personalized to the recipient.  I was that lucky recipient!  :))


I sent an email to a contact at his company about the sudden lack of products on the website.  I suspect that they're planning a new launch of some kind - maybe some new products (ooh, new deck??) or maybe a website redesign.  When I know, you guys and girls will know.
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Re: Looking for a definitive David Blaine Split Spades list
« Reply #9 on: March 16, 2012, 01:09:03 AM »
 

jmrock

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I would like to purchase one of each of the four David Blane Bicycle Decks pictured above... I just want to make sure they are not trick decks... I'm talking about these four picture above...  If anyone has them and wants to sell them please let me know... Also posting in sales forum, but wanted to make sure that they are not magic decks, because I know he came out with stripper decks, etc., as mentioned above... Thanks... J.
 

Re: Looking for a definitive David Blaine Split Spades list
« Reply #10 on: March 16, 2012, 03:47:27 AM »
 

saurabh

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I would like to purchase one of each of the four David Blane Bicycle Decks pictured above... I just want to make sure they are not trick decks... I'm talking about these four picture above...  If anyone has them and wants to sell them please let me know... Also posting in sales forum, but wanted to make sure that they are not magic decks, because I know he came out with stripper decks, etc., as mentioned above... Thanks... J.

They are prototypes for the trick decks, which implies they are trick decks (Svengali, Stripper & Marked) Just rarer than the ones available at Target/Walmart.
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Re: Looking for a definitive David Blaine Split Spades list
« Reply #11 on: March 16, 2012, 05:09:39 AM »
 

xZEROx

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They're named Decoder (Black), Deception (Blue), and Hypnotic (Red/White, and White/Red), are they still the Svengali, Stripper and Marked decks? I'm not familiar with these magic decks.

But all I could say is these are the prototype sets, some of you have two of them from his variety boxes. The bottom of the box (not the tuckbox of the deck, but the one for set that includes instructions, etc.) has its bar-code covered by "SAMPLE ONLY   NOT FOR SALE". I'm not completely sure of the exact numbers but I believe there were 5 grosses produced (5*144=720).
« Last Edit: March 16, 2012, 05:10:07 AM by xZEROx »
 

Re: Looking for a definitive David Blaine Split Spades list
« Reply #12 on: March 17, 2012, 02:55:36 AM »
 

Don Boyer

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They're named Decoder (Black), Deception (Blue), and Hypnotic (Red/White, and White/Red), are they still the Svengali, Stripper and Marked decks? I'm not familiar with these magic decks.

But all I could say is these are the prototype sets, some of you have two of them from his variety boxes. The bottom of the box (not the tuckbox of the deck, but the one for set that includes instructions, etc.) has its bar-code covered by "SAMPLE ONLY   NOT FOR SALE". I'm not completely sure of the exact numbers but I believe there were 5 grosses produced (5*144=720).

I mentioned them above.  The black, red and blue decks all correspond to their released versions.  The red/white and white/red boxes each contained just red decks.  Black is marked, blue is stripper, red is Svengali.

To answer Jmrock directly - yes, they are all trick decks.  I'm sure you figured that out by now, but since I wrote it above and no one read it, I thought I'd make sure!  :))
« Last Edit: March 17, 2012, 02:56:54 AM by Don Boyer »
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Re: Looking for a definitive David Blaine Split Spades list
« Reply #13 on: March 17, 2012, 03:32:38 AM »
 

Aaron

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Why would they make 720 Proto decks?
People say nothing's impossible, but I do nothing everyday.

Today I found something that reminded me of you. But don't worry I flushed and everything went back to normal.
 

Re: Looking for a definitive David Blaine Split Spades list
« Reply #14 on: March 17, 2012, 06:04:09 AM »
 

Linguist_

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Why would they make 720 Proto decks?
Perhaps David Blaine thought the same as the rest of us - the prototype decks look a lot better than the decks that went out for sale. So, he picked up several hundred of them for himself.
Oh, Lawd!
 

Re: Looking for a definitive David Blaine Split Spades list
« Reply #15 on: March 17, 2012, 06:33:50 AM »
 

xZEROx

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Pity we didn't talk about this earlier, other maybe Don could've asked David in person about it...
 

Re: Looking for a definitive David Blaine Split Spades list
« Reply #16 on: March 17, 2012, 08:21:35 AM »
 

Don Boyer

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Pity we didn't talk about this earlier, other maybe Don could've asked David in person about it...


Actually, I may meet him again.  I was in touch with one of his assistants.  She's checking with David to see if he needs help of any kind with the upcoming project he's working on, and she also mentioned that the website's store will be back online Monday.


On the off chance that I do see him, I'll ask about the prototypes.
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Re: Looking for a definitive David Blaine Split Spades list
« Reply #17 on: November 23, 2013, 07:05:52 PM »
 

Mike Ratledge

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The Variety Box consisted of a dozen decks from Blaine's entire production run.  It consisted of:
2 White Lions blue deck
1 White Lions "Rainbow" red deck
1 White Lions "Rainbow" UV blue deck
1 Bicycle Split Spades prototype blue stripper deck
1 Bicycle Split Spades prototype black marked deck
1 Bee Split Spade black deck
1 Bee Split Spades inverted black deck, wrapped, no autograph
2 Split Spades Lions blue decks in sepia boxes
1 Split Spades Lions blue deck
1 Split Spades Lions red deck
and the envelope of gaffed Split Spades Lions cards included in the gaff set
I know this thread is "stale", it even warned me, but what did you pay for that originally, Don.  What do you think the value of this "brick" is now?
> Mike <

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Re: Looking for a definitive David Blaine Split Spades list
« Reply #18 on: November 23, 2013, 09:43:32 PM »
 

Don Boyer

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The Variety Box consisted of a dozen decks from Blaine's entire production run.  It consisted of:
2 White Lions blue deck
1 White Lions "Rainbow" red deck
1 White Lions "Rainbow" UV blue deck
1 Bicycle Split Spades prototype blue stripper deck
1 Bicycle Split Spades prototype black marked deck
1 Bee Split Spade black deck
1 Bee Split Spades inverted black deck, wrapped, no autograph
2 Split Spades Lions blue decks in sepia boxes
1 Split Spades Lions blue deck
1 Split Spades Lions red deck
and the envelope of gaffed Split Spades Lions cards included in the gaff set
I know this thread is "stale", it even warned me, but what did you pay for that originally, Don.  What do you think the value of this "brick" is now?

I never mind someone reviving an old thread if they have something worthwhile to add to it.

I bought it from the website when it was first made available.  I paid $250 for each of the two I have - the first hundred went for $150, the remaining 150 went for $250 on the website.

As far as value, it's hard to say.  One I opened, though if intact I could probably sell for, what, $300?  I don't know.

The other, however, is priceless.  This will explain why:
http://aethercards.com/discourse/playing-card-plethora/guess-who-i-had-dinner-with-tonight/
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Re: Looking for a definitive David Blaine Split Spades list
« Reply #19 on: November 23, 2013, 09:57:08 PM »
 

Card Player

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The Variety Box consisted of a dozen decks from Blaine's entire production run.  It consisted of:
2 White Lions blue deck
1 White Lions "Rainbow" red deck
1 White Lions "Rainbow" UV blue deck
1 Bicycle Split Spades prototype blue stripper deck
1 Bicycle Split Spades prototype black marked deck
1 Bee Split Spade black deck
1 Bee Split Spades inverted black deck, wrapped, no autograph
2 Split Spades Lions blue decks in sepia boxes
1 Split Spades Lions blue deck
1 Split Spades Lions red deck
and the envelope of gaffed Split Spades Lions cards included in the gaff set
I know this thread is "stale", it even warned me, but what did you pay for that originally, Don.  What do you think the value of this "brick" is now?

I never mind someone reviving an old thread if they have something worthwhile to add to it.

I bought it from the website when it was first made available.  I paid $250 for each of the two I have - the first hundred went for $150, the remaining 150 went for $250 on the website.

As far as value, it's hard to say.  One I opened, though if intact I could probably sell for, what, $300?  I don't know.

The other, however, is priceless.  This will explain why:
http://aethercards.com/discourse/playing-card-plethora/guess-who-i-had-dinner-with-tonight/

Don, I think you got the prices wrong? I only paid $100 for the Split Spade Lions Box when that was released from Blaine's website. There were only 100 of those released. When The Variety Box was released it was only $100 for the first 100 and $150 for the remaining 150 boxes. Pretty sure that's correct.
« Last Edit: November 23, 2013, 09:57:33 PM by !An0nym0u5 »
 

Re: Looking for a definitive David Blaine Split Spades list
« Reply #20 on: November 24, 2013, 03:52:35 AM »
 

Don Boyer

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Don, I think you got the prices wrong? I only paid $100 for the Split Spade Lions Box when that was released from Blaine's website. There were only 100 of those released. When The Variety Box was released it was only $100 for the first 100 and $150 for the remaining 150 boxes. Pretty sure that's correct.

You're absolutely right - I was going from memory rather than looking at my checking account!  Something about my numbers just didn't sound right.

So from that, I'd say this particular VB would go for around $150 or $200 - but that's more of a guess than a hard figure.  The later VBs weren't as great in terms of the selection of decks in them, so those would be perhaps less, more along the lines of the value of the individual decks found within.

And yes, the personalized one would still be considered priceless!  Same for the uncut sheet!
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Re: Looking for a definitive David Blaine Split Spades list
« Reply #21 on: November 24, 2013, 09:45:16 AM »
 

Card Player

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Don, I think you got the prices wrong? I only paid $100 for the Split Spade Lions Box when that was released from Blaine's website. There were only 100 of those released. When The Variety Box was released it was only $100 for the first 100 and $150 for the remaining 150 boxes. Pretty sure that's correct.

You're absolutely right - I was going from memory rather than looking at my checking account!  Something about my numbers just didn't sound right.

So from that, I'd say this particular VB would go for around $150 or $200 - but that's more of a guess than a hard figure.  The later VBs weren't as great in terms of the selection of decks in them, so those would be perhaps less, more along the lines of the value of the individual decks found within.

And yes, the personalized one would still be considered priceless!  Same for the uncut sheet!

Without getting into value, The Variety Box did have more "Variety" but the Split Spades Box were "ALL" David's working magicians Go-To decks. Not to mention only 100 of those boxes were released, rather then 250. I "was" (past tense) disappointed I missed the Variety Box but when the Split Spades Box came out, I felt like I got the better of the two.

http://bit.ly/17SkEsT

Yes, I agree your personalized Uncut and Box is priceless. I might have custom framed it with the picture if you have not already. The picture is the gem of it all. Nothing is more personal to me then a picture and the story/memory of the experience.
« Last Edit: November 24, 2013, 09:57:40 AM by !An0nym0u5 »
 

Re: Looking for a definitive David Blaine Split Spades list
« Reply #22 on: November 24, 2013, 10:22:34 AM »
 

Don Boyer

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Don, I think you got the prices wrong? I only paid $100 for the Split Spade Lions Box when that was released from Blaine's website. There were only 100 of those released. When The Variety Box was released it was only $100 for the first 100 and $150 for the remaining 150 boxes. Pretty sure that's correct.

You're absolutely right - I was going from memory rather than looking at my checking account!  Something about my numbers just didn't sound right.

So from that, I'd say this particular VB would go for around $150 or $200 - but that's more of a guess than a hard figure.  The later VBs weren't as great in terms of the selection of decks in them, so those would be perhaps less, more along the lines of the value of the individual decks found within.

And yes, the personalized one would still be considered priceless!  Same for the uncut sheet!

Without getting into value, The Variety Box did have more "Variety" but the Split Spades Box were "ALL" David's working magicians Go-To decks. Not to mention only 100 of those boxes were released, rather then 250. I "was" (past tense) disappointed I missed the Variety Box but when the Split Spades Box came out, I felt like I got the better of the two.

http://bit.ly/17SkEsT

Yes, I agree your personalized Uncut and Box is priceless. I might have custom framed it with the picture if you have not already. The picture is the gem of it all. Nothing is more personal to me then a picture and the story/memory of the experience.

I got my SS Lions VB second-hand - no bag!  I'm pretty astonished that they're selling for so much now.  That's over $30 a pack, not counting the added stuff.  But then, the original VB had stuff that's nearly impossible to find elsewhere, including gaff cards for the SS Lions.  I'd imagine the collection as a whole is worth more than the SS Lions VB just based on what the likely individual deck values are.  Pretty much the only things "David" that weren't in that box were the Tally Ho SS decks and the purple WL deck.  Oh, and the other two of the four prototype magic decks.
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Re: Looking for a definitive David Blaine Split Spades list
« Reply #23 on: November 24, 2013, 11:02:47 AM »
 

Mike Ratledge

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I agree that it's worth quite a bit more than paid for several years ago, but as noted, the priceless part is the pictures - and experience you had!

I saw this recently http://www.ebay.com/itm/181035780159?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649 and wondered if that was even close to a fair value for the decks.  I believe this is the one that there were only 100 of, correct?  Or 250?  I'm confused a bit after reading the responses.  I'm pretty sure it's the older of the two 'bricks' that we're talking about, that has several decks that just can't be obtained any other way as far as I know.  The SS/Lions brick (shown in the link in the message two back) was 250 bricks?  hmmm...  I saw one posted on ebay that was more like $500 (or more?).  Ah, it is still active: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Split-Spades-Lions-Collectors-Box-Playing-Cards-David-blaine-Rare-New-Sealed-/160994762116?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item257c091d84

Nearly $600 with shipping!  Darn...  I must have them backwards in my mind, I suppose, but it certainly seems like the previous one for $359 had more exclusive decks in it, like the White Lion series A Red and Bee Casino decks.  Maybe this is yet another, a third variety?  I'm thinking it's the one you have, Don.

It must be nice to wave your hands and "presto!" - money appears...  ::)

Pics from the ebay seller:
> Mike <

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Re: Looking for a definitive David Blaine Split Spades list
« Reply #24 on: November 24, 2013, 12:37:46 PM »
 

Card Player

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I agree that it's worth quite a bit more than paid for several years ago, but as noted, the priceless part is the pictures - and experience you had!

I saw this recently http://www.ebay.com/itm/181035780159?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649 and wondered if that was even close to a fair value for the decks.  I believe this is the one that there were only 100 of, correct?  Or 250?  I'm confused a bit after reading the responses.  I'm pretty sure it's the older of the two 'bricks' that we're talking about, that has several decks that just can't be obtained any other way as far as I know.  The SS/Lions brick (shown in the link in the message two back) was 250 bricks?  hmmm...  I saw one posted on ebay that was more like $500 (or more?).  Ah, it is still active: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Split-Spades-Lions-Collectors-Box-Playing-Cards-David-blaine-Rare-New-Sealed-/160994762116?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item257c091d84

Nearly $600 with shipping!  Darn...  I must have them backwards in my mind, I suppose, but it certainly seems like the previous one for $359 had more exclusive decks in it, like the White Lion series A Red and Bee Casino decks.  Maybe this is yet another, a third variety?  I'm thinking it's the one you have, Don.

It must be nice to wave your hands and "presto!" - money appears...  ::)

Pics from the ebay seller:

You do have them backwards.

1. First released was the Variety Box. The box is half RED and BLACK. 250 were released in total. The first 100 were $100 and the 150 remaining were $150. [SOLD OUT]

2. Second released was the Split Spades Box. That box is ALL BLACK. Only 100 were released for about $100. [SOLD OUT]

3. There is a third still available on David's website. The Limited Edition White Lions Box. That box is ALSO ALL BLACK. 400 were available. Those go for about $100. If you have watched David over the past year or his special, the White Lions are David's current working deck that he uses. These have been available for almost a year on his website. Most of us here bought the decks when they were first released and have other Box Sets of his. If your someone looking to get some Blaine decks, I would start with this at $100. Its signed twice, on the box and certificate of authentication. Its a nice deal and a nice piece of magic/playing card history.
« Last Edit: November 24, 2013, 12:50:37 PM by !An0nym0u5 »