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31
A Cellar of Fine Vintages / Re: Steamboat date of Mfg.
« Last post by NCC1888 on January 09, 2024, 02:35:48 PM »
1908-1910 probably
32
A Cellar of Fine Vintages / Steamboat date of Mfg.
« Last post by johns7076 on January 06, 2024, 09:44:25 AM »
Anyone know the date of manufacture?
33
Practical Explanation ( For Example ) :- `1st of all can you tell me every single seconds detail from that time when you born ?? ( i need every seconds detail ?? that what- what you have thought and done on every single second )

can you tell me every single detail of your `1 cheapest Minute Or your whole hour, day, week, month, year or your whole life ??

if you are not able to tell me about this life then what proof do you have that you didn't forget your past ? and that you will not forget this present life in the future ?

that is Fact that Supreme Lord Krishna exists but we posses no such intelligence to understand him.
there is also next life. and i already proved you that no scientist, no politician, no so-called intelligent man in this world is able to understand this Truth. cuz they are imagining. and you cannot imagine what is god, who is god, what is after life etc.
_______
for example :Your father existed before your birth. you cannot say that before your birth your father don,t exists.

So you have to ask from mother, "Who is my father?" And if she says, "This gentleman is your father," then it is all right. It is easy.
Otherwise, if you makes research, "Who is my father?" go on searching for life; you'll never find your father.

( now maybe...maybe you will say that i will search my father from D.N.A, or i will prove it by photo's, or many other thing's which i will get from my mother and prove it that who is my Real father.{ So you have to believe the authority. who is that authority ? she is your mother. you cannot claim of any photo's, D.N.A or many other things without authority ( or ur mother ).

if you will show D.N.A, photo's, and many other proofs from other women then your mother. then what is use of those proofs ??} )

same you have to follow real authority. "Whatever You have spoken, I accept it," Then there is no difficulty. And You are accepted by Devala, Narada, Vyasa, and You are speaking Yourself, and later on, all the acaryas have accepted. Then I'll follow.
I'll have to follow great personalities. The same reason mother says, this gentleman is my father. That's all. Finish business. Where is the necessity of making research? All authorities accept Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. You accept it; then your searching after God is finished.

Why should you waste your time?
_______
all that is you need is to hear from authority ( same like mother ). and i heard this truth from authority " Srila Prabhupada " he is my spiritual master.
im not talking these all things from my own.
___________

in this world no `1 can be Peace full. this is all along Fact.

cuz we all are suffering in this world 4 Problems which are Disease, Old age, Death, and Birth after Birth.

tell me are you really happy ?? you can,t be happy if you will ignore these 4 main problem. then still you will be Forced by Nature.
___________________

if you really want to be happy then follow these 6 Things which are No illicit s.ex, No g.ambling, No d.rugs ( No tea & coffee ), No meat-eating ( No onion & garlic's )

5th thing is whatever you eat `1st offer it to Supreme Lord Krishna. ( if you know it what is Guru parama-para then offer them food not direct Supreme Lord Krishna )

and 6th " Main Thing " is you have to Chant " hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare ".
_______________________________
If your not able to follow these 4 things no illicit s.ex, no g.ambling, no d.rugs, no meat-eating then don,t worry but chanting of this holy name ( Hare Krishna Maha-Mantra ) is very-very and very important.

Chant " hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare " and be happy.

if you still don,t believe on me then chant any other name for 5 Min's and chant this holy name for 5 Min's and you will see effect. i promise you it works And chanting at least 16 rounds ( each round of 108 beads ) of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra daily.
____________
Here is no Question of Holy Books quotes, Personal Experiences, Faith or Belief. i accept that Sometimes Faith is also Blind. Here is already Practical explanation which already proved that every`1 else in this world is nothing more then Busy Foolish and totally idiot.
_________________________
Source(s):
every `1 is already Blind in this world and if you will follow another Blind then you both will fall in hole. so try to follow that person who have Spiritual Eyes who can Guide you on Actual Right Path. ( my Authority & Guide is my Spiritual Master " Srila Prabhupada " )
_____________
if you want to see Actual Purpose of human life then see this link : ( triple w ( d . o . t ) asitis ( d . o . t ) c . o . m {Bookmark it })
read it complete. ( i promise only readers of this book that they { he/she } will get every single answer which they want to know about why im in this material world, who im, what will happen after this life, what is best thing which will make Human Life Perfect, and what is perfection of Human Life. ) purpose of human life is not to live like animal cuz every`1 at present time doing 4 thing which are sleeping, eating, s.ex & fear. purpose of human life is to become freed from Birth after birth, Old Age, Disease, and Death.
34
Review: Phill Smith's Elysian Duets - a brilliant successor to the DMC Elites marked deck

When it comes to marked cards, Phill Smith is a well-known name.  His popular DMC Elites first appeared in 2015, the DMC branding being a reference to his collaboration with English magician Drummond Money-Coutts.  These decks use an ingenious marking system on the card backs that Phill created, and that you can literally read from across a room.  It's billed as an "optical marking system" and the way it works is that you actually can't see the markings if they're right under your nose, but only from a distance away, and only if you know how to look at them. Once you know the system, you can't unsee the marks, and they're as plain as daylight.

The DMC Elites went through several versions, and now that Phill Smith is no longer working with Money-Coutts, he's rebranded the project, and the newly released Elysian Duets represent the latest version of this ingenious marked deck.  Phill has really taken things to the next level, because not only do we have the usual corner marking system with his easy-to-read optical marking system, but the cards also come in Mnemonica order, and there are markings which reveal the stack position, as well as the value/suit of the cards above and below any selected card in the stack. 



Anyone familiar with the DMC Elites will know how powerful and easy-to-use Phill's optical marking system is on its own.  If you're looking for a marked deck that isn't Bicycle branded, it's easily been the best on the market (along with Ondrej Psenicka's Butterfly Playing Cards, which use a more complex edge-marking system).  By incorporating the Mnemonica stack, the Elysian Duets instantly give magicians additional super powers to perform even more amazing miracles than those possible with an ordinary marked deck.  I've explored some of the possibilities that you can perform with a good marked deck incorporating a stack, by exploring proven products like Andy Nyman's The Code and Luke Jermay's Marksman Deck.  What you can do with these decks is absolutely mind-blowing, and the Elysian Duets now put the same kind of abilities at your finger-tips, while being so much easier to read.

Besides the deck, you get an instruction card with a secret link to Phill's website, where you'll find instructions for using the deck, and nine tricks that are ready to go.  Phill plans to add to these periodically with new material.  There are other extras I haven't mentioned, like one way markings, a Joker reveal, a QR code reveal, and a double backer.



The cards are printed by WJPC on their 310gsm German black core stock.  I've written about the quality and handling of WJPC's playing cards several times in the past, and I have been very favourably impressed by the quality they are producing.  I personally favour their slightly thinner 300gsm stock, which handles very similar to USPCC's crushed stock.  But their 310gsm stock is still a solid option, and it faros smoothly and easily out of the box, and holds up well.

Phill took the unusual step of not bringing his Elysian Duets to the market right away, but first he produced 30 samples that he sent out to well-qualified and hand-picked individuals in the world of playing cards, marked cards, and card magic.  That way he could benefit from their input and criticisms, and as a result he made numerous changes and improvements that have benefited the final product.  I was fortunate to be one of those who test-drove his original prototype, and applaud Phill for going the extra mile to get valuable feedback, and produce something that actually meets what card magicians are looking for in a product like this.   

The Elysian Duets are a fantastic addition to the current range of marked decks on the market, and should easily and quickly become a top choice for many card magicians.  They're available in red and blue, and come at around a $20 price point at all the major magic retailers.  Considering that you're not just getting a deck of cards, but a toolbox for creating a world of astonishment, including a number of strong tricks ready-to-go, this is excellent value.  Highly recommended.

35
Playing Card Plethora / Kickstarter: ShanHai Playing Cards by ARK Playing Cards
« Last post by EndersGame on December 12, 2023, 12:57:33 AM »
ShanHai Playing Cards by ARK Playing Cards (Kickstarter)

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cardcollection/shanhai-playing-cards-by-ark

Current funding level: already funded
Kickstarter ends: Monday, December 25, 2023

ARK Playing Cards is renowned for the luxury playing cards they have produced in the past couple of years.  Many of their projects have made it onto the lists of the most-funded decks of playing cards of all time, and it's not hard to see why.  They feature innovative designs, lavish artwork, and highly customized tuck boxes.

Their latest project, ShanHai Playing Cards, is no exception.  Like some of their previous decks of custom playing cards, it's inspired by Chinese mythology.



The real standout feature here are the card backs, which turn into a flipbook animation movie when thumbed through at high speed, and which create a gorgeous single expansive image when the entire deck is spread.  To show how impressive this looks, here's an animated gif that showcases the flip-book animation and the giant polyptych image produced by a spread:



Added to that is a the special feature of a unique tuck box which unfolds into four panels.  Here's an animated gif that gives a sneak peek of how the unfolding panels of the tuck box look:

The ShanHai project is available with four different levels and styles of luxury packaging:
Standard Deck (limited edition of 2222): single deck (US$30)
Artist Boxset (limited edition of 999): holographic foil deck & monochromatic deck (US$75)
Walnut Boxset (limited edition of 333): holographic foil deck with gilded edges, plus a collectible coin (US$185)
Luxury Black (limited edition of 600): black and white deck, plus an embossed metal plate (US$90+, only available as part of the "All-In" reward)
Extra add-ons like uncut sheets and coins are also available.



This deck is inspired by the Shan Hai Jing, also known as the Classic of Mountains and Seas, a classic Chinese book that is more than 2000 years old, and is a compilation of mythic geography and beasts.  It depicts over 550 mountains and 300 channels, as well as a variety of monsters.



The tuck case is unusual in that it features an unfolding double layer, and the inner layer consists of four separate compartments, each used to store the cards from a different suit. 



When the cards are removed, this unfolds to show four birds on one side, and on the other the Queen Mother, who is a focus in this deck.  The scenery depicts a transcendent mountaintop realm, which is her palace.  Imagery includes mountains, clouds, mythical creatures and more, all capturing aspects of the legendary tales.



The main image on the card backs here shows the Queen Mother, sitting gracefully with a leopard behind her, and surrounded by bronze mirrors and artifacts. 



When you thumb through the cards, the scenery changes and moves in a dynamic pattern.  And when you fan the cards into a giant spread, a large panoramic image is produced, which corresponds to the picture on the folding screen from the tuck box.



In keeping with the theme, traditional Chinese ink painting techniques were employed for the card faces, which capture over 100 original large-scale hand-drawn illustrations created just for this deck.



1. Standard Deck

The standard deck comes with all the features that make this project unique, including the flip-back animation and panoramic image of the card backs, and the special tuck case with the four-panel unfolding design.



The Aces on all the decks picture four celestial birds, including the Golden Crow on the Ace of Spades. 



Meanwhile the court cards depict different legendary figures and scenes from the Shan Hai Jing classic.



The number cards use a style that matches the ink painting design evident on the rest of the cards.



2. Artist Box set

This includes two decks, the first being a Holo deck with holographic foil.



As with all the decks from this project, a spread of the card backs produces a single panoramic image.



The card faces feature similar artwork as the standard deck, but colors are added to the background to give a more vibrant look.





The other deck is a Special deck with a monochromatic design.





The Artist Boxset comes in a gift box that can be pulled apart and changed into a folding album that displays large pictures with the ink painting artwork from the deck itself. 





3. Walnut Box set



This deck has the added luxury of gilded edges.



Here's how the tuck box looks when the four panels are unfolded.



The cards feature holographic foil for extra luxury.



This set also comes with a special collector's coin.



The wooden box can be displayed in four different ways, one of which shows the full stretched out tuck case.



4. Luxury Black set

This special deck is only available to collectors opting for the "All In" reward. 



It has fully black edges that are individually signed in silver paint.



The cards feature the ink drawings in white set against a jet black background.



An individually numbered embossed metal plate is another special feature of this reward.



Head over to the project page for more images of these extravagant collectors pieces.

Kickstarter link

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cardcollection/shanhai-playing-cards-by-ark


36
Hochman Updates / Re: Chapter 24 - Exposition and World's Fair Cards
« Last post by JohnEdelson on December 10, 2023, 01:21:35 PM »
In addition to the cool old cards, note the old Bakelite plastic box.
37
Introduce Yourself / My introduction: I'm Amused By Jokers
« Last post by JohnEdelson on December 10, 2023, 01:16:16 PM »
Hi, In high school, I was a working magician doing mostly kids parties but also some closeup. One store-bought trick ended with four cards being turned into jokers. I liked the trick but thought the jokers were visually underwhelming so I looked around for better ones. Soon I had half a dozen in a rubber band, then dozens, then a few in the album. In the last few years, I've returned to my collection which is now big (maybe 10,000 different ones) and am now focusing on old American jokers.  I also am collecting Congress decks (and jokers) from the matching era.

My Congress Matching Jokers
Old Decks I'd Trade Away
My Organizational System for Jokers.. My answer of how to organize a ton of jokers

BTW, I graduated from high school in 1976.
38
Deck Reviews! / Review: The Casino Range from Mechanic Industries
« Last post by EndersGame on December 09, 2023, 05:08:22 AM »
The Casino Range from Mechanic Industries

Decks with flip-book animation, perfect for gambling-themed card magic

Mechanic Industries

I absolutely love custom playing cards that have special features built-in.  And few features are more jaw-dropping and amazing to see in a good deck than flip-book animation.   Mechanic Industries  has been producing some of the very best decks in this category, especially with their Casino Range, which is the focus of this article. 

They have been in the business of creating custom playing cards and servicing magicians for more than a decade.  Their specialty: playing cards that function as wonderful novelty items for collectors, but become powerful tools in the hands of skilled magicians.  Their innovative and important contribution to the playing card and magic industry comes in the form of decks that combine the novelty of flipbook animation with a secret marking system.  And they also provide free high quality video tutorials that teach the built-in routines possible with these delightful decks.

I first came across Mechanic Industries courtesy of their clever Mechanics deck, which doubles as a marked deck, and also produces an animation of moving cogs when you flip through the card backs.  The Metallic Mechanics deck set with gold and silver foil is especially stunning.   

Following closely on the heels of the Mechanic decks were their eye-catching Optricks decks, which came out in black and in red.  Besides the animated card backs, a special feature of these was that they came with some unique gaff cards.  One enabled you to produce an anamorphic illusion with the Queen of Hearts; the Optibox gaff enabled the tuck box to look empty even when the deck is inside.   The Visualies Gaff System took this to a whole other level, with an entire deck of creative gaffs.



The Casino Range continued Mechanic Industries' creative use of flip-book animation on the card backs, with a series of innovative decks that build on casino-related themes.  The first is the Roulette deck, which has an animated roulette wheel on the card backs, along with customized artwork that draws on the roulette motives.  Its successor, the Roulette Fanimation deck, operates on the same principle, but is a reimagining of this concept.  It uses ideas optimized for card flourishing, as well as a clever use of a roulette-inspired fan display that had good application to card magic.

Later releases continue the gambling theme. The Craps deck helps bring the flavour of classic dice-rolling to our beloved playing cards.  While not strictly part of the Casino Range, the next release, Snakes & Ladders deck, incorporates ideas from the classic game of Snakes & Ladders, including an animated snaking ladder, customized details on the artwork, and appropriate inclusions like snake reveal jokers and a snakebite gaff. 

The most recent release from Mechanic Industries is the Slots deck.  As with all the decks in the Casino Edition Range, along with the playing cards also get access to a full range of high quality video tutorials created by Mechanic Industries, where you get taught how to maximize the secrets of each deck, as well as some magic routines employing the gaffs and other features.  So let's head to the casino, and show you what some of these decks look like, and what they have to offer.



Roulette Playing Cards

The Roulette deck is far from your average custom deck, which is evident immediately from its unique animation features and the extensive tutorial video that accompanies it.

The concept of flip-board animation has always fascinated me, and incorporating a moving Roulette Wheel on the card backs seems so obvious that it's surprising no one thought of it earlier. But Mechanic Industries has a talent for delivering innovative ideas, and they've nailed it with this creation.



This deck is not just perfect for gambling routines; it offers so much more. The tuck box itself introduces us to the key elements and helps set  the stage for a captivating narrative. On the front, there's a roulette-style betting chart, while the back displays the mesmerizing roulette wheel that is the highlight of the card backs.

When the cards are in new deck order, flipping the card backs reveals an animation of the roulette wheel spinning around. You really must see this in action by checking out the Roulette promo video.  This clever feature also makes it a marked deck, enabling you to quickly discern the value of each card by glancing at the back.  Since the animations rely on a 13 repeating back system, riffling through the cards creates an animation effect even if the deck is shuffled.



The card faces feature an abundance of roulette-themed imagery. While the number cards and court cards maintain a standard look, the colors are limited to red and black, which enhances an elegant casino vibe. But what sets them apart are the thematic additions to the court characters, which are adorned with accessories like a roulette ball, rake, and handfuls of money. The crushed stock from USPCC ensures a smooth handling experience right out of the box.

The flip-book animation is just the beginning of the fun. The two Jokers depict a croupier's hand, one holding the ball and the other just releasing it. These can be used for a color change, and sets the mood for other card tricks you can perform with this deck.



With the deck you get a link and password granting access to a comprehensive two-hour tutorial video at Mechanic Industries. This invaluable resource provides insights into utilizing the card backs as a marking system. Furthermore, the instructional video includes tutorials for a variety of incredible casino-themed card tricks like Straight Up, Split Bet, Red or Black, Cool Monte, Lucky Thought, and House Edge. All of these take full advantage of the unique card backs and features incorporated into this deck. For a glimpse of the deck's potential, watch this entertaining 20-minute performance video showcasing these tricks back-to-back.

In short, the Roulette deck is much more than just a deck of cards: it's a complete toolbox of magical effects. Along with the deck, you receive the key to unlock this treasure trove of knowledge, with two hours of video instruction. Additionally, there's a private Facebook group where you can connect and exchange ideas with other enthusiasts. Considering the relatively low price and everything that is included, this deck is a fantastic buy for both magicians and collectors alike.



If you like the idea of the Roulette deck, you should also check out its twin brother, the Roulette Fanimation deck

This deck is effectively a spin-off from the Roulette deck, as you can see from Fanimation promo video.  It takes the same concepts, but adds what they call "fanimation colour step animation", using fans as part of the revelation of a selected card. 



Craps Playing Cards

Next up is the Craps deck, which is a perfect choice for gambling routines and beyond, much like its sibling decks. If you're not familiar with it, Craps is a classic and widely enjoyed dice game where players bet on the outcome of a roll of two dice.

The tuck box immediately immerses us in the theme, and is adorned with casino-like betting charts and, of course, pairs of dice. An intriguing card reveal for the 7 of Spades is cleverly hidden on the tuck box flap, ready for magicians to incorporate into their card magic.



When the cards are in new deck order, a fascinating animation of dice rolling on a table comes to life as you flip the card backs with your thumb. This captivating visual needs to be seen to be believed, and you can see it in action by checking out the Craps promo video. Naturally, this animation feature also transforms the deck into a marked one, allowing magicians to swiftly figure out the value and suit of each card simply by glancing at the back.

The Craps theme extends to every aspect of the card artwork, making it one of the most customized decks in the Casino Range. The thin black border on the backs serves as the backdrop for our rolling dice against the moving background of a betting chart, enhancing the illusion and feel of an actual Craps table.



Even the edges of the cards are colored in jet black, creating a miniature table effect, and leaving an unforgettable impression from the moment you lay eyes on it.

The card faces look quite different from previous Mechanic Industries decks, adding to the deck's unique vibe. The edges of all the faces have black borders, along with a sweeping arc on the left and right.  The Ace of Spades stands out with its exceptional custom design.



The color scheme has been reduced to red and black, to help strengthen an elegant casino-style appearance, while the font and pips have received stylistic adjustments to give them a fully custom feel. The court cards retain the classic style, but have casino-related embellishments, with Jacks flaunting a wad of cash, Queens sporting a rake, and Kings displaying dice.

The black borders on the faces and backs of the cards are registered perfectly, courtesy of printing by Cartamundi.  Cartamundi's Slimline stock has become very popular in recent years, and it handles consistently and smoothly.



The novelty doesn't stop with the flip-book animation and custom artwork. The deck includes three Jokers: one featuring a pair of dice showing 5 and 6; another displaying 2 and 5; and a third left blank. These Jokers offer a wealth of possibilities for magic tricks, since they add to the key values of 7 and 11, and you can create the illusion of a pair of dice falling off the card, leaving it blank.

Finally, the last card is an ad card with some gaffs that can be cut out to create flat dice, that you'll use for the "Squished Dice" routine (taught in the free support materials).

You're also given the link and password needed to access a 50-minute tutorial video at Mechanic Industries, which is packed with information on using the card backs as a marking system. This also offers comprehensive tutorials for performing various impressive tricks (e.g., Die Flat Purse, Squished Die, BPM Roll'em, Stick, Flat Top, and Splat), which make good use of the novel card backs and clever features integrated into this deck.



Slots Playing Cards

The SLOTS deck is the most recent addition to the Casino Range.  A slot machine is a popular staple at many casinos, and in depending on where in the world you live, is also called a fruit machine, poker machine, or one-armed bandit.  Typically it has a screen displaying three or more reels that spin when it is activated, and this makes it perfectly suited to flipbook animation. 

One fun idea about the tuck box is that you can cut out a slit in the top of the tuck box, and use this for depositing a coin (just like you might do with a slot machine), and incorporate this idea into your magic.



The icons on the tuck box immediately bring to mind the kinds of image you might expect to see on a slot machine, and give somewhat of a preview of what we'll see on the card backs.  A clever ambigram of the word SLOTS in the center of the card backs ensures that the animation will work regardless of the orientation of the cards. 

Riffling the card backs produces a delightful animation of the icons spinning round. Arrows the move up and down the borders help strengthen the visual effect.  Head over to this Slots promo video over on the official Mechanics Industries YouTube channel to see how this looks in action.  The changing backs also double up as a marking system that reveals the card values, and full information about how to read the card backs is provided in an instructional online video.



The pips have been slightly stylized for a unique touch.  And in keeping with the color scheme of the rest of the deck, the Hearts and Diamonds employ a vibrant yellow instead of the usual red, and the result is rather effective, working well with the black of the Spades and Clubs.

The artwork on all the Aces has been given a boost with some extra lines, and the custom design of the Ace of Spades is particularly well done.



As we're used to by now from Mechanic Industries, the court cards are also of special interest, each having some distinctive touch to fit with the casino theme.  As a result we have court characters clutching wads of cash, or tossing coins.

For the rest the card faces have a traditional look, to help keep the deck functional and practical for magic.  Printing by USPCC on their crushed premium stock ensures quality looks and handling.



The folks at Mechanic Industries like coming up with unique routines for each of their decks, and most of their decks include creative Jokers that facilitate fun tricks.  There are three Jokers with this deck, two of which depict their Grinder coin, and the third being blank except for the indices. 

The final card included is an ad card with the link and password needed to access the free tutorial that is provided for owners of the Slots deck.  It runs for over an hour, and contains a full explanation of everything you need to know in order to get the most out of this deck. This includes some strong magic tricks, and the "Jackpot" effect you'll learn is relatively easy to perform, but packs quite a punch.



Snakes & Ladders Playing Cards

Strictly speaking the Snakes & Ladders deck is not part of Mechanic Industries' Casino Range.  But it is also a playful animated deck with similar features, and since it is one of their newer releases, it also deserves some coverage here. 

This deck is billed as a re-imagining of the classic Snakes & Ladders game, "but in a Quantum Mechanics kinda way."  This ingeniously designed custom deck draws obvious inspiration from the board game, which is immediately evident in its tuck box, which features a snake and ladder coiled into the shape of a Spade. The color scheme of black, gold, and gray offers a glimpse of the main colors seen on the playing cards. The tagline "Animatdna Playing Cards" cleverly plays with the word "animated," hinting at the animations within.



The back of the tuck box showcases the standout snaking ladder design that graces all the card backs. When riffled, twin serpents come to life as a snaking ladder, creating a mesmerizing and magical moment.

The animations are eye-catching in various ways. The first striking feature is how twin yellow bands move up and down the card backs. Upon closer inspection, other elements come alive as well: there's a rotating snake at the center, between two snakes that dance in endless figure-eight patterns. Furthermore, lines at the top and bottom of the card backs gracefully twist and sway. These well-designed animations will instantly captivate anyone who lays eyes on them. You really need to see this for yourself by checking out the Snakes & Ladders promo video.



While the card faces maintain a relatively standard appearance, making them ideal for card magic, the Snakes & Ladders theme remains evident throughout. Each Ace is embellished with a snake or ladder, most prominently displayed on the exquisite Ace of Spades.

The choice to switch the traditional red color of hearts and diamonds to a vibrant gold perfectly complements the theme and enhances the deck's overall appeal without compromising its functionality.  The court cards also receive special treatment. Adorned with gold snake-like eyes, each character holds a snake, while ladders grace some of the cards as well.



Two "Snake Reveal" Jokers are included, each featuring a snake on a ladder. One of them shows a curled-up snake, cleverly designed so that magicians can create a fun colour reveal of a forced 8 of Diamonds, in combination with the animations.

Additionally, a duplicate 4 of Clubs is provided for other card tricks. Combined with the "Snakebite Gaff" that can be cut from the final bonus card provided with the deck, magicians can create an unforgettable moment of magic, as a snake appears to shoot out of the deck, stealing the corner of the spectator's card.



Naturally comprehensive instructions for these tricks and more are provided in the accompanying video tutorial. As with other Mechanic Industries decks, the animation feature doubles as a marked deck, allowing you to easily decode information on the card backs to identify the value and suit of any card, making it perfect for card magic. You're given the link and password for a 44-minute instructional tutorial video, which explains the markings and teaches a sample gambling demonstration routine. Additionally, full teaching is provided for tricks utilizing the other gaffs, namely the Joker Reveal and the Snake Pop Out. Get a glimpse of these routines and the possibilities this deck offers in the performance video.



Final Thoughts

There's a lot about these creative decks to like.

Innovation: One thing that stands out about everything that Mechanic Industries produces is the level of innovation and originality.  They have proven themselves able to come up with terrific ideas, with practical application, that helps inject real life into card magic.  There's a level of fresh creativity here that is immediately apparent.

Animations: The flip-book animation of the card-backs is a standout feature of these decks.  It looks terrific, and most people will never have seen anything like this before on playing cards.  This does mean that all the card backs are different, but most spectators won't even notice that until the moment you start riffling the cards.  Not only does this give your card magic an instant visual appeal, it can also be used to perform card reveals, and strengthen the effect of your magic.

Marked cards: The animation system is closely linked to the marking system, and these have been cleverly combined and tied together.  All the information you need to learn these systems is clearly taught in the supporting instructional materials that Mechanic Industries provides with their decks.  Magicians who enjoy marked cards will especially find something here that they can work with.

Novelty: I love all the novelty that these decks bring to the table, especially with the animated card backs.  This gives them immediate appeal with collectors.  And when used for card magic, the animation features help make the tricks performed with these decks more memorable and exciting.  And of course the special features of the animated card backs lets you perform card magic that you simply can't do with an ordinary deck.  The inclusion of unique Jokers and gaffs, and the things possible with these, just enhances this even more. 

Quality: The quality of the cards themselves is good, since they are high quality playing cards printed by industry giants USPCC and Cartamundi. So the stock and finish is something that magicians will immediately find familiar and durable.

Instruction: One thing I really like about the Mechanic Industries decks is that you're not left on your own to figure things out.  Purchasing one of their decks means you are buying into their brand, and they want to reward you by giving you the tools you need to take this to the next level, by providing you with the learning materials and ideas you need.  And the online video tutorials they provide aren't bare-bones affairs.  They cover a lot of ground, and include numerous effects and routines you can perform with each deck.

Value: I'm still blown away by the amount of things you get with the purchase of a single deck.  Not only is the price-point less than many custom decks, but for around $10-13 price-point you not only get a fully custom deck with some very fun built-in features, but full access to all the video tutorials.



Recommendation

I've had an enormous amount of fun with the Casino Range of animated decks from Mechanic Industries, because they offer so much more than your average deck of custom cards.  Each deck is a toolbox of creative visual magic, and gives you the potential to demonstrate visual effects that the average person has never  seen before.   

They will appeal to collectors who like the idea and novelty of the flipbook animation, and I love them for that reason alone.  But in combination with the unique tricks that these decks will enable magicians to perform, they will especially shine in the hands of magicians, who are best placed to take full advantage of all the unique features packed inside, and who like the idea of impressing their audience with something unique and memorable. 

And in each case, Mechanic Industries gives you everything you need to maximize the potential of this clever deck, especially with the help of their high quality video tutorials.  That ensures that these are a complete package, and so much more than just another 54 pieces of cardboard. 

Whether your love is just collecting novel playing cards, or whether you are into serious card magic, the Casino Range is excellent value, given everything you get for the price.  So whether you're just a collector or magician, these unique and attention-grabbing decks will find a welcome home in your collection.



Where to get them?
Roulette Playing Cards
Roulette Fanimation Playing Cards
Craps Playing Cards
Slots Playing Cards

Related decks from Mechanic Industries
Snakes & Ladders Playing Cards
Mechanic V2 Playing Cards
Mechanic Metallic Playing Cards
Visualies Gaff System Playing Cards

Mechanic Industries
Official website, Tutorials, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram



Author's note: I first published this article at  PlayingCardDecks.
39
Playing Card Plethora / Kickstarter: AGNI Playing Cards (by Orion Playing Cards)
« Last post by EndersGame on December 07, 2023, 07:47:14 AM »
Kickstarter: AGNI Playing Cards

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/oriondecks/agni-playing-cards-deck

A deck of fiery cards from Orion Playing Cards and Kingstar

Project ends: Sat, 16 December 2023



This project is the result of a collaboration between Abundant Art Gallery (Orion Playing Cards) and Old Gravity (Bivas Bhattacharjee), and is being manufactured by KingStar. 

AGNI is the Sanskrit word for fire, which is the inspiration and theme for this deck.  The ancients already considered fire to be one of the base elements of the cosmos, and certainly our fiery sun is an essential force that we rely on for heat, light, and life.



There are two editions of this luxury deck:

Ash Edition: This is a premium Kickstarter exclusive numbered edition with a die-cut tuck case and other special features.  It has red-foiled cards, with holographic edge gilding. 

The Ash Edition tuck case is particularly spectacular, with a hot red foil and an ash pattern that gives the impression of it being partially burned by fire.  It has artwork designed around Prometheus, who is depicted holding a flame in the darkness, thus providing humanity with fire. 



Ignited Edition: This is the "standard" edition, although this is available as gilded or non-gilded version.  it has gold-foiled cards, with gold-orange edge gilding as an option.

The Ignited Edition tuck case is still very impressive, with similar artwork, but in shiny gold and matt-red foil.



Everything about the deck is fully custom, including fire-shaped pips, and fire-inspired artwork. 

A lovely touch is that each card has foil along the edges, with a torn pattern that emphasizes the theme of fire.  The cards of the Ignited Edition are gold-foiled instead of red-foiled, with the artwork and graphic design otherwise matching the Ash Edition.



The card backs are an abstract design inspired by the yin-yang symbol, but with a symmetry that avoids a one-way design.  Like the card faces they evoke the idea of burning embers. 



The four suits represent four aspects of AGNI in history: Natural Fire (Clubs), Discovered Fire (Diamonds), Mythical Fire (Spades), and Passionate Fire (Hearts). 



For example, the King of the Clubs is an old African king holding a torch up to the sky; the the Queen of Clubs is an ancient Indian lady holding a candle up to her face, the Jack of Clubs is an old Chinese monk with a lantern.



The King of Diamonds depicts Robert J Oppenheimer, a leading figure in the development of the atom bomb, while the Queen of Diamonds depicts Lise Meitner, one of the scientists who first discovered nuclear fission.



The pips have foiling that really make the number cards look gorgeous, with the hearts and diamonds being foil with dark outlines, and the spades and clubs being dark with foil outlines.





The four aces feature oversized versions of the four custom-designed fiery pips, along with thematic fiery motifs like a fire-breathing dragon and flaming quills.



The two jokers of the AGNI deck depict two different sides of fire: one being its creative and regenerative side, the other its destructive side.



I really can't say enough about how magnificent these decks promise to be, and you need to head to the Kickstarter page to see a full collection of beautiful pictures that showcase what you can expect.



Link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/oriondecks/agni-playing-cards-deck
40
A Cellar of Fine Vintages / Re: Need help finding out year of deck
« Last post by Chuqii on December 03, 2023, 11:23:17 PM »
1986

H date code and lack of registered trademark symbol on the cards and $2.00 book would make this 1986.

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