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1
Kickstarter - Claude Monet Playing Cards (by 52 MUSEE)

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/208530852/claude-monet-playing-cards-by-52-musee

Classic paintings given a fresh interpretation with holographic foil playing cards

Project ends: Thurs, 11 April 2024



Like me, you probably hadn't heard of the creator "52 MUSEE" before.  But this is just a sub-brand of the well known and respected TCC Playing Cards, which also manages the luxury brand ARK Playing Cards.  So that already tells us that we can expect quality and innovation.  This deck is the first of several that will bring to life classic works of leading artists, hence the name "Musee", which is French for museum. 

There's no mystery about which artist created the classic masterpieces found in this particular deck, because the name immediately gives that away: Claude Monet Playing Cards.  Monet (1840-1926) was a French painter and his impressionist paintings, especially in depicting nature, have led him to be considered a key founder of the impressionism movement.



Many custom decks featuring classic works of art have appeared before.  But what's unique about this project is that the cards have been printed with holographic foil, which means that the colours, look, and feel of the art will change depending on how the light falls on it. 

Would Monet have appreciated this?  Maybe he would, given how it brings his art to life in a new and unexpected way.  But regardless of what he thought, it's certainly something that will make an immediate impression on playing card collectors, and on anyone who sees these playing cards for the first time.

The project consists of two main decks, the Monet Standard Edition (a limited edition of 2000), and the Monet Gilded Edition (a limited edition of 250).

Monet Standard Edition deck

Silver foil immediately greets us with the luxury tuck box of the Standard Edition.  The blue and silver colours are inspired by Monet's famous "Water Lilies". 



The main tuck box slides out vertically from a sleeve, and then has a side-opening, from which our cards emerge.





The cards have borderless blue backs with an architectural design that incorporates aspects of the water lilies from the tuck box.





The faces of all the cards are printed with cold foil. 



They have white borders, to ensure that they remain practical for use in card games. 



The corner indices are still very clear, while allowing the majority of the canvas of the cards themselves to depict different works from Monet's output.



Here's a look at the two Jokers.



Monet Gilded Edition deck

The Gilded Edition has a similar graphic design, but the tuck box features gold foil on white. 

Like the Standard deck, the back design of the Gilded deck also has an architectural design, but the Water Lilies have been replaced with the Rouen Cathedral. 



The artwork on the card faces isn't the same as those of the Standard edition, but we have a whole new set of museum-worthy pieces. 



I think I prefer the overall collection of artwork on the Standard deck, but that's just personal taste, because there's some lovely cards in this deck too.



Many of these seem to be small thematic snapshots from larger works, with cards of the same value having a similar theme.



Finally, here's the two Jokers.



And for added luxury, this deck has cards with gold gilding. 



Monet Collection Box

While the Gilded Edition is available separately as an add-on, it is also part of a special Monet Collection Gift Box that contains both decks. Only 250 sets of these are available, and they provide a glamorous luxury packaging that is finished with silver foil. 



Given that the early bird price for this ($39) is less than what the two decks cost on their own ($16 + $25), I can see a lot of backers opting for this if they get in quickly enough.

I was really impressed with the sample decks of these I got to see.  TCC is really upping the bar with their quality, and while there are small aspects about these decks I might have done slightly differently, overall the results are superb. 

And if this means we will have more projects forthcoming showcasing art by other artists, I'm all for it!

Link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/208530852/claude-monet-playing-cards-by-52-musee


2
Kickstarter - Entwined Volume 4: Spring Playing Cards

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/oldgravity/entwined-volume-4-spring-playing-cards-deck

Luxury playing cards based on the ballet of nature and freedom of spirit

Project ends: Thurs, 11 April 2024

Spring is the season of life, when nature awakens from the icy cold of winter, streams flow, flowers emerge, and colours burst forth.  It is this joyous beauty of nature that is captured by this custom deck of luxury playing cards. 



This is the fourth in a series of gorgeous and high quality artistic decks of playing cards produced by Old Gravity, which consists of artist Ritu Bhattacharya and designer Bivas Bhattacharjee.  The team has already produced three gorgeous Entwined decks that correspond to the other three seasons.  The Spring deck is Vol 4, but it can be enjoyed as a work of art on its own, or alongside with the previous three entries in the series.

Spring Gold deck

Just as with previously Entwined decks, there are two main options, a Gold deck and a Rose deck.  Firstly there's the Spring Gold deck, which has a tuck box with lavish olive-gold foil and embossing.



The court cards really showcase Ritu's lovely artwork, and evoke feelings of spring, life, and dance.







The Aces feature oversized pips and stylish art.



One of the things I really like about this deck is the special attention given to the number cards.  These adopt a semi-transformation style, with the value of each card corresponding to the number of pip-shaped leaves on tree branches.




The Jokers also look charming.



Spring Rose deck

While the Gold deck has olive-gold foil on the card backs and tuck box, the Rose deck instead uses rose-gold foil.  Here's the exquisite  tuck box from the Spring Rose deck.



The card backs feature an elegant swan design, with shimmering foil for a true luxury look.





The decks are being printed by playing card manufacturer NPCC, which is especially well known for producing high end luxury tuck boxes. 

Collector's Box

As with previous project, discerning collectors wanting to get the very best option available can pledge to get a "Collector's Box".  This is a teal-coloured luxury box that is richly decorated with rose-gold foil, and opens to reveal one of each deck, along with a special brass coin.





[size=13]The series[/size]

Collectors will love the fact that if you do have all four decks (one for each season), they make make up a single polyptych image when put alongside each other, picturing a tree of life.  This is true both for the Gold decks and for the Rose decks.



Along with the new decks, you can also get previous decks in the series as add ons.  I have a copy of the three previous Entwined decks, and they are truly stunning, and have impressed everyone I've shown them to.  I have no doubt the same this will be the case with the Spring version of this deck. 

This is a wonderful custom deck that can be enjoyed on its own, as an example of some of the very finest custom playing cards on the market today, or together with the other three decks.  Bravo Old Gravity!

Link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/oldgravity/entwined-volume-4-spring-playing-cards-deck


3
The Ad Lucem Playing Cards project was recently fulfilled after successful funding on Kickstarter, and I just got mine in the mail yesterday.  It's a Renaissance themed deck that was produced by the collaborative efforts of Christian Buss (project visionary and art manager), Ritu Bhattacharva (lead artist/illustrator) and Bivas Bhattacharjee (digital artist and designer).

This project turned out magnificent, especially the Sovereign Edition.  The gold foil on the card faces really looks stunning, especially in combination with gilded edges.  This deck was printed by WJPC, and they've done a great job with the quality.  It turned out exactly as good as you see in the pictures below.

The artwork is beautiful, and it's a picture of class all round.  Amazing work once again from Bivas and Ritu, and from Chris!



























The special 3D rotating Renaissance coin also looks fantastic.


4
 Kickstarter: JOY - A Different Deck of Playing Cards by Brian South

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/teachbymagic/joy-deck-a-different-deck-of-playing-cards

Creative playing cards that hide hundreds of words and numbers in the pips - can you find "JOY" on every card?

Project ends: Friday, March 22, 2024



Brian South is from "Discover Magic", and it's already been a decade since he produced two wonderfully creative decks of playing cards.  These were the Mazing Deck and the Different Deck, which I covered in detail in this article

The Different Deck was a huge hit, with over 1500 backers on Kickstarter generating nearly $75,000 in funding.  This novel deck immediately caught my attention at the time due to its unique approach: each card had a single pip that is composed of illustrations and words corresponding to that card's rank.

 So instead of a standard 3 of Clubs, the Different Deck depicted a single Club made up of threes; instead of a 5 of Diamonds, there was a single Diamond made up of fives; and instead of a Queen of Hearts there was a single Heart made up of Queens.



The cards were also filled with hidden elements, including historical and pop culture references.  For example, if you look closely at the Queen of Spades shown above, you will not only see the word "queen" written in several languages, but also a queen chess piece, and even a Queen Elizabeth signature. The result is that each card has a single pip that is a unique piece of art that can be carefully explored and enjoyed. 

It took a number of years and a lot of work to turn this idea into a reality, but with the help of artist Nike Meyer, in 2014 the Different Deck finally saw the light of day. 



And that brings us to the present, which is the tenth anniversary of the original Different Deck.  Since the release of the Different Deck, Brian and his wife have experienced a lot of joys but also trials, including a failed adoption, financial loss, and even cancer.  But with the strength of their personal faith, they decided to approach these hardships with a positive perspective, by choosing joy. 

The Joy Deck is a brand new version of the Different Deck that captures this attitude to life.   The basic artwork of the original Different Deck has been retained on the card faces, but the word "JOY" has been added onto each and every card. 





The card backs feature a new design which revolves around an ambigram of the word JOY. 



And there's a new colour scheme, with a bright pink and blue producing a sense of vibrancy and energy. 



A sunburst around each giant pip also reflects the positivity exuding from this deck.



As a special touch, the cards will have gilded edges in bright purple.  How can you not feel joyful when you open a deck like this?



The deck is being produced by WJPC on their 310gsm stock.  This reputation of this playing card manufacturer has been growing in leaps and bounds in recent years, and folks in the world of playing cards have been speaking very highly of their quality, even comparing it very favourably to USPCC produced cards, which is high praise indeed.

Brian's goal is to spread joy, and to encourage us to look for joy - and we can literally do that on every single card. One of the extra cards included also gives a list of other things to look for in the deck, so it's certain to keep you busy for a long time.



Extra bonus items available with the project include JOY stickers, and limited edition decks with foil tuck boxes.  Some of the previous editions of the Different Deck and their related items are also available as add ons, as are magic tricks from Brian's Magic Explorers program.



I'm pleased to see this lovely project, and especially appreciate the thinking that underlies it.  Many new collectors may never have heard of the Different Deck, so this is a great chance to get this creative custom deck, now dressed in upbeat and positive new clothing.  Choosing this deck is a great way to start choosing joy in your own life!



Project link

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/teachbymagic/joy-deck-a-different-deck-of-playing-cards


5
Apollo Playing Cards by ARK Playing Cards (Kickstarter)

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/elementplayingcards/apollo-playing-cards-by-ark

Current funding level: already funded
Kickstarter ends: Tuesday, March 12, 2024

In the world of luxury custom playing cards, creator ARK Playing Cards is well-known for their quality and lavish production.  Apollo Playing Cards is their latest project, currently up for funding on Kickstarter.  As the name suggests, it's inspired by sun god, Apollo, one of the 12 main gods associated with Mount Olympus.



ARK is especially renowned for their unique tuck boxes, and once again they've brought something new to the table with this lovely deck. The tuck case has a pop-out feature that unfolds and then rotates to form a complete circle, represents the sun which symbolizes Apollo.  This animated gif does a good job of showing what this effect looks like:



Hidden behind what you see are magnets and a sliding structure that makes all this go smoothly, and stay in position when the tuck case is closed.  The vibrant yellow colours, of course, evoke the warm and bright sunshine associated with Apollo, and together with the lavish details of the artwork and design, emphasize the feeling of luxury.

The card faces depict the famous twelve gods of the ancient Greek pantheon, as well as other aspects of Greek mythology.



Apollo is also associated with music, medicine, and prophecy, and these aspects also inspired much of the artwork and design.  Besides the court card that depicts Apollo, this is also evident with the Ace of Spades, which pictures Apollo's famous victory over the Python, set against the background of the lyre frequently associated with Apollo.  The lyres also reappear on the Jokers.



Much like we've seen with previous ARK projects, the Apollo project is available with different levels and styles of luxury packaging:
Standard Deck (limited edition of 3333): single deck, including the creative pop-out plus tuck case (US$30)
Artist Boxset (limited edition of 999): holographic foil deck & monochromatic deck, in a gift box with a book (US$75)
Walnut Boxset (limited edition of 333): holographic foil deck with gilded edges, plus a collectible coin, in a walnut gift box (US$185)
Luxury Black (limited edition of 99): black-edged deck, plus an embossed metal plate (US$150, only available as part of the "All-In" reward)



Extra add-ons like uncut sheets and coins are also available separately.  Here's a preview of how each of the above four packaging and deck options look.

1. Standard Deck













2. Artist Box set















3. Walnut Box set













4. Luxury Black set





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

Kickstarter link

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/elementplayingcards/apollo-playing-cards-by-ark



6
 Kickstarter: La Mouche Playing Cards (Once Upon a Fly) by Elettra Deganello

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/elettrad/la-mouche

A playful deck of playing cards narrating the fly's whimsical journey

Project ends: Thurs, 15th February, 2024



Elettra Deganello is one of my favourite playing card designers from recent years.  She's a professional visual designer and illustrator from Italy, and has been contributing to the custom playing card industry since 2018 with some gorgeous and original designs, several of which have been nominated for and won awards.  To learn more about her, see this interview that I did with her about two years ago.

Her current project, just launched, is called La Mouche Playing Cards, aka Once Upon A Fly, since it is a whimsical deck that tells the story of a fly's journey.  Two editions are being produced: La Mouche Blanche (standard) and La Mouche Noire (limited).  The manufacturer of choice is Expert Playing Card Company, using their classic stock, in standard poker size.

Deganello has opted to use a classic French style for the pips, to fit well with the elegance and whimsy of the overall deck. 



For me the highlight of this deck is in the number cards, which have a semi-transformation style.  Transformation decks have a long history, and are the result of an artist creatively incorporating the pips into the artwork, as seen here.





If you look carefully you'll find our friend the fly (the mouche) appearing regularly on these and the other cards in the deck.



Since playing cards are made of paper and originally had blank backs, they have a long history of being used for other purposes, such as reminder notes or invitations.  Elettra offers a tribute to this history by incorporating examples of this on some of the number cards, e.g. the 2 of Hearts includes an invitation to a banquet, and the 4 of Diamonds a marriage announcement.   Other cards pay homage to famous paintings (e.g. 2 of Spades), or include quotes, questions, or sayings (e.g. 10 of Hearts).





The court cards continue the overall light-hearted feel of the deck, and use French indices, i.e. r = roi (king), d = dame (queen), v = valet (jack).





All four aces picture a different idiom relating to our friend the fly, the English translation being:
● Ace of Hearts: "Make an elephant out of a fly" (similar to the expression "make a storm in a teacup")
● Ace of Clubs: "He wouldn?t hurt a fly"
● Ace of Diamonds: "One can hear a fly flying" (similar to the expression "you could hear a pin drop")
● Ace of Spades: "In a closed mouth, no fly enters" (similar to the expression "Mum?s the word" about confidentiality)



The back design features a borderless daisy pattern, chosen for elegance and simplicity.  The limited La Mouche Noire uses the same daisy pattern, but sets this on a solid black.



The tuck box of the La Mouche Blanche edition has a long tongue flap and retro look that suits the style of the deck itself.



The La Mouche Noire edition (shown on the right below) is the limited edition.  Its tuck box has the extra luxury of foil (white, red, and silver) and a numbered seal, and is inspired by vintage French posters.  This deck comes with the extra bling of silver gilding on the cards.



I've followed Elettra's work for several years, and am a great admirer of the way she has a fresh approach to playing cards, and how she brings her expertise and experience to our classic deck to produce something original and unique, and in this case, playful and whimsical.  Kudos to Elettra Deganello for another wonderful project of custom playing cards!

Project link

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/elettrad/la-mouche


7
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.


8
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



9
Deck Reviews! / Review: The Casino Range from Mechanic Industries
« 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.

10
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

11
Playing Card Plethora / Monkey King Playing Cards by Alpha
« on: November 14, 2023, 11:01:51 AM »
Monkey King Playing Cards by Alpha

https://tccplayingcard.com/products/silent-playing-cards-by-alpha

Released: on November 9, 2023
Shipping: by November 15, 2023

This project was originally going to be funded on the Kickstarter platform in early-November.  Instead the creator has decided to go ahead and create these luxury custom playing cards, making them available for order on the TCC Playing Cards website between 9-15 November, so that they can be shipped to supporters by November 15, 2023. 



This project was inspired by the Monkey King, a beloved and influential mythological figure in China, which originates in the 16th-century Chinese novel Journey to the West.  This classic novel describes how Sun Wukong attains supernatural powers through Taoist practices, but after a rebellion gets imprisoned beneath a mountain by the Buddha.   Five hundred years later he embarks on a special journey to the West to retrieve Buddhist sutras, which he undertakes along with a monk and two other disciples.  The Monkey King characer has been reimagined in numerous forms across literature, drama, and film, and even today is a symbol of wit and courage in East Asian culture.

Monkey King Holo deck

The tuck box is the stunning centerpiece of this beautiful deck, with an elegant plaque that says Monkey King, set inside a rich design that incorporates detailed elements like overhanging eaves, coiled dragons, scriptures, sacred relics, cloud patterns, and mythical beasts, all accentuated by the embossing.



Involved in the design and creation of these custom decks is the well-known Chinese creator of luxury decks: Ark Playing Cards.  So it's no surprise that a special feature of the Monkey Deck tuck box is that it has a pop-out feature opening up to show a larger display. 



The four Aces picture the four stages of the Monkey King's journey.



The court cards depict different figures that are part of the story, including Buddha and his followers, elves and monsters, and powerful demon kings.





The Joker is a magical staff that the Monkey King wields, and can shrink or grow according to need, and even make copies of itself.  When not used, the Monkey King shrinks it to the size of a needle and keeps it tucked behind his ear.

The style of the artwork on the faces merges traditional architecture and woodblock printing, which is especially evident on the number cards.



The cards have a metallic gold foil, which show a rainbow of colours depending on how they are hard up to the light.



Journey to the West Standard deck

Also available is a standard deck which has some different features.  While it doesn't have holo foil, it has a different tuck case.



The design of the card backs has been changed, as well as the colours of the card faces. 



There are modified aces that depict four main protagonists from the story, and the two Jokers combine to form a diptych that shows the White Dragon and White Dragon horse.



Journey to the West Box sets

The above two decks are also available as part of special box sets, both with limited edition numbered sets for collectors. 

The Black Box Set (limited to 800 only) includes both decks in a deluxe black box with an individually numbered seal. 



The Wooden Box set (limited to 300 only) includes both decks in a deluxe wooden box with an individually numbered seal.



The two decks in these box sets are slightly different than the Holo deck and Standard deck, with one being black and gold holo, and the other silver and gold.





In the case of the Wooden Box set, the cards have the additional luxury of gold gilded edges.

As with all the decks that have involved Chinese playing card designer ARK Playing Cards, words and pictures really can't do justice to the looks and quality, until you have the actual deck in your hands, but you will find some more images over on the project page.



Link: https://tccplayingcard.com/products/silent-playing-cards-by-alpha

12

White Tiger Playing Cards by ARK Playing Cards (Kickstarter)

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/elementplayingcards/white-tiger-playing-cards-by-ark

Current funding level: already funded
Kickstarter ends: Tuesday, October 17, 2023



When it comes to quality and innovation, especially for exotic tuck box designs and lavish packaging for their playing cards, ARK Playing Cards is one of the very best in the very business.  They've now produced over half a dozen playing card projects, several of which are in the top most-funded decks of playing cards of all time.  And the reason for this success isn't hard to figure out once you've seen some of their decks in person.

Their current project is called White Tiger Playing Cards, and is the final release in a series of four sets, each of which is a tribute to the four divine beasts of Chinese Mythology.  Previous entries in this series include Azure Dragon (representing wood), Vermilion Bird (representing fire), and Black Tortoise (representing water), some of which are also available as add-ons with the current project.

Like ARK's previous decks inspired by the Four Beasts, the tuck box (shown above) is a real highlight, with a design that relies on intricate paper-cuts with multiple layers, with a 3D effect.

As for the cards themselves, the Aces feature vines and patterns with styles and colours that match the individual suit designs on the number cards.





The court cards feature military characters carrying traditional Chinese weapons, unique for each suit: Spades (Spear, Lance, Sword), Diamonds (Halberd, Bow, Axe), Clubs (Warhammer, Glaive, Trident),Hearts (Dagger-axe, Dual Swords, Crescent Blade).





As with previous sets that comprise the The Four Beasts series, The White Tiger is being produced in four different box sets, each with different levels and styles of luxury packaging:
Classic Boxset (limited edition of 1000): black deck & white deck (US$50)
Black Gold Boxset (limited edition of 500): gold deck & silver deck (US$75)
Deluxe Beech Boxset (limited edition of 300): violet deck with holo foil & gilded edges, plus a collectible coin (US$185)
Luxury Frame Boxset (limited edition of 600): coffee deck with holo foil (US$75)



Collectors will appreciate that each of these limited editions are individually numbered.
The opening design of the Classic Boxset and the Black gold Boxset is especially worthy of note, because when these boxes are opened, a built-in mechanism raises the decks to highlight their presentation.  While those each come with two decks, the Deluxe Beech Boxset and the Luxury Frame Boxset both come with a single deck, but with an exquisite presentation that beautifully showcases the tuck box and gives it the extravagant and gorgeous setting it deserves.

Other optional add-ons include a silver Tiger coin, uncut sheets, and some decks from previous entries in the series: Vermillion Bird and Black Tortoise.

1. Classic Boxset

Here's some images showing the Classic Boxset, which comes with a black deck and a white deck (the white deck is already pictured above):













2. Black Gold Boxset

Here's some images showing the Black Gold Boxset, which comes with a gold deck and a silver deck:













3. Deluxe Beech Boxset

Here's some images showing the Deluxe Beech Boxset, which comes with a violet deck with holo foil and gilded edges:











This set also includes a collectible coin.



4. Luxury Frame Boxset

Here's some images showing the Luxury Frame Boxset, which comes with a coffee deck with holo foil:













As with all the decks from ARK, words and pictures really can't do justice to the looks and quality, but check the project page for more images.

Kickstarter link

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/elementplayingcards/white-tiger-playing-cards-by-ark

13
The Flourish Magazine Launch Issue

Many readers here may be familiar with the name Biz and Friends, which is the online home of Elisav Bizau.  Biz is passionate about all things playing cards, especially magic and cardistry.  He's already made numerous great contributions to the industry in all three areas: playing cards, card magic, and card flourishing.  His outstanding The Magicians Playing Cards are a tribute to the gold age of magic, and are one of my favourite decks.

But Biz has surpassed himself with his latest creation: a physical magazine dedicated to the art of cardistry: The Flourish Magazine Launch Issue.  We're talking about something that is A4 sized, full colour, over 100 pages, and professionally produced.  When I first held a copy in my hands and paged through it, I was blown away by the quality of the graphic design, presentation, content, and contributors.  It's fantastic, and this is an absolute "must have" for anyone who considers themselves a cardist.



As Biz explains in the first article, this cardistry magazine has been 12 years in the making, and it stands on the shoulders of several previous attempts he made to produce a magazine dedicated to cardists.  But this time he decided to go all out, by involving a team of some of the best cardists he could find as contributors, and to produce it professionally as a physical magazine of the highest quality.

He has succeeded admirably, and it's hard to think of a physical cardistry magazine that could be better than this.  Just take a look at the flashy and professionally produced cover:



And this isn't window dressing, because the quality of the looks and graphic design inside stays at this level throughout.
Here's an overview of some of the contents you can expect to find inside:



It's quickly obvious that Biz has managed to get some really big names involved.  There's an article by Kevin Ho, a massive interview with Huron Low from The Virts, and interviews with Patrick Varnavas from the channel bestcardistalive, and playing card designers like Luke Wadey.  My favourite read was the epic interview about The Virts, which shared all kinds of juicy details about their journey into cardistry, and how they have developed as a group, and how they executed their vision in creating a custom deck optimized specifically for cardistry.

But there are also very practical articles.  I especially enjoyed "Introducing Laymen to Cardistry" by Christiaan Hau, which gives excellent tips about how to go about explaining our passion to complete newbies in a very sensible way.  Yang Nguyen rows against the stream of popular opinion in his article entitled "Gatekeeping", where he makes a careful and convincing case that we shouldn't require permission to teach moves of other creators, as long as we give appropriate credit.  As he reminds us, cardistry is different than magic, so the same rules about secrecy don't apply in the same way, and we should look at the larger picture of what will help cardistry to grow and advance.



I personally have a love for artwork made with playing cards, and the article by Michael Warneke on this subject was of real interest to me.  I also really enjoyed the interview with designer Luke Wadey, where he covered the main series of decks he has produced so far.

In all cases, there's a mass of gorgeous colour pictures to accompany the written text, and even full-colour full-page spreads.  I can't say enough about how professional the layout and design looks, and how this makes reading everything an absolute pleasure.  The magazine has been produced with the support of several sponsors, so there are also ads from familiar names like King's Wild Project, Kardify, and 52 Plus Joker.  I'm sure that without their support, this wouldn't have been anywhere near as flash.



Of course, all the good looks won't help if the content is only mediocre, but that's not at all the case.  From beginning to end, I never felt that I was sitting down with an amateur, but was at the feet of true professionals and experts, who were sharing from their wealth of wisdom and experience.

But doesn't anything cardistry related require videos to be best enjoyed?  This magazine doesn't entirely discard that, because in several places you'll find a QR Code that will bring you to a video.  For example, the section about cardist Nikita Yatsik includes explanations for five of his moves, and these are all accompanied with video tutorials.


If you love cardist, you'll absolutely love this.  And the good news is that the plan is for this to be an annual magazine.  I'm already excited about next year's Issue 2!  Let's make sure that this terrific contribution to the world of cardistry gets the support and love it deserves, and that it generates some real momentum, so that we can continue to see something of this quality on a yearly basis.  Bravo Biz and friends!

Get it here: https://bizandfriends.com/products/the-flourish-magazine-launch-issue

View 40 sample pages here: https://issuu.com/bizandfriends/docs/the_flourish_samplez


14
A filmmaker producing something about playing cards is looking for some hi-res scans of playing cards from the 14th-16th centuries.

Does anyone have any suggestions about where to look, or any contacts you can suggest him reaching out to?

15
Playing Card Plethora / Kickstarter: TCC Fashion Playing Cards by TCC
« on: July 29, 2023, 04:17:50 AM »
TCC Fashion Playing Cards by TCC (Kickstarter)

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/tccplayingcards/tcc-fashion-playing-cards

Four extraordinary decks with rainbow holographic foils, lenticular printing, embossing, and color-changing UV ink

Kickstarter ends: Monday, August 21, 2023



TCC has been in the playing card industry for over a decade, and besides playing cards they've also made contributions in the area of playing card storage and display boxes, and other accessories.   So they aren't an unknown creator coming out of nowhere.

This project features four different decks, and one of the goals is to showcase new features and options in playing cards, including rainbow holographic foils, lenticular printing patterns, embossing, and UV color-changing ink.  The four decks are:

● Rainbow HOLO: Rainbow and HOLO foil dances in perfect equilibrium
● City of Mirrors: Illusion of two distinct cities within the same plane
● David: Paying homage to sculptures with elegant embossing
● Lithography: Hidden circuits to reveal as light shines



All the decks are standard poker sized (62mm x 88mm), and come with 52 playing cards, plus two custom jokers, and two ad cards.  Each of them showcases a different technological feature available in the printing process: the Rainbow HOLO deck uses holographic foils for the box and the cards; the City of Mirrors deck uses lenticular printing for the box; the David deck uses embossing for the box; and the Lithography deck uses color-changing UV ink for the box and cards.

Here's some information about the four decks, and the features that are unique to each:

1. Rainbow HOLO Playing Cards

Ad copy: "Experience the enchanting fusion of rainbow colors and holographic foils, combined with modern geometric designs. The gradient spectrum spreads across the cards, creating a mesmerizing display."



The holographic foil that is the chief feature of this deck starts with the tuck box itself, which shows a kaleidoscope of rainbow colors, depending on how you hold it up to the light.

Foil is also used for the the card backs and card face, to ensure that the cards themselves also dazzle.  But a particularly unique feature is the choice of color: both the backs and faces don't have the same color, but rather a rainbow spectrum.  So as you riffle through the entire deck, you're going to see a full spectrum of changing color that produces a gradient effect.







2. City of Mirrors Playing Cards

Ad copy: "The Steel Forest, a city forged by human civilization, is a marvel to behold. Using lenticular printing, you'll witness a futuristic cyberpunk city illuminated by neon lights."



This deck is inspired by the dystopian sci-fi of the Cyberpunk genre, and evokes the images of towering skyscrapers in a cityscape with neon lights, and to fit with this the main color used throughout is purple.

An interesting feature of the tuck case is the use of a lenticular printing pattern.  This means that as you slowly rotate the angle in which you are viewing the deck, it creates the illusion of a changing image, with one illustration morphing into another.  So one building will disappear, while another emerges.

The card backs take details and colors from the tuck box, while the faces continue to evoke the cyberpunk genre, blending cityscapes and technology.







3. David Playing Cards

Ad copy: "This deck embodies purity, much like the familiar statue of David. Paying homage to the art of sculpture, the exquisite embossing on the tuck case is a true masterpiece."



The deck pays homage to iconic sculptures like Michelangelo's famous David and other classic works of art.  Since this deck is inspired by the art of sculpture, it's no surprise that the color white dominates, evoking the pure white marble of classic sculptures.

 Intricate and elegant embossing is the noteworthy feature of this deck's tuck case.  This is hardly the first time we've seen an embossed tuck box in the world of playing cards, but what's special here is that special embossing plates are used that that are 2mm higher than conventional ones, creating a stronger sense of carved marble.

Various famous sculptures appear on the court cards, such as Michelangelo's David and Milo's Venus.  Silver pantone ink is used on the cards to add a sense of luxury and to strengthen the theme.







4. Lithography Playing Cards

Ad copy: "These cards feature special ink that transforms under UV light, resembling the process of chip manufacturing in a lithography machine. We've tested it under sunlight, and the effect is incredible."



This deck draws inspiration from the world of microchips and electronic information technology.  The deck is named after the photolithography machine, which is the production equipment that empowers chips with endless possibilities.  The artwork is geared to convey the sense of a computer microchip filled with electronic components, with the use of silver foil enhancing a metallic lustre and technology feel.

The unique feature here is the use of color-changing UV ink, which is found on every aspect of the deck.  When illuminated with a UV light source, hidden circuits are revealed.  The goal has been to use inks that show some of this effect even under natural sunlight outdoors, without needing a UV light.







Expectations

The TCC playing cards I personally own already have been quite satisfying in quality.  These decks are being manufactured in China, and are billed as having TCC's exclusive M23 Finish.  I don't personally have experience with this finish and stock, but I do know that in the last couple of years Chinese playing card manufacturers have been upping the bar on their quality.  Many creators have opted to print at the Chinese factories used by LPCC, EPCC, and WJPC, with excellent results.  If these are any indication, then there is good reason to be optimistic about the quality and handling performance of the TCC Fashion decks.

Of the decks pledged for so far, the Rainbow HOLO deck is proving the most popular individually.  It's not hard to see why, and that's the one I'm the most looking forward to see.

What to expect: Rainbow HOLO deck





But the most popular pledge option is the set that includes one of all four Fashion decks.  Another good option some backers are opting for is to get all four Fashion decks in a brick of a dozen decks.   There's no doubt that each of them offers something different in the way of a stunning visual impact.

What to expect: City of Mirrors deck



What to expect: David deck



After these decks are produced and hit retail, they're going to be around the $12 price point.   But this Kickstarter gives backers the chance to get each deck for just $7-8 each (depending on the number you buy).

What to expect: Lithography deck





It's hard to do justice to the changing visuals that all four of these decks promise.  So you really need to check out the project page where you'll find many more images, and GIFs that showcase the impressive changing look of the cards.  Here's an indication of the visuals we can expect.

Kickstarter link

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/tccplayingcards/tcc-fashion-playing-cards



16
Playing Card Plethora / Kickstarter: Bionic Blossom Playing Cards
« on: June 03, 2023, 01:20:33 AM »
Kickstarter: Bionic Blossom Playing Cards

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/bionicblossom/bionic-blossom-playing-cards

Bionic Blossom is a visual poem about the messiahs of interstellar voyage, in the ages far before man turned his gaze towards the stars, and these luxury playing cards picture the Bionic Blossom story.

Project ends: Thursday, 15 June 2023

This project is being produced by Sleepy Lantern Studio in collaboration with Max Playing Cards. 

There are decks in either of two colours, Timeless Depths (black faces) and Dawn of the Ancients (white faces). Each of these has a Bionic edition (with a unique opening mechanism) and a Classic edition (wiht a standard tuck box), making four decks in total. 

All the artwork on the cards is fully custom, including four Aces and two Jokers unique to each deck.  Below are some previews showing what the project looks like.































Link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/bionicblossom/bionic-blossom-playing-cards

17
Kickstarter - Entwined Volume 3: Winter Playing Cards

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/oldgravity/entwined-volume-3-winter-playing-cards-deck

Luxury playing cards based on the ballet of nature and freedom of Spirit

Project ends: Fri, 23 June 2023

These are magnificent looking decks, and the creators over at Old Gravity are really pulling out all stops to make it look magnificent.



Here's some more previews of the current Winter project, which is still up on Kickstarter for funding, with over three weeks to go.

Firstly the Winter Gold deck, here are the tuck boxes:



The Aces:



Samples of the court cards:







Number cards:





Jokers:



And here is what the Winter Rose deck looks like:









I don't have the first two decks in this series (Summer & Fall), but if this third one is any indication, it's definitely a series for collectors to look out for. 

By the time it is complete, when you have all four decks (one for each season), in either Gold or Rose, the four decks make up a single polyptych image when placed alongside each other.





Link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/oldgravity/entwined-volume-3-winter-playing-cards-deck

18
If you're into card magic, you'll know about marked decks.  And if you're into marked decks, you'll know about the Butterfly Playing Cards by Ondrej Psenicka.

The Butterfly Playing Cards are the most popular edge-marked deck on the market right now, and my article about them explains why.  Outside of a factory marked Bicycle deck, these and the DMC Elites are outstanding marked decks, but you can do things with a Butterfly deck that you can't do with any other marked deck.

They've just come out with a Royal Purple version, as part of a collaboration with Penguin Magic.  They certainly look fantastic in purple!  This new version has all the features of the V3 Red and Blue decks, and is available here:

https://www.penguinmagic.com/p/18538

These definitely look amazing.

The Butterfly Playing Cards are one of the most amazing marked decks on the market, outside of factory marked Bicycle decks, and my article about them explains why.

They certainly look fantastic in purple!










19
Magician Harry Lorayne (May 4, 1926 ? April 7, 2023)

An Unpublished Interview and a Tribute

On Friday 7 April came the sad news of the passing of American magician Harry Lorayne, at the age of 96.  He was just a few weeks away from his 97th birthday.  Even at his advanced age, he continued to be active in online forums and email correspondence.  To celebrate his 90th birthday, he even presented a terrific lecture on card magic, including some mind-blowing performances of his trademark card magic.

Few magicians are as respected and prolific as Harry Lorayne. He was known for being the world's foremost expert in memory training, and frequently did demonstrations where he would remember the names of large audiences of 1000 people or more. But his first love was card magic, and he enjoyed a very successful career as a magician and entertainer.   Combined with his natural talent and his charismatic personality as a showman, and a genuine ability to entertain and also to teach, as well as to create and innovate, he quickly became one of the leading names of his time.

Millions of his books on memory techniques and on card magic are also in print.  He's highly regarded in the magic community for his immense contribution to magic literature, with many fine volumes bearing his name, including his classic Close-Up Card Magic (1962), and other influential works that are included in The Classic Collection (Vol 1-5), as well as his fine DVD set Harry Lorayne's Best Ever Collection (Vol 1-4).   His books demonstrate a remarkable ability to teach card magic via the written word, and his skill in doing this cogently and clearly was rarely matched.

To get an idea of his talent and showmanship, treat yourself to watching this performance of one of his signature routines, "Magician vs Gambler". This classic Harry Lorayne trick does a great job of showcasing his skill in sleight of hand, as well as his larger-than-life charismatic persona that was typical of his performances. A true story-teller and entertainer, Lorayne tells the story of a bet between a magician and a gambler, in which the magician is challenged to produce a four-of-a-kind after multiple cuts. He almost succeeds, but when the final card turns out to be a miss, only magic can save the day. And the result is truly magical, as cards not only mysteriously change, but then prove to have been in his pockets all along.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuER_efoMe4

I've corresponded with Harry numerous times, and he was always generous in his responses, which were typically filled with wit, anecdotes, and of course his well-known encouragements to read "the good stuff".  Five years ago I did an interview with Harry about playing cards, which you'll find here.  Later that same year I did an interview with him about magic.  Bear in mind that he was over 90 years old when he did this, and he was still sharp as a tack, and his mind was filled with valuable insights, and his pen with good advice.

Due to circumstances at that time, that interview was never published.  I'm pleased to share it now, as a tribute to a man who was truly one-of-a-kind.  Thank you Harry Lorayne for everything that you gave us.



The Interview

ENDER: You had a difficult childhood - how did magic play a role in rescuing you as a person?

HARRY LORAYNE: I had a terrible childhood. Born on the mean streets of the Lower East Side of Manhattan, in New York City ? right off the East River. It was a ghetto. I?m an original ?dead-end? kid. My parents were professional poor people. I had a lousy childhood.  And I was terribly, terribly shy ? to the point of sickness. Got it from my mother. I was too shy to raise my hand in early school classes when I needed to go to the bathroom!! I never spoke to anyone unless they spoke to me first ? never made eye contact.

Most afternoons I went to a neighborhood park where a counselor taught us shuffleboard, paddle tennis, etc. I was about eleven years old when he took us indoors on a rainy day and ? he did a card trick!  Talk about a ?pivot point.?  That literally, unequivocally, changed my life. I kept thinking ?If only I could do that.?  I was too shy to ask the counselor how to do it ? nor did I realize that you didn?t ask magicians how they did their tricks ? they wouldn?t tell you anyway.  I needed a deck of cards so that I could try to work it out. I stole empty milk bottles outside doors of apartments in my tenement building. I got two cents for each when I brought them to the local ma-and-pa grocery store. I needed 18 cents for a deck of cards. Got the deck, worked out about five ways to do the trick I?d seen.

But knowing a card trick and not performing it for anyone is similar to "does a tree falling in the forest make a sound if there?s nobody there to hear it?" So I actually started to say three words to someone before they spoke to me: "Pick a card"!!  And I loved, literally loved, the reaction, the attention, I was receiving?never had experienced that before. So I did the trick whenever I could for whomever I could.  As time went by people started asking if I could do another trick for them.  There were very few close-up or card magic books in the library way back then. And when/if I found one that contained anything in that category, I?d smell the lovely pages, check out the book, run home clutching it to my chest.
 
As time went by, I did learn a few other-than-card tricks. One was the multiplying billiard balls ? made my own set with ping pong balls ? since there?d be no way regular billiard balls would fit between my small, 12-year-old fingers.   And, another pivot point for me ? a professional magician, an older man named Raymonde, saw me do it. He then paid me a dollar each time to appear at his performances and do the multiplying billiard-ball routine.   Another, surprising, lesson learned ? I was able to get up and perform in front of a large audience!!  So, ?How did magic change me as a person??  It started taking me out of that terrible/sick cage of shyness.

ENDER: How supportive were your parents of your decision to go into magic?
 
HARRY LORAYNE: I?ve already mentioned that I had a terrible childhood. I never, ever, heard my father or mother say to me ? ?I love you.?  I never was hugged or kissed. I did that first card trick I learned for my father once (he died when I was 12). He paid about 80 percent attention, and did say something to my mother about it ? but that was it.  I never really did magic again for him, my mother or my brother. Never received any support from them, in or for any area. They never checked my homework; never asked ?How is school?? They were all too busy being ?professionally poor?!

ENDER: Memorizing or magic - which is your true love, and why?

HARRY LORAYNE: Magic was my first true love ? still is; changed my life. But memory was my career. Really no comparison career-wise.  For example, sell 1000 magic books within the magic fraternity and that?s considered a best seller.  My books on memory training have sold about twenty million copies, in about eleven languages. And magician group budgets for a lecturer couldn?t compare in any way at all to the money I received for my memory appearances.



ENDER: Why do people enjoy watching magic, and what gives magic its magnetic quality?

HARRY LORAYNE: It?s entertainment?at least it should be. Just as singing, dancing, acting, being a comedian is.  I think that ?the magnetic quality? is up to the performer.
 
ENDER: How important is one's own personality in performing magic, and how did this play a role in your own career?

HARRY LORAYNE: I guess I was very fortunate in that my personality just ?worked? in my two areas of expertise, magic and memory.  When I was in my early ?teens I wanted to be like Danny Kaye. It didn?t take long for me to realize that I couldn?t sing, dance or tell jokes. But I was a good ?ad-libber.?  During my memory act I?d elicit laughs throughout while amazing the audience at the same time. If something happened for which I?d receive a pretty good laugh for my responding ad-lib, that ad-lib became a standard when/if the same ?something? happened.  I always felt it was important to entertain as I amazed ? and those interspersed laughs helped in the entertainment area.

ENDER: As a well-known showman and entertainer, what are your thoughts about the importance of presentation in magic?

HARRY LORAYNE: Over the decades in my career as ?The World?s Foremost Memory-Training Specialist? I had quite a few imitators ? rip-offs/copiers. One theatrical agent actually sent out one of those rip-offs under my name! This was, obviously, before I became well known. After that, as time went by, there were those who copied my ?act? step for step. They knew how to do the memory work ? because I taught how to do it in all my books!  But, they put their audiences to sleep!  What could be more boring than watching someone remember things for 45/60 minutes!?  Magic and memory are my talent but the nitty-gritty is ? I'm an entertainer.

ENDER: What differences are there in how an amateur and a professional approach magic? 

HARRY LORAYNE: The only difference I can ?see? is that a professional is going to do the same ?set? stuff at each of his paid appearances ?at least until he learns, comes across, an item he feels would ?work? ? fit into and for ? his ?act.?  An amateur will keep doing, trying, new stuff ? stuff  he just learned, etc. Which is fine.

ENDER: As someone who has performed across multiple decades, what is the key to longevity in the magic industry?

HARRY LORAYNE: Being so good that you?re continually asked to appear.

ENDER: How has technology impacted the magic industry over the last couple of decades?

HARRY LORAYNE: The main weakness I see because of the internet and youtube is that it has hurt the sale of books. And, in my opinion, newbies can learn more from books.  Sure, computers, the internet ? great things. One of the strengths so far as magic is concerned, is that it has probably interested more people in magic. The weakness? The garbage, bad magic, I too often see on youtube, and taking interest away from books.

ENDER: Have audiences changed since you first started with magic?

HARRY LORAYNE: No, not really. They still want to be fooled and of course ? entertained. And they?re always fooled more when you use their deck. The stronger the effect you?re doing and the more ?impossible? it is, the more your audience will think (or say) ?Gotta? be a trick deck.? The only way to prove you?re not using a trick deck is to use their deck!



ENDER: Of the many giants of magic you rubbed shoulders with in your younger years, which magicians had the biggest impact on you personally?

HARRY LORAYNE: The following were personal friends, friends who had effect on my thinking, and over the years, seems as if I had some effect on their thinking:   Dai Vernon, John Scarne, Francis Carlyle, Dick Cardini,  Larry Jennings, Bill Simon, Roy Benson, Karrell Fox, Frank Garcia, Kuda Bux, Tom Mullica, Ace Greenberg, Jean Hugard, Richard Himber, Derek Dingle, Larry Jennings, Jimmy Grippo, Martin Nash ? and on and on, including many current ?young?uns.?

ENDER: What is the most difficult trick you ever performed, and what made it so hard?

HARRY LORAYNE: If I had to mention one right away, without thinking about it too much or long, I?d say ? what just came to mind ? my Card Sharp & Four Gamblers routine. The actual trick isn?t that difficult ? the one-hand cut takes only minimum practice. It?s setting the deck ?impromptuly? that made me think of it.  I always wanted to go into that routine whenever I thought it?d ?fit.? I didn?t want to, and never did, rely on a previously set deck. I wanted to be able to go right into it and when someone handed me a shuffled deck  So, it was the ?setting? as I openly searched for and tabled the four aces, that was a bit difficult at first.

ENDER: Do have any good stories you can share about a magician "fail" that you experienced?

HARRY LORAYNE: One of the hotels in the Catskill area of New York that I appeared at doing the memory act a few times the first two summers when I was just breaking in the act was owned by a friend (Phil) who was into magic, and knew that I did magic. Each time after I did the ?Marvels of Memory? memory act he?d ask me to do some card magic for some of his special guests in a separate small room.  In those days I always ended with card on ceiling at my card magic performances. The last time when I did it, the room ordinarily used was being repaired, so we assembled in a different room.

So, I go into the card on ceiling piece, just at the point where I?m going to toss the deck up to the ceiling ? and that?s the first time I see the ceiling!  There are large wooden beams across it, large spaces between them. I was already into the toss ? too late to stop it. And ? the deck hit one of the beams and then bounced out of sight behind the one next to it!  Dead silence as I, and all audience members, stared up at the ceiling where the deck had disappeared. As I tried to think of a way out, one card appeared between the two beams and fell.  I caught it ? it was the selected card!  Obviously I acted as if that was exactly what I had planned.  Standing ovation. I never did card on ceiling again after that!

ENDER: If someone was making a list of a dozen of Harry Lorayne's greatest hits, what signature tricks do you hope would be included?

HARRY LORAYNE: According to your audience ? always. But generally ? my HaLo Aces, HaLo Cut Cop, HaLo Force, Startler, Double Take, Magician Vs. Gambler, Lorayne?s Poker Deal, Card Sharp And The Four Gamblers, Take Five, One-Eyed Jack Sandwich, That?s The Truth, Best Card Handler, Fantastic Ace Assembly,  Stop!, Out of This Universe, Impromptu Out of This World, Lorayne Card Force, my Ambitious Card Routine, Sweet 4-Card Change, A Much Better Chance, Slider Finder, Blown Further Away, Epitome Location, Really!, S/H/F Killer, That?s Impossible.

ENDER: If someone unearthed the ruins of an old library 500 years from now, which of your magic books do you hope that they find?

If the ?unearther? is just a sort-of beginner, newcomer to, magic, then my The Magic Book.  I?ve been told over the decades that it is one of the best ? many call it the best ? book for beginners. Then, of course, Close-Up Card Magic.

ENDER: What advice would you give to a young person just starting to learn card magic for the first time today?
 
HARRY LORAYNE: My advice to the young (or old) person would be to pick up a copy of my book, The Magic Book.  I wrote it just for you, because it specifically teaches a young (or old) person the basics of card magic. Then, when you?ve learned the basics, you can check out all the other books that I wrote.  One of the important things in that book is my stressing that "I want to save you the forty years I spent learning sleights I never used."



Learn More

For more entertaining Harry Lorayne card magic, start by watching his dazzlingly and energetic Ambitious Card, and the remarkable display of skill in Numero Uno.  You can see him performing more wonderful card magic over on his YouTube channel.  Also see the interview series Before I Forget with Harry Lorayne and Rudy Tinoco.

I've written extensive reviews of several of Harry's books and videos, which you'll find here:

Videos
The Jaw Droppers Lecture by Harry Lorayne - a rare opportunity to see a legend perform and teach card magic at the age of 90!
The HaLo Project: The Magic of Harry Lorayne (Vol. 1) by Rudy Tinoco - the first of a series of videos teaching hidden gems of Harry Lorayne's card magic
The HaLo Project: The Magic of Harry Lorayne (Vol. 2) by Rudy Tinoco - more hidden gems from Harry Lorayne's card magic

Books
The Classic Collection by Harry Lorayne - the definitive collection of card magic from the legendary Harry Lorayne
Jaw Droppers! by Harry Lorayne - a superb volume of card magic from the legendary Harry Lorayne
Jaw Droppers! Two by Harry Lorayne - over seventy great card tricks from living legend Harry Lorayne!
And Finally! by Harry Lorayne - one of the final books from one of the best writers on card magic


20
Kickstarter - Clear Skies: Resistance Playing Cards (printed in Ukraine, in support of Ukraine)

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/newdawndecks/clear-skies-resistance-playing-cards

Premium poker-sized playing cards.  A deck made in Ukraine, to help Ukraine.

Project ends: Thursday, April 27, 2023

The information below is taken from the project page:

In April 2022, Old Gravity, Noir Arts and Max Playing Cards, teamed up to create the Clear Skies project, to pay tribute to the Ukrainian people, victims of an unfair and disproportionate invasion by the Russian army. More than one year later, governments around the world have not been able to definitively help end this conflict and the struggle is still alive and death continues to strike those who want to live in peace in their own country. For this reason, we decided to keep the flame of hope alive with a new edition: CLEAR SKIES RESISTANCE.



When the world begins to get used to a conflict that seems increasingly distant, there are voices that go on shouting to defend their lives and that of their families. This deck represents that constant struggle, that way of surviving and overcoming adversity every day, a fight for freedom against suffering and destruction that, after more than a year, has not been able to overcome the determination, courage and resistance of the Ukrainian people.

Clear Skies Resistance uses the same designs as the original Freedom and Unity editions, but all artwork is recolored in black and red - colors of Ukrainian resistance.

Bivas Bhattacharjee (Old Gravity) has created a tuck case with a modern design, with an eye to the future, a future of freedom adorned with the symbology of the Ukrainian country. On the front, national flower, the sunflower, now a symbol of resistance, frames emblem, the trident, a symbol of freedom and resistance.



The back is a song to peace, with a dove that takes flight but is being destroyed by the conflict. However, two tree-shaped hands reach out to catch the pieces and rebuild it.



The illustrations by Ritu Bhattacharya (Old Gravity) depict hope with watercolors that mix water with tears for those who suffer. A fight to achieve peace in the midst of massive explosions, indiscriminate destruction and the panic of war.

The golden tree of hope now decorates the back with the red and black of struggle and resilience. The entire deck has been completely customized, and each card is a canvas that brims with emotion.



The unjustified suffering and bloodshed shake those who see in Ukraine a beautiful and peaceful country, thrown into this merciless war. However, the strength, determination, and resilience of the Ukrainian people illuminate with hope the future of the country and its necessary reconstruction.





Each of the suits is inspired and expresses a positive value. The freedom of clubs, the unity of diamonds, the truth of spades, and the love of hearts. These cards are full of best wishes for a people fighting for their freedom.







The Resistance set includes two decks (Resistance and Freedom) together with a bullet shell (7.62 coming directly from the frontline).







The Unity set includes two decks (Unity and Freedom) together with a fragment of russian missile or cluster bomb.



This project has been designed exclusively with the Ukrainian people in mind and the restoration of their lives after this terrible invasion.



Link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/newdawndecks/clear-skies-resistance-playing-cards

21
Magical Cardistry Bonanza / Take Five by Michael Breggar
« on: March 14, 2023, 10:48:28 AM »
Take Five (Michael Breggar)

Five way-cool sleight-lite card tricks for cool cats and hats

You may recognize Michael Breggar name by now, because he's produced quite a number of books that focus on sleight-lite magic.  I have most of them, and enjoy them immensely for several reasons:
- Michael has a great sense of humor, and his zany style is always amusing to read.
- The strength of his tricks is in the area of presentation, which is what the best magic is about: being entertaining. 
- The tricks are light on sleights, which means that they're easy to perform, and don't require knuckle-busting moves.
- They're easy to read, with plenty of pictures, and well laid out with good headings.

His newest book is called Take Five, and follows the same formula.  It consists of around 50 pages, and is available as a PDF download, at this stage exclusively from Kaymar Magic.

To whet your appetite, here's a full performance of one of the tricks in the book, "Decisions, Decisions", by Michael himself:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUbURnD4Vts



Here's part of the ad copy, which gives an idea of the five main routines that are included:

BR-ACAAN ? Michael's newest go-to "Any Card at Any Number" routine. It is sleight-lite easy and impossible to backtrack. Based on ideas from Barrie Richardson, other magicians have called it "superb." Audiences just call it "in-the-pocket awesome"!

Sympa - "Lippy" Liepzig's "Sympathetic 13" gets a jazzy makeover in Michael's mind-blowing, easy version using a single non-gaffed deck - fully shuffled by the audience!

Decisions, Decisions - Direct from Michael's last Magic Castle set, think impossible "Blizzard" abetted by several audience members. Bebopping with your spectators, they name any card color, value, and suit to jam a card. You cleanly remove that named card from the deck and then instantly show every other card hasn't been printed yet! Yeah, they are all blank, Hepcats!

Sherlock - A jazzy melody straight outta baker Street, Dizzy Mike takes a Harry Lorayne tune and egg-beats-it-to-the-bar. A card is selected and returned, and using Holmesian deduction and Scotland Yard line-ups, is revealed in a rather unusual fashion. But then Sherlock, also reveals the card's three sidekick mates. But then Dr. Watson sockdollagers everyone by revealing a prediction that has been in front of everyone's goggles from the start!

Order in the Cortex - Another frequent performance piece from the Breggar song-book. Two participants shuffle and cut an ordinary deck. Each keeps half of the cut cards, then removes six cards sight unseen from their piles. They then look at a single card of their six and swap it face-down with their partner who mixes that card in with their other five. The two six-card packets are turned face-up as the subjects try to discern which of the six cards they are looking at is the stranger from the other person's packet. They may guess correctly, but the cool cat magician has already read the minds of both and pulled matching cards out of a jumbo deck.


Where to get it?  Take Five was released in March 2023, and can be purchased as a digital download in PDF format as an exclusive from Kaymar Magic.


22
Wonder Playing Cards - Emerald Edition (Kickstarter)

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/wondercraft/wonder-playing-cards-emerald-edition

Current funding level: already funded
Kickstarter ends: Wednesday, February 22, 2023

Wonder Playing Cards - Emerald Edition is the fourth colorway from the series of Wonder Playing Cards created by Chris Hage from Wondercraft Cards.  The first deck in this series appeared around two years ago in blue, and was later followed by a Scarlet edition in red, and a Royal edition in purple. 



These decks are especially notable in light of the beautiful paisley design of the card backs, which uses shadows and gradients to create the convincing illusion that the card back is actually 3D. 



The face cards are classically inspired, making it well-suited to card magic or card games, but there's some customization to the designs of the court cards, so that these look more expressive and alive.  The faces feature the use of metallic ink, and the gold on the court cards will especially add class and elegance.  The fully custom Ace of Spades reprises the paisley design, and the deck is finished with matching Jokers, and two gaff cards: a double backer and a blank faced card.









The tuck box uses a dark green matt cardstock, and is stamped with foil and embossing. 



Three different gilded decks are also available, a collector box set, half brick box, and extras like a fine art print and various goodies unlocked through stretch goals, plus add-ons that let you pick up the previous decks in the series.





The campaign closes around February 22, 2023, with standard decks priced at $17, and various levels that reduce the cost or include premium options.



Kickstarter link

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/wondercraft/wonder-playing-cards-emerald-edition

23
How Playing Card Improvements Have Helped Card Magic

The relationship between playing cards and card magic

Playing cards and card magic have always enjoyed a close relationship.  The original spread of playing cards was largely due to the popularity of card games.  And the rise of card games was closely accompanied by the two ugly step-sisters of gambling and cheating.  But there was also a Cinderella to be found close nearby: card magic.  Magicians employed similar techniques as card cheats, but instead of using them to swindle others, put these methods in the service of entertainment.   As a result, the history of playing cards is closely linked to the history of card magic.

But how exactly have improvements in playing cards helped card magic?  It seems obvious that as playing cards evolved, the tools that magicians had at their service became increasingly refined.  And that made some techniques in sleight of hand easier, while opening the door for other techniques that were previously impossible.  Wouldn't it be an interesting exercise to track the history of playing cards alongside the history of card magic, and see how significant developments in one have impacted the other?

Exactly this question has occupied the attention and interest of playing card expert and magician Lee Asher.  And in July 2022 he delivered a lecture on the subject to FISM, which is basically the Olympics of magic, and attracts some of the best minds in magic to perform and learn.  In connection with his lecture, he also published a useful resource on the subject, a book entitled "Lee Asher's Card Magic & Playing Card History Timeline", which further explores this topic by identifying key points of development in each area on a single timeline.



Lee Asher is the perfect person to take on an important and fascinating subject like this.  Because his credentials make it obvious that he has a foot in both disciplines, with expertise in both playing cards and in card magic.  His roots lie in card magic, and as a second generation sleight of hand artist, he began performing magic professionally already in his teens.  He's travelled the world, performing and lecturing on his brand of sleight of hand magic.  Even today he continues to serve as a magic consultant.

But Lee is unlike any other magician, because he is also the President of 52 Plus Joker, the world's largest club for playing card collectors.  He's served in that capacity since 2016, and is well qualified for this role, as one of the world's leading experts on the subject of playing cards.  In fact, at 52 Plus Joker's most recent annual Convention, Lee was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Dawson Award, which is only awarded occasionally, and given in recognition of monumental contributions to the club.  The fact that he was already deemed worthy of this prestigious award, says volumes about the size and scope of what he has contributed to playing card creators, consumers, and collectors.  Lee's expertise on playing cards is frequently sought, and you'd be hard pressed to find anyone else on the planet more passionate about playing cards, where this passion is matched by a careful scholarly approach and a deep knowledge on the subject, all within the body of a person who is a warm and friendly human being.

Lee's lecture focuses on the topic of how playing card advancements over the last few centuries have influenced the development of card magic, and I'm indebted to his insights for most of the material that follows.  If magic has benefited from improvements in playing cards, by refining the tools of its trade, in what ways exactly was this the case?  Join me in benefiting from Lee Asher's research and insights, as I share some of the key takeaways I learned from Lee on this topic.



The impact of playing card quality innovations

To begin with, playing cards today have many different physical qualities than those of yesteryear, because they have evolved over time.  Lee observes how playing cards have come a long way, pointing out how early playing cards were made of rough paper, had square corners that wore quickly, and were of uneven sizes.  It's not hard to imagine that these qualities made it more difficult to perform sleight of hand smoothly.  Playing cards were typically handmade, either entirely or in part, making them very expensive, and so as a magician you couldn't afford to quickly replace them, but had to use them even when well-worn.

Along the way Lee shows us examples of old cards that have stood the test of time, and asks us to imagine: How would magicians of the past have used these?  There is documented evidence that many popular techniques of sleight of hand were used already centuries ago, such as the Double Lift and the Glide.  Suppose you were using the playing cards from that time, with their lack of durability and inconsistent  handling, to perform sleight of hand card magic today.  Imagine how much more difficult it would be to do the card magic that you do presently!



The Industrial Revolution was a major catalyst for change in the quality of playing cards, and as printing technology progressed, playing cards became more affordable and more consistent.  Especially in the late 1800s and 1900s there were landmark developments that contributed to this development.  Examples that Lee points out include the invention of machines that automated the paper making process, punched cards instead of cutting them, and techniques that enabled production of playing cards with rounded corners, textured embossing patterns (finishes like Cambric and Linoid, both named after the types of cloth patterns they sought to emulate), and glazed coatings.

Lee's thesis is that over time there is a basic trend where playing cards become more consistent, making them easier to perform with, and this leads to innovations in card magic.  He makes a convincing case, giving numerous examples that support it.  For example, mid-19th century magician Hofzinser placed great importance on the quality of playing cards, and their improved quality facilitated the development of sleights that he popularized such as the cull.  The late 1800s saw a real increase of card manipulation and flourishing as part of magic performances (eg card-throwing, springs, and fans), and this simply wouldn't have happened without the higher quality playing cards that these feats of skill require.  The ability to more easily produce gaff cards was also game-changing, because it opened up the door to many popular packet tricks and other aspects of card magic that many of us love today.



The impact of other playing card developments

There were also artistic and other trends that led to innovations in playing cards besides innovations in machinery.  Corner indices were practically unknown before the end of the 19th century, and could you imagine doing card magic today without them?  To that we could also add things like two-way courts, and the addition of Jokers to the deck.

Another significant development that Lee highlights is an economic one.  At the end of the 1800s, card manufacturer Russell Morgan bought out all their competition and eventually became USPCC. In 1899 they built their Norwood factory in Cincinnati Ohio, which they would then use for over a century.  As an industry giant at the time, USPCC could afford to equip their new factory with all the latest technology, and playing cards were mass produced in a quality and volume like never before.

This in turn helped produce a renaissance in card magic, because these new and improved playing cards placed into the hands of magicians the very tools they needed for to innovate and be creative.  Lee points out that the 20th century produced most of the top card handlers who have collectively influenced and made card magic what it is today.  Big names such as Erdnase, Thurston, Vernon, Marlo, Scarne, Annemann, and many others all benefited from improved playing cards.



A couple of other separate developments are also worth observing, both of which were responsible not so much for improved techniques in card magic, but rather for increasing the number of people doing card magic.  DeLand's marked deck had been marketed towards laypeople already at the turn of the 20th century.  But with the arrival of television came increased opportunities for advertisers to bring products to the mass market, and this was especially responsible for the sales of millions of Svengali decks, which were advertised as "TV Magic Cards".  As Lee rightly points out, the arrival of these decks into countless homes must have inspired many to begin their journey into card magic.

The second example Lee mentions is the rise of the custom playing card industry.  He traces this back to the popular Black Tiger deck that first appeared in 2004, and was used by Ellusionist's Brad Christian to help make card magic appealing to a whole new generation.  This was also a big catalyst that helped grow the custom playing card market, and by putting a wide range of novel playing cards into the hands of people around the world, has attracted even more newcomers to card magic.  In my view, the rise of the internet videos and of social media has helped accelerate this trend.  As playing cards flourish, so does card magic, and the internet has unquestionably helped breed a whole new generation of card magicians, many who began their journey into magic with a deck of high quality playing cards already in their hand.



What does the future hold?

Some of the final items on Lee's timeline are worth sharing, as we consider what the future of playing cards holds, and speculate what this might mean for card magic.  In 2019 Cartamundi bought out USPCC, giving Cartamundi global dominance of the playing card industry as a manufacturer.  To be fair, improved technology has also seen the rise of growing competition in the form of smaller players that are also able to produce high quality playing cards, such as LPCC and EPCC, but Cartamundi / USPCC is the undisputed giant in this sector.

Cartamundi has openly stated that one of the driving forces for their acquisition of USPCC was because they see a huge growth potential in the playing card market, particularly as a result of the increased popularity of card magic today, and the rise of cardistry as a relatively new discipline.  In the past the innovation in playing cards was largely dictated by trying to improve the playing experience for card gamers, and card magic was mostly a beneficiary of whatever changes this produced.  But today it seems that the direction is being reversed, as innovations in cardistry and card magic, along with their unique needs and demands, are what is helping drive the direction of playing cards and their development.

The final entry on Lee's timeline notes how USPCC has ventured into the digital world, by producing Bicycle NFTs in 2021.  Despite the reservations some may have about this, the truth is that most of us have been comfortable using digital cards by playing Solitaire on our PCs for decades already.  But it remains an open question how card magic will make use of digital developments in the future.  As playing cards continue to evolve, they will inevitably continue to have an impact on card magic, and how magicians will make use of these possibilities in innovative and creative ways is unknown.  But what is certain is this: card magic owes a significant debt to advancements in playing cards, and there is good reason to expect that to continue.



The video lecture

Want to learn more?  You really need to hear what Lee Asher himself has to say about this topic, and listen to his FISM lecture for yourself.  And you don't have to be one of those people that likes to dabble in both playing cards and in card magic in order to enjoy and benefit from his presentation.  Even if your interest is just in one of those disciplines, it is fascinating to learn how they developed alongside each other, and how improvements in one helped the other evolve.

The good news is that digital access to a video of the lecture is included when you buy the timeline book.  Right now it's priced around $30 over on Lee Asher's website, and for that amount you get both the book, entitled Lee Asher's Card Magic & Playing Card History Timeline, as well as the video.

The video runs for about 45 minutes, and is filmed in high quality, with good editing and clear sound.  Most of it features Lee Asher himself presenting, but along the way he shows us slides of various historical cards and other details that illustrate the points he makes.  If you've ever heard Lee speak before, you'll know that you can expect something that is articulate, passionate, carefully researched, well presented, and interesting, and this is no exception.  I loved every minute of his talk, and for me this is the real value here.



The accompanying book

The book was somewhat smaller in size than I expected, with dimensions of 8.25 inches high and 5.25 inches wide.  It's a relatively slim volume, and consists of 104 pages.  But it is packed with information, and the high quality glossy presentation includes numerous colour photographs of playing cards and decks featured in the timeline.

The timeline begins with mention of the roots of Tarot in connection with the Egyptian deity Thoth, and the origin of playing cards in China.  Items are arranged in order by date, with the year listed in large bold printed, followed by a statement about a notable development in either the world of playing cards or in card magic.  These are presented in a very objective and factual way, with a brief summary of what the development was, often presented either as a direct quote from an appropriate source.  In each case the source is referenced directly beneath the overview of the item, and is typically a book or periodical article along with the relevant page number or chapter, or a link to a website.

As good as the video lecture and book are, I have two minor criticisms about the book.  Firstly, most of the quotations and information are presented without comment or analysis.  But it seems to me that not all of them are equally reliable, a prime example being the first item on the timeline, which quotes a book from 1912 that seems to make too positive a connection (in my view, anyway) between the origin of the Tarot and ancient Egypt.  Secondly, the book only has a brief introduction to set the stage for the timeline, and one really needs to first watch the video lecture in order to appreciate the content. I would love to see a future edition of this book where Lee expands on this introductory content, by providing more of his own commentary and analysis on the items included on the timeline, as well as an introductory or concluding essay that summarizes the key points of his lecture.

The above mentioned nitpicks aside, this book is a terrific contribution to the history of playing cards and of magic, precisely because it documents so many key points, along with references to source material where more can be learned.  Lots of people love playing cards, and lots of people love card magic.  But we also need dedicated researchers to take the time to document their history, and that's exactly what Lee has achieved with his book.



Final thoughts

It should be obvious by now that Lee Asher has produced a wonderful contribution that can be enjoyed by anyone with an interest in playing cards or in card magic.  Best enjoyed together, the video lecture and the book will help you be more informed about playing cards, and help you appreciate how big an impact they have had on card magic.

Hopefully this article has whet your appetite to learn more.  And at the very least, it should make you love playing cards all the more, and realize how important their evolution has been for the history of card magic.

Where to learn more?
Lee Asher's "Card Magic & Playing Card History Timeline" book and lecture video
Lee Asher's articles on magic and playing cards



Author's note: I first published this article at  PlayingCardDecks.

24
Silk & Paper Cut Playing Cards by ARK Playing Cards (Kickstarter)

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cardcollection/silk-and-paper-cut-playing-cards-by-ark

Current funding level: already funded
Kickstarter ends: Tuesday, January 31, 2023



There's a lot of playing card projects on Kickstarter, but only the very best hit over $100,000 in funding.  With still almost two weeks of funding to go, the Silk & Paper Cut decks are already almost in that elite category. 

But it's not entirely surprising, because it was created by Danny from ARK Playing Cards.  Nearly each of his previous projects has reached a higher level of success than the previous one: Card College Playing Cards, Tempo Playing Cards, Kingdom & Kinghood Playing Cards, Azure Dragon & Time Machine Playing Cards, The Illusionist & After Sound Playing Cards, and their most recent release, Vermillion Bird & Black Tortoise Playing Cards.  Several of these are in the Top 10 most-funded decks of playing cards of all time.

The reason for this success lies in the amazing quality of the decks themselves.  ARK specializes in stunning decks that come with the pinnacle in luxury packaging, and lavish looks that are only possible with the very latest in printing technology.

With their current project, Silk & Paper Cut Playing Cards, ARK continues to stretch the boundaries of high quality luxury playing cards and packaging, with yet more amazing custom decks of playing cards.



TWO TYPES OF DECKS

The vast majority of ARK's projects consist of two different decks wrapped up in a single campaign, each of which is available in several different boxsets. This can make them a little confusing to those unfamiliar with ARK's approach.  With this campaign there are two main decks: Silk and Paper Cut (the latter is also described on the project page as Four Seasons).

1. Silk Playing Cards

The Silk boxsets are inspired by silk-related elements, and tells the story of the ancient Silk Road, which was one of the most important trade routes in Asia and Europe prior to maritime trade. 

But not only is the story of silk the thematic inspiration, but it has also shaped the design and visual aesthetics of the cards.  This starts with the tuck box, which is made in part from genuine silk fabric, which the project page describes as a first for the playing card industry.  It uses a folding design that tells something of the origins of the Silk Road.   

The cards also have elements from the ancient near east.  The faces have Chinese-style figures, and pay tribute to the merchants and other figures that populated the Silk Road.  They're printed with foils, in a way deliberately intended to capture something of the luxury and look of silk.

Here's some images showing the Classic Boxset, which comes with a blue deck and a red deck:



















2. Paper Cut (Four Seasons) Playing Cards

The Paper Cut boxsets are inspired by the art of Chinese-style paper cutting.  Paper has long been a common medium for printing,  but paper cutting has a more unique history and its own traditions.  This concept is applied to both the graphic design and the visual aesthetics of these decks.

This begins with the tuck box, which features intricate and exquisite paper carving with multiple layers, such has a card sleeve and foils, which are used to further enhance the unique luxury look of the packaging.  ARK has produced packaging with paper cutting before, such as with their Azure Dragon deck.  But they have used their prior experience to reach new heights of technical difficulty and artistic creativity with this new deck.  The Paper Cut deck has a cross double-folding structure (which gives the sense of flowers blooming when opened), and more layers and gluing points than ever before, and is accentuated with foils.

The reason for describing this with the alternate name "Four Seasons" is because each suit captures elements of a different season.  For example, the Aces: Spades (Spring/Orchid/Swallow), Hearts (Summer/Lotus/Kingfisher), Diamonds (Autumn/Chrysanthemum/Goose), Clubs (Winter/Plum Blossum/Magpie).    The traditional Chinese art of paper cutting has also been combined with the 12 Chinese zodiac signs on the court cards. 

Here's some images showing the Classic Boxset, which comes with a red deck and a green deck:

















FOUR TYPES OF BOXSETS

And for each of the two types of decks, there are options for several different boxsets, each with increasing levels of luxury packaging:

Silk Playing Cards:
● Classic Boxset (red & blue decks) - limited edition of 1,555
● Black Boxset (black & white decks) - limited edition of 888
● Wooden Boxset (gold & silver decks) - limited edition of 333
● Leather Boxset (orange deck) - limited edition of 555

Paper Cut (Four Seasons) Playing Cards:
● Classic Boxset (red & green decks) - limited edition of 1,555
● White Boxset (black & white decks) - limited edition of 888
● Wooden Boxset (gold & silver decks) - limited edition of 333
● Leather Boxset (blue deck) - limited edition of 555

1. Classic Boxsets

Already shown in the pictures above are the Classic Boxsets, and here are a few more image of those. 

For the Silk decks:







For the Paper Cuts decks:







Now let's briefly show a couple of shots of what the other boxsets looks like.

2. Black/White Boxsets

These boxsets consist of a black deck and a white deck.

For the Silk decks:







For the Paper Cuts decks:







3. Wooden Boxsets

These boxsets consist of a gold deck and a silver deck.

For the Silk decks:







For the Paper Cuts decks:







4. Leather Boxsets

For the Silk decks, there is a single orange deck in a boxset:







For the Paper Cuts decks, there is a single blue deck in a boxset:







Words really don't do justice to the magnificent beauty, and you really need to see some visuals to see how impressive this looks.  There are many more images on the project page.

Kickstarter link

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cardcollection/silk-and-paper-cut-playing-cards-by-ark



25
Who is Kellar O'Neil?

Arguably the single most prestigious award in the playing card community is 52 Plus Joker's Diamond Award.  So what better way to introduce Kellar O'Neil than by noting that two of his decks have been nominated for the Diamond Award for Deck of the Year.

In 2020 he created Charmers Playing Cards in collaboration with Lotrek, one of the very top playing card designers in the world, and that deck went on to be nominated for the Diamond Award.  Then in the past year he created his Marvelous Hummingbird Feathers Playing Cards in collaboration with Chris Tipton, and that was nominated for this year's Diamond Award.  Considering the huge number of playing cards that appear on the market every year, to have a deck you have produced make the shortlist of the top four candidates is a huge honor and recognition.

But there is a lot more to Kellar O'Neil, and in this article we're going to learn more about him, and some of the decks he has produced.  While he is active in the playing card community, especially as a creator, his roots lie in his expertise as a magician, although he prefers to call himself a mystifier due to his performing style.  He's been performing professionally for over 20 years, and when going to one of his shows you can typically expect Victorian charm in a historic venue, with some astonishing illusions courtesy of Kellar, who is billed as The Southern Charmer, Mystifier of the Finest Affairs.

Kellar was kind enough to agree to do an interview, so please join me in welcoming him, and let's listen to what he has to say about himself, and about his beautiful playing cards.



The Interview

About Kellar O'Neil and Marvelous Cards

For those who don't know anything about you, what can you tell us about yourself and your background?

I reside in South Carolina.  I am a professional Mystifier.  I entertain mostly as a corporate entertainer for major companies in the United States.  I have been performing since the age of 12. 

What can you tell us about your career as a performing professional?

I love performing for audiences to give them a moment in time where they can simply forget about the world's problems (and their problems) and realize that there is wonder - true sense of wonder that still remains in the world ... and doesn't need to be on a screen!

You describe yourself as a "mystifier" rather than a magician, but also as a mind reader and mentalist. What is the significance of those terms for you?

A mystifier is someone that creates wonder for someone.  My interaction with the audience is one of an experience, and not just a 'show.'  I want someone to remember the moments they had - not just some showcase of the impossible.  Ten years down the road, I want those that have experienced my performances to say - WOW! that really changed my perspective.

What is the significance and origin of the name used for your professional website, keepthewonder.org?

Keep the Wonder is a reminder to everyone I meet to take a moment to enjoy the true miracles in life - those miracles are within us and we have so many wonderful things in life yet to experience and explore.

The name Marvelous Decks has a similar feel.  What is the origin and significance of this name?

Marvelous Decks does have a similar feel - that name was created by myself and Chris Tipton (Master of Letterpress Art).  When we decided to create the concept of Marvelous - we knew that there are so many Marvelous Details in Life and we want to capture those as creatively as possible and bring those to collectors, magicians and the world.  Marvelous encompasses the magical wonders of this world.  We can't wait to share more.

What should we know about Marvelous Decks, and what it strives to be?

Marvelous Decks is a creation between Kellar O'Neil & Chris Tipton.  Our decks have and will strive to be 'eye-candy' and 'texturally miraculous'.  We give great thought to the designs and production process.  I have a background in print production and the creative, while Chris has many years in design and production and is at the top of letterpress in the world.  Our experience through these projects was a perfect fit in our minds ... and so ... Marvelous it is.  So, so many Marvelous things coming...



Playing Cards

What kinds of routines do you use playing cards for in your professional performances?

Mind reading effects mostly, and some card flourishing.

Which playing cards do you personally use when performing?

My Charmers Playing Cards designed by Lotrek.

Do you have any favourite deck that you have used for performing over the years?

I am a fan of Theory 11's Citizens Playing Cards.

As a performing professional, what qualities are most important to you for handling of a deck?

Definitely the stock and finish.

What card stock do you prefer the most, and why?

I am a huge fan of Cartamundi B9 Linen Slimline.  It's just so so buttery - and they know their shimmer.

What are your thoughts on how the playing card industry has changed, and the explosion of custom playing cards that we are seeing today?

I love this!  I am an avid supporter of the community and love supporting as many decks as I can.  Creativity at its best.  I love watching other creators, and watching videos of cardists, magicians and collectors experience all of these decks.

You used Kickstarter to help produce your Charmers deck.  What has your experience with Kickstarter been like?

Kickstarter is a great platform.  It's great that there is a platform that can be used to create a new product.  More decks are coming from us on Kickstarter.



Marvelous Cards

What got you started with creating playing cards, and why?

I wanted to have my own deck designed and was honored to work with Lotrek - it got into my blood after becoming a member of 52 Plus Joker and here we are!

Which decks have you been involved in creating so far?   

Charmers, TwentyTwenty, Hummingbird Feathers and coming soon, House of Whispers.

Which of these have been your most successful designs, and which is your favourite?

Honestly, I can't say that I feel one has been more successful than another and I have an admiration for them all as they have different characteristics and meanings.

What are some of the easiest, and what are some of the hardest parts of the process in creating a custom deck?   

The easiest part is coming up with ideas.  The most difficult is the long process of design (normally two years) and then of course the funding.  Fulfillment is fun and rewarding, but a lot of work!

How much time does it take to actually create a deck from start to finish, and what aspects take the most work and time?

Two plus years.  Artwork most definitely involves the most work/time - a lot of back and forth to get it just right!!

You printed both the Charmers and the Hummingbird decks with Cartamundi.  Why did you opt for them, and what aspects of the results were you particularly happy with?

I believe Cartamundi produces the best decks in the business at the moment.  Their stock and finish is something truly special.  They are the best in the cold foil finishing as well.  I have been able to create a relationship with them that is wonderful.  They are busy of course - so patience is key.  They stand by their product and quality control is very important to them. 

Most of your decks have a relatively standard look to the court cards and number cards.  Why was this important for you? 

It's a card deck first and foremost - so I want people to be able to sit around a table and play cards or do great card effects.  Playing cards are also art - I find that courts should be fun and beautiful, but functional.




Charmers Playing Cards (2020)

The delightful Charmers deck is billed as a throwback to the Victorian Era.   What is the significance of that inspiration and style for you, and why did you choose this?

My performance style is from this era - so when working with Lotrek we wanted to pull together that style.  It's such an elegant style.

How did this deck come about, and what were some of your goals in producing it?

I always wanted to have my own deck and approached Lotrek to create something special - he did such a fabulous job creating a collector's deck - but also extremely functional and magnificently beautiful.

You created this deck in collaboration with Lotrek, who is a rock-star designer in the world of playing cards.  How did this collaboration come about?

I simply reached out to him after seeing his decks - I knew it would be a long-shot - but he was excited about the project and we worked well together.

What role did you play in the creation of these decks, and what role did Lotrek play? 

I created the name and Lotrek created the art.  I allowed Lotrek to use his creative license to make something special.  He's truly at the top of the art - and never doubted what his vision was.

What do you like most about how the Charmers decks turned out? 

The gold...the gold and the gold.  I am partial to the tucks.  I am addicted to foils and textures.

Which of the Charmers decks is your favourite, and why?

The Green Standard deck.  I love the color and it's my go-to deck for performance.  Of course they are all great - and the Signature...well, it's a masterpiece from Lotrek.  Glad my name is on there...

The Charmers deck was one of the nominees for 52 Plus Joker's Diamond Award for 2021 Deck of the Year.  What did this nomination mean to you?

Such an honor.  Very humbling.  I never would have imagined this would have happened so quickly with my creations.  52 Plus Joker is a wonderful organization and I am proud to be a member.  Their work is awesome for the community. 



Marvelous Hummingbird Feathers Playing Cards (2021)

What do you love about hummingbirds, and what inspired you to create a hummingbird themed deck?

I love the intrigue of hummingbirds, but also their beauty and determination.  My inspiration came from my grandmother's love of hummingbirds.  We always spent time together filling hummingbird feeders and watching them visit.  Magical!

This deck was a collaboration with Chris Tipton.  What should we know about Chris, and what contribution and role did each of you make?

Chris is a true professional in his design and Master of Letterpress.  When I decided to create Marvelous - I knew his expertise was a great match.  He loves bringing these productions to life and has a love and excitement for the process too. 

The tuck box of this deck looks amazing.  What went into the design and creation of the tuck box, to accomplish this?

There are 8 dies that went into making these tucks.  Chris spent hours upon hours creating this masterpiece.  Many prototypes were made with dies and this was because we knew it had to be just right. 

What is meant by "multiple holographical foils", and what can you tell us about how the cold foil was used?

We have a Secret Marvelous Recipe for these products...

Why did you decide to go with the colours red, blue, and purple for the three different decks of this series? 

Red was my favorite and I knew it had to be used - and the other two colors were so striking ... so I knew they had to be used too.  They are based, however on real hummingbird combinations.

What are some of your personal favourite things about how the Hummingbird decks turned out?

The tucks for sure - but I absolutely was amazed when I opened the decks from the factory and they turned out better than I imagined.  The Shimmer, shimmer, shimmer is at the top too.

Your Hummingbird deck took out 2nd place for "Best Tuck Box" in Portfolio52's 2021 Deck of the Year contest, and was also a nominee for "Overall Deck of the Year" and the "Best Card Back" category.  What do these awards and recognition mean for you?

Whew ... again so humbling.  The card community has been such an inspiration to me and to be nominated by the community as being in the top ... words can't describe how blessed we feel.

Can we still get these decks? 

Very few decks remain - there are some decks available from other playing card retailers, but very few remain.



Twenty Twenty Playing Cards (2021)

What is written on the back of the 2020 deck tuck box, and what is the importance and significance of this for you personally?

The Year 2020 caused everyone around the world to rearrange their normal.  This official deck will serve as a reminder that through the highs and the lows, we will go on.

This deck was very personal to me and to others.  Covid changed the world, and was a tragic situation - however, we felt that through the court cards we could portray some of the lighter sides of the craziness of 2020, while keeping this deck as a keepsake for collectors and future generations to say ... we did make it and we are stronger for it.


What can you tell us about Kevin Keigley, who was the artist of this deck?

Kevin is based in South Carolina and is a wonderful person and artist as well.  He has a whimsy with his art and makes me smile.  Expect another Marvelous Deck from Kevin very soon too!

What can you tell us about the novelty designs we can expect to see on the court cards of this deck?

See the gallery at Card Scans.  They portray some of the things that represent 2020 as the Year that Turned the World Upside Down ... in a light hearted way.

Why did you opt to print these with Shuffled Ink, and what was that experience like?

We also like this US company.  Their stock and finish is nice (and smells good too).  Their customer service is wonderful.  More Marvelous to come from them too.  Their decks handle well.



Final Thoughts

Are you also a playing card collector, and what can you share about this?

I collect a wide variety of decks (I have around 300 decks).  I normally am pulled towards the more ornate designs.  Favorite designers outside of my own decks would be Lotrek and Lorenzo,

What advice would you give someone who is interested in creating their own deck of custom playing cards?

I dig it and love that people are so excited about decks.  It is great for us all.  Be creative and make it happen!  Advice would be to take your time and create something meaningful. 

Do you have any recent, current, or upcoming projects that you can tell us about?

House of Whispers designed by Widakk & Dalibass with Marvelous Decks - coming to Kickstarter soon!

What is the best way for people to keep up with news about any new projects you might put out?

Instagram.

Is there anything else you'd like to share about designing or using playing cards?

It's such a fun creative outlet - have fun collecting and treasure the art.  Support the community and Keep the Wonder!



Conclusion

There's a good chance you've seen pictures of some of Kellar's decks previously, especially the stunning Hummingbird Feathers, which makes an instant and memorable impression.  It is bursting with holographic foils, and generates the kind of amazement that seeing a hummingbird in real life can produce. And that's the sort of wonder that Kellar wants to evoke, whether it is through his performing, or by putting one of his custom decks in your hands.

While I've not had the opportunity to see Kellar perform his mystifying brand of magic, the fact that he is a professional entertainer who specializes in creating a sense of wonder and astonishment, ensures a good crossover to the world of creating playing cards.  He's keen to approach the task of producing custom playing cards with a similar benchmark of success, by creating something genuinely remarkable and breathtaking.

If the Marvelous Hummingbird Feathers deck is any indication, he certainly has what it takes to produce a spectacular deck that stands out from the competition.  We can only look forward to what will come next!

Ways to connect with Kellar O'Neil and Marvelous Decks: Keep the Wonder, Marvelous Decks, Instagram.



Author's note: I first published this article at PlayingCardDecks here.

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