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51
Playing Card Plethora / 10 of my favourite articles on playing cards
« on: September 21, 2022, 09:03:01 PM »
I've always enjoyed playing cards.  I have loved card games ever since I was a kid.  And already in my teens I had a fascination with card magic.  So when I discovered the custom playing card industry several years ago, I was an instant convert.

I also love writing about my passions.  For me, writing is primarily a labour of love that I do in my spare time.  I enjoy it because it gives me the chance to study and learn about new things, and to analyze and organize the material I've learned.  I also like sharing my findings with others, and supporting creators and consumers - whether it's in the game industry, the playing card industry, or the magic industry.  I've been writing reviews of board games over on BoardGameGeek for well over 15 years already.  When I started writing about playing cards and related topics a few years ago, PlayingCardDecks (PCD) proved to be the ideal platform to host some of my articles on these subjects, although I also cross-post a number of them in other places at a later date, including here.

The range of topics I've researched and written about is quite diverse: from the history of playing cards, to interesting facts about playing cards.  I've interviewed creators, collectors, cardists, magicians, and historians.  I've shared stories about the unique achievements of particular projects.  I've covered the best card games you can play, including solitaire card games.  I've provided information and tips about learning cardistry and card magic.  And much more!

The fifth anniversary of PCD is the ideal time to go through this archive of material, and bring some of the best of these articles back into the light.  Perhaps you may have seen many of these before, or perhaps not.  Some may have escaped your notice the first time around, or maybe they warrant revisiting.  So here's a collection of ten of my favourites, listed in no particular order. 

  1. Alternative Uses for Playing Cards

This article has some nostalgia attached to it for me, because it was the first one of my articles to appear on the PCD blog.  While not as long as many of my more recent articles, it does raise an interesting subject: what can you do with playing cards aside from playing card games?

There are obvious uses like using them for performing card magic.  But what about some more interesting things to try, like building card houses, card flourishing, or card throwing?  This article will give you some fun ideas for using playing cards in less orthodox ways.



  2. How Should I Look After My Deck? 24 Tips for Making Playing Cards Last

The question of how to look after your deck of playing cards often comes up among collectors and playing card enthusiasts.  What's the best way to store them, and how do things like temperature and humidity affect your playing cards?  Are there ways that you can handle your deck in a way that will extend its life, and not cause it to wear out prematurely?  And are there useful accessories that can help preserve the life of your deck?

You'll be surprised at some of the suggestions on this list, and when taken together, they can really help you get more mileage out of each precious deck that you own.



  3. 40+ Great Card Games For All Occasions

I have a special fondness for playing card games. Ever since I was in my teens, I've actively sought out to learn a wide range of different card games, focusing especially on the ones that are most popular around the world, and that are the classics that have stood the test of time.  But there's also a diverse amount of modern card games that deserve attention and notice.

This epic article is the culmination of years of personal study, and time spent learning and playing all kinds of card games played with a traditional deck.  You could consider it a greatest hits collection of card games, and if you're looking for good card games to play with your favourite deck, start here.



  4. Popular Non-Builder Solitaire Card Games

I've written more than a dozen articles about solitaire card games.  It is a genre that especially interests me, but let's be honest, who hasn't ever played a game of solitaire on their personal computer, tablet, or phone?  The solitaire game that most people are familiar with is called Klondike, and it's the well-known one where you're trying to play all the cards in each suit in order from Ace through King, while using a tableau of cards where you build downwards with cards alternating between red and black.

Klondike is considered a typical "builder solitaire game", and what most people don't realize is that many excellent solitaire card games work completely different than this, and can even be far more interesting.  This article lists the best and most popular non-builder solitaire games you should know about.



  5. Top Moves and Flourishes that Beginners in Cardistry Should Learn

Cardistry is the art of card flourishing, and can best be described as juggling with playing cards.  It's become an independent art form all of its own, and many custom decks nowadays are designed purely for visual aesthetics which accentuate their looks when used by cardists.  As an art form, cardistry has grown rapidly, with its success largely driven by social media and online videos.  Fortunately you can get started with an ordinary Bicycle deck, and what you learn is entirely the kind of thing that interests you.  I've introduced countless teenagers to this exciting new activity, and seen how much enthusiasm it can generate.

But where do you begin?  To help beginners, I put together a carefully curated list of simple flourishes that anyone can learn with a bit of effort, along with links to the best free video tutorials on the internet that will teach you how to do them.



  6. Popular Self-Working Card Tricks for Complete Beginners

Everyone should know how to do at least one decent card trick.   And especially if you own a deck of cards, then you have all the more reason to develop some skills in card magic.  And no, we're not talking about the boring 21 card trick, where you deal three piles of seven cards three times in a row.  Fortunately it's not difficult to learn some good card magic, and there are some great resources out there to help you with this.

You just need some pointers in the right direction, and that's what this article is about.  I've written quite a few articles about card magic, especially ones that cover the best self-working card tricks in the world.  But you have to start somewhere, and in this article I'll help you learn ten simple card tricks, with video tutorials for each.



  7. Factors That Affect the Handling of a Deck

One of the most common questions I see over and over on playing card forums is from newbies wondering what kind of deck to get, and how a particular deck will handle. Does buying an expensive deck correspond to the best quality, and does a cheap deck equate to poor quality?  The short answer is no, because even a standard Bicycle Rider Back deck will perform outstandingly, because it's usually made in the same factory and with the same materials as a pricey cardistry deck.  But there are some important differences between card stocks and finishes to know about, and it's a relatively unknown topic for a lot of people.

I've done a lot of research in this area, and this article will help you understand the importance of things like stock, texture, coating, and cut, and what impact they have on handling.



 8. The Case of the Missing 40,000 Jerry Nugget Decks: A Detective Story

I wanted to include at least one playing card story in this list, and of the many decks, projects, or designers that I've written about, this one is probably the most interesting.  Most people know about the iconic Jerry's Nugget decks from the 1970s, which typically fetch $500 in the secondary market.  But when researching for an article about the original Jerry's Nuggets, I kept coming across mention of someone in Europe who supposedly had a stash of 40,000 Jerry's Nuggets.  It was even stated in Wikipedia.

But was it true?  I put on my detective hat, and ended up having to dive very deep to find the answer.  My sleuthing took me around the world, and after corresponding with cardists, magicians, collectors, and even a university and a hospital, I finally got to the bottom of things.



 9. The History of Playing Cards: The Evolution of the Modern Deck

A list like this wouldn't be complete without including at least one article about the history of playing cards.  Playing cards haven't always looked the way that they do today, and throughout their history they have evolved in different ways, to reflect aspects of their journey.  For example, the inclusion of a Joker was the result of the influence of Euchre, and the addition of a second Joker was the result of the influence of Canasta.  Indices only became common at the end of the 19th century.  Even the suits and court cards that we are used to today looked quite different prior to standardization resulting from cheaper printing methods.

In this article I trace the roots of playing cards in the far East, identify the time they arrived in Western Europe, and describe how they spread throughout Europe, taking on a new look in different parts of the content, and eventually settling on the form we are used to today.



 10. Interview with Card Handling Expert Roberto Giobbi

Over the years I've done about 30 interviews with all kinds of people in the industry, and I've learned a lot of things from insiders, about cardistry, card magic, creating and producing playing cards, and much more.  I've been fortunate to correspond with and interview some big name designers like Alex Chin, Jody Eklund, Giovanni Meroni, and Stockholm17,  magicians like Jeff McBride, Harry Lorayne, Rick Smith Jr, and Lee Asher, and other key figures in the playing card industry, cardistry, and magic.

But one of the most insightful interviews of all was the one I had with Roberto Giobbi, author of the acclaimed Card College series, and arguably the best teacher in card magic today.  In this interview he shares many helpful tips and tricks about how to use and handle your playing cards in a professional and pleasing way.  What he has to say is well worth reading and studying carefully, whether you're interested in card magic, card flourishing, card games, or even just collecting playing cards.



 Honorable Mentions

There's plenty of other fun or interesting articles that could have made this list.  If you are looking for more after checking out these ten articles, or perhaps are interested in different topics, here are some "honorable mentions" that should have a broad appeal, including some fun topics about playing card trivia and novelty.

● Interesting Facts About Playing Cards
● How Well Do You Know Your Playing Cards?
● Playing Card World Records
● Playing Cards as Weapons of War
● What To Look For In a Quality Deck of Playing Cards
● 10 Types of Playing Cards You Should Know About
● How to Create Your Own Deck of Playing Cards
● Great Quotes and One-Liners About Playing Cards

Want to read more? You can view a complete list of my articles on playing cards here: Playing Card Articles.  If you're a relative newbie, start by checking out the FAQ: I'm New To Collecting Playing Cards, So Where Should I Start? It is a longer article that condenses some content from other selected articles to help you quickly learn the essentials.



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

52
Playing Card Plethora / Kickstarter: Butterfly Playing Cards Workers Edition
« on: September 01, 2022, 11:08:07 AM »
Kickstarter: Butterfly Playing Cards Workers Edition

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ondrejpsenicka/butterfly-playing-cards-workers-edition

A version of the famous Butterfly Playing Cards, now with a versatile white border, designed for working magicians.

Cost: 15 euro per deck (13 euro early bird)
Project ends: September 29, 2022



The ad copy says: "Destined to become the new quality standard of playing cards and the everyday carry of many magicians, the new Workers edition of the Butterfly Playing Cards comes with an adjusted marking system, a clean white border, and our lowest price tag ever!"

I've been fortunate enough to see in person a prototype of this new workers edition.  And as much as I like the original borderless Butterfly decks, I am happy to report that a version with a white border still captures the beauty of the original back design, while white borders ensure that it looks somewhat more like  "normal" deck for laymen, and for some card magic will simply be more practical.  And while not as powerful as an edge-marked deck, it's still is a fully marked deck which you can use for routines that require a marked deck.



The original decks

Both in the world of custom playing cards and of card magic, Ondrej Psenicka is a well-known name.  He's the creator of the stunning Butterfly Playing Cards, which first appeared about half a dozen years ago now.  These gorgeous decks had fairly standard faces, but had backs with a gorgeous borderless design that revolves around the beautiful buttterfly, and looks particularly spectacular in fans and spreads. 

But this deck didn't just blow people away because of its good looks, but its ingenious secrets.  It came with an innovative edge marking system, and full video instructions about how to use it, which enables magicians to read a card without even spreading the deck.  Proof of this deck's potential is that Ondrej used it to successfully fool Penn and Teller on their Fool Us show.  Magicians who need more convincing that this is one of the very best marked decks on the market, should read my article Recommended marked decks that aren't Bicycle decks.

But since so many people loved the deck's design, more versions were created, including some luxurious black versions with gold or silver foil, and matching gold or silver edges.  These were available in unmarked versions as well, making them perfect for the ultimate in luxury when playing card games.  Then followed the "Seasons" series, which continued the beautiful borderless look, with individual decks corresponding to the colours that typical each season.



The workers edition

Now Ondrej is bringing us yet another version of his beautiful Butterfly Playing Cards, this time with a white-bordered version, geared to be a practical deck that is ideal for regular use.  And especially when buying in larger volumes, it's been priced to make it more affordable, and at the lowest price point we've seen from a Butterfly deck yet (e.g. the 12 Butterfly Special early-bird price works out to 11 euro per deck).



The essence of the marking system has been retained, but has been adjusted in light of the borders, making it functional for working magicians.  The cards are marked for value and suit on all four corners, using the one-way marking system of the previous borderless decks.



As with previous Butterfly decks, the cards are printed by Cartamundi on their Slimline stock, with a traditional cut, using the cut that makes it ideal for doing faro shuffles smoothly.  The cards all have a standard look, with the exception of the Aces (which all have custom over-sized pips), two different butterfly Jokers, and two extra cards.



Kickstarter link:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ondrejpsenicka/butterfly-playing-cards-workers-edition


53
Deck Reviews! / 10 Top Decks Produced by PlayingCardDecks
« on: August 11, 2022, 04:10:40 AM »
  10 Top Decks Produced by PlayingCardDecks

I'm writing a number of Top 10 lists to help celebrate the 5th anniversary of PlayingCardDecks.  So of course I also had to do a list about the custom decks that Will Roya has produced under his own label.  PlayingCardDecks (PCD) has only been around for 5 years, but already within his first year of starting his business, Will was working on projects to produce his own custom decks.  In the context of where PCD was at, this was quite an undertaking.  It already requires a huge amount of effort to start up an online business and sales platform, without introducing the extra complication of trying to produce your own decks of cards at the same time. 

Many designers and creators have tried their hand at crowdfunding projects for playing cards and discovered how difficult this can be. It's not as simple as setting up a page with nice pictures of your imagined deck, and then waiting for the dollars to roll in.  It requires a significant amount of hard work.  Not only do you need a good design, but you also need to be good at marketing and communication, and you need to have the right network in place to ensure fulfilment of a quality product in a timely manner.  Often creators are happy just to break even at the end of all this - if their project even gets funded in the first place.

But if there's one thing I've learned about Will Roya, it is that he is a man with enormous ambitions, energy, and passion, and he has the smarts to pull this off. Somehow, over the last five years he's managed quite the achievement: running a growing online business, and simultaneously producing multiple playing card projects that have put delightful and high quality custom playing cards into the hands of collectors.

Any "Top 10" is going to be subjective, and it's not my intention to suggest that my choices are necessarily the best of the many decks that have come out under the PCD label.  But they are among my personal favourites, and the selections I've made here are somewhat representative of the many different types of custom playing cards that Will has produced since 2018.  I've listed them more or less in the order in which they appeared on the market.



1. Chicken Playing Cards (2017)

The first deck that Will Roya was involved in creating was Runic Royalty Playing Cards, which was a collaboration with designer Keith Glover.  The PCD logo is on the box, but Will's assistance was mostly with promotion, printing, and distribution.  But the very first project that he ran entirely on his own was the charming Chicken Playing Cards. What came first, the chicken or the egg?  In this case apparently it was the chicken.  Will started from scratch, hiring the artist, and doing all the legwork himself.  It was his first Kickstarter project, and almost 30 have followed since.



The design work for the Chicken deck is by Susan Krupp, and it captures a fun chicken theme, where a brightly coloured tuck box immediately sets the tone for the playfulness within.  The card backs have a whimsical design, with what appears to be three mischievous roosters playing a game of poker.   The delightful court cards are the real highlight of this deck, because they feature our fowled friends in all manner of exalted poses.  The number cards also receive loving attention, with detailed artwork forming a background panel to the pips, which are heavily customized with brightly coloured feather-inspired artwork.

The indices are given their own white oval-shaped backgrounds - unquestionably egg shaped - which helps set them apart from the rest of the artwork, and ensures that they are still functional.  The Aces are among my favourite cards, with  oversized pips, and colourful feather-inspired interior decorating. The humorous Jokers picture matching foxes with a cage, one empty and the other with a young chick inside, giving magicians potential for some fun with a colour change.    As the first fully PCD produced deck, this will always be a nostalgic favourite.



2. Alice in Wonderland Playing Cards (2018)

The Alice in Wonderland Playing Cards is a fresh, creative, and intriguing take on the surreal story of Alice in Wonderland, which captured the imagination of Israeli graphic designer and illustrator Sasha Dounaevski from childhood.  Of course playing cards feature strongly in Lewis Carroll's book, so it's a natural fit for a custom deck.



Artwork on the interior of the tuck box cleverly pictures Alice falling into the rabbit hole. Sasha's linear style is a deliberately minimalist choice to reflect the absurdity and logic of the story, and the minimalist use of colours ensures a focus on the surreal artwork, with a simple blue and white colour scheme being a recurring feature of the deck.  The court cards are a highlight, depicting characters like the Cheshire Cat, Mad Hare, Hatter, White Rabbit, Queen of Hearts and others, while the Aces recall some of Alice's adventures, such as the famous tea-party. Alice is featured on multiple cards in the deck, since she is the recurring and central figure in this tale.

The number cards are customized with uniquely shaped pips in a non-standard arrangement, plus a unique symbol (derived from the story) for each suit, such as the pocket watch and the pepper pot. The Jokers feature special eats and drinks from the story: the "Drink Me" mixture and "Eat Me" cake, which made Alice small and big respectively.  And the symmetrical pattern of the card backs represents the garden that she wants to get into.  The Alice in Wonderland theme returns through all the aspects of these playing cards, making it a charming deck for the child in all of us.



3. Strigiformes Owls Playing Cards (2018)

You'd think that a deck of playing cards with the word Strigiformes on the front might be a tough sell.  Not so with the Strigiformes Owl Playing Cards.  The title is taken from the scientific name of the order of birds we commonly call owls.  The owl has a legacy as a wise old bird, and this deck also shows that it can be beautiful, courtesy of a gorgeous design by Renee LeCompte.



The artwork has just the right colour combinations to give an appropriately nocturnal feel, with dark colours. That's immediately evident with the tuck box, which confronts us with a gorgeous owl with outstretched wings.  The card backs have a starry and dark night-sky background filled with a carefully designed symmetrical pattern constructed from detailed owl related images like eyes and feathers.

 The artwork is especially incredible on the court cards, each of which has different owls, and cleverly incorporates imagery from the tarot, such as swords, pentacles, staves, and chalices. The Aces are also unique, featuring a full one-way image of an owl, asymmetrically counter-balanced by an intricate and exquisite design that features the suit of the card in a frosted white. But the number cards are great too, with highly customized pips and intricate  detail, and ornate versions of the suits on both left and right borders. This is a magnificent deck that looks even better in real life than it does in pictures.



4. Ancient Warriors Playing Cards (2018)

I first saw pictures of the  Ancient Warriors Playing Cards online and liked what I saw, but the real thing blew me away even more.  This comes as a matching and limited edition two-deck set, one in a red/gold colour scheme, and another in a black/silver scheme.   Designed by Marcelo Simonetti from Uruguay, these decks explore ancient warriors from ancient civilizations around the globe. 



Each suit depicts a different culture on the court cards: Crusaders (Spades), Japanese (Clubs), Zulus (Diamonds), and Aztecs (Hearts).  Unique aspects of each civilization are also reflected on the Aces, the pips, and the detailed patterns that make up the borders of the cards.  There's customization everywhere, and it's amplified by the use of metallic gold and metallic silver ink. The indices are very clear and functional, and yet these decks are highly customized, interesting, and very attractive.

While the face cards in each deck are basically the same, the two decks do have different card backs.  This back design includes four repeated icons in the center, which are representative of the four cultures featured in the decks.  Diptych jokers and bonus cards unique to each deck complete a wonderful package.



5. Circus Nostalgic Playing Cards (2019)

The Circus Nostalgic Playing Cards was designed by artist Joe Ruiz, and aims to rekindle some of the childlike enthusiasm and excitement surrounding the circus.   While the original unbranded version of this deck quickly sold out, the good news is that a Bicycle branded version was produced earlier this year, and is readily available: Bicycle Circus Nostalgic Playing Cards. The graphic design of the tuck box does a good job of capturing the feel appropriate for a nostalgic tribute to the world of circus entertainment from yesteryear. It has retro style fonts, and small touches like a custom seal that says "Admit One".



Joe researched vintage circuses when creating the deck, and the court cards especially do a good job of conveying "the exuberant energy of these old circus performers," by featuring classic figures like the strong man, escape artist, trapeze artist, juggler, and ringmaster.  The Ace of Spades welcomes back the lion performer from the tuck box, and all the Aces have an oversized lavish design that matches this style.

The card backs have a "big top" circus tent pattern that is instantly recognizable and memorable, with a borderless design that has red and white stripes branching to the very edges of the cards, for an eye-catching look.  I love how this design returns in a more subtle way on the front of the cards, which are further embellished with appropriately vintage borders.  Due to the engaging graphic style, even the number cards look colourful and vibrant, with a customized design that includes indices so that the deck is still functional.  This is a lively and whimsical deck that I love looking through, and has amused and pleased everyone I've shown it to.



6. Ladybug Playing Cards (2019)

Playing card designer Artur Rajch hails from Poland, and while you might not recognize his name, you might recognize some of his work.  The Ladybug Playing Cards was a two deck set that started a wonderful series of insect and critter themed decks.  All Bicycle branded, these also include Beekeeper, Dragonfly, Ant, Caterpillar, Butterfly, Grasshopper, Scorpion, Snail, with more "tiny critter" decks in the same style potentially forthcoming.  Each represents a two deck set with similar decks that have a slightly different colour scheme or alternate artwork on the card backs.



All the decks in the series are attractive novelty playing cards that will appeal to collectors, and this first one will especially be enjoyed by anyone who loves ladybugs.  The card back artwork is a mirrored two-way design that revolves around two lady bugs.  I especially love the small touches, such as the miniature ladybugs on each corner of the design, which appear on several places on the tuck box as well.  Apparently Will Roya's own passion for ladybugs inspired the deck, and he himself has a ladybug tattoo, and when his daughter arrived he gave her a ladybug-themed nursery.  So he knows a thing or two about having them crawling all over the place, not just on his body and in his house, but also on our playing cards.

Artist Artur Rajch has made full use of the card canvas, and this is especially evident on the lovely court cards. Although they build on traditional features expected in court cards, like the King of Hearts suicide king, the artwork is otherwise far from traditional, and has a very lavish and stylish feel about it, a style that returns in all the decks of the series. All the Aces have oversized pips decorated with a black and red spotted design, and are touched with a leafy floral pattern.  The number cards also get the benefit of thorough customization.  The spotted design is applied to all the pips throughout the deck, including the indices. The indices use a somewhat unusual font, and are further decorated by a miniature ladybug for added fun.  The charming critters from this delightful series are well worth keeping an eye out for.



7. Vanity Fair Playing Cards (2019)

Vanity Fair Playing Cards are representative of one of my favourite types of playing cards, namely transformation playing cards.  With a transformation deck the pips are incorporated into a larger artistic image.  They exhibit a level of creativity and ingenuity like few other decks, because the artists creating them must work within the limitations produced by the need to incorporate the pips into their design, and work with this in a creative, imaginative, and original manner.   This genre of playing cards especially enjoyed popularity in the 19th century, and some incredibly creative decks emerged from this time period, this being one of the best.



The original version of this deck appeared in 1895, and this 2019 version is is one of several "reproduction decks" that Will Roya has produced with the help of artist Azured Ox, who painstakingly recreates the original artwork from yesteryear, and helps turn classic decks into fine editions for modern collectors.  Two matching versions were produced, one with green backs having a Clown back pattern, and the other with ornately decorated red backs having a Hobgoblin pattern.   Unlike most decks, where the court cards are the main feature, the real appeal of transformation playing cards lies in the number cards, with their colourful and creative transformation art.

But the rest of the deck wasn't left out, with the two-way court cards being turned into comic figures (e.g. the King of Spades is smoking a pipe, the Queen of Spades holds a spoon, the Queen of Clubs holds a pickled cucumber with a fork), so each and every card is a unique and attractive work of art.  The Aces also received special attention, especially the signature Ace of Spades.   The end result effectively represents a miniature art gallery with 52 exhibits.  This particular deck remains one of the finest examples of what the genre of transformation cards could produce in the late nineteenth century, and modern collectors are indebted to Will Roya for bringing it back to life for them to enjoy in a fine new edition.



8. Hustling Joe Playing Cards (2019)

The Hustling Joe Playing Cards is another wonderful deck from the late 19th century that has received the benefit of a fine reproduction version courtesy of Will Roya's efforts under the PCD label.  Like several other reproduction decks he has produced, two separate versions were produced with different card backs.  A blue Gnome back design takes over the black and white artwork of the original deck from 1885, and pictured gnomes ice skating by moonlight; while a green Frog back design provides an alternative back design based on a vignette featuring frogs.



The name and artwork of this deck was inspired by the notion of a classic "hustler".  It represents a trickster who would lure someone to gamble on an apparently certain bet, only to find out they were scammed.  Each suit represents its own domain and focus (e.g. the Clubs show a law enforcement officer), while Hustling Joe himself appears on the Ace of Spades.

I particularly like the coloured backgrounds which have been added to each card.  These suit the comical and light-hearted nature of the deck by adding aspects of vibrancy and playfulness.  The result is an amusing novelty deck with both visual appeal and charm.



9. 5th Kingdom Playing Cards (2020)

I've already acknowledged my fondness for transformational cards, and one of my favourite modern decks that showcase this feature is the 5th Kingdom Playing Cards which features a creative design by Russian artist Maria Fedoseeva.  This deck is technically considered a semi-transformation deck, because the pips are cleverly integrated into the artwork on the cards, but the usual requirement of maintaining the traditional location of the pips is abandoned.



A black "Artist" edition and a blue "Players" edition were produced, and both feature tuck boxes that offer a classy and sophisticated look, with elegant lettering touched with gold foil.  The deck is inspired by world cultures and creatures, which is why the card backs integrate the shapes of several different animals, along with some ornate touches around the borders for extra style, and touches of yellow gold for extra luxury.   Each suit represents a different kingdom: primeval Africa (Spades), spicy India (Hearts), medieval Europe (Clubs), and mythical Japan (Diamonds).

The court cards pick up aspects of each suit's different theme, and the same is true of the Aces, which make full use of the card canvas.  But as with most transformation playing cards, it's the number cards that are especially creative.  These showcase the artist's skill and imagination, by cleverly incorporating the pips in the artwork in all sorts of interesting ways, in order to bring to life each suit's unique culture.



10. Cotta's Almanac Playing Cards (2020)

Over the course of two years, Will Roya has been partnering with graphic designer Azured Ox to produce a set of fine reproductions of the most historical transformation decks of them all, the famous Cotta's Almanac Playing Cards.  There was a boom of transformation decks in the late 1800s, but the very first published and complete deck of transformation cards was produced by Johann Freidrich Cotta of T?bingen, Germany. He went on to produce a series of six playing card almanacs in successive years from 1805-1811, with a new deck appearing in all but one of those years.


The series is now famously called: the Cotta's Almanac.  At the time it was popular to produce an "almanac", which was easily adapted for playing cards by having each of the 52 cards in the deck represent a week of the calendar year.  The number cards featured pictures that were largely independent drawings without a common topic, and were intended as conversation pieces that accompanied the companion almanac, a small booklet that referred to the illustrations.

Each of the court cards from these decks had its own theme or area of focus, with the first set being based on a Schiller play about the famous historical figure Joan of Arc.  Following the success of the Jeanne d'Arc deck (1805), further almanac decks followed in successive years: Classical Antiquity (1806), Wallenstein (1807), Arabs (1809), The Pantheon (1810), and Knightly Orders (1811).  The Cotta transformation decks are extremely significant, given the many transformation playing cards they subsequently inspired, and the unique place they occupy in playing card history.  It is fantastic that high quality reproductions of these keystone decks are now available for modern collectors to enjoy.



Honorable Mentions

Restricting myself to featuring just 10 decks from the PCD catalogue was a real challenge.  So I have to leave you with a few "honorable mentions" in order to add some other personal favourites, all of which came out in the last year or so, and which are delightful novelty decks well worth taking a look at:

● Parrot Playing Cards (2021) - This colourful deck features over 200 unique parrot species from around the world, each number card having parrots corresponding to its value.
● Ninja Playing Cards (2021) - A ninja themed deck might not be everyone's cup of tea, but this is a semi-transformation deck, and the artwork on the number cards is especially creative and fun.
● Jolly Roger Cards (2021) - Who doesn't like something with a good pirate theme?  The fully custom artwork on all the cards is especially well done, right down to the wooden planks that make up the background.
● Balloon Jungle Playing Cards (2022) - Imagine a vibrant landscape of colourful balloon animals to get some idea of the playfulness of this fun novelty deck.



Final Thoughts

There's no doubt that PlayingCardDecks has made a significant and welcome contribution to the playing card industry over the last few years.  I'm personally very appreciative of the wide variety and creativity of the designs that have been produced so far.  I have a special fondness for novelty decks, and plenty of the PCD decks fit that category very well.  These are decks that are fully customized, and will especially be enjoyed by collectors who appreciate looking at all the artwork and detail.

The other area that PCD  has made an important contribution is in the area of reproduction decks.  They've put out some lovely historic decks in fine new editions, thus preserving significant aspects of playing card history, and putting these beautiful relics from the past into the hands of modern collectors.

For the most part, the playing cards produced by PCD are printed by industry leader United States Playing Card Company, maker of the famous Bicycle playing cards, with their standard "air cushion" finish. So they are a quality product that will stand up to use, and handle smoothly and well.  USPCC produced cards have a well-deserved reputation, and rightly receive respect for their consistently good card-stock, clear printing, good handling, and a durability which ensures they last longer than a regular deck of cheap playing cards.  In many cases luxury gilded versions of all these decks are also available.

Will Roya has always had a passion and a pursuit of excellence, but now he has added another important arrow to his quiver: experience.  Today has even more connections in the playing card industry than when he started out, and he has an established base of supporters, and a proven track record of success.  With nearly 30 successful Kickstarter projects under his belt, supporters know that they can count on him to come through in a timely manner, and that they'll get exactly the quality product that they've been promised.  I'm already excited about what the next five years will bring under the PCD label!

Where to get them? Some of the earlier PCD-produced decks are now sold out, but you can see the full range of PCD-produced decks (including their newest releases) here.



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

54
Playing Card Plethora / Live on Kickstarter: Koinobori Hanafuda Cards and Koinobori Fusion Playing Cards
« on: August 10, 2022, 02:15:28 AM »
Koinobori Hanafuda Cards and Koinobori Fusion Playing Cards (Kickstarter)

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/iws/koinobori-playing-cards-hanafuda-poker-plastic



Available in two formats: a thick plastic mini hanafuda deck, or a regular poker-sized fusion deck

Cost: US$18 per Koinobori Fusion deck, US$28 per Koinobori Hanafuda deck, or US$44 for the pair
Current funding level: already funded
Kickstarter ends: Sept 17, 2022

The Koinobori decks represent the latest project from IndianWolf Studios.  They have successfully produced several Hanafuda Fusion decks already, which are so called because they double as a standard deck of poker-sized playing cards, and as a Hanafuda deck.  What makes this project particularly noteworthy is that besides the poker-sized Fusion deck they are also producing a separate Hanafuda deck in the traditional mini-size. 



The Koinobori decks were created in light of the challenges that have faced our world in recent times, and were intended to be a positive creative project to lift spirits and bring a smile to others.  They are themed around koinobori, which are carp streamers/windsocks that are traditionally flown in Japan to celebrate Children?s Day.  Much like many children, carp are strong willed and spirited.  The artwork is cute, colourful, and cheerful, and is geared to celebrate children, and remind us that there is hope for our future, and an encouragement to fight the currents and keep on swimming!

Koinobori is available in two formats: Hanafuda and Fusion.



The Koinobori Hanafuda deck

 Wondering about Hanafuda?  It has its own entry in the BoardGameGeek database because it is a classic and special deck that originates in 18th century Japan.  It is used to play a whole lot of different games, including favorite classics like Koi-Koi (popular in Japan) and Go Stop (popular in Korea).   To learn more about Hanafuda, see my article reviewing Hanafuda here: Not just a deck of cards, but a system of games with a rich heritage!



After their previous projects, IndianWolf had a lot of folks asking for a traditionally sized plastic hanafuda deck. So at last here it is, something with the mini-sized plastic cards that those familiar with traditional Hanafuda will instantly recognize and appreciate. They're plastic to ensure durability, and also give the satisfying "snap" when throwing down the cards, which is all part of the appeal of the game.  These decks will be produced by well-known game manufacturer Panda Game Manufacturing. 

The artwork of these Hanafuda decks is polyptych in style, which means that the cards can be combined alongside each other to create a single larger image.



The Koinobori Fusion deck

IndianWolf Studios came up with the clever idea of combining the Hanafuda deck with the traditional deck of playing cards most of us are familiar with today, so that you can play games from a variety of cultures.  They have already created several previous Hanafuda "Fusion" decks using Japanese inspired art, as part of their successful Hanami, Sensu, and Night Parade Hanafuda projects. These are multi-purpose decks that you can use to learn and teach Hanafuda, while the standard indices also mean you can use it to play regular card games.

Here's a sample card from the Fusion deck, which incorporates standard poker card icons/indices, and can be used for Hanafuda games as well:



These decks will be printed by Expert Playing Card Company (EPCC), which is is one of the top playing card manufacturers today alongside the United States Playing Card Company, so the cards themselves are guaranteed to be high quality, durable, and to shuffle and handle smoothly.



Game Rules and Other Extras

Both projects come with their own full color booklet that has the rules for a new game created by the IndianWolf Studio:
- For Koinobori Hanafuda the game is "Capture the Flag", described as a fun twist on capture games! 2 players. 
- For Koinobori Fusion the game is "Chaffs & Grains", described as a precision trick-taking game for 2-4 players. 

Other items like uncut sheets and a Koi Pouch are also available with the project.



What about other Hanafuda games, and how do you play them?  Already available from the publisher is a 236-page full-color Hanafuda rulebook that gives the rules for 37 different games that can be played with a Hanafuda deck.  You can get this in a digital version or a printed version from Amazon (Hanami edition or Sensu edition) or Barnes & Noble (Hanami edition or Sensu edition).  This massive rulebook is a world first, and is an extremely valuable resource, because clear rules for Hanafuda games are otherwise not readily available in English.

Kickstarter link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/iws/koinobori-playing-cards-hanafuda-poker-plastic

Disclaimer: I have no official relationship with the creator of this project, other than being a keen gamer and reviewer, as well as an enthusiast and collector of custom playing cards.  I own a copy of the previous Hanafuda Fusion decks from IndianWolf Studios and also have their Hanafuda rulebook, and consider them outstanding.


55
Playing Card Plethora / 10 Top Information Videos About Playing Cards
« on: August 07, 2022, 08:43:15 PM »
10 Top Information Videos About Playing Cards

So you like playing cards.  So do I.  But how much do you actually know about them?  When I first started getting interested in playing cards, and started learning more about them, I was amazed by how much I didn't know.  Fortunately, with the help of some good books, reliable articles, and helpful videos, I found myself learning more.  I'm naturally curious, and that holds me in good stead when doing research, because I want to get to the bottom of things, and I want to learn all that there is to know about something.  And I want to share something of what I've learned with others.  This time I'd like to share some top videos which give useful information about playing cards. 

I personally find that the more I learn about playing cards, the more I appreciate and enjoy them.  Whether it's learning about their history, their production, or exploring their many uses, it all results in an enhanced appreciation and helps keep my passion alive.  These are some of the top informational videos about playing cards that I'm aware of.  If you're aware of others that are at least as good or better than these, by all means share them by posting a comment on this article.  I'm always keen to learn more!

1. The Secret History of Playing Cards (Magician DMC)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ybexh8osteU

This video has been put together by magician Drummond Money-Coutts, the English magician and card handler familiar from several TV specials including the Netflix series "Death by Magic", and more commonly known as DMC.  It's been put together brilliantly, with fine visuals and editing.  And the content is excellent, as DMC covers the complete history of playing cards, starting with their apparent birth in the far East.

Even though it runs for nearly 20 minutes, it is not only factual but very engaging and entertaining, and DMC will keep you enthralled as you learn about how playing cards developed into the form that we know them today, and also uncovers some of the lesser known stories about their history.  How did Aces become the most powerful card in the deck?  Why does the Ace of Spades have extravagant decoration, and was a man hanged in 1805 for forging fake Aces of Spades?  Even if you've heard those stories before his fascinating anecdote about the Earl of Sandwich is one you're almost certain not to have heard before.

Want to learn more on this topic?  See my article: The history of playing cards.

2. Secrets of the Playing Card (History Channel)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1twbHwwnm3I

This documentary was produced in 2006 by the History Channel as part of their "Decoding the Past" series, and does a very good job of bringing a very fair and objective account about the origin of playing cards, particularly in relation to the question of whether they have demonic origins in the occult, and it's a very fine production that runs for 45 minutes.  The video is well researched, and numerous historians and experts on the subject are consulted along the way. 

The first part of the video documents the origin of playing cards, acknowledging that their apparent origins in China are in fact debatable, and that a case can be made for other sources as well. The evidence becomes clearer once playing cards spread through Europe, and this video does a good job of hitting all the main points of the development of playing cards in the 15th and 16th centuries, including cultural and geographic variations, and the origin of the four different suits. Coverage is also given to historical points of interest, such as taxation in England which led to stamping duty paid on the Ace of Spades.

The final part of the video is a lengthy excursus about the origin of the Tarot deck. A compelling case, carefully documented from history, is made that tarot cards first existed as trump cards for a regular deck of playing cards used for gaming purposes. Occult meanings and the use of these cards for fortune telling were all later developments, quite distinct from their original usage for card games.  Video footage includes lots of wonderful images of antique playing cards to complement the well-informed and educational audio narrative.

Want to learn more on this topic?  See my article: Debunking the myth that playing cards developed from tarot cards.

3. Things You Don't Know About Playing Cards (Be Amazed)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLZ28BXQ1XQ

This is a superbly produced video, and there's good reason it has chalked up over 3.5 million views.  The presentation and edition is really well done, and the content is pretty solid too.  At times it tends to be somewhat speculative rather than factual, and presents theories as actual facts.  But overall it's informative, interesting, and very well put together.

Over the course of ten minutes, we get to run through a list of 10 facts about playing cards that aren't commonly known.  These include these topics like the many sayings inspired by playing cards, the origin of the four suits, the origin of the Joker, why the King of Hearts has no moustache, the origin of the suicide king, the significance of 52 cards and other number patterns in a deck, some historical personalities that have been featured on court cards, why the Ace of Spades is unique, the amount of shuffles needed for randomizing a deck, and some Bicycle brand design secrets.

Want to learn more on this topic?  See my article: Interesting facts about playing cards.

4. How Playing Cards Are Made (Official Bicycle)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QoNFN9ZZfE

You use them all the time, but have you ever wondered how exactly playing cards are made?  The makers of the Bicycle brand, the United States Playing Card Company (USPCC) protects their secrets very carefully, and it's rare to be allowed inside their factory.  But in this video we actually get a quick tour of the entire production process from start to finish.  More technology goes into printing playing cards than you might think, and to produce a quality deck of printed playing cards involves numerous important steps.

A deck begins its creation with massive rolls of paper.  Next these are run through the printing press as continuous uncut sheets.  Next these are cut into individual cards, before being boxed and shipped.  This particular video is short and sweet (little more than two minutes long), so if you enjoyed it and want to see more like it, I have a few more treats for you to check out: How It's Made by Cartamundi Playing Cards (quite a bit older and not the best resolution) and How It's Made by Theory11 Playing Cards, both of which offer further glimpses into the process of manufacturing playing cards.

Want to learn more on this topic?  See my article: How playing cards are made.

5. A Tour of the United States Playing Card Company (Travel Channel)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlVSyhg8g3s

This video features John Ratzenberger, and was produced as part of his "Made in America"  show featured on the Travel Channel.  The video pre-dates the USPCC's move across the Ohio River from Cincinnati, Ohio to Erlanger, Kentucky.  So the facility you see here is no longer used for manufacturing playing cards, and has largely been demolished, with the site being converted to a mixed-use development.  But the processes involved in manufacturing playing cards hasn't changed significantly, and USPCC still uses most of the same equipment.    As a result, this video offers another rare look inside the walls of USPCC production, and we get to see how things actually work from start to finish, in a fast paced video that runs for just under 8 minutes.

 We get to visit the inside boardrooms and meet the company's CEO of the time, and learn something about the history of playing cards and of the company.  Some famous decks we get to see include the Airline Spotter deck and the Iraq's Most Wanted Deck.  We also get to watch part of the process, including two sheets of paper glued together and laminated, then set to a predetermined thickness with the crusher.  The paper is run through a printing press, and then cut into strips, and into cards.  One stunning stat mentioned is that at that time the factory was putting out 20 million cards (400,000 decks) a day!  Samples decks are tested before packaging happens.  The segment ends with a fun game of poker with some of the company head honchos.

Want to learn more on this topic?  See my article: The Bicycle brand.

6. How Many People Does it Take to Make a Deck of Cards? (History Channel)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2Kt7CHA8ug

This video features film-maker Dave Holmes and was produced by the History Channel, and gives a much more detailed look of the process of making playing cards from start to finish.  Like the previous video, this shows us the "old" plant in Cincinnati, Ohio.  The video quality isn't ideal (a handheld camera was used to film the original TV program), and the sound is occasionally out of sync, but this is still a splendid video with a great insider perspective.  In the course of just over 12 minutes, we also get to hear a few fascinating snippets of playing card history.

At the outset we quickly learn how secure the United States Playing Card Company is, because even the crew filming the documentary have to go through a series of security checks before they're allowed inside.  In turn we get to meet some of the individuals involved with different parts of the manufacturing process, each of whom gives us a brief rundown of what they do: senior desktop operator, plate-making operator, paper input operator, laminator operator, paper operator, printing assistant, second pressman, first pressman, defect manager, stripper, corner puncher, deck inspector, packaging manager, floor-person, distribution specialist, and lead shipper.

Want to learn more on this topic?  See my article: How playing cards are made.

7. How to Release Your Own Custom Deck of Playing Cards (Ekaterina)

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

Ekaterina is a well known and respected youtuber, whose main area of expertise is in the area of card magic and cardistry.  She's put out over two hundred solid videos with magic reviews, and tutorials for both card magic and card flourishing.  Unlike some well-intended people on youtube, she knows what she's talking about, and has good techniques.

But of special interest to us is that Ekat has also created her own custom deck of playing cards, called Fox Playing Cards.  In this detailed half hour video she walks through the entire process of creating your own deck, with four main areas of focus: Design, Production, Marketing, and Fulfilment.   She shares her own experiences, and explains many of the things that she learned along the way.  There's also a couple of segments in the video where she interviews a couple of other creators, to see what we can learn from their experience.  If you decide to print with MakePlayingCards, you may also find helpful the step-by-step video guides for using printing with MPC which have been produced by CardMechanic and by Rise Magic.

Want to learn more on this topic?  See my article: How to create your own deck of custom playing cards.

8. Collecting Playing Cards (Tom & Judy Dawson)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOrkv8chxvw

This video is an absolute treasure, because it is a 40 minute interview with playing card collectors Tom and Judy Dawson.  They authored a revision of the authoritative Hochman Encyclopedia of American Playing Cards, and have both been heavily involved with the 52 Plus Joker collectors club, with Tom even serving as president for many years.  Tom passed away in 2016, but Judy is still active in the world of playing card collecting.  They are both considered legends among playing card collectors, and experts and authorities on antique playing cards.

This particular video dates back to 2013, prior to Tom's death, and features an interview conducted with Tom and Judy by Ben Train.  It's a goldmine of information, as Tom and Judy speak candidly on all sorts of playing card related subjects, including the history of playing cards, various uses for playing cards, and advice for getting into collecting.  Their passion and expertise really shines through, and in the process of learning from them you'll also get the chance to see some rare decks from the 19th and 20th centuries.

Want to learn more on this topic?  See my article: An interview with veteran collectors Tom and Judy Dawson.

9. Why These Cards Are Worth $500 (Chris Ramsay)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvowwz6g6sA

If you spend any time with playing card collectors, you will quickly come across the name "Jerry's Nugget Playing Cards".  This is an iconic deck prized by collectors, and a sealed deck typically fetches around $500 on the secondary market.  Seriously?  Yep.  This 10 minute video takes the time to tell us the story about these decks, why they are worth so much, and also shares something about a modern reprint.  The video is made by Chris Ramsay, who is a magician who has achieved success as a youtuber, and runs a very popular channel.

Chris gives an overview of the Jerry's Nugget decks, which were first produced for the Jerry's Nugget Casino in Las Vegas.  They were printed in the early 1970s, and were originally sold in the casino's gift shop for around a dollar or so.  Demand for them increased after they were popularized by cardists in the 1990s, and when French magician Dominique Duvivier purchased the remaining supply from the casino (the video is wrong about the figure: it was 14,000 not 40,000 decks).  And because they were printed with methods no longer possible for environmental reasons, they couldn't be replicated, and prices started skyrocketing.   The video also covers a recent reprinting of the iconic Jerry's Nugget decks with a modern stock and a modern finish.

Want to learn more on this topic?  See my articles: The legendary Jerry's Nugget playing cards and The case of the missing 40,000 Jerry's Nugget decks.

10. A History of Marked Cards (Kevin Reylek)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrfwtPa0s7k

This lecture was first presented at the 52 Plus Joker convention in 2020, and was prepared and delivered by Kevin Reylek.  Kevin is the production manager for playing cards over at Penguin Magic, and an expert on the subject of marked cards.  His presentation runs for just under half an hour, and begins by examining the history of marked decks, with factory produced marked cards only appearing for the first time in the 19th century.  He also covers some key terminology, notably the difference between coded systems and readers systems.

Next comes an overview of big and influential names in the world of marked decks, notably Theodore DeLand (1873-1931), whose influence is still evident in several factory-printed marked decks produced today.  Other important figures from the past include Al Baker, T. Page Wright, and more recently Ted Lesley, whose work helped pioneer the current generation of modern decks with openly readable marking systems, like the GT Speedreaders and Penguin's Marked Cards.  The final part of the lecture points to some interesting marked decks from the present, and some good resources for further study.  Kevin is very well-informed and well-studied, and you're guaranteed to learn a lot from this.  Once you've viewed the presentation and want to learn more, you can also watch the separate Q&A session that followed.

Want to learn more on this topic?  See my article: Why do magicians use marked cards?[/url]

Honorable Mentions

As mentioned at the outset, this isn't an exhaustive list, although it is not easy finding genuinely interesting and informed content about topics like these.  There's plenty of videos about card magic, cardistry, and reviews about specific decks of playing cards, but it's much harder to find reliable videos about topics like the history of playing cards, production of playing cards, and similar topics.

So I'll leave you with a few other videos that didn't quite make this list, but are still worth watching:

● Unusual types of playing cards (Grand Illusions)
Tim has been collecting toys and cards for over 30 years, and shows some fascinating types of playing cards in his collection.

● Antique playing cards (Jason McKinstry)
A playing card historian and expert shares stories about some of the biggest names in playing card manufacturing.

● The United States Playing Card Company (Michael Slaughter)
USPCC's president at the time, Mike talks about plans for the site of USPCC's old facility, and his vision for USPCC's future.

● Exploring the abandoned historic Bicycle playing card factory (RnK All Day)
Robb specializes in exploring abandoned buildings, and visits USPCC's old factory in Norwood.

● How to make someone pay $400 for a deck of cards (Huron Low)
A TEDx Talk with one of The Virts, who explains the thinking and marketing that made the Virtuoso decks so successful.

● So I designed a deck and made $1.5 million on Kickstarter (Ten Hundred)
Artist Ten Hundred documents the complete process of designing his custom deck, the first ever to hit $1 million on Kickstarter.

● How to break in a deck of cards (December Boys)
An experienced cardists runs through what to do first every time you open a brand new deck, and how to break it in.

● How to keep your playing cards fresh (Rise Magic)
Some tips for playing card enthusiasts about how to look after and extend the life of your playing cards.

● Card counting and casino scams (Sal Piacente)
A consultant in casino game protection and expert in casino cheating offers fascinating insights as he covers movies on the subject.



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

56
2022 Diamond Awards - Nominee Topics / Re: AOTY/DOTY: Lorenzo Gaggiotti/Stockholm17, "Eye of the Ocean" and "Odd Fellows"
« on: August 07, 2022, 06:58:30 AM »
There is one other project that Lorenzo completed in the period July 2021 through June 2022, which has not been mentioned above, namely:

Notorious Gambling Frogs Playing Cards

It was perhaps not as major as Eye of the Ocean, but then again, few projects from any designer are. 

As you can see from this thread over on United Cardists, the project was first teased in October 2021, and people started reporting receiving it in March 2022.  So it falls within the period of eligibility, and should be considered when judging the body of work that Stockholm17 has put out in this period.

Surely the fact that it wasn't mentioned has to be an oversight? 

It's a wonderful deck that was printed by WJPC, and has been the subject of a lot of praise on playing card forums such as United Cardists and Reddit.  A special gilded version (limited to 500) was also produced.

It's sold out already, but they are reprinting it this month, along with a companion Orange edition.










57
Playing Card Plethora / 25 Things to Love about PlayingCardDecks.com: 5th anniversary appreciation post
« on: July 25, 2022, 08:55:24 PM »
25 Things to Love About PlayingCardDecks:
A Fifth Anniversary Appreciation Post

So PlayingCardDecks.com is celebrating its fifth anniversary.  The official date is 20 April 2022, which marks the exact day five years ago when the very first sale was completed back in 2017.  The site is run by Will Roya, who left a career as a professional magician in order to dedicate himself to going into business as an online playing card retailer.  This article is intended as a celebration of sorts, about why PlayingCardDecks (or PCD for short) continues to be one of my favourite playing card retailers, and about the many things it has brought to us over the last five years.

A Personal Story

Let me get one thing straight: I am not Will Roya.  I'm just some guy out there on the internet that loves playing cards, and loves writing about them.  That's stating the obvious, perhaps, but there are some people who think that I'm him.  But I'm not him, and can't take any credit for what he has achieved.  When people see Will posting blog articles on his site, they sometimes incorrectly assume that he is the EndersGame who writes the articles.  But "EndersGame" is just the online handle I've used ever since I started writing game reviews over a decade ago.  And Will has more than enough to keep himself busy running a business without complicating things by writing articles too.  So if there's any content that upsets you, I'll take the blame for that, not Will.

I first got in contact with Will in late 2017, when we started corresponding about some of the first Kickstarter projects that he was working on at the time.  I was already writing about playing cards - purely as a hobby and as a labour of love, and because I like helping out creators and sharing helpful information with other collectors and enthusiasts.  I did a couple of write-ups to help spread the word about his early Kickstarter projects.  One thing led to another, and he offered to post some of my articles over on his blog.  I was happy to agree, and I've been doing that for the last four years, writing about playing cards, card magic, card games, and other playing card related subjects, whenever time permits me to do so.

Now I am not officially part of PlayingCardDecks, and I also publish what I write on other playing card platforms.  Occasionally I even purchase playing cards elsewhere.  In the end, I'm just a passionate playing card enthusiast like so many of my readers.  But I do feel a strong sense of loyalty and appreciation to Will Roya, and I am a satisfied repeat customer.  I personally placed my very first order with PCD around April 2018, which coincided with their first anniversary event, which ran for almost a week.  They say that first impressions are everything, and I was quickly hooked, and would return often.  Since then I've placed more than 30 orders with PCD, some of significant size; something that many other playing card enthusiasts will be able to identify with. Just last week I placed an order and spent over $100 of my own money to pick up several collectors decks which I simply couldn't get from other retailers.

I'll describe this as an appreciation post, because the fifth anniversary of PCD is a good time to reflect back on what Will Roya and PCD have accomplished.  It's also an opportunity to share some of the things I particularly appreciate about them, and why they remain my #1 choice as online playing card retailer.  As mentioned already, I will occasionally buy playing cards elsewhere too.  Any playing card enthusiast knows the importance of shopping around, and there will be times where hard-to-find decks can only be sourced elsewhere, or where there are special offers that are impossible to resist.  But on the whole, PCD is the retailer I keep coming back to, and in this article I'll share with you some of the things about them that keep me coming back.  Obviously this is biased and from my own perspective, but that's kind of the point!



A Short History

But first, how did Will Roya get to where he is today?  Will's personal background includes an established magic career.  He had been performing magic professionally at restaurants, resorts, and private parties since the age of 16.  After an education in theater and business, he eventually moved to Las Vegas, where he continued to perform magic regularly, as well as working as a magician on cruise ships.

Over time Will began developing an increasing interest in selling magic products, and eventually gave up performing to focus on sales full time. He also started getting involved in the creation of a number of different magic products.  Will soon discovered that his real passion was for playing cards.  He started thinking about ways that he could sell them, and how he could contribute to the industry by creating them.  He began to get further involved in the playing card industry, and gained valuable experience by helping other creators get their projects crowdfunded, through services he offered in consulting and fulfilment.  He also started selling a range of magic products and playing cards via Amazon and eBay.

But eventually it was time to bite the bullet.  By now he had an office and warehouse, and he made the decision to focus exclusively on playing cards.  He'd already built up an online business over several years by means of his Amazon and eBay sales, so he was well placed to take the next step.  In April 2017 he launched PlayingCardDecks.com as a retail website, from the outset offering a selection of more than 1000 different decks of playing cards and related items.   The addition of a small band of dedicated staff members has helped him continue to grow.

By the time the first anniversary rolled around a year later, things were moving in a positive direction.  Will celebrated the milestone with a bang by offering huge discounts site wide, as he continued to grow the site.  At that time his range of different decks was well over 1500, and the total amount of stock numbered in the 10,000s. To mark the occasion, he released a special mystery anniversary deck, and shortly afterwards he launched his Pip Box Club subscription service, a popular program which continues to run successfully even now.

Over time Will has continued to develop his business in various ways, and the creation of custom decks of playing cards under the PCD brand is a notable and important contribution he makes to the playing card industry on a regular basis.  From the many times I've corresponded with him, I know that he's always looking for new ideas and willing to try new things, in an effort to improve his business, serve his customers better, and provide more for the playing card enthusiast.

And that brings us to today, five years later.  Since its launch, Will has focused on making a diverse selection of playing cards available at reasonable prices, and combining this with good customer service, with speedy processing and shipping. At any given moment you can expect to find literally tens of thousands of decks in stock at PCD, including all the latest and greatest releases.  Each month thousands of orders are processed and shipped throughout the United States and around the world.  Happy fifth birthday PlayingCardDecks.com!



25 Things To Love

So now it's time to share some of the good things that PlayingCardDecks brings to the playing card industry, and what I appreciate about Will and his team.

1. Wide range

Of course the main reason to go to PCD is to buy playing cards.  But to keep consumers like us happy, they need to have what we're looking for - in other words, a wide range of products to suit a wide range of customers with a wide range of intereWith literally tens of thousands of decks in stock, and more than 1,500 different decks, this is one of the widest ranges of quality playing cards you'll find anywhere.  Whenever there is a new release, which mostly is channelled via Murphy's Magic (the world's biggest distributor of magic and playing cards), you'll usually see it quickly added to the PCD inventory in their new playing cards section, which is constantly being updated.

2. Quality decks

You know those cheap playing cards you can get at places like the dollar store?  Well you won't find them at PCD.  A significant amount of playing cards available here are printed by the United States Playing Card Company, maker of the famous Bicycle brand, in a high quality air cushion style finish.  Others are sourced from industry leading printers and reliable playing card manufacturers like Cartamundi, Expert Playing Cards, and Legends Playing Cards.  One thing you won't typically find at PCD are cheaply made cards that are garbage quality.

3. Specialized decks

Every collector tends to have a type of deck that has their special interest, or that they focus on collecting. For me personally, I have a soft spot for cardistry and novelty decks.  I really enjoy fiddling with a deck, and experimenting with different card flourishing moves, and practicing sleight of hand.  It's a great way to get extra mileage out of a good deck of cards, and to enjoy the visual artwork.  I'm happy to report that there's a particularly good range of colourful and creative cardistry decks, which you'll quickly find by entering the word "cardistry" in the search bar.  Fun novelty decks are of course found all over the site.  Other categories I especially enjoy are transformation decks, vintage decks, and marked decks, and  PCD has a large range in each of these categories.  And if those don't float your boat, plenty of other categories are listed in the sidebar, including decks arranged by brand (Bicycle, Cartamundi, Ellusionist, etc), or topic (Animals, Fictional, Military, etc).



4. PCD branded decks

From the outset, Will hasn't just been selling playing cards, but has also been heavily involved in producing them.  Over the course of the last few years, he's produced a number of excellent PlayingCardDecks branded decks.   He first gained experience with several collaborations, and his Chicken Playing Cards was the first deck he produced under his own PCD label.  Many custom decks subsequently followed, and he has established a network of reliable connections with artists and producers in the playing card industry.  Quite a number of his decks are produced with the help of crowdfunding, and Will has already chalked up almost 30 successful playing card projects on Kickstarter.  I especially love the novelty decks that he's produced, and the reproductions of historic and vintage decks.

5. Under $5 decks

I've introduced a lot of teenagers to card magic and cardistry via the communities I'm involved with, including at a school.  You'd be amazed at how enthusiastic kids can be about card magic, and especially about cardistry. All you need to do is point them in the right direction by giving them some links to reliable video tutorials on youtube, and they'll be away and running.  I like to encourage kids in this by giving them a custom deck.  For this, I've found the under $5 range on PCD to be a lifesaver.  All of these decks cost around five bucks or less, and yet for the most part they are still quality playing cards.  Most kids have never before handled a USPCC produced deck of cards with an embossed air cushion finish, and are blown away by the quality.  They also just love decks which are totally customized.  There's plenty of decks in the under $5 range that make great gifts, and I've picked out and given away dozens and dozens.

6. Accessories

When you love playing cards like I do, then you'll also find yourself becoming interested in playing card accessories.  Over the years I've found myself ordering things like deck cases and brick boxes for storing my decks, deck stands for displaying them, and deck sleeves for protecting them.   Then there are helpful products like fanning powder, card clips, card wallets, and dealer coins.  Yes, I've bought all those too.  In one instance there was a delightful Piatnik playing card puzzle on sale, and that proved to be a great treat for the family.  A wonderful book about transformation playing cards continues to be one of my personal favourites.  I always keep an eye out for the newest products added to PCD's catalogue, because I never know what kind of interesting accessories I'll find.



7. PCD accessories

Besides his PCD branded custom playing cards, Will has produced a number of PCD branded products.  These include these clear PCD plastic boxes which are great for protecting decks in transit.  Other swag he's put out include a PCD face mask and a PCD can holder.  But my favourite item is the Franken Deck. This is a delightful Frankenstein-inspired deck that made up of 54 cards, each taken from a different deck.  In other words, you still have a complete deck with cards from all four suits, each running from Ace through King, plus two Jokers.  But every card has a very different look, making it a wonderful collector's item that showcases the beauty of over fifty different custom decks.  It's only available at limited times, but is a great novelty piece that is well worth keeping an eye out for.

8. Magic products

Not everyone is into magic, but for me it's one of my pet loves and goes back to my teenage years.  PCD isn't a magic site in the first place, and quite honestly when it's magic products I'm after, Penguin Magic is usually my first port of call.  But from time to time Will gets magic products that are being liquidated or which he gets good deals on. So when looking back over the orders I've placed over the past four years, I noticed that I'd picked up quite a few magic tricks, ranging from gaff decks, to special coins or invisible thread, and even some individual marketed effects that I've had a lot of fun with.  Usually these are also posted in the accessories section of the site.

9. Competitive prices

Since PCD arrived on the scene five years ago, the playing card industry has grown significantly.  It's also become more competitive, and the range of online retailers that sell playing cards today is bigger than ever before.  In the early days of PCD, pre-COVID, it was even possible for them to offer free shipping around the globe with a certain minimum order size.  Significant postage increases have brought an end to that.  But even so, generally speaking I find that the prices at PCD are quite competitive, especially for loyal customers who take full advantage of discount coupons, clearance sales, and the loyalty rewards program.  Once you factor all these things in, more often than not you'll be saving money by shopping at PCD rather than heading elsewhere, especially for customers in the US.



10. Safe shipping

I live overseas, so shipping is always going to be a consideration for me.  But for US customers, any order above $100 is automatically free.  Aside from some delays that were inevitable during the height of COVID, I've always found that my orders were shipped in a timely manner, and arrived safely as a result of excellent packaging.  My decks have always been well-packed, and typically arrived in a cardboard box with padded envelopes and styrofoam offering extra protection on the inside.

11. Customer service

Having a good product and a good website alone won't make a business successful.  These need to be backed by good customer service.  My experience with PCD's customer service has been very good.  It's been extremely rare that something was wrong with an order, and I've never had anything arrive damaged due to poor packing.  Whenever I had questions prior to making a final decision, or needed to correspond about anything, responses were always prompt and pleasant.

12. Professional website

When you're involved in e-commerce, you need to have a functional website, because that's the territory where your customers are seeing and purchasing your products.  Anything that makes that experience unpleasant or awkward is likely to chase them away.  My experience with PCD's website has been consistently positive.  I appreciate that you can easily browse decks in different categories, and navigate to the cards you're especially interested in.  The search function works well, and you can even narrow down a search in many ways.



13. Product photos

One of the best things about PCD's website is the photo galleries that accompany each product listing.  This lets me zoom in to see exactly what the tuck box and cards look like, so I know exactly what I'm getting before I click "Add to Cart". There's few things more frustrating than visiting a retailer's website and not knowing exactly what you're getting, or being uncertain about what the product looks like.

14. Product reviews

The longer the site is around, the more useful the "product reviews" of the site becomes.  Customers can leave reviews on specific decks, and because this in turn earns you loyalty points, there is a good incentive to do this.  When I'm shopping around for new playing cards, I always find it incredibly helpful to know what other people think.  Did a deck turn out to look somewhat different than how the marketing photos made it seem?  What was the handling like? I'm one of those people that always reads reviews before I make a purchase.  There aren't quite as many reviews on PCD as I'd like to see, especially with newer decks, so I always consult other sources too.  But this is a valuable part of the site that can really help  customers to make informed buying decisions.

15. Game rules

The section on card game rules is one of the lesser known parts of the site, but it's a real gold mine if you like card games.  I'm a huge fan of playing card games with a traditional deck, and it is one of my favourite ways to enjoy a custom deck of cards.  I've also written a couple of articles that cover the best card games to check out, and the best two player games.  I've not been involved at all with the section about rules for card games, but I've used it many times as a resource, and found it very helpful.  I especially like the video tutorials that accompany most of the written rule descriptions.  The videos created by Triple S Games for PCD are particularly well done.  If you prefer the printed page, then Will Roya's book Card Night is also a great resource for card game rules.



16. Blog articles

Typically each week sees a new article appearing on the site's All-In Playing Card Blog.  Often this features one of my articles, which cover a wide range of subjects including basics about the creation, care, and quality of playing cards; essentials about collecting and playing card history; interesting stories about creators or projects; playing card trivia and novelties; as well as articles about card games, card flourishing, and card magic.  Occasionally I get the opportunity to interview leading figures in the industry, and the blog has featured interviews with top playing card designers and famous magicians.  You can see a complete list of articles arranged by topic.

17. FAQ

Arguably the most useful article on the site, and worthy of getting separate mention here, is the FAQ: I'm New To Collecting Playing Cards, So Where Should I Start?  This is a synopsis of some of the other content on the site, and is intended as a quick reference guide for newbies looking to learn the basics about playing cards and collecting.  If you're new, this is the place to start, and you'll find all the key information that you need in one place.

18. Newsletter

On a regular basis Will puts out an email newsletter, which is a free service for anyone who wishes to subscribe to it. This announces the latest news about new decks that have been added to his inventory, decks that have come back in stock, upcoming releases, special sales and events, information about his Kickstarter projects, and the articles appearing on the blog.  It's a terrific way to stay informed about the latest and greatest playing cards, and to make sure that you don't miss out on any sweet coupons or special deals.



19. Social media

PCD also has an active presence on social media, and that is another way to help stay in touch with their latest news.  You can follow them on Facebook and on Instagram.  Their YouTube channel hasn't had much activity in recent times, but there is still a wealth of great playing card reviews and other information you'll find there.

20. Pip Box Club

The Pip Box Club is a monthly subscription service that started in May 2018.  For a monthly fee, subscribers get  a box of decks and other extras, which are shipped by the 10th of each month.  Two different sizes of Pip Box are on offer, and typically these include at least one brand new release, and the chance to get decks before they are otherwise available.  The value of what subscribers receive is more than what they pay for joining the club, so it's good value.  Sometimes extra exclusives and bonus items are included.  I'm not personally a subscriber of this club, because I prefer to order exactly what I want, but I have seen many positive reports online from other collectors about it, who speak very highly of it.

21. Loyalty program

Already early on in running PCD, Will introduced a rewards system for repeat customers.  The idea is quite straightforward: you earn points for each dollar you spend in the online store, as well as for a number of other things like following PCD on social media, referring new customers, or adding product reviews.  You can then cash in these rewards in return for a range of free decks on a future order.  The more points you earn, the better the deck you can get.  I've picked up some great decks for free this way, and it's also a great way to pick up extra decks to give away as gifts.  At the higher reward levels you can earn things like uncut sheets, $50 off coupons, and even a complete series of decks.



22. Discount coupons

One of the items available through the loyalty program are discount coupons.  But you'll often be greeting with an offer for a 10% off coupon just by visiting the site, especially if you are a first-time visitor.  The weekly newsletter tends to announce special sales and offer, and discount coupons are certainly not uncommon.  Some of the people who partner with the site sometimes also offer special discount coupons.

23. Sale events

At special times of the year Will Roya hosts site-wide sale events, where the discounts can be as much as 20% off.  I confess that I have sometimes waited with placing an order until one of these events has rolled around, in order to maximize my savings.  Typically there is a sale like this around the time of the site's annual anniversary, as well as around Black Friday, and the Christmas/New Year holiday season.  They are well worth keeping an eye on, because you can save a bundle.  In fact, to help celebrate PCD's fifth anniversary, from July 25 through July 30 there is a site-wide 25% off sale, using this code: PCD25.

24. Clearance section

At any given time there is a range of cards on the site's clearance section.  I always check this out whenever I'm placing an order, because I never know what treasures I might find at heavily reduced prices.  It's happened numerous times that I found some great deals here which I added to my order.  Again, this has been a great way to pick up extra decks to give away as gifts to family and friends, or to give away to teens who are excited about cardistry or card magic.



25. Surprise freebies

From time to time, Will includes extra bonuses for his regular customers along with their order.  It might be a free deck, or some stickers.  Often it is a collection of sample cards from other decks.   This shows that he's not just in the business to make money, but wants to keep his customers happy, and so he goes the extra mile to give them some unexpected extras.

Bonus item: A great owner

Let's add one bonus item to the above list: PCD has a great owner.  I've corresponded with Will Roya numerous times in the past few years, and it's obvious that he's a great all-round guy.  He works hard, is passionate and dedicated, and cares about his products and his customers.  He's courteous and prompt, and really is an asset to the playing card industry.  Clearly, PlayingCardDecks wouldn't be what it is without the man himself.



 Final Thoughts

Am I sick of playing cards yet?  Not at all.  Even though my personal collection seems to keep growing, I still enjoy the playing cards I already own and actively use them for playing card games, card magic, and cardistry.  I love collecting decks with a high novelty or a high luxury factor.  And I love giving them away as gifts.  A quality deck of custom playing cards nearly always makes a great gift for the person that you're struggling to find a gift for.

PlayingCardDecks has been a wonderful asset to the playing card industry over the last five years, in helping playing card enthusiasts get connected with the decks that they love.  With his solid selection of carefully curated products, Will Roya has done a splendid job in helping collectors get their hands on a wonderful range of beautiful and quality decks of playing cards.  Playing cards can be used for many different purposes, and whether you're looking for something suitable for card games, card magic, card flourishing, or even just to collect or to give away as a gift, you're certain to find something that you like.

Will Roya and PlayingCardDecks have made positive contributions to the playing card industry in multiple ways.  Of course I'm biased, but in my experience most playing card collectors only have good things to say about him and his business.  Will is a talented and dynamic individual who has the extensive experience and personal skills needed to succeed, and I'm very pleased to see what he's achieved so far.  Many PCD produced playing cards occupy a pride of place in my personal collection, and I look forward to what decks he has in store for us in the remainder of this year.  On behalf of others in the playing card industry, thank you Will, and keep up the great work with PlayingCardDecks!



Anniversary sale: From July 25 through July 30, to help celebrate PCD's fifth anniversary, there will be a site-wide 25% off sale, using this code: PCD25.

Want to learn more about playing cards and PlayingCardDecks.com?
● Official: Web Store, Facebook, Instagram
● Related links: Kickstarter Projects, Loyalty Rewards Program, Pip Box Club, Gift Cards
● Further reading: Articles, Blog, FAQ for New Playing Card Collectors

Video tours of the PlayingCardDecks.com showroom and warehouse:
● PCD tour by The Cardists (13 December 2018)
● PCD tour by Inside the Casino (16 June 2018)
● PCD tour by 52 Plus Joker (25 December 2020)
● PCD tour by Bryan Eckstrom (15 March 2021)



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

58
Magical Cardistry Bonanza / Recommended Marked Decks Besides Factory Printed Bicycle Decks
« on: July 18, 2022, 05:56:15 AM »
Recommended Marked Decks Besides Factory Printed Bicycle Decks

 Marked Decks for Magicians, Part 5

Introduction

In previous articles I've been covering the best and most popular marked decks preferred by magicians for card magic.  There's a lot of custom decks appearing on Kickstarter and the playing card market that are marked decks, but in most cases these are more about novelty than practicality, especially if they use coded systems.  The ideal marked deck is a reader deck that is quick and easy to use, and looks like a normal Bicycle deck.  These were the top candidates identified and recommended so far:

Basic reader decks:
● 2005 - Boris Wild Marked Deck ($20) by Boris Wild (Maiden Back)
● 2005 - Ultimate Marked Deck ($40) by Magic Dream (Rider Back)
● 2011 - GT SpeedReader ($14)  by Garrett Thomas (Mandolin Back)
● 2017 - Marked Cards ($10) by Penguin Magic (Maiden Back)

Advanced reader decks:
● 2008 - Gambler's Marked Deck ($33) by Boris Wild & Geno Munari (Maiden Back)
● 2013 - The Code ($30) by Andy Nyman (Maiden Back)
● 2017 - Marksman Deck ($35) by Luke Jermay (Mandolin Back)

But now let's take a look at a few great marked decks that break the rules, and don't meet all our requirements and criteria.  Once we remove the requirement for a standard Bicycle Rider Back, or its Maiden Back and Mandolin Back siblings, the choices for marked decks really open up enormously. 

This article isn't really geared to covering all of the many marked decks that vie for our attention.  But there are a couple of notable exceptions that do deserve special mention because of the unique elements they bring to the table.  There's even a remarkable deck that uses a coded system rather than a reader system that you simply must know about, given what it can do. 

These two innovative marked decks that I'm talking about are:
● 2015 - DMC Elites ($20) by DMC & Phill Smith
● 2017 - Butterfly Playing Cards ($30) by Ondrej Psenicka

After covering these, to wrap things up I'll briefly mention some other options in the way of reputable marked decks, and point you to some resources that will teach you how to turn your own deck into a marked deck.



DMC Elites by DMC & Phill Smith

Creator: Drummond Money-Coutts & Phill Smith
First released: 2015
Price: $20

The DMC Elites first appeared in 2015 and have gone through several different versions. Shown here is one of the latest incarnations of this popular marked deck, namely the Red V5.  The name DMC represents the initials of English magician Drummond Money-Coutts, who combined forces with magic creator Phill Smith to produce these decks.

Description

The DMC Elites aren't Bicycle branded, but use an ingenious marking system on the card backs that works completely differently from any marked deck you've ever seen before.  You can literally read these marks  from across a room.  Yes, really.  That's why they are the marked deck of choice for many magicians, and why they deserve special mention here.  It's billed as an "optical 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 - but only if you know how to look at them.  Once you know the system, you can't unsee the marks, which will be as plain as daylight to you. 

The faces of the cards are effectively all standard, although Bicycle's trademarked Ace of Spades and Jokers have been replaced with custom ones.  But for all intents and purposes, when looking at the faces, your spectators will see a completely normal deck.  The card backs on the other hand don't look anything like a Bicycle deck.  But that's because what this deck brings to the table is a very unique marking system, where the markings are huge, and yet are hidden in plain sight.

It's worth mentioning that the DMC Elites have also gone through several different versions, and continue to benefit from slight improvements each time.  For example, the markings were originally just in two corners, whereas the newer versions now have them on four corners.   New with the V5 deck is the fact that it comes in the Mnemonica stack, and for the first time it also includes the location of each card in the stack on the card backs.  Different versions of the DMC Elites have used different printers, including some that have been produced by USPCC, the printer that makes Bicycle decks.  Overall it can be said that even though these playing cards aren't Bicycle branded, they do have the high quality that buyers require for reliable handling. 



Impressions

The creators describe the unorthodox style of the markings as an "optical system".  It is so plain to read that it can easily be read from across a table, and even from several meters away.  One of the problems with many other marked decks is that the small print used for the markings makes them hard to read, and this requires you to squint or stare at the cards at length to figure out the marking.  The opposite is true with this clever deck.  To the untrained observer, it's completely invisible and undetectable, but once you learn the secret to the markings, you will be able to tell the identity of every card in an instant, even from a distance.

The DMC Elites have made a huge splash in the magic industry for exactly this reason, and received high praise from all sides.  Many consider them to be the best in the business, and the ease of reading the markings combined with their devious disguise has made them very popular.  You can safely hand these to a spectator to examine, and even to many magicians, and they won't be able to find a thing.  Yet you'll be able to read them from halfway across the room.  It sounds impossible and hard to believe, but it's very clever, and it is genuinely as good as it sounds - which is why these marked cards have been so successful.

Teaching materials

The DMC Elites decks originally didn't come with any video tutorials or routines, although a mini-book entitled Passport to Marked Decks was available separately.  It has a delightful graphic design that makes it look like a passport.  Aside from explaining how the marking system works and the theory behind it, the booklet covers nine different routines you can do with a marked deck. The presentational ideas are especially good, and it's obvious that these have been produced by a working performer with experience in the game.  Now that the DMC Elites have been out for a while, the creators have decided to release this booklet for free as a digital PDF download at their official website.

From the same site you can also download three other PDF files which were previously released as "passports" in a similar way.  Passports to Elites V5 is a 28 page booklet that introduces the basic concept of Mnemonica, since the newest versions of the DMC Elites also include markings for this popular stack.  This booklet teaches five solid effects, and also has "toolkit" sections that teach you other important skills relevant to using a marked deck with a stack, such as a false shuffle, a deck switch, and card controls.

The other two PDF files are specifically tailored to extra items available in the DMC Elites line, namely the Elites Pro Gaffs and the Alphas deck. The routines included for these are terrific, but you will need these special decks in order to perform the material contained here.

Recommendation

For many magicians, the fact that the DMC Elites don't have a standard Bicycle look on the card backs is more than outweighed by this ingenious and easy-to-use marking system.  Even many Bicycle diehards have switched to using the DMC Elites as their favourite marked deck, given their ease of use and their practical look.  Especially now that the Passports are available as free PDF downloads, these outstanding marked decks are well-supported with teaching materials for strong routines that performing magicians will love.



Butterfly Playing Cards by Ondrej Psenicka

Creator: Butterfly Playing Cards
First released: 2017
Price: $30

The Butterfly Playing Cards from Czech magician Ondrej Psenick  also deserve special mention.  To use them, we do have to abandon our requirement of a reader system, because this marked deck uses a coded system, relying on marks you have to decipher to figure out the suit and the value of each card.  But it is so innovative and so powerful, and has been so well received by magicians, that it would be a serious omission not to include it here.

Description

The shining achievement of this remarkable deck is that it uses a marking system that even trained magicians won't easily detect.  Yet courtesy of the built-in edge marking system, you can read a card without even spreading the deck.   Strictly speaking, the marks aren't on the sides of the cards, but on the card backs very close to the edges.  This ingenious system builds on work by Jeff Busby, and lets you read the value and suit of every single card in the deck simply by bevelling the deck slightly, and looking at the side of the deck.

It has two main marking systems.  The "two-way" marking system is on both long edges, and works by enabling you first to identify the value (1 of 13 possibilities, based on where the mark is along the edge), and then the suit (1 of 4 possibilities, using dots).  Given how clever the system is, it is remarkable how quickly you can find and cut to any named card.   The "one-way" system is implemented only one a single long edge, and uses a slightly different system for identifying the value and suit.  It can be used to determine the location and identity of a reversed card, and is so amazing that it's hard to believe, but is genuinely that brilliant.

The Butterfly deck was originally available in blue backs as well as red backs.  Ongoing demand led to it being reprinted in a second version in 2017 that employed the same colours, and added a third marking system.  Produced alongside this second edition were a limited number of unmarked versions.  All the unmarked versions of Butterfly Playing Cards cleverly have tuck boxes without embossing so they can easily be distinguished by touch in a pocket.  A new edition released in 2020 features a completely different colour scheme that relies on a jet black look.  This version of this ground-breaking deck comes in one of three gilded versions: Black and Gold, Black and Silver, or Black and White.  Now the gorgeous deck was not only printed as a marked deck, but a matching unmarked version was also made more widely available, so that the beautiful design could also be enjoyed for card games and poker.

Unlike all the other marked decks considered so far, almost all the Butterfly decks are produced by Cartamundi instead of USPCC.  This means that the cards have a different texture and will handle differently than what you are used to.  Cartamundi's card-stock is very popular, and it is high quality, but do expect to notice a different feel from the outset.  The cards will feel softer and more flexible than a standard Bicycle deck, but they are supple, pleasant, and consistent to work with.  While the original Butterfly decks use Cartamundi's thicker Superlux stock, their newest V3 decks released in 2021 use Cartamundi's thinner Slimline stock, as do the decks from the Black series.  The V3 decks are also available at a lower cost as refills (i.e. without the video tutorials), to make a regular supply for returning customers more affordable.



Impressions

In terms of looks, these decks are all about style and sophistication.  The card backs in particular look wonderful, and feature a stunningly beautiful design, which showcases a lush floral pattern that goes all the way to the edge of the cards.  Twin butterflies created by negative space are the centrepiece of the borderless back design, which looks especially impressive in fans and spreads.   The presentation of the new black editions are amazing in every respect, especially the use of gilding and lavish foil, which begins with the tuck box.  And yet despite all the luxury in looks, the court cards and number cards have a standard look, to ensure that this deck remains functional and practical for the magician.

But the real star of the Butterfly Playing Cards is the marking system built into the deck.  While the idea of an edge marking system isn't new, and goes back to the work of DeLand and others (his 1915 Wonder Deck may well have been the first factory-printed edge marked deck), it is quite rare to see in a modern marked deck that is as popular, as beautiful, and as effective as this one.   Having both a two-way marking system and one-way marking system gives you dual options at your fingertips.  And you can use both marking systems to do things that no other marked deck will enable you to do.

With the deck you also get almost an hour of detailed online video tutorials that explain the markings, and teach you what you can do with the deck, so you'll quickly get some sense of the miracles that can be performed with it.   Although the Butterfly decks were just as much of a visual triumph as a technical one, for magicians, their real appeal lies not in their glamour, but the strength of the innovative marking system, and the amazing tricks you can use it for.

Teaching materials

The online tutorial video you get access to upon purchasing the second edition of deck runs for an impressive 53 minutes.  Literally only ten minutes of that is taken up with explaining how to read both marking systems - which gives you an idea of the ease in which this system can be understood.  Obviously it will take some practice to read cards quickly, but it is surprisingly intuitive and logical, and much easier to learn than I ever imagined.   While it is a system that can take some time to master, the ability to find a card just by looking at the side of the deck is truly remarkable, and you can do real miracles once you have this down.  This clever marking system opens the door for completely new ideas that are simply impossible with any other marked deck.

The majority of the instructional video covers six different tricks you can do with the deck, and while they are somewhat bare bones in terms of presentation, the methods and effects are incredible.  The basic effect with the two-way system lets you cut to any card called for, which Ondrej presents as a memory feat.  The basic effect with the one-way system ("Impossible Divination") involves you looking away while the spectator makes a selection from a shuffled deck, returns it and shuffles it into the deck, and then you reveal the identity card just by glimpsing the deck.  "Butterfly Clocking" showcases the ability of the deck to enable you to quickly identify and name a single card removed from the deck.

The remaining effects are basically variations on these ideas, e.g. besides naming a missing card, you can also name the exact locations of the other three cards in the deck corresponding to its value - again just by looking at the deck.  Ondrej also teaches you how to sort the deck into the correct orientation for the one-way markings on the fly by means of a trick geared for that purpose.

At the start of the video tutorial, Ondrej promises to provide many tips about holding and handling cards, how to cover the glimpse, and other subtleties to help make performing with the deck more magical in presentation, and not make it obvious it is marked deck.  He's as good as his word, and the video includes exactly these kinds of handling touches. The production quality of the video is also very high.

But it gets better.  With the third edition of the deck, Ondrej completely reshot the instructional tutorial, with even more effects and ideas.  I won't detail all of them here, except to say that instead of an hour long video, you now get a two hour long video, with even more terrific content.  It's an outstanding resource, and a wonderful teaching companion that is guaranteed to help you get the most out of this incredible deck.  It also shows how dedicated Ondrej is in supporting his product, and that he's continuing to provide materials that make an already terrific concept even better.

Recommendation

Both the attractive good looks and the clever marking system of the Butterfly Playing Cards have earned it high praise from magicians and playing card enthusiasts alike.  What this deck can do is quite mind-blowing, and it's genuinely just as good as it sounds.   Ondrej successfully used the Butterfly deck to fool Penn and Teller on their Fool Us show, which further cemented this remarkable deck's positive reputation.



Other Options

Phoenix backs

Certainly there are plenty of other marked deck options besides the ones covered so far, so what follows isn't even an attempt to list them all.  But there are a few other popular ones you will find recommended from time to time when the subject of marked decks comes up.

The Phoenix Marked Deck from Card Shark represents a brand specifically created for magicians as an alternative to Bicycle decks.  It was first created as a marked deck, and later their range was broadened to a wider variety of decks using the Phoenix back design, including non-marked decks and gaff decks.  As part of their range they offer a practical marked reader deck that uses their distinctive card back, which makes this a good choice for those who are partial to the Phoenix design.  The latest version of this comes with the creator Card-Shark's online DVD "Release the Power", which includes detailed explanations and several tricks.  A Phoenix Edition of the Boris Wild Marked Deck is also available.

Also using the Phoenix back design is the impressive Phoenix SUM Deck, which was originally created already in 1988 using a different back design.  The acronym SUM stands for Set Up Marked, and refers to the fact that this deck is a tool that combines markings with a stack.  It brings the idea behind DeLand's Automatic Deck to the modern age, much like other specialized marked decks such as the Marksman Deck and The Code. As such it includes additional information based on the Mnemonica stack, such as the identity of the adjacent card, the number of cards above the cut, and more.

Another deck worth mentioning is the Daredevil deck from Henry Evans, which also uses Phoenix backs, and is remarkable for having arguably the largest openly readable marks ever produced.  The name certainly checks out, but it does make this perfect for using in parlour or stage settings.



Reader systems

Several of the bigger playing card publishing houses have produced their own reader decks.  Ellusionist offers their Red Keeper deck and their Cohort deck, which are both printed by Cartamundi.  The Cohort back design has a relatively standard look, but the marks are a bit on the small side.

From Vanishing Inc comes the delightful Dapper deck, which is quite practical and pleasant to read, but has a fashionable look that won't suit everyone.  The first version of these was printed by EPCC, while the newest printing is by USPCC. 

Coded systems

The number of coded decks is too great to mention, although the Automatic Deck that Theodore DeLand developed in 1913 is noteworthy for historical reasons, and continues to be printed today.  It combines a clever coded marking system with a stacked deck, and is also a stripper deck.   DeLand's Daisy and Nifty Decks from 1919 also combine a marking system with a stack; a gorgeous Centennial Edition which recreates the originals along with extra new features was recently produced, and is also available as a collector's set.

Of the many modern decks with coded systems, the Mint deck is very popular, largely because it was created by Asad Chaudhry from the popular youtube channel 52Kards.   For a large range of the many different marked decks on the market, check this list.

Jeff Kellogg's Brooklyn Playing Cards (2017) is noteworthy for being one of the first decks to use a printed juice system, and can even be read from large distances away or in low light. To my knowledge this concept of using shaded printing techniques was only ever done before by LPCC's Sharps (2013), which uses a marking system inspired by David Blaine's clever White Lions.

Many coded decks simply aren't practical enough for magicians to use, since they require you to be too engaged in deciphering the marking system while performing.  That's why most professional magicians typically prefer to use reader decks.  And you can do so quite safely without fear of being caught.  Once you have enough experience and confidence, you can use good audience management so that your spectators never get the chance to examine the cards, and so that they will never even suspect the possibility that a marked deck is being used.



Do-It-Yourself

What about if you want to make your own marked deck, using the Bicycle deck of your choice that you already own?  That's certainly possible, and there are several ways of doing this.  You can come up with your own system if you are feeling creative.  But why reinvent the wheel when there are already some excellent marking systems that have been devised by others and have already been time tested and proven.  For something easy you can try right now at home with a Bicycle Rider Back deck, check out Jay Sankey's How to mark any deck video, which includes a simple trick.

Ted Lesley's method of making your own reader deck using transfers and using his book is still available, if that's the route you wish to go.  Another excellent starting point is Pete McCabe's book PM Card Mark System (2010) which teaches you to make your own reader deck (with numbers and letters) using a sharpie, and also includes several good routines.  The Mainframe system that Kevin Reylek came up with for Tally Ho Circle Backs is also quite brilliant, and can be obtained by contacting him (Instagram, Web).  It comes with an excellent 24 page PDF that covers lots of additional tips and a few tricks to get you started.

The book Marked For Life (2002) by Kirk Charles includes a description of two strong systems invented by Bob Farmer, along with a wealth of other terrific information about marked decks.  Bob's Farmarx system is the faster to read of the two.  His Blob-o-Vision system requires a bit more calculation, but has the advantage that it can be read from further away, despite being more deceptively hidden.  Hidden in Plain Sight (2005) is a more recent version of this book, and includes an extra chapter from Boris Wild about the Boris Wild Marked Deck.  It's a brilliant book, well-referenced and thoroughly documented, and has a ton of great ideas for tricks with a marked deck.

Boris Wild also teaches his method for marking a deck in his book The Complete Boris Wild Marked Deck (2001), which includes numerous routines too.  It's out of print, but you can get an updated and reworked version of his book under the new title Transparency (2012), which is also available as a PDF directly from Boris.  If the book is too much of an investment for you, consider his Lecture Notes, which is a 40 page PDF containing the best from Transparency.  Alternatively you can check out the previously mentioned book that Boris contributed to, Hidden in Plain Sight (2005).  His marking system is also taught in the excellent video Boris produced with Big Blind Media, entitled Boris Wild's Marked Deck Project.



Recommendation

So what marked deck is best for you?  The answer will depend on your own needs and circumstances, and even your own preferences.  For the typical performer who is serious about their card magic, it makes good sense to get a Bicycle style deck with a good reader system, because it won't draw attention to itself, while still being easy to use.  That makes the Marked Cards from Penguin Magic and the GT SpeedReader from Garrett Thomas the top choices that will work best for most people, especially given their very affordable price points.

If you're less fussy about it being a Bicycle deck and just want something that is a standard looking deck and is easy to read, even from a good distance away, the popular DMC Elites won't disappoint.  If you like the sound of what the Butterfly deck from Ondrej Psenicka can do, be assured that this is no mere hype, and is really what an edge marked deck is capable of.  On the other hand if you want a Bicycle deck that has extra markings so that you can take advantage of a prearranged stack, take a look at Andy Nyman's The Code or Luke Jermay's remarkable Marksman Deck. 

The instructional materials that you get with a marked deck may also be a big factor for you.  One advantage of the Marked Deck from Penguin is that it comes with two lengthy tutorial videos that include a good number of tricks.  It is very attractively priced considering that these teaching resources are included for free, making it excellent value.



Final Thoughts

The reality is that we live in a market saturated with high quality magic products, including many outstanding marked decks, and it's hard to pick a "bad" option from the products available today.  If you need more convincing, just head over to some magic forums and read through some old threads from 20 years ago or more about marked decks.  In those days a quality marked reader deck that was factory printed was simply non-existent.  Magicians from that era often had to make their own marked decks.  Ted Lesley's system of applying transfers to the back of cards was widely used after it came out in 1983, and at the time was hailed as the best thing ever due to how easy it was to use a reader deck.

But once factory printed marked decks with reader systems started appearing around 2005, even Ted Lesley's system became somewhat obsolete. Today we have far more choice than he and his contemporaries ever did, and we have ready access to even more powerful marked decks.  Just in the last decade alone we've seen some truly innovative marked decks appear on the market, especially the advanced decks that incorporate stacks, channelling the genius of Theodore DeLand's Automatic Deck, and bringing it to the 21st century in a much easier form.

All this means that options are now readily available to us that magicians could hardly have dreamed of decades ago. So regardless of what marked deck you choose, take the time to reflect on the giants on whose shoulders you stand.  And be grateful for the fact that you have access to such wonderful resources.  Consider yourself blessed, and have fun using your marked deck!

Where to get them - The two main decks covered in this article:
● DMC Elites by DMC & Phill Smith
● Butterfly Playing Cards by Ondrej Psenicka

Decks covered in previous articles - Factory printed marked Bicycle decks:
● Basic reader decks: Boris Wild Marked Deck, Ultimate Marked Deck, GT SpeedReader, Marked Cards
● Advanced reader decks: Gambler's Marked Deck,  The Code, Marksman Deck (all incorporate markings for a stack)



Previous articles in this series (Marked Decks for Magicians - A Definitive Guide):
● Part 1: Why do magicians use marked decks?
● Part 2: What is the best marked deck for card magic?
● Part 3: The best factory printed marked Bicycle decks
● Part 4: Powerful marked Bicycle Decks that use a stack

Acknowledgement: It is important that I provide readers with thorough and reliable information.  So I want to acknowledge the assistance of many people I corresponded with when researching and writing these articles, especially numerous individuals who were personally involved in creating these decks.  They kindly provided me with answers to specific questions I had along the way, and also reviewed relevant parts of the text to ensure that the information I included was up-to-date and accurate.  I especially want to acknowledge the input of Kevin Reylek, who is an expert on the subject of marked cards, and whose assistance was invaluable.  Kevin was extremely helpful in ensuring the accuracy of many fine details, and very generous in pointing me in the right direction and in providing me with the information I needed.

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

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Magical Cardistry Bonanza / Powerful Marked Bicycle Decks That Use a Stack
« on: July 15, 2022, 09:49:32 AM »
 Powerful Marked Bicycle Decks That Use a Stack

 Marked Decks for Magicians, Part 4

Introduction

Today we are not just living in a golden era of custom playing cards, with a massive range of new releases coming out all the time.  We are also living in a golden era of marked decks.  Compared with what was available to magicians just two decades ago, we have the luxury of multiple options that they could only dream about.

It is interesting trawling through magic forums and reading old threads from around 20 years ago on this subject.  Magicians often had to make their own marked decks, typically using a coded system.  When it came to a factory printed marked deck, there were very limited options available.  Even compared to just ten years ago, today we have products available to us that the previous generation could never have imagined, particularly when it comes to openly readable decks. We really are spoiled for choice, with a massive range of marked decks to pick from, and new ones hitting the market all the time.

The decks covered in this article are splendid examples of the best of the best.  In a previous article I already covered the top marked decks that use the familiar Bicycle Rider Back design, or one of its close siblings, the Bicycle Maiden Back and Bicycle Mandolin Back.  The four marked decks I recommended were all reader decks that quickly tell you the suit and value of any given card via easy-to-read marks on the card backs. In order of their release, these were:

● 2005 - Boris Wild Marked Deck ($20) by Boris Wild (Maiden Back)
● 2005 - Ultimate Marked Deck ($40) by Magic Dream (Rider Back)
● 2011 - GT SpeedReader ($14)  by Garrett Thomas (Mandolin Back)
● 2017 - Marked Cards ($10) by Penguin Magic (Maiden Back)

In this follow-up article I will cover some Bicycle-branded decks that have more complex systems of markings, because they combine the best of a reader deck with a prearranged stack.  This gives you powerful access to even more information, and enables you to perform real miracles.  Bear in mind that this guide is especially geared to working magicians.  If you're just having fun with friends, a novelty marked deck with a coded system can be fine.  But working magicians need something practical, easy to use, and powerful.  The marked decks you'll find here are exactly the kind of power tools that professionals are looking for.  Here are the three decks that we'll be looking at, again in order of their release:

● 2008 - Gambler's Marked Deck ($33) by Boris Wild & Geno Munari (Maiden Back)
● 2013 - The Code ($30) by Andy Nyman (Maiden Back)
● 2017 - Marksman Deck ($35) by Luke Jermay (Mandolin Back)



Inspiration: Automatic Playing Cards (1914) by Theodore DeLand

These modern factory printed Bicycle decks all owe an important debt to Theodore DeLand, whose Automatic Playing Cards was developed in 1913 and first appeared on the market in 1914 under the name "Dollar Deck".  It was rebranded as "Automatic Playing Cards" from 1919 onwards when it was published by S.S. Adams.  This product is still being actively sold today by Magic Makers, who bought out S.S. Adams, and renamed the deck "DeLand's 100 Dollar Deck".  The fact that it is still being published is a testimony to its ongoing success as one of the ultimate trick decks.



The innovative feature of DeLand's Automatic Deck is that it combines several magic tools: a marked deck, a stacked deck, and a  stripper deck.  These are already powerful on their own, but when rolled together into one, they turn a marked deck into a super weapon.

The back design of the DeLand deck consists of a series of circles that hide a clever and powerful marking system.  These are coded to correspond to a clock face, with tiny dots indicating values from 1 through 12 depending on where they are located.  You can quickly decode this information to determine the value and suit of any card.

But what makes DeLand's Automatic Deck even more powerful is that it also comes in a prearranged stack, namely the Si Stebbins stack.  Besides the main marking system, the card backs include an additional coded marking system which combines with the stack to give you all kinds of additional information about other cards in the deck and where they are located.  As experienced magicians will know, having the cards in a stack already enables you to do a variety of strong effects, such as naming the location of any given card in the deck.  But this is strengthened in DeLand's deck by the fact the deck is marked, and by the wealth of information provided by the many markings on the back of each card.

For example, if a spectator cuts off a random number of cards, you can decode the information on the top card to reveal exactly how many cards the spectator has cut, and how many cards are left in the deck.  What's more, you can name the cards on either side of that particular card.  Naturally all this requires you to retain the deck in a specific order, via false shuffles and false cuts, but these kinds of card controls are the bread-and-butter of an accomplished card magician anyway.

The DeLand deck is an absolutely amazing deck of cards, and in the right hands it is a powerful tool that can work wonders.  Experienced magicians can use it to perform miracles otherwise not possible with sleight of hand, and that will seem utterly impossible to spectators.  But because it relies on a coded system, it's not very practical.  DeLand also created other decks that incorporated both markings and stacks, and while they are also ingenious, like the Automatic Deck, they lack practicality.

But what if you could have a factory printed Bicycle deck that takes on board some of the secrets encoded into DeLand's Automatic Deck, but turns it into a reader deck?  What if you could have a modern deck that employs the clever principles from a century ago, but makes them more usable for today's performer?  What if you could instantly get access to all the information you need without needing to decode anything?   That's exactly what the three decks featured below do.



But first there are a couple of other precursors to mention.  The first is the S.U.M. Deck (the acronym stands for: Set Up Marked) by Roy Johnson, which was initially a system he taught in a book that he published in 1988.  It made use of Ted Lesley's transfers, but combined this with the Osterlind stack.  A factory printed version eventually appeared on Hoyle backs in 2000, while the more recent Phoenix S.U.M. Deck 2.0 uses Card Shark's Phoenix backs and the Mnemonica stack.   

Heavily inspired by the S.U.M. Deck was Larry Becker and Lee Earle's Demon Deck from 2004, which also used the Osterlind stack, and their own custom design.  The three decks below build on these ideas, but represent factory printed Bicycle decks that combine stacks with a reader system of markings.

Gambler's Marked Deck (2008) by Boris Wild & Geno Munari

Creator: Boris Wild & Geno Munari
Back design: 813 Maiden Back
First released: 2008
Price: $33

The Gambler's Marked Deck is one that most readers won't have heard of before.  That's because it was created to be exclusively sold by Houdini's Magic stores in Las Vegas, and was especially geared towards the general public.  So it isn't distributed via regular channels, and you won't typically find it at your favourite magic retailer.  It is however available online directly from Houdini's Magic.



Description

This deck is notable for combining three powerful tools together into one deck: it's a marked deck, a stacked deck, and a stripper deck, all rolled into one.  As we've already seen, this concept is in itself not new, since it goes back to DeLand's Automatic Deck, which relied on similar qualities.  But instead of using a coded marking system, the Gambler's Marked Deck is much easier to use, courtesy of its simple reader marking system.

Another ground-breaking feature of the Gambler's Marked Deck was the fact that it was printed on Bicycle Rider Back stock.  Not only did it innovate by replacing DeLand's coded system with an openly readable system, but when it was first released in 2008 it was the first time ever that a Bicycle-branded deck had combined a reader system of markings with a stack.  As such this pioneering deck would pave the way for later products which followed it, like The Code and the Marksman Deck, which are marked reader decks that incorporate markings for Juan Tamariz's popular Mnemonica Stack.

The Gambler's Marked Deck doesn't use the Mnemonica Stack, but instead uses the intuitive Eight Kings Stack, which can be found in Erdnase's Expert at the Card Table and elsewhere.  To make this system easy to use and learn for those unfamiliar with it, the stack order is listed both on the box flap and the Joker.  An instructional card for the marking system and a card locator table is also provided.

Of course you can also ignore the extra information provided on the card backs, and just use this deck as a simple marked deck with a reader system.  But the amount of information you can glean from any random card back is significant, and altogether there are several pieces of information you have easy access to just by looking at the back of any given card.  The most important of these are: the value and suit of the card itself; a quick indication whether it is red or black; the number of cards in the stack (1 to 52), and the value/suit of the bottom card of the stack.

In addition there's also a subtle one-way element to the design, and the card normally at the top of the stack also is marked with three dots to enable you to easily identify it.  This means that like both The Code and The Marksman Deck, the reader system on the backs of the Gambler's Marked Deck can help you quickly identify the cards above and below any cut card, and instantly tell you the number of the cards above any cut card.   One additional bonus feature of this deck is also worth mentioning: The barcode on the bottom of the tuck box has an 8 of Clubs card reveal.

History

The story behind this deck is worth telling, because it's one that few magicians seem to know about.  What follows represents what I learned first-hand from Geno Munari and also from Boris Wild, who was also involved with the creation of this deck.  Geno is the man behind Houdini's Magic, and he wanted to create a unique and powerful marked deck, geared especially towards the general public that passed through Las Vegas.  With Las Vegas being the home of so many professional magicians, it was an ideal market to tap into, since most tourists were already interested in magic, and many of them would have a natural interest in learning some card tricks.  This deck was created to be sold exclusively in Geno's Las Vegas shops, which is why you've probably never heard of it before.

The first version of this deck was printed on lower quality stock, with a generic card back design.  Geno then involved French magician Boris Wild to help develop the deck further, and to produce a more professional version.  Boris was instrumental in producing a new version of the deck that incorporated the reader markings on the classic Bicycle Rider Back.  The deck was also printed by USPCC on much higher quality card stock than the original edition.  A relatively inexpensive companion book with 101 tips and tricks was also made available, either separately or together with the deck, to help get newbies started with their new miracle deck.

The involvement of Boris Wild was an additional reason for not distributing the Gambler's Marked Deck more widely via magic retailers or via mega distributor Murphy's Magic.  Boris didn't want to cause any confusion with his own marked deck, which was published previously and used a different marking system.  At that time the Boris Wild Marked Deck was already on the market, and was targeted towards and promoted for professional magicians.  Seeing his name on the Gambler's Marked Deck would potentially make buyers think they were getting the Boris Wild Marked Deck instead, which employed a very different marking system and had very different features.  In view of that, it didn't make sense to add to the magician's marketplace another marked deck with his name on it.

And so the Gambler's Marked Deck hit the market in Houdini's Magic stores in 2008.  It proved to be a huge hit, and quickly became one of their top sellers.  Meanwhile the deck continued to fly under the radar for most magicians, simply because Houdini's Magic wanted it to be a product that was exclusive to their shops.  They cleverly realized that the market they had with laypeople and with the general public would likely see a higher turnover than if they marketed this multi-purpose marked deck to professional magicians.  And they were right, because the decks flew out of the door and were a big success with Las Vegas visitors.  Like DeLand's original deck, it had the power to do miracles, but was so easy to use that even beginners could harness some of its powers.

When the time came to reprint this deck around 2010, USPCC had tightened their rules about using their trademarked Rider Backs. The only way for the Gambler's Marked Deck to get reprinted was to use different card backs. The Maiden Back design had just been released by USPCC in early 2012 as an alternative to the Rider Back design, and could be altered and used in marked decks and gaff decks. The Maiden Back design was developed by Theory11, and was specifically created to serve as a look-alike to the tried and true Rider Back. Geno Munari and Boris Wild also had some input during the development process of the Maiden Back design.  Boris later then recreated the Gambler's Marked Deck on the new Maiden Backs, and subsequent printings since then have used this back design. It was released in April 2012, just a few weeks after the standard Bicycle Maiden Back decks appeared on the market.



Teaching materials

The instructional materials you receive along with the Gambler's Marked Deck are very helpful when learning the ropes of what it can do.  To begin with, you get access to a 20 minute online video.  This was created by Geno Munari in 2014, so it is somewhat dated in terms of the looks and production quality.  The video is fairly basic, but it covers all the essentials about how to read all the markings, and how to use the stripper feature of the deck.  You won't really learn any tricks from the video other than how to strip a selected card or strip the aces from anywhere in the deck, or how to instantly sort the deck into red and black by stripping the cards.  But you will know how the deck works, including the markings, and be well set to use it.

The 60 page booklet that is included in the package along with the Gambler's Marked Deck itself is a real lifesaver, however.  The first 20 pages or so overlap with content from the video, but give greater detail. They explain all the features of the deck, and teach you everything you need to know about the markings, about the Erdnase stack, and how to use a stripper deck.  It also reproduces some content from Erdnase's Expert at The Card Table about using this stack. 

But the real treasure lies in the fact that fully half of the book gives instructions for performing a large number of tricks: 9 with a stacked deck, 14 with a marked deck, 10 with a marked and stacked deck, 59 with a stripper deck, 1 with a marked/stripped deck, and 8 with a one-way deck.  The final ten pages cover tips for shuffling and switching decks, basic moves and sleights like shuffles, cuts, and more, and a few simple forces.  It's certainly packed with a lot of material, and while it's especially geared towards beginners, and is heavier on method than presentation, you can certainly get some good mileage from it.

Recommendation

Today the Gambler's Marked Deck continues to be available exclusively from Houdini's Magic, so you'll have to get it from their website or their store if you want a copy.  But it is unquestionably a powerful tool in the hands of laymen and magicians alike.

While it has a lot of markings on the card backs, they're all quite easy to read, which is all very much by deliberate design.  Boris Wild wanted to have the cards convey as much information as possible, so that the deck would be a real powerhouse.  For a magician who knows how to take advantage of its extra features, this is a true Swiss Army knife, and can accomplish miracles not possible with other marked decks.



The Code (2013) by Andy Nyman

Creator: Andy Nyman
Back design: 813 Maiden Back
First released: 2013
Price: $30

The Code was produced by Andy Nyman for Theory11 in 2013.  It is a fine example of a specialized marked reader deck, because it gives more information than just the value and suit of each card, and is built around a whole system, namely the popular Mnemonica Stack by Juan Tamariz.



Description

Like the other marked decks on this list, The Code can firstly be used like any other basic reader deck, in that it provides each card's value and suit, the latter in this case being indicated with a letter rather than a pip.  But because it also incorporates the popular Mnemonica Stack, The Code also includes a built-in system that gives you considerably more information than simply the identity of the card on the reverse side.  In addition the card back will also enable you to identify two other important things: (a) the identity of the card above it; and (b) the number of cards above it. 

Andy Nyman acknowledges that Roy Johnson's SUM Deck did this years before he did, but at that time without the stack numbers.  Despite the use of a stack, there's nothing for you to memorize; Andy himself even admits that he doesn't even know the Tamariz stack.  Reassembling a shuffled deck is easy, because the cards are all numbered from 0 to 51, which indicates the number of cut cards above each card.

The markings are very easy to read, and are even larger than those used by The Marksman Deck, but are surprisingly well disguised.   The production is from USPCC on Bicycle stock for consistent handling.  The Maiden Back design on the card backs ensures an innocuous and "normal" look that won't alert spectators that anything is out of the ordinary.  According to Andy, this is the closest you'll find to a Rider Back design which USPCC allows.

Impressions

Quite frankly, the ability to know the identity of an adjacent card and the exact number of cards above it is a brilliant weapon.  One advantage of this feature is that it takes all the heat off your peek, in a very natural way.  Now you don't even need to look at the actual card in order to read its suit and value.  Your spectator can even remove a random packet and sandwich it in their hand, and in their mind there is no possible way you can know how many cards they have or what card they have cut to.  All the heat is on the cards in their hands, and not the cards remaining, so this reduces the risk of getting caught reading the card backs, and is much more deceptive.   Of course there are plenty of ways you can justify looking at the remaining deck, for example by moving it on the table. 

This also opens up all kinds of new tricks that you can perform.  If you're completely new to this concept, and want to experiment with the kind of magical possibilities that this unlocks, try using a marked deck along with the easy-to-learn Si Stebbins stack, which also allows you to instantly know the card above and below any card that is cut to.  Knowing exactly how many cards are above a card randomly cut to by your spectator makes things even more impressive, especially when combined with an intriguing presentation.



Teaching materials

To help you along with the new possibilities that The Code offers, the deck comes with an instructional DVD that has just over an hour of video tutorials. This video instruction covers techniques and tips, as well as a couple of routines and ideas for presentation.

The first part of the video starts by teaching various natural ways of obtaining a peek, which Andy calls a "sniper".  For example, what he dubs as the Sniper, Sniper 2.0, Sniper 3.0, Sniper Dribble, Double Dribble Sniper, are merely all different ways you can obtain the identity of a card chosen by a spectator by looking at the adjacent card.   Andy also teaches natural ways of glimpsing the identity of a card by reading the back of that card itself, with methods he calls the Fan Sniper and Ribbon Spread Sniper.

There are two main tricks taught in the instructional video.  In "Homicide", a spectator first cuts a packet from the deck and you reveal how many cards he's taken.  The process is then repeated and this time you reveal the identity of the precise card he has cut to.  In the "Double Deck Routine", you start by giving a spectator a prediction, after which he cuts to a random card.  You then read the prediction which indicates the exact number the matching card will be found in a second deck that the spectator has been holding the entire time.  Several variations of both tricks are covered, so there's different directions you can take this, and different ideas you can work with according to your own style and presentation.  Both tricks are certainly very fooling and strong, and you couldn't do either of them with an ordinary marked deck.

The teaching and instruction on the video has received high marks from magicians around the world.    You can come up with your own ideas for using The Code besides the routines taught on the video, since the deck is effectively a utility device that can be used in all kinds of ways.  The system is certainly easy to learn, and even relative beginners will quickly be able to start performing miracles with this remarkable deck.

Recommendation

There's no doubt that The Code was quite revolutionary when it first came out in 2013, and it made quite a splash in the magic industry at the time.  It really took marked decks to a new level by incorporating the Mnemonica Stack and by making this ingenious system accessible to everyone.  Proof of its positive reception is the fact that The Code won The Magic Cafe's "Thurston Award" in the year after it was released.   And while this deck is not cheap, Theory11 does offer refill decks for around $10, for returning customers who have previously purchased The Code.

The instructional video that comes with the deck will provide you with expert assistance in getting going with this wonderful deck, and teach you how to master multiple ways of glimpsing the markings under well-motivated cover, as well as teach a couple of very strong routines.   It really is excellent all round.



Marksman Deck (2017) by Luke Jermay

Creator: Luke Jermay
Back design: 809 Mandolin Back
First released: 2017
Price: $35

The Marksman Deck from Luke Jermay and Vanishing Inc Magic takes things to another level yet again.  The Marksman Deck doesn't just tell you the value and suit of any given card, but it also has several different numbers hidden in the design that tell you the position of the card in the deck, and a whole lot more - even more than The Code.



Description

The deck itself is printed on Bicycle stock with Mandolin Backs, so it looks and handles like a completely normal deck.  The size and style of the markings is almost identical to that used by the GT Speedreader, and slightly smaller than those of Andy Nyman's The Code.

So what are the additional markings for?  Creator Luke Jermay says that he fell in love with Deland's Automatic Deck over 15 years earlier, so that is the obvious inspiration.   He used Deland's deck as a teen, and over time slowly developed his own version of it, adding more marks all the time, and this eventually became the Marksman Deck.

Because the deck incorporates a prearranged stack (Mnemonica order), you do have access to an incredible amount of information just by looking at the back of a single card.  Not only can you immediately identify the card above it, but from the markings you also can know the exact position of the card in the deck, including how many cards are above it.

Some critics have said that this is a deck which offers the Mnemonica stack for people who can't be bothered to learn it, which is an overly harsh and unfair assessment.  In fact, when he first created his deck, Jermay had initially devised his own ordered stack, and he only opted to use the Tamariz Stack when producing the deck professionally, given how popular it is.  In reality tricks with a memorized stack are a whole separate animal, and it is just for convenience that this happens to be the stack used, for the sake of memdeck fans.

But extra markings added by Luke also give you access to more remarkable information: You can reveal the exact number of red and black cards respectively that are above the cut card.  And you can name the combined total of their values.  Each card also indicates exactly how far away in the stack each card's "mate" is.  And there's an additional mark so you can use the deck as a one-way deck.  That's a ton of markings, and a ton of information and possibilities!  On their own some of these features seem like overkill and unnecessary, but they have been incorporated specifically to facilitate very specific tricks that have been designed around them.

Impressions

To give you a good idea of what this deck can accomplish, check out the 45 minute performance documentary. You can freely view that online, and it will help you decide whether or not this is for you.

Effectively what each card reveals is the same as The Code, but it gives additional information as well.  To be clear though, the Marksman Deck wasn't a reworking of The Code, since Luke had clearly been working on it well before The Code was ever released.  But it did come out a few years afterwards, and the markings give you the same information as The Code, except with a whole lot more.  Does that make it better?  Many magicians consider the Marksman Deck to have superseded The Code due to the extra information it incorporates on each card.  But others will argue that The Code gives just the right amount of information needed to make it more versatile than a regular deck, and that the extra features of the Marksman Deck are unnecessary.  In addition, the marks on The Code are more subtle than the Marksman Deck, and in the latter they can seem glaringly obvious.

You wouldn't want to hand out the Marksman Deck for examination, because the increased number of markings also increases the chances that your audience will notice them.   There are seven different markings in total, which are mirrored on each card.  They're very easy to read, which is what you want, but that also means there's a risk of getting caught.  Admittedly this shouldn't be a problem with good audience management.  And given the style of magic you'll use this deck for, you do want fairly large markings that are easy to read.   The reason these markings are so obvious is to enable you as a magician to read them quickly, and to let you focus on your showmanship and presentation.  It won't fool magicians, but because it looks like a regular Bicycle deck, it should go undetected by spectators.  And if you perform as taught by the tutorials, any concerns about this should quickly disappear.

There's no doubt that the potential built into the Marksman Deck is mind-boggling, and the firepower that all this brings to the magician's table is pretty incredible.  It's been described as an entire show built into a deck, and that's a fair description.  That's because the features it incorporates aren't merely bells and whistles that serve no purpose other than novelty.  Instead, each one was developed to do a specific job for a specific effect that Luke Jermay wanted to perform, and so effectively they do have their own routine built into them.  The Marksman Deck is especially great for mentalism, since that's Luke's preferred style, and many of the tricks he teaches rely on a mentalist presentation.

Combining a marked deck with a stack and putting a memorized stack within easy reach of everyone that uses this deck is a stroke of genius.  To be fair, the genesis of these ideas goes back to DeLand's Automatic Deck more than a century earlier, and that was a big inspiration behind the Marksman Deck.  But while DeLand's deck uses a coded system that isn't as easy to use, Luke Jermay's deck is not only more user-friendly, but it also can do so much more than all its predecessors.




Teaching materials

When you buy the deck you also get access to around 90 minutes of online video instructions that teach you how to use it, and how to perform several strong tricks that utilize the marking system.  The basic routine is effectively self-working, because the deck does most of the hard work for you, so that you can focus entirely on the presentation.  So even if you've not had any experience with a stacked deck before, this is a great tool that will help you get into the magic very quickly, and open up a whole range of new possibilities for performance.

There are five main tricks taught in the instructional part of the video.  With "Intuition", the spectator cuts off a packet, and you reveal the number of cards cut, the number of red cards, and the total value of the pips.  For lay people, this is nothing like any other card trick they've ever seen, and completely defies explanation.  "Easy to Read" basically involves you reading the mind of your spectator to reveal his card, and covers numerous different peeks.  "Dowsing" has the spectator cut to any card, which they keep secret, and you miraculously find the perfect match.

"Card Calling" is presented as an exercise in remote viewing, and you name card after card in a packet removed by a spectator.  "Card Memory" is a presentation where you identify a card removed from a shuffled deck (or a card reinserted in a different place in the deck), supposedly by memorizing the entire order of the deck.  This last trick can be done with any marked deck, while Easy to Read and Card Calling rely on the any marked deck that has markings for the stack and adjacent card.  Intuition and Dowsing are two unique tricks that you won't be able to perform with anything other than the Marksman Deck.

Luke's style won't suit everyone, because he employs a presentational approach that focuses on having psychic powers.  His presentations include things like remote viewing, being blindfolded, going into a trance, or using a sixth sense, and you'll often hear him talking about his audience's feelings, emotions, and intuition.  But you can certainly modify this to suit your own style.  In deciding on the tricks to include, Luke's main requirements were that they had to be fun and easy to perform, with minimal sleight of hand, and which gave the potential for powerful mentalism, with a real focus on psychology and theatrical presentation. I think he succeeded. And because they aren't hard to do, and you can be performing relatively soon after watching the video instructions. 

Besides the instructional video, Luke's book Voyages is another resource that covers the Marksman Deck.  It was released for separate purchase, and you may need to head to the secondary market to get a copy.

Recommendation

If The Code is a marked deck on steroids, then the Marksman Deck is like The Code on steroids.  So if you are just looking for a marked deck that only tells you the suit and value of cards, then this marked deck will be overkill.  Then it will give you far more firepower than you'll ever need, and is like taking a machine gun to a wrestling match.  So unless you're actually using these extra markings, the Marksman Deck isn't really essential, and it won't suit most magicians looking for a simpler tool to do a smaller job.

But for the dedicated performer willing to put in the minimal effort required to learn the system and the routines built into them, the Marksman Deck will enable you to perform insane miracles that you simply can't do with an ordinary marked deck. It is really built for the kinds of tricks that Luke Jermay performs and teaches, but wow, are they ever impressive!



Final Thoughts

One other Bicycle-branded deck that I haven't mentioned is Maiden Marked Playing Cards.  Like the others in this list, it also incorporates markings with information about a stack.  It includes similar information to The Code (including the identity of the adjacent card, and the stack number).  But it uses an unusual graphical method of designating information about values and suits that makes it harder to read.  So it's not a reader deck in the usual sense, but is very close, and that's why I will just mention it in passing for completeness, without further comment.

The additional information offered by all these decks, in going well beyond your normal marked reader deck, will seem like overkill to the average magician.  Decks like these are really only worthwhile getting if you intend to take advantage of the fact that they allow you to tap into the potential of a prearranged stack like Mnemonica, or the extra information that their markings offer.  They are effectively high-powered Swiss Army knives that incorporate multiple tools.  So if you are looking for a simple bread knife, and have no use for a prearranged stack or all the extra information about adjacent cards and more, you are probably better off buying one of the cheaper marked reader decks that just provides the suit and value of the cards.
But the real strength of marked decks like these lies in the built-in superpowers that their additional markings give you.  With their help, you can accomplish levels of wizardry simply not possible with a regular marked deck, especially if you enjoy mentalism.  Admittedly, along with this comes the need to put extra work into mastering the markings and the stack - although the markings themselves are very easy to read and learn.   And it's a lot less effort than memorizing a complete deck stack from scratch.  It may even help you learn the Mnemonica stack, and if you've been holding off learning a memorized stack due to the sheer hard work involved, these decks will allow you to tap into the potential of a memdeck without the usual entrance requirements.

It's not just the advantages of a stack that these high powered marked decks offer, however.   Knowing the value and identity of an adjacent card is already powerful information, because it makes it so much easier for you to get the glimpse you need to identify a card, because you don't actually need to look at the card in question, but can safely look at its neighbour instead.  And particularly in the case of the Marksman Deck, there are additional features geared to very specific effects that can truly astound spectators.

It won't come as a surprise that specialized decks like these typically come with a higher price tag than a more generic marked deck.  But that's because they come ready-made with routines and presentations that you will quickly learn and soon perform.  Another disadvantage of these decks is that you will need to be able to master some false shuffles and false cuts, to enable you to maintain a completely stacked deck.

But the extra expense and extra effort required will be more than rewarded  with the kind of marvels you will be performing.  And at some stage in your performance you can always let your spectator shuffle the deck, and you can still use it as you would any other marked deck.  No matter which of the above decks you choose, if you put in the effort to explore their true potential, you won't be disappointed.

Where to get them: The three decks covered in this article can be found here:
● Gambler's Marked Deck by Boris Wild & Geno Munari (Maiden Back)
● The Code by Andy Nyman (Maiden Back)
● Marksman Deck by Luke Jermay (Mandolin Back)



Previous articles in this series (Marked Decks for Magicians - A Definitive Guide):
● Part 1: Why do magicians use marked decks?
● Part 2: What is the best marked deck for card magic?
● Part 3: The Best Factory Printed Marked Bicycle Decks

Acknowledgement: It is important that I provide readers with thorough and reliable information.  So I want to acknowledge the assistance of many people I corresponded with when researching and writing these articles, especially numerous individuals who were personally involved in creating these decks.  They kindly provided me with answers to specific questions I had along the way, and also reviewed relevant parts of the text to ensure that the information I included was up-to-date and accurate.  I especially want to acknowledge the input of Kevin Reylek, who is an expert on the subject of marked cards, and whose assistance was invaluable.  Kevin was extremely helpful in ensuring the accuracy of many fine details, and very generous in pointing me in the right direction and in providing me with the information I needed.

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

60
Magical Cardistry Bonanza / Review: False Anchors by Ryan Schlutz
« on: June 30, 2022, 10:57:47 AM »
 False Anchors by Ryan Schlutz (2020)

A classy book filled with clever, fresh, and strong card magic

Overview

Ryan Schlutz first caught my attention with some of his terrific card magic videos, which include the following releases: 
● Completing the Cut (Vanishing Inc, 2012)
● Miracles Without Moves (Big Blind Media, 2013)
● Effortless Effects (Big Blind Media, 2014)
● Only Slightly Sleighty (Big Blind Media, 2017)
● Super Strong Super Simple (Vanishing Inc, 2018)

It's a fine collection of work that contains around 50 tricks altogether, which are typical of Ryan's style.  That means: tricks that are light on sleights, but are cleverly constructed to disguise the method, resulting in an effect which seems truly impossible to the minds of your spectators.



In recent years Ryan has moved away from producing videos, and has instead made a conscious choice to contribute to the world of card magic by writing.  And that's where his book False Anchors comes in, which was released in 2020.  For some time Ryan has been producing a series of small booklets called "False Anchors", and this hard-cover book is essentially a compilation of the content from the first three of these.  But there is some new content as well, and the final couple of dozen pages consists of material that appears in print for the first time, although some of it (e.g. the GAP principle and the trick "Clearly See-through") has appeared on Ryan's DVD "Effortless Effects", admittedly in less detail.

I was fortunate to get a copy of this excellent book about a year ago, and have been enjoying it ever since.  But now it's time to do some writing of my own, and share some thoughts about it.



The Concept

The book revolves around a concept which Ryan calls a "false anchor".  This explains the title of his book, and also the name for his personal website, falseanchors.com.  Ryan has also released several versions of his custom False Anchors Playing Cards, which draw on the false anchor image for the artwork and design.  The playing cards are not directly connected with the False Anchors book, nor are they a requirement for it, and they have secrets of their own.

So what is the false anchor concept?  In Ryan's own words, as stated in the book's introduction, the way a false anchor works is that it "creates a memory, a feeling, a sense of comfort or spatial placement in the spectator's mind. You are creating a moment they anchor to as important even though, in reality, it is fictitious.  A False Anchor can allow you to erase part of a procedure in a trick as if it never happened."

In another part of the book Ryan explains this idea of "erasing" as follows: "If a person's logical brain was a reel of film recording everything they see, then proficient sleight-of-hand would allow you to cut out the parts of the film you do not want the spectator to remember and surgically attach them back together so that the gaps are seamless." 

By giving your spectator a false anchor, you're cementing a moment or aspect of the trick in the mind of the spectator that has nothing to do with the method, so that this becomes something for them to hold onto and remember, thereby helping make the actual method become more invisible.  The ad copy does a good job of describing this: "Within these pages you will grasp how to create a False Anchor, to change a person's perception so it becomes their new reality. You will learn techniques that erase any trace of a suspicious moment from your spectator's recollection, so the only thing left is pure astonishment."

The book contains effects that utilize this concept, and several moves that help enhance it.



The Contents

So what should you expect to get with your copy of False Anchors?  It's a hard-cover book of around 130 pages, filled with card magic, and also comes with a gimmick:

Card magic: This book is devoted to card magic exclusively.  So if you're looking for coin magic, or anything other than magic with playing cards, you'll have to go elsewhere.  Ryan's speciality is with card magic, and he's good at it.  So if you are like me and share this love, you'll be a happy camper.

Tricks: There's over a dozen tricks that Ryan carefully teaches, each with ample colour photographs that illustrate the moves and steps you need to take along the way.  In many cases there are extended after thoughts with alternate handlings and further ideas.   The chapter headings don't correspond exactly to tricks, since some sections of the book are just about techniques or principles.  But as I see it, these are the tricks that are taught, and they represent the bulk of the book's content:

● I Love You
● Strange Gift
● In-Air Transpo Trick
● Equifinality
● Forget to Remember (Updated)
● Somewhat Touched
● Card At Any Sum
● Sprung Location 
● 6 Covers 6 
● Boxy Waltz
● Before the Thought
● The One With The High Five
● Clearly See-Through

Techniques: Several parts of the book are devoted to covering techniques and principles that Ryan has come up with.  There's about half a dozen different sections like this altogether.  Some are moves (e.g. Secret Sauce Switch), others are gimmicks (e.g. The Double Out Box), and others again are principles (e.g. GAP).  These techniques and principles are then applied in some of the tricks that follow, although they do also have broader application.

Gimmick: Finally you also get along with the book a special metal gimmick, which has been custom manufactured to help you with one particular trick.  It's good quality, and has undoubtedly added somewhat to the price, although Ryan has said that this addition wasn't a significant factor in determining the price point.   But the good news is that the trick it is used for is one of the best ones in the book, so it definitely does add real value.



The Production Quality

The choice to publish this material as a book rather than on video was very deliberate.  Ryan has produced numerous DVDs already, so he's been down that road himself previously. But in his own experience he finds that he only watches videos a single time, and then they get forgotten.  He much prefers the idea of a book, because if it is a good book, it is much more likely to stand the test of time than a video.

The material Ryan has included in this particular book is some of his best work, and that's why it was important to him to present it in a form where it would have the most staying power, even outlasting his own lifetime.  He believes that the quality of material he's included deserves this kind of treatment.  That's why he spared no expense to make it the very best that it could be, opting for a durable hard cover, high quality pictures taken by a professional photographer, well-organized text, and easy to follow instructions.

Did he succeed with this?  For sure.  Our first impressions begin with how a book looks, and False Anchors impresses from the outset.  It's a hard cover book that immediately conveys a sense of quality, and the minimalist graphic design of the cover exudes a sense of sophistication and professionalism.

The indications of quality are confirmed once you crack open the cover.  Inside we find around 130 pages of glossy pages, put together with a fresh and modern graphic design, with full page colour photographs throughout, and a very flashy style.  Some of Ryan's favourite inspirational quotes from magicians are scattered throughout.  Admittedly, you're left with around 100 pages of text if you don't count the full page pictures, but that's still pretty solid, and it certainly breathes  quality all round. 

It really is a gorgeous book that is a pleasure to page through and read, and it looks very impressive.   So before we even examine the content carefully, we have a sense that what we have in our hands is something of quality.  And let's not forget that you get a custom metal gimmick along with the book too.



The Tricks

Not all of the tricks get the same level of treatment.  For example, "Somewhat Touched" is much briefer than any of the other sections of the book, and basically is a couple of pages of written instructions that give an alternate handling for the classic self-working trick "Untouched".   "Mind The GAP" is also more concise, because it works with ideas from the previous pages.  The other tricks are all covered in more detail and with accompanying photographs.   I was impressed by them all, and the strength of the material is consistently very good.  Here's some my impressions on some of the routines that I consider to be standouts, although I could easily have included more in this list.

● "I Love You" is the opening trick, and serves well to demonstrate the "false anchor" concept, because it creates an emotional moment for your spectator by having them whisper "I love you" to their card, and that becomes the hook that they'll remember and which disguises the actual method.  The premise seems truly impossible, even for a magician: without you looking or touching the deck, you let your spectator shuffle to their heart's content, they pick any card, return it to the deck and shuffle it however they want, and yet you find it.  You'd think there's no way to accomplish this, and normally there isn't.  But Ryan has come up with a presentation that not only works as a false anchor, but also helps achieve this very effect under apparently impossible conditions.  There is a caveat, however: this does require the right weather conditions, and won't work if it's cold or overly dry, which is a significant limitation.  In my part of the world means that this trick - excellent as it is - won't be practical year round, and does come with an element of risk.

● "Equifinality" is an outstanding trick which you can do impromptu with a shuffled deck provided by your spectator.  You openly place a prediction card in the card box, and then put half a dozen or more apparently random piles of cards in front of two spectators.  Each spectator then combine the piles in front of them however they wish, and this produces two piles.  The top card of one pile determines the suit, and the top card of the other pile determines the value, and remarkably this perfectly matches the prediction card in the box.  Here Ryan is channelling some of the best "chaos" of Lennard Green in a way that disguises the ingenious method brilliantly.  This trick was also released separately as a download from Penguin Magic under the name Equal Finality, and has received very positive reviews all round.  I was completely fooled by how impossible this seemed, and was almost somewhat embarrassed by how simple the method is.  But that's exactly what Ryan Schlutz is all about.



● "Forget to Remember (Updated)" is a trick I first learned from Ryan's DVD "Effortless Effects", and has been a personal favourite of mine for some time already, because it's so fun to perform, so simple, so fooling, and so impossible.  Your spectator merely thinks of a card, which is first discovered to be missing from the deck in their hands.  As an added twist, you then produce their thought-of card as the only one you'd set aside in advance - from the card box which was on the table the entire time!  A small bit of prep is needed, but the astounding outcome gives a good payoff.  It makes further use of a clever principle also used in the previous trick, something Ryan calls "The Double-Out Box".  Ryan has some very clever thinking behind the method used in "Forget to Remember", and I've blown away many people when performing this.

● "Before the Thought" is a magician fooler that Ryan often does at conventions.  He also taught it as part of his Penguin LIVE "Live Act" video.  It's something that has a very "off hand" feel, because after your spectator shuffles the deck, he takes several cards from the deck while your head is turned away, while you place an envelope on the table.  Your spectator looks at the cards in their hand for the first time, and merely thinks of one of them, and this thought-of-card turns out to match the single card inside the envelope.  It's a clever application of Bob Farmer's Tsunami Principle, combined with an edge marking system, so it does require significant preparation and practice, but the payoff is worth it.

● "The One With The High Five" is the trick that makes use of the gimmick provided with the book.  The idea is that multiple spectators rip a deck in half, and mix all the pieces randomly together.  Two pieces are chosen at random by the spectators, and despite the apparently fair procedure involved in the whole process, the two pieces combine perfectly and are shown to come from the same card.  The metal gimmick was inspired by a Gaetan Bloom idea, and Ryan had it created by a professional metal worker.  It enables you to create identical tears in any card.  One down side of this trick is that you'll also need to make a special box that is critical to part of the method.  And besides needing some duplicate cards, you'll be getting your audience to help you tear up an entire deck each time you perform it.  But it's perfect for a parlor setting with a larger audience, and Ryan personally uses it as a closer to his show.



The other tricks are of course also very good:

● "Strange Gift" is a "color sense" routine that has your spectator separate cards into red and black, with cards from a borrowed deck.

● "In-Air Transpo" is a reworking of a creative two-card transpo originally buried among the pages of Harry Lorayne's Apocalypse.

● "Card At Any Sum" is an excellent CAAN style trick that uses Ryan's Counterpoint principle.

● "Sprung Location" is a multiple selection routine with a fun use of a rubber band around the deck.

● "6 Covers 6" is designed to have a "test conditions" feel, where your spectator cuts and shuffles a deck after a selection is made, and yet you identify it.

● "Boxy Waltz" was developed from the traditional and powerful "Anniversary Waltz" effect, but adjusted to eliminate the double backer usually required, and offers a perfect excuse for introducing the double-facer.

● "Clearly See-Through" has your spectator look at a card from a shuffled deck, which becomes "invisible", and then reappears face-up in the middle of the face-down deck.  This uses Ryan's GAP principle, and is followed by other ways of using the principle, including the final evolution of the routine into the effect, "Mind The Gap".



The Techniques

It's somewhat hard to separate the techniques from the tricks, because they are often closely connected.  In actual fact the book includes a mix of different material besides the tricks, and some of these additional items are techniques or moves, others  are principles, while others again are basically gaffs or gimmicks.  And because they're sometimes incorporated within the explanation of a trick, they're not always given a separate heading.  But here's how I'd sum up these additional elements that are included, most of these having their own section in the book:

● Secret Sauce Switch: This is a bit too short to be a routine on its own, and is basically Ryan's way of having a face-down card between two face-up Aces be secretly switched with a spectator's selection.  It can be used as part of a final revelation, or as the ending of another trick.

● Flow vs Sequential: This is basically a single page of text, explaining how self-working effects can be made more fooling when they flow in sequence one after another, rather than being presented individually.

● Coordinated Chaos: Here we have Ryan's handling of two things, a Bottom Stock Control and a Top Stock Control.  In both cases the goal is to create the impression of carefree mixing of cards, which serves as a "false anchor" that your spectator will remember, whereas in reality this was actually a card control.

● The Double Out Box: This doesn't get a separate section, but it gets almost three pages of explanation of the trick "Equifinality", and is also used in a later trick "Forget to Remember", so it really deserves special mention.  It's a clever way to use a card box to give you multiple outs.

● Counterpoint: This is a principle that uses either double-sided tape or a pencil dot to help keep track of the position and identity of a card in a deck given to a spectator to shuffle. It's a clever way to force a number, and is used for the excellent CAAN style trick "Card At Any Sum".

● Box Switch: Under the cover of putting a card in the card box, this is Ryan's method for switching a card in the process, and relies on a similar method to his clever "Double Out Box", which I love.

● Edge-Mark Pencil Dot: Several of the tricks in the book make use of a pencil dot on the cards, but this combines the idea with an edge mark, along with applications for how to arrange a shuffling sequence to control this card.

● GAP: This is an acronym for "Grab Any Pile", and will be familiar if you've seen Ryan's "Effortless Effects" DVD, although it's given a more systematic treatment here.  GAP is a utility move that enables you to control a spectator's selection without sleight of hand.  It seems very fair and hands off, because you have your spectator make a selection from a random pile, shuffle the pile, lose the pile in the deck, and then shuffle the deck.  It's used for the trick "Clearly See-Through", which later evolved into "Mind The Gap", both of which are taught, along with other ways of using this principle.  None of this material has appeared in the three smaller False Anchors books that make up the bulk of this hard cover book, so this excellent content about the GAP principle all represents previously unpublished material.



Sample Performances

To get some idea of what the tricks in the book are like, I managed to track down some performances of some of the tricks, most of which are performed by Ryan himself, unless otherwise noted. Watching some of these will give you a sense of how strong the material in False Anchors is:

● Love Me (performed by Amanda Lindsey)

● Equifinality

● Forget to Remember (also see another performance)

● The One With The High Five

● Clearly See-through



The False Anchors Idea

Much of the material has the "false anchor" concept built in as a recurring theme. But since this is a theoretical concept rather than a method or a presentational approach, there's little overlap of the content despite this.  The idea of a false anchor is more about the way that your approach and design your magic, so it doesn't limit the material that's included, and there's still a good range of very different effects.  Some of the tricks which require a real set-up and careful preparation, while others are done impromptu with a shuffled deck.  Similarly the types of plots included also varies significantly.

In my view the concept of a false anchor isn't something entirely revolutionary, although Ryan's idea to frame it in this way is both new and helpful.  For a long time already magicians have already seen the value of separating effect from method.  For example, in his book Designing Miracles, Darwin Ortiz emphasizes that the strongest magic is that which creates the illusion of impossibility, and he encourages us to distinguish between outer reality (what the audience thinks is true) and inner reality (what you as a magician know is actually true), and offers numerous suggestions for designing a magical effect in a way that will help accomplish this.  He suggests that we should employ things like temporal distance, spatial distance, and conceptual distance, to engineer our magic so that the audience connects the magic with a false moment or location, rather than the actual moment or location that the dirty work has happened.

It seems to me that what Ryan Schlutz is advocating is something along similar lines.  And while I don't believe that this idea is in itself entirely new, describing this concept as a false anchor does offer a fresh way of thinking about this.  Ryan is absolutely right that it is important to construct your magic in a way so that the method becomes virtually invisible and abstract, and creating a fictitious moment, memory, or feeling in the mind of your spectator can indeed serve as a false anchor, and can help erase and vanish the true method.

Certainly Ryan himself does a good job of applying this concept well in his card magic, and that's what makes the tricks in this book so compelling and powerful.  They appear very much "hands off" in the mind of your spectator, since you can't possibly have done anything to accomplish what they've witnessed.  There is only one conclusion your audience can come to: the impossible has happened, and they've just seen magic.  And isn't that place of astonishment exactly where we want to bring them every time we perform card magic?



More Impressions

Tricks: This is a wonderful collection of card magic, and I'd be hard pressed to name tricks included that aren't worth the paper they are written on. Everything here is solid.  It often happens that a collection of published material is somewhat mixed in quality, and while some routines are stand-outs, others are forgettable.  Ryan has set himself a very high bar in writing this book, and has spent a long time crafting and polishing the material that went into it, to ensure it would be the best that it could be.  I think he's succeeded.  There's also plenty of variety, and many of these routines are strong enough that they could easily go straight into the act of a working professional.  He's taken the time to suggest alternate handlings and ideas for each trick as well, which is also very helpful.

Techniques: What I love about Ryan's card magic is the clever thinking he has behind the construction of his tricks.  So I really like the fact that he's devoted several sections of this book to specific techniques and principles, such as his GAP Principle (Grab Any Card).  The whole notion of false anchors shows that he is a deep thinker who really takes the time to understand how magic should be constructed to make it as powerful as possible.  This is much more than just a book of card tricks, but it contains many ideas and principles that have application to other card magic.  As such, you can take a lot of what he's come up with here, and use it in ways that go far beyond what he's included, and apply it to other aspects of your repertoire and performance.

Difficulty: Some of the promotional material for the book goes a little too far in making things seem easier than they actually are.  I'd respectfully suggest that even Ryan himself downplays some of the difficulty when he said in an interview that it is geared to the skilled beginner, and consists of 80% basic card handling, and that there's just one double lift in the entire book.  This is mostly true, and generally speaking the moves are easy and the card magic in these pages doesn't rely on advanced techniques, but basic fundamentals. Even so I think it is fairer to say that this is a book geared to the intermediate level card magician.  There are references to moves like the Stuart Gordon Double Lift, Columbini's Fireworks Control, Robert Moreland's handling of the classic Riffle Force, The Rub-a-Dub-Vanish, Gary Ouellet's Touch Force, and others.  If there are moves like this they are usually explained, but beginners may find this all a little too much.

Style: Ryan cites some of his influences being the gambling demonstrations of Martin Nash, the chaos of Lennard Green, the principles of Eddie Fields, and also the magic of Joseph Barry.  The result is certainly his own unique style: he is known for principle based magic rather than sleight heavy magic.  So it's no surprise that the tricks in this book do rely mostly on principles and clever techniques rather than sleights.  What we can typically expect from him are sleight-light tricks that are designed around ingenious, well-disguised, and deceptive methods.  That's very much in evidence with this book, and the result is a set of strong card tricks that are relatively easy for the average magician to perform, and where a straight-forward presentation allows you to make the audience believe something truly impossible has happened.  Luke Dancy's comment on this book is on point: "It's almost too easy for the impact it has."  The intermediate level magician will be best placed to work through and enjoy the material, but because of Ryan's approach and style, he will generally find the execution to be a breeze.



Practicality: Much of the material in the book can be performed with a borrowed shuffled deck.  But there are also a number of tricks where some real set-up and preparation is required.  It's not difficult or complicated, and the pay-off more than justifies the time you'll need to prepare.  But you can expect to do things like putting pencil dots on cards, and at times you'll need extra items like some double sided tape or a rubber band.  In other instances you'll need duplicate cards, or common gaff cards like a double facer.  And of course the trick that uses the metal gimmick will have you tearing more than just one deck into pieces, so each time you perform it, you'll burn through a deck.  None of the items needed are hard to source, but it is important to realize that a lot of these tricks do require you to bring something to the party before you perform, and not everything will be practical for everyone.  It's not the kind of magic Harry Lorayne would like to do.

Formatting: The formatting is generally well organized, although at times this was an area of disappointment.  The headings used aren't always consistent in name or how they are organized.  There are instances where it's not clear whether something is a heading or a subheading, e.g. "Bottom Stock Control" and "Top Stock Control" are actually subheadings for the larger section entitled "Coordinated Chaos".  It think that the final three parts of the book are intended to fall under the heading of a larger section entitled "GAP", but this isn't quite obvious.  It would also have been helpful if it was clearer which sections are tricks and which ones are techniques, handling ideas ("Somewhat Touched"), or presentational thoughts ("Flow vs Sequential").  In one instance a versatile technique (The Double-Out Box) is buried within the section a particular trick (Equifinality), when it could arguably have been been given its own section, especially since it is used again with the next trick.  The Table of Contents doesn't do the best job of making clear what is what either, and the absence of an index to help us with all this seems to be a missed opportunity.  But this mostly a cosmetic complaint rather than one of substance, and this won't really be an issue if you work through the book systematically.

Price: This isn't a cheap book, clocking in at $75.  For the working performer, that price tag will easily be justified if you end up including even just one of these tricks in your professional act.  And there's a good chance that you will.  While the price is definitely on the high end of things, it is a combination of factors that has produced this price point.  Ryan isn't one to rush his written work to the market, and what we have in these pages is the culmination of years of development, as he's fine-tuned principles and tricks to make them the best that they can be, and crafted them into a book that he hopes will stand the test of time.  But not only is the price an indication of the quality of the content, it is also a result of the high production quality that this book has been lavished with, and the fact that it comes with a custom metal gimmick.  The original three False Anchors booklets that make up most of the content are long sold out, and like them, this hard cover book was created with a limited print-run, with the promise that it will never be reprinted.  One gets the impression that this sense of exclusivity also accounts somewhat for the higher price.

Sequel: Ryan has also indicated a desire to produce a second False Anchors hard-cover book some day.  In 2020 and 2021 he already released the next booklets in the False Anchors series, Vol 4 and 5 respectively.  It's his long term goal to produce another one or two small volumes, before publishing another hard-cover book which compiles all their content together, along with the benefit of more polishing.  But he wants to give the concept of false anchors a break for a while first, and explore other areas of magic such as mentalism.  Eventually he'd like to return to this series, armed with the benefit of what he's learned from further experience in other aspects of magic.  Given the strength of this book, I am already excited about the possibility of a sequel.



Recommendation

False Anchors is a very high quality book in both form and content.  It isn't just another book on card magic, rehashing the same old plots, because there are some genuinely fresh ideas here, and some original thinking.

If you are like me and enjoy really thinking about the construction of your card magic, and stretching yourself outside of the familiar, chances are that you'll really like what you find between the pages of this fine volume.  If the price is too much of a barrier, then another option is to consider some of Ryan's videos, which are obviously much more affordable.

Either way, Ryan Schlutz is a creator whose work deserves to be explored and enjoyed.  Like him, I'm hopeful that this fine book will indeed outlast him, and that in decades to come magicians will still be reading False Anchors, and share the same level of excitement I've had about performing the card magic that is found within its pages.



Where to get it? False Anchors is available directly from Ryan Schlutz, and at your favourite Murphy's Magic retailer.

Want to learn more? See this interview where Ryan discusses the book with Luke Dancy, and the content listing from the Conjuring Archive.

61
Magical Cardistry Bonanza / Re: The Best Factory Printed Marked Bicycle Decks
« on: June 27, 2022, 05:47:08 AM »
GT SpeedReader by Garrett Thomas

Creator: Garrett Thomas
Back design: 809 Mandolin Back
First released: 2011
Price: $14

The GT SpeedReader has been around for a decade now.  It is available widely through magic distributor Murphy's Magic, and their current pricing makes it more competitive than ever before, which is appropriate given how the market for marked decks now gives buyers several options to choose from.

This marked deck was created with the involvement of respected magician Garrett Thomas (hence the name GT), who in turn was inspired by the marking system popularized as a result of Ted Lesley's Marked Deck.

Description

Available in either red or blue backs, the GT Speedreader uses the Mandolin Back design, which is used more widely for gaffed decks ever since it came out in 2010 as an alternative to the Rider Back design.  The Mandolin artwork was actually created by Garrett, and was deliberately designed to be a close sister to the Rider Back, so to casual observers it looks just like a normal Bicycle deck with the usual seal and artwork.  Artistically, it ingeniously represents a later stage in the life of the angel pictured on the Rider Back, who has now grown up, and has moved into an exploration of the outdoor world and the arts.  Like the Maiden Back design, the Mandolin Backs are available in unmarked versions, so you can actually use these decks for all your card magic if you really want to.   But when used appropriately, there's really no reason for your audiences to suspect anything even if you are using this marked deck, so there's no need to fear that your markings will be detected or noticed.

That's especially due to the location of the markings in this deck.  Unlike the Ultimate Marked Deck from Magic Dream and the Marked Cards from Penguin, with the GT Speedreader the markings are only on the lower left hand corner (and on the opposite corner at the top right), and not on the upper left hand corner where they are on most other marked decks.  The fact that the markings are only on these two corners of the deck is very much by deliberate design.

The value and suit is marked with the appropriate number/letter and the suit icon.  The markings are similar in size to the ones on the Ultimate Marked Deck, but slightly smaller in size than the ones on Penguin's Marked Cards.  This makes them less noticeable than with the Penguin deck, but also requires somewhat sharper eyes.  Yet they are still easy enough to read, so you shouldn't have any problems using them, unlike some marked decks that feature microscopic print, and are completely impractical.  Even so, be aware that some older magicians have reported that they found the markings a little too small.  So if your eyesight is starting to wane as you cross the wrong side of 40 or 50, you may need to consider the Penguin deck instead.  But overall the GT Speedreader is still very much a functional deck built for workers.

The GT Speedreader deck is produced on Bicycle's standard stock with their usual air cushion finish.  The two additional cards included in the current version are a double backer, and an ad card that explains the markings on one side and has a chart with Poker hand rankings on the other side.  Not that we should be using a deck like this for Poker anyway, so that was somewhat of an unexpected surprise.  The double backer is also marked, so it can be easily identified, and so are both Jokers that come with the deck.



Impressions

So why have the markings at the bottom left?  In the instructional video available for the deck, it is pointed out that the traditional location of markings at the upper left of a deck has its origin in the use of marked cards by gamblers and cheats.  They often rely on techniques like second deals, for which markings at the upper left are optimal, and marked decks have evolved from this usage.  But magicians rely on different techniques than gamblers, so it is important to locate the markings where they will best serve the methods of magic rather than that of gamblers.  Having the markings at the upper left comes with a risk that spectators will obscure the markings when they grab a card.

An argument can also be made that the markings are less likely to be detected at the lower left.  From the creator I learned than as part of their research when creating this deck, they used eye movement tracking software to see which parts of a card people scan first and look at more closely.  They discovered that the top of a card is where people tend to look first, increasing the risk of discovery.  Spectators and magicians also expect markings at the upper left, because that's the most obvious place to look and check.  But with the GT Speedreader, there is nothing to see there, and even taking the deck to the movies in the usual way will reveal no hints of any markings if you're looking at the top left.  When you spread or fan the cards in the regular way from right to left, the exposed section of the card won't offer anything obvious for your spectator to notice that might give away the markings, while from their viewpoint they remain cleverly hidden in the spread and will escape their notice.

And while having the marks at the lower left makes them harder for your spectator to notice, this location can also make them easier for you as a magician to read.  When holding the deck in the standard Mechanics Grip, your thumb naturally obscures the top left of a card, while the bottom left remains visible - and that's exactly where the markings are located with the GT Speedreader.    This location also enables you to more easily peek at the markings when doing sleights like holding a break.  The instructional video helps you learn how to take full advantage of the location of the markings, because it teaches clever techniques for obtaining a peek (e.g. his riffle peek) in ways and moments that you wouldn't think possible.  And if using a deck with a stack and letting your spectator select a card by riffling through the deck and peeking at its corner in a natural way, you can still easily read the markings at the top right.

So an argument can be made that for card magic it actually makes more sense for the markings to be on the lower left rather than the upper left.   Is it a convincing case?  I think it might be slightly overstated, but I haven't personally done enough research to be confident that having the markings at the lower rather than upper left significantly decreases the chances of laymen discovering them.  Probably the most important factor for the magician to consider here is your own preference in reading them, and whether having the marks at the top or bottom makes it easiest for you.  Both locations have advantages and disadvantages.

But there's no doubt that with the GT Speedreader, everything was about making the markings as easy as possible to read, as quickly as possible.  This has also determined other design choices, such as the use of card numbers/letters and suits, so that they match what we're used to seeing on the indices of the faces.  Commonly confused suits like hearts/spades and diamonds/clubs have also had their sizes tweaked to make the distinction more obvious, and for similar reasons 6s and 9s are usefully distinguished with the help of a dot in the sixes.

Teaching materials

The newest release of this marked deck also comes with access to an excerpt from an instructional video that from Kozmomagic (creators of the excellent Reel Magic Magazine).   Entitled the GT Speedreader DVD, this was released when the GT Speedreader first came out, and is a full length video that runs for 1 hour and 46 minutes.  It  covers various ways to use the deck, as well as a few tricks, and I highly recommend it.

The first part of the video covers how to read the deck, and general tips about using marked decks.   Then there's a section about forces and peeks that teaches how to use the GT Speedreader for several popular forces in a less obvious way, and numerous ways to safely get a peek either before or after a selection is made.  There's a decent section about how to use a marked deck in combination with a stack, including some ideas for what you can do with this.

The tutorial video features Garrett Thomas, who also explains how you can use the marked deck to strengthen how you get into classic tricks like Twisting the Aces, or Dai Vernon's The Trick That Can't Be Explained.  The section on this Vernon classic is the 4 minute excerpt that you get access to for free online if you buy the deck, and quite frankly it's not much use on its own without the rest of the DVD.   But when seen in the larger context of the whole instructional video, it's quite useful.  While "The Trick That Can't Be Explained" doesn't absolutely require a marked deck, you'll learn how to perform this classic trick by taking advantage of a marked deck in a way that makes it much easier to perform and more impossible for your spectator.

There's also a half hour section at the end of the video where Garrett himself does half a dozen tricks where he improvises on the fly with actual spectators, showing how you can use the marked deck to take advantage of situations to accomplish very strong effects, and where he gives numerous ideas for different tricks you can do with a marked deck.

Recommendation

When the GT Speedreader first came out ten years ago, it was priced at $20.  It is now owned by Murphy's Magic, and the latest printing from 2019 is now at the much more attractive price point of around $14.  That makes it significantly less than its original price, and with the backing of Murphy's Magic, it is also getting a much wider and global distribution.  That's good news for us, because it means that this is a good value and practical deck that is relatively inexpensive to pick up.

I only wish that there was an easier way to get access to the contents of the entire instructional video, which for now appears to be only available as an actual DVD, and is a separate purchase that costs around $20.  To stay competitive with Penguin's Marked Cards, which comes with two full-length video tutorials, I hope that the creators will make the entire video available for purchasers of the deck.  From correspondence I've had with the creator of the GT Speedreader, I have learned that this is the plan, and hopefully in the near future it should be available online as streaming video.  Either way, the GT Speedreader is a good choice if you like the sound of a quality marked deck, and want discreet markings that are less likely to get discovered by alert spectators.



Marked Cards by Penguin Magic

Creator: Penguin Magic
Back design: 813 Maiden Back
First released: 2017
Price: $10

The Marked Cards deck was produced by Penguin Magic, a popular and specialty magic retailer that has created numerous other magic products.  These are guys that specialize in selling to magicians, and in making things for magicians.  So they know their target market incredibly well, and decided to create a very practical deck that meets the requirements for use in card magic, with an attractive price point to match.  Involved with the project were well known names in card magic like Kevin Reylek, an expert in marked cards, Rick Lax, and others from Penguin.

They certainly succeeded in achieving their aim, because this is easily and rightly one of the most popular marked decks available on the market today, and as an added bonus it is also the cheapest on this list, costing only $10 each ($5 each if you buy a brick directly from Penguin).

Description

Penguin's Marked Cards have very easy to read markings in six different places: in all four corners, as well as at the very top and bottom of the cards.   When using the deck you will be looking at the top three markings of these, since the bottom three will be upside down.  The markings are very easy to read, with value and suit indicated by the appropriate number/letter and the corresponding pip.

The deck is produced with Bicycle's popular Magic finish, and air cushion style embossing, so the handling will be much like similar decks.  After the very first print run, all subsequent printings of this deck use what Penguin calls "Elite stock", which is simply another way to refer to the crushed Classic stock used for a lot of USPCC decks these days.  It has proven to be a very popular stock for playing cards, since it feels quite soft rather than snappy out of the box, and handles nicely from the get go.   USPCC typically prints 56 cards in a deck, so besides the two Jokers you also get a double backer and a blank-faced card.

The tuck box looks completely innocent, although Penguin has cleverly used a different colour for the text below the giant Spade on the tuck box, as a visual indicator so that you can easily distinguish your marked deck from an unmarked Maiden Back deck.   One surprising thing about the box is that it has no tuck seal (which is unusual for a Bicycle deck), which may arouse suspicion for the highly observant spectator.  But the deck does come in cellophane so otherwise there is nothing out of the ordinary to notice.

The cards also come in red or blue, and you can even optionally buy them in prearranged Mnemonica order.  While that won't mean much for the average person, magicians who use this popular memorized stack will be able to take advantage of it by performing apparent miracles straight up.



Impressions

Like the current Boris Wild Marked Deck, Penguin's marked deck uses the popular Maiden Back design, so it looks very much like a Rider Back deck.  If the slight differences between these card backs is an issue for you, simply use an unmarked Maiden Back deck for all your other card magic, and then there will be nothing out of the ordinary to notice when you ring in your marked Maiden Back deck.  But for all intents and purposes, to your spectator it will look exactly like any other standard Bicycle deck, and the small changes from the Rider Backs won't even be anything they notice.

The back design does a surprisingly good job of hiding the markings, so if you use this deck wisely you won't ever have to worry about getting caught, and the marks will completely escape the attention of your spectators.  Yet once you know where to look, you can easily see them and read them.  Having them in six different locations on the card means that no matter how the cards are held or spread, you can easily see some of the marks and still identify the cards.

I wouldn't want to hand these cards out to a spectator for close examination, because the markings are larger than those used by the other three marked decks covered above. But they should still go undetected when in use, courtesy of the complexity of the back design, and the familiar look that is highly reminiscent of the classic Bicycle Rider Back.

Teaching materials

A real benefit of Penguin's Marked Cards is that with your purchase you also get access to two online tutorial videos, one by Rick Lax (48 minutes), and the other by Jon Armstrong (31 minutes).  These full length video downloads teach you everything you need to know about making optimal use of the markings, and give some really good advice about getting the most out of your marked deck.  They also offer several discreet ways to glimpse the markings in a natural way under the cover of other moves, and include some killer tricks you can perform with the help of your marked deck.

In his video, Jon Armstrong makes a good case for why you should use a marked deck for all the card magic you perform.  He also teaches you how to use your marked deck in a way that will ensure your spectators will have no reason to suspect you're using anything other than a normal deck.   The Rick Lax video covers how the markings work, and teaches four good tricks you can perform with a marked deck: Dual Divination, Spot the Difference, Show Me a Trick, and Invisible Deck.  The last of these combines the power your marked deck with the power of an Invisible Deck, to produce a 1 in 52 miracle where your spectator selects the same card you did.  I especially enjoyed "Show Me a Trick", which is like Ted Lesley's classic  "Spectator as Mindreader", but adds an "Do as I Do" element where you simultaneously find their card, making the effect even stronger.

Recommendation

Reviews of this deck from magicians are almost universally very positive, and for the price (only around ten bucks), Penguin's Marked Maiden Back deck really can't be beat for value.  They're even cheaper when bought by the brick directly from the creators, so they are built to be very affordable, so that you can use them as your everyday deck, regardless of what kind of card magic you are doing.

They're also very practical and easy to use.  And the fact that you get free tutorial videos along with the deck is a real bonus, because you not only get good advice about how to use a marked deck, but also get some terrific routine ideas.  Considering the entire package, you can hardly go wrong with this excellent deck.



Other Bicycle-branded Marked Decks

There are a few other Bicycle-branded decks that I haven't mentioned yet, namely Geno Munari's Gambler's Marked Deck (from Houdini Magic), Andy Nyman's The Code (from Theory11), and Luke Jermay's Marksman Deck (from Vanishing Inc Magic).  These appeared on the market in the following years:
● 2008 - Gambler's Marked Deck ($33) by Boris Wild & Geno Munari (Maiden Back)
● 2013 - The Code ($30) by Andy Nyman (Maiden Back)
● 2017 - Marksman Deck ($35) by Luke Jermay (Mandolin Back)

All of these three decks are also excellent Bicycle-branded marked decks that I highly recommend.  However they combine a marked deck with additional markings for a prearranged stack.  As a result they are also typically in a higher price bracket, and due to the additional features and possibilities they include, they deserve separate coverage.  Look for that in my next two articles, which will also introduce you to some great marked decks that are not Bicycle-branded, as well as some information and resources about how to make your own marked deck.

Besides these, there's a few other factory printed Bicycle decks that were possible candidates for this article.  All are around the $10 price point, but I did not cover them in detail since they are not readily available, or have markings that are impractical and too hard to read:
● Pure Mark Playing Cards by TCC (Mandolin Back).  This doesn't seem to be carried by most of the larger magic retailers, and is no longer available directly from the creator.  I can't recommend it with any confidence because I don't have personal experience with it, and there is not much information about it online. I've seen some glimpses of the marking system in online videos, and it has small markings in all four corners, each of which shows the value and suit. 
● Honor Marked Deck by J L Magic (Maiden Back).  The markings of this deck are very well hidden on the body and hair of the maiden on opposite corners of the deck.  It is a reader deck and is currently still available, but the markings are very small, so it is generally considered to be impractical to use, especially in comparison with the better options available. 
● Maiden Marked Playing Cards  (Maiden Back).  Not to be confused with Penguin's Marked Cards, despite the similar name, this deck does use alphanumeric markings.  But they are graphical markings that are not easy to decipher at a glance, which in practice almost turns it into a coded system rather than a reader system.  But it does have the advantage that it includes markings for the Tamariz stack, including the identity of the previous card in the stack.



Final Thoughts

Ted Lesley's work in the early 1980s has unquestionably been very influential in popularizing marked decks that were openly readable.  His transfer method was time-consuming and had a limited shelf life, but it was the only decent option at the time, which is why it was so warmly received by the magic community.  But that time is now past with the advent of factory printed marked decks with the Bicycle brand.  The year 2005 saw the arrival of Boris Wild's Marked Deck, and that proved to be a game changer for the industry, and led the way for numerous reader decks that would follow in its footsteps.

Many younger magicians would balk at the hefty price tags that were commanded by these early factory printed decks, such as the Ultimate Marked Deck, which still retails for $40.  But at the time these came out, the concept of a printed Bicycle-branded marked deck with a reader system was still somewhat new, and magicians were happy to spend that kind of money on a versatile and quality marked deck like this, given how ground-breaking it was.  And of course you weren't just paying for the materials, but for the secret and the innovation. The price point of a lot of magic products is determined by a large number of different factors, which can include small print runs, development costs, and more, and isn't always as simple as what consumers seem to think when they just consider the cost of materials.

Over the last 15 years the playing card industry has been revolutionized with the help of Kickstarter.  Improved technology also means it is easier to produce a custom deck than ever before.  Corresponding to these developments are cheaper prices, which is why the newer GT Speedreaders from 2019 and the Penguin Marked Decks from 2017 are so much more affordable than any of their predecessors.  Both of those marked decks will only set you back around $10-15 at most.  Clearly we're now in a new era  where a quality factory printed marked deck is becoming more normal, and this is also reflected in the price.



Recommendation

Penguin's Marked Cards is my top recommendation for card magic, given all the features and video tutorials it comes with, how practical and usable it is, and its attractive price point.  But don't rule out the other marked decks covered here too quickly, because they are all excellent in their own way.  What is best for you may depend on your personal requirements, the kinds of tricks you're performing, and the kind of audience you're performing for.   

For example, the Boris Wild Marked Deck has elements about it that other marked decks don't have, and those options might just be what you're looking for in a marked deck.  Depending on your needs and wants, it might even be the top deck for you to consider, given that it's not just a marked deck, but offers a system that becomes its own utility tool.  All of the above are top choices, excellent factory printed Bicycle-branded marked decks, and are worth knowing about and considering.

Clearly we are spoiled for choice today.  It's only when you consider what magicians had available in the way of marked decks two decades ago that we will start realizing how good we have it.

Where to get them: The four decks covered in this article can be found here:
● Boris Wild Marked Deck by Boris Wild (Maiden Back)
● Ultimate Marked Deck by Magic Dream (Rider Back)
● GT SpeedReader by Garrett Thomas (Mandolin Back)
● Marked Cards by Penguin Magic (Maiden Back)



Previous articles in this series (Marked Decks for Magicians - A Definitive Guide):
● Part 1: Why do magicians use marked decks?
● Part 2: What is the best marked deck for card magic?

Acknowledgement: It is important that I provide readers with thorough and reliable information.  So I want to acknowledge the assistance of many people I corresponded with when researching and writing these articles, especially numerous individuals who were personally involved in creating these decks.  They kindly provided me with answers to specific questions I had along the way, and also reviewed relevant parts of the text to ensure that the information I included was up-to-date and accurate.  I especially want to acknowledge the input of Kevin Reylek, who is an expert on the subject of marked cards, and whose assistance was invaluable.  Kevin was extremely helpful in ensuring the accuracy of many fine details, and very generous in pointing me in the right direction and in providing me with the information I needed.

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

62
Magical Cardistry Bonanza / The Best Factory Printed Marked Bicycle Decks
« on: June 27, 2022, 05:46:59 AM »
The Best Factory Printed Marked Bicycle Decks

Marked Decks for Magicians, Part 3

Introduction

For working magicians who are serious about card magic, a marked deck is not a novelty.  Instead, it's a valuable tool that can be used to good advantage in creating powerful effects otherwise not possible with a regular deck of cards. But a marked deck that is suitable for card magic does have very specific requirements.  In my previous article, What is the Ideal Marked Deck for Card Magic?, I outlined several key things to look for:
● It should use an-easy-to-use reader system, and ideally have decent sized markings on the long edges.
● It should disguise the markings sufficiently, and ideally look as normal as possible.

In short, enabling you to read the markings easily and quickly is the most essential quality of a good marked deck, while at the same time it should prevent easy detection by your spectators.

There are plenty of marked decks on the market, but the majority of working magicians will want to narrow down the field of suitable candidates to a Bicycle Rider Back or similar.  That's especially true if you plan to use the same kind of deck for all your other card magic, because then the cards will look normal and are less likely to arouse suspicion.  Something can seem fishy if you pull out a "special" deck merely for a particular trick that requires a marked deck, and where the cards look completely different from the decks you use for all your other card magic.

About ten years ago the manufacturer of Bicycle decks, the United States Playing Card Company (USPCC), took further steps to protect their brand, and this included trademarking the distinctive design of their classic 808 Rider Back.  One consequence of this move is that alterations to the Rider Back design are no longer permitted. This had the effect of ruling out any further printings of marked versions that used this classic back design.  But to meet the demand for marked decks in the Rider Back style, USPCC came up with two other back designs that do permit alterations and markings, and which to the casual observer look almost identical to the Rider Back: the 809 Mandolin Back (first released in 2010) and the 813 Maiden Back (first released in 2012).

Some magicians will also have further requirements, such as an  additional marking that indicates the exact location of a card in a prearranged deck.  This can be incredibly powerful, particularly when it is combined with the concept of a memorized stack, because you can immediately identify the cards preceding or following any given card.  Such systems can even enable you to know any card that is a specific number of cards away from any other card.   So depending on what you are looking for, the answer to the question about which marked deck is right for you will vary.  But I will start by identifying the best reader decks that simply indicate a card's value and suit, and I will save more high powered marked decks with other features for my next article.

In introducing you to the best marked decks that meet the above criteria, I am not going to show you detailed pictures that actually identify and teach the actual markings.  Given how carefully magicians protect their secrets, that would be taboo, and I'll already be pulling back the curtain far enough with my written descriptions.   But the level of detail I will include is along the lines of what you'll find in the promotional ad copy for these decks, in reviews on Youtube or magic retailer sites, or in discussion threads on public magic forums. So my aim is to find the right balance between honouring the magician's code, while also providing enough information to help you make an informed buying decision about the marked deck that's right for you, working with the details about these marked decks that are already publicly available and easily accessible elsewhere.

In this article I'll be covering the following basic reader decks, which are the best of the breed:
● 2005 - Boris Wild Marked Deck ($20) by Boris Wild (Maiden Back)
● 2005 - Ultimate Marked Deck ($40) by Magic Dream (Rider Back)
● 2011 - GT SpeedReader ($14)  by Garrett Thomas (Mandolin Back)
● 2017 - Marked Cards ($10) by Penguin Magic (Maiden Back)



Inspiration: Working Performer's Marked Deck (1983) by Ted Lesley

But first, let's go back to an important predecessor of these reader decks.  Most of them were inspired by an older system for marking decks that was popularized by noted magician and mind-reader Ted Lesley.  The method taught in Ted Lesley's Working Performer?s Marked Deck Manual (1983) relied on a rub-on transfer that required you to apply white numbers/letters for the values/suits to the back of the cards yourself.  This book gave instructions for how to make your own deck with this system, along with a number of excellent ideas for routines.

Lesley's method of marking decks was very popular when it came out, largely because it took a different approach to marked decks than the more commonly used coded systems.  Using his method resulted in marked decks that were very easy to read, because it offered a bold marking system that could even be read from some distance away.

To be fair, this idea had been suggested well before Lesley.  Already in the 1920s, T. Page Wright posited the notion of using a typewriter to put openly readable marks on the backs of cards. And in the 1950s Al Baker used an alpha-numeric system of letters and numbers to represent suits and values, which he implemented on the back design of Bicycle Angel Back Squeezer cards.  This was followed by similar systems from Harry Riser and others.  But there's no doubt that Ted Lesley's 1983 book popularized the concept for use with Bicycle Rider Backs, and had a significant impact on the use of marked decks from here on in.  His idea made it very practical to create a complete and functional marked deck using rub-on transfers, and it quickly became quite a hit with magicians who learned about it.

For its time, Lesley's deck was brilliant and innovative, and his companion book was also highly praised.  But it did have disadvantages, especially when compared with the factory printed products we have available to us today.  The marks could be considered a little too obvious, and quite a number of performers found that they got caught by spectators when using it.  In addition, applying the transfers manually yourself required real time and effort.  The transfers could also rub off over time, so they had a limited shelf life.

So while the Ted Lesley Marked Deck still has some admirers today, it has largely been superseded by the factory printed decks that are readily available in today's market, and which are covered in this article.



Boris Wild Marked Deck by Boris Wild

Creator: Boris Wild
Back design: 813 Maiden Back
First released: 2005
Price: $20

The Boris Wild Marked Deck is named after its creator, French magician Boris Wild.  Boris Wild's credentials speak for themselves: he is a previous winner of FISM, which is the most prestigious award in magic.  Boris first started playing around with marked decks in the mid 1990s, but his own factory printed deck first appeared on the market in the sumemr of 2005.  Prior to this he had taught his marking system so that it could be used with Ted Lesley's transfers, but having his marked deck factory printed was a truly ground-breaking and revolutionary development.  At the time it was the very first factory printed Bicycle marked deck with a reader system on the Rider Back design that was printed by USPCC.

It is still quite popular today due to the unique way in which it indicates suit.  By cleverly eliminating the need for a separate marking for suit, this clever deck enables you to do things that can't be done with most other reader decks.

Description

When the Boris Wild Marked Deck was first released it used the Rider Back design on the card backs.  That was later changed to the Maiden Back design after USPCC adopted its new policy to disallow any customization of the trademarked Rider Back going forwards.  The Maiden Back design was developed as an alternative back design in 2011, and and was originally known as the Angel Back.  Boris Wild and Geno Munari (who together also created the Gambler's Marked Deck, a marked deck with a stack that will be covered in the next article) had some input in shaping its final design, which was developed by Theory11.  To the average observer, the Maiden Back version of this marked deck still looks like a normal Bicycle deck, and unmarked versions of the Maiden Back are also available. 

The Boris Wild Marked Deck is a reader based deck, clearly inspired by Ted Lesley's Marked Deck, but with factory printed marks.  In creating this marked deck, among the most important criteria for Boris were speed and readability.  He wanted the marks to be on the edge of the cards so that they could be easily read in a spread, while still being well hidden by the design.    Everything about this marked deck has been designed for speed, which is also why the markings are entirely numeric rather than alphabetic.  They're also located in areas of the card less likely to be covered by your thumb when dealing the cards.

A striking feature of the Boris Wild deck is that the cards are only marked for the value.  The suits are cleverly indicated by where this mark is located on the card back, which will be in one of four different places along the long edge of the cards.  So the side of each card has been divided into four "levels", each of which corresponds to a different suit.

As is usual for USPCC decks, the Boris Wild Marked Deck comes with two extra cards, which in this case give instructions about the markings and how to use them.



Impressions

The disadvantage of this system is that initially it can take a little longer to read than a standard reader deck, because to determine the suit you need to quickly scan up to four areas on the card backs. Most marked decks allow you to bring your eye straight to a single place on the card back where you know the marking will be, and that makes them quicker to read.  In some situations, that makes the Boris Wild Marked Deck less than ideal (e.g. if you're trying to find a four-of-a-kind), although with experience you'll quickly train yourself to use this system rapidly.

But the fact that the markings aren't in the same spot offers some real perks that you can turn to your benefit.  This unorthodox marking system has been deliberately engineered to provide other advantages, which are well taught in the support resources for this unique deck.   For example, if you're looking for a card from a specific suit, you just need to look at one area of the card, making it much quicker to find.  This was one of Boris Wild's goals with this deck, namely to enable you to find a single card in a spread very quickly.  It's a real strength of this clever marked deck that you can accomplish this without needing to examine each and every card individually.   You can basically eliminate 75% of the deck instantaneously, and focus on finding the selection by just examining a portion of the card back.

In the final analysis, this is a very well thought out system that allows you to find a specific card in a spread just by scanning the relevant level of the card.  So if that's the kind of work you're using your marked deck for, this will actually make the Boris Wild Marked Deck a better choice than comparable marked decks.  In his video, Boris demonstrates how you can use his markings to locate a specific card in a face-down spread even more quickly than you could locate it in a face-up spread, which is very impressive!

It is true that the Boris Wild Marked Deck will require a little more practice than most other marked reader decks in order to master it.  The markings used with this deck also aren't as large as those on some other marked decks, such as the Marked Cards from Penguin.  So those who struggle with aging eyes may find that they want to compare it with other options.  But the marks are far less likely to be noticed by your spectators, and many magicians report that the markings even go unnoticed by other magicians who are checking to see if it's a marked deck.  With less markings on the card backs as a result of the marking system, you're less likely to have someone actually notice the marks anyway.  So this deck does have some applications that are unique to it, and it offers flexibility and some advantages that other marked decks don't have.

Teaching materials

Along with my copy of the deck came a double sided sheet of paper with full instructions about how the markings work, and tips to use them.  There's also an explanation about how to perform the excellent trick "Name My Card", which is taken from the book Hidden in Plain Sight.

But because you can do things with this innovative deck that you simply can't do with other marked decks, it is best used in combination with some of the additional resources created for it.  One such resource is the instructional video that was produced for it by Big Blind Media, entitled The Boris Wild Marked Deck Project.  It is available as a DVD or download, is priced at around $30, and has over four hours of tutorials and instruction, including some brilliant routines.

Of all the video resources mentioned in this article, this video is easily the best of the lot.  This video showcases Boris himself providing specialized teaching that is geared specifically to the system used by his Boris Wild Marked Deck.  He teaches you everything you need to know to maximize the benefits of the Boris Wild markings in a way that isn't possible with other decks. More importantly, he teaches a number of top notch routines, which are surprisingly easy to learn and strong in effect, courtesy of the power of his marked deck.

The video really is a must-have if you want to really want to get everything you can out of this marked deck.  The production quality is outstanding too, and Boris does an excellent job in teaching and explaining everything, with the benefit of his expertise.  The tips he gives in an extra section about the cull are also very helpful.  He also covers how to make your own deck with his marking system, which will take about 15-20 minutes using white transfers or a white marker (that you'll have to purchase yourself) once you're experienced at it.  There's no doubt that his passion and enthusiasm is infectious, and will really inspire you to get out there in the real world and do miracles with the Boris Wild Marked Deck.

Besides the video, Boris has also contributed to the book Hidden in Plain Sight (2005) by Kirk Charles, which is not just an excellent resource about his deck and about marked decks more generally, but is one of the all-time top books on the subject of marked decks.  His book The Complete Boris Wild Marked Deck (2001) and the more recent Transparency (2012) also teach a solid number of routines, techniques, and applications for marked decks.  A 40 page PDF with a selection of the content  of Transparency, including six great routines, is available under the title Boris Wild Marked Deck Lecture Notes.  While these are specifically tailored to the Boris Wild Marked Deck, they will also allow you to unleash the power of combining a marked deck with a stack (the Boris Wild Memorized Deck), for even more impressive miracles.  Boris is a true professional, and a real strength of his material lies in the construction of the routines, and the presentational elements he teaches - this is all very strong magic.

Recommendation

The Boris Wild Marked Deck may not be the first choice for someone looking for a plain reader deck.  But if you are prepared to adopt this system and learn the techniques that take advantage of it, you will find yourself well-rewarded given the unique potential this deck offers.  It's not as well suited for some tricks that require a marked deck, but for others it is actually better suited.  So it's an excellent tool well worth knowing about and considering.  And for those who aren't fond of Bicycle backs, a Phoenix Edition of the Boris Wild Marked Deck is also available, which offers an alternative back design.

Especially if you combine the Boris Wild Marked Deck with some of his own teaching materials, you will find yourself very well equipped for some stunning card magic, some of which simply can't be performed with other marked decks.  This is definitely a great marked deck that deserves a solid thumbs up.



Ultimate Marked Deck by Magic Dream

Creator: Magic Dream
Back design: 808 Rider Back
First released: 2005
Price: $40

The Ultimate Marked Deck (dubbed in magic circles as UMD for short) was released around 2005.  It originates with French magicians and creators Damien Vapereau and Jean-Marc Gahri, and the French company behind it is called Magic Dream.

When the Ultimate Marked Deck first appeared on the market, it was highly praised for being a reader deck that cleverly incorporates marks into the Rider Back design.  Many working magicians immediately embraced it, and lauded it for being the best marked deck that they'd seen and used.  The fact that it actually used the Rider Back design was naturally a real strength.  And unlike the Boris Wild Marked Deck, all the marks were in the same place, making it easier to use.

Description

This deck bears the unique distinction of being the only deck on the list that still utilizes the Rider Back design.  USPCC has not allowed marked decks to be printed with the Rider Back design for more than ten years now, and the original print run of the Ultimate Marked Deck preceded this new policy.  But despite the new restriction, Magic Dream managed to successfully convince USPCC management to do one final print run of the Ultimate Marked Deck with the Rider Back design in 2015.  It's uncertain how they managed to pull this off, given USPCC's strict policy on disallowing any alterations to their trademark.  But it definitely means that this print run represents the very last marked deck to be produced with Bicycle Rider Backs.  The Ultimate Marked Deck was produced in both a red and a blue version, but at most retailers you'll find that the blue deck is already sold out.  Once the remaining stock sells, these will never be available again.

The markings are in the two places where you would expect to find them: near the top left corner, and in the opposite corner, making this deck very intuitive to use and easy to learn.  This does make it more susceptible to being discovered via the riffle test ("taking a deck to the movies") than decks like the Boris Wild Marked Deck and the GT Speedreader.   Particularly the GT Speedreader is  more deceptive in that the marks are near the lower left corner, making them less likely to be observed by a spectator or uncovered via the riffle test.  But having the markings at the top left corner is more convenient for reading when spreading or fanning the cards in a normal way, so the Ultimate Marked Deck does use a very practical marking system.

The size of the marks on the Ultimate Marked Deck is similar to those used on the GT Speedreader, and slightly smaller than the ones used on the Marked Cards from Penguin.  What dictated the size and style of the markings was an effort to create a marked deck with the ideal qualities best suited to performing card magic in performance conditions before spectators: invisibility and readability.  The goal was to have markings that won't be detected by your audience, and that are still easy, simple and quick for you as a magician to read.



Impressions

The font size of the markings on the Ultimate Marked Deck accomplishes exactly what it set out to do.  As a magician, you can read them from a slight distance away when performing, knowing that the marks are always in the same place and a cinch to read when you're working with the decks.  But because your spectator is slightly further away, the marks will completely escape his notice, because they blend into the design so seamlessly.

One other thing to be aware of about the Ultimate Marked Deck is that the tuck box has a Magic Dream logo on the bottom, which could tip off your spectators that something is out of the ordinary.  Although it's highly unlikely that this would be noticed, if you are dead-set on making absolutely everything look innocuous and "normal",  you may want to switch the box with a regular one.

Although the Ultimate Marked Deck is at a very high price point compared with other marked decks, its real strength is that it is printed with the Bicycle Rider Back design.    So it will especially appeal to magicians who insist on having a marked deck that uses a Rider Back design, and want to steer away from the Mandolin Back and Maiden Back decks.  If you restrict yourself in this way, then your options will be very limited, because this is pretty much the only marked deck that meets those criteria.

Teaching materials

The Ultimate Marked Deck also has a Ultimate Marked Deck Companion Book (alternatively entitled: 100% Ultimate: The Secrets + 36 Routines) that can be purchased separately for around $30.  Like the deck, it was created by Magic Dream, who owns the rights both to the Ultimate Marked Deck and to the companion book.  It was written in 2010 by Ivan Laplaud in combination with the creators of the deck, Damien Vappereau and Jean-Marc Gaheri.  It is almost 150 pages in length, so it's a solid piece of work, and even includes some bonus routines contributed by Gaetan Bloom, Darwin Ortiz, and Michael Weber.  It's an excellent resource, and is well organized, clearly laid out, has plenty of helpful diagrams, solid ideas, and good crediting.

Besides some specifics about Ultimate Marked Deck, and techniques and tips for handling the deck and glimpsing the marks, the book also provides helpful information about marked decks generally, including their history, and what to look for in a good marked deck.  But the real treasure follows all this.  About two thirds of the book (over 100 pages) covers tricks and routines for marked decks, and this material is useful for any marked deck, not just the Ultimate Marked Deck.   And it is very  good content, with a lot of outstanding ideas.  Not only does it explain the methods to a number of very fine tricks, but its value especially lies in a real emphasis on presentation.  In terms of books with routines and tricks for marked decks, it's one of the very  best that I have.

Recommendation

The Ultimate Marked Deck is a good marked deck.  And if you do insist on a Rider Back marked deck, then this is the one to get.  The companion book is also outstanding, and although it is a separate purchase, it is well worth considering getting regardless of which marked deck you buy.

But you'll likely have to source the deck itself from a magic retailer.  And the price is quite steep, and it has a limited availability.  So don't wait too long, because once they sell out, they'll be gone forever.


63
Playing Card Plethora / Kickstarter: MECHANIMALS Playing Cards
« on: June 18, 2022, 08:28:37 AM »
MECHANIMALS Playing Cards (Kickstarter)

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/celsiuspictor/mechanimals-playing-cards

An exclusive deck with a unique and meticulously crafted universe that honors the history of playing cards.

Current funding level: over two-thirds funded
Kickstarter ends: Friday July 15, 2022



This project is a partnership between artist Celsius Pictor and Max Playing Cards.  Celsius has worked as a professional illustrator for a dozen years, and has collaborated with brands, publishers and agencies worldwide.  He describes his artistic style like this:

"A very thorough mixed technique that combines collage from old 19th-century engravings recovered from flea markets, with ink and digital color in a meticulous work and detailed process like a goldsmith's. I select, cut and compose small pieces to give life to a new universe in a recycling and reuse process that respects traditional textures and media, transporting them to the future."



The goal is to create a true work of art in the form of a creative deck of cards, deeply rooted in the culture and history of playing cards.  Celsius has tried to create a historical universe that captures something of the heritage and history of European playing cards, while presenting them in a unique way that captures something of the fantastic.  Many people are aware that individual playing cards were often associated with historical figures and characters, and this is the kind of thing that Celsius is drawing on.  He will share some of these symbols and ideas as the campaign progresses, but he doesn't want to prescribe too much, because he also wants us to come up with our own stories as we explore his deck.

The story behind the deck is described on the project page as follows:

"July 25, 1880. In a small inn on Spain-France border along the Way of Saint James, an exhausted pilgrim recovers his strength with a jug of wine after his journey. He takes a deck of well-worn playing cards out from his bag and invite his table companions to play a game. The deck was printed in England, with the tax mark on the Ace of Spades. Each card, from numbered to court, reproduce the already centuries old printing traditions. The pilgrim deals the cards, and the game begins."



The card backs depict four warriors on guard around a pond.  The imagery here has been inspired by medieval Arab art, and a story about the ancient kingdom of Al-Andalus.

Here are some pictures of more cards from project page:







To make this project a reality, Celsius has teamed up with Max from Max Playing Cards.  Max is a professional playing card consultant, with experience in all aspects of playing card design, including fulfilment.  Respected playing card manufacturer Legends Playing Card Company has been selected to print this deck.



The project has two main editions, standard and limited. A deluxe gilded edition is also being made available for those wanting the ultimate in luxury, which comes with blue gilded edges, and a special die cut sleeve for the tuck. 



Kickstarter link

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/celsiuspictor/mechanimals-playing-cards


64
Playing Card Plethora / Re: A-Z of Playing Card Artists and Designers
« on: June 18, 2022, 08:27:40 AM »
This is an amazing project.  Thanks for creating this, and for sharing it here! 

Hopefully that helps get more eyes on it.  It's an excellent resource, and especially deserves to be seen and used by all collectors of modern playing cards.

65
Magical Cardistry Bonanza / Re: Michael Weber's Red Black
« on: June 18, 2022, 01:33:12 AM »
I don't know that you'd get much response here.  I'd suggest you try posting about this over in some forums for magicians, where you're more likely to get success. 

Suggestions:
● The Magic Cafe: https://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewforum.php?forum=78&67
●  The Magician's Forum: https://www.themagiciansforum.com/
● Reddit Magic: https://www.reddit.com/r/Magic

Wishing you success in tracking this down!

66
Magical Cardistry Bonanza / Review: The Prophecy by Roberto Giobbi
« on: June 10, 2022, 12:28:07 PM »
The Prophecy by Roberto Giobbi

A freely thought of card appears inside a wallet in your spectator's pocket

Overview

Roberto Giobbi is a master when it comes to the construction of card magic. Not only is he the author of today's Bible of card magic, Card College, but he's also a highly renowned teacher who is known for his ability to give close attention to all aspects of a magic performance.  When he puts something out, it's worth looking at closely.  Prophecy is a trick Giobbi released together with Penguin Magic towards the end of 2021, and it is a true gem.

Here's what Roberto himself says about it: "This has been the Finale of my Close-up Shows, and my Encore for Stage, for several years now. It is one of the three best tricks I've ever come up with in my professional career of 33 years, and I'm releasing it now for the very first time with all the details that make this a miracle for any lay audience - and I've fooled some of the smartest and most knowledgeable magical minds with it in my performances at seminars and magic conventions around the world."

This isn't just another magic trick, destined to collect dust at the bottom of your magic draw.  Even if you're paying for it with your hard-earned money, this can be considered a gift from one of the world's most respected figures in card magic. Giobbi has been fine-tuning this piece for years.  And not only do you get everything you need to perform this miracle yourself, but you also get the opportunity to learn from one of the very best that there is, not merely how to do this trick, but much more about thinking and performance which will benefit the rest of your magic as well.



The effect

As the name suggests, The Prophecy is a prediction.  The ad copy summarizes the basic effect like this:  "The magician shows their audience a wallet. It's opened, and emptied. It contains a single envelope and nothing else. The envelope is placed back inside the wallet, and then the wallet is handed to the spectator for safekeeping. Then the audience freely selects a card from an imaginary deck. The spectator opens the wallet, and the magician opens the envelope. Inside is the exact prediction of what the audience chose."

Giobbi himself points out that you can even give away the card and envelope to your spectator: "At the end he can take the envelope home, with the performer's business card, whom he may call, just in case he cannot sleep ... This is what is left in the spectator's `communicative memory' and what he will be telling everyone for the rest of his life."

To whet your appetite, see the official video trailer here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TT8uhWtF0pM



What you get

With The Prophecy you get several things:

● Himber Wallet: The real highlight here is the lovely Himber Wallet that is provided as part of this trick.  It's in the older style of Himber Wallet, and has a clasp, making it look quite distinguished.

● Other props: Besides the wallet you get the other props you need, which include some standard coin envelopes, and some Bicycle quality cards, and one or two other essentials.

● Instructional video: Also included is access to an online tutorial video, which explains everything you need to know about the method and performing The Prophecy.

● Bonus routines: Finally, there's a bonus PDF with a couple of alternate handlings and presentational ideas, one called "Who Believes in Clairvoyance?" and the other called "The Seven Chairs".



The wallet

Of everything you receive with this trick, the real prize is the wallet.  As the promotional materials describe it: "In addition to an incredible instructional video from Roberto Giobbi, you receive the Prophecy wallet. This genuine leather wallet is beautifully constructed and allows you to perform incredibly strong magic."

 It's true that wallets are becoming less commonly used by laymen nowadays, but you can pass this off as a passport wallet, or something to protect important documents.  The point is that because it's closed and in your spectator's pocket, there's no way you can do any quick switches, so as a prop it has functional importance. This adds conviction and impossibility to the effect in the mind of the spectator, while of course for you as magician it provides part of the method. 

A good quality Himber Wallet is not cheap, and I imagine that a large part of the price you're paying goes toward covering the cost of including this wallet. The nice thing about the wallet is that it is a very versatile prop, so you can use it for other tricks that require a Himber Wallet as well.



The video

The instructional video for The Prophecy can be downloaded or streamed online.  It was created by Penguin Magic, so it has good quality visuals and sound, and is well produced.  It runs for a little over 50 minutes, with Penguin's Nick Locapo taking up the first 10 minutes to show us the wallet and the basic mechanics of how the trick works.  The next 40 minutes features Roberto Giobbi himself, first with a full live performance with spectators, and then over half an hour of explanation.

If you've ever watched any of Roberto Giobbi's video tutorials, you'll know how he pays attention to every single detail in the construction of an effect, and thinks of absolutely everything.  What's more, he constantly provides all kinds of wisdom and advice that you can use for all of your magic. This instructional video is no exception, and it can rightly be described as "a master class in magic performance."  The guys at Penguin recommend that you take notes when watching the video, and I can see why.  There's a rich amount of valuable thinking that Giobbi shares throughout about how to become a better magician.

I'm a long-time fan of Giobbi's clear and logical thinking about magic, his careful explanations, and his all-round love for the art of magic, and all of that is on display here.  As always, he is also meticulous in his crediting, and acknowledges the likes of Alan Jackson and Kenton Knepper in inspiring aspects of this routine.  There's a great deal to like here.



Other impressions

Is it difficult to perform?  Not really.  The method doesn't require much in the way of sleight of hand at all, although if you want to be able to give away an empty envelope at the end to your spectator at the end you will require some experience. But more importantly, you will have to be mentally agile in how you manage things, especially the "off by one" principle, and that's where Giobbi's wealth of experience comes in.  This isn't something designed to satisfy newbies looking for a quick trick, but will especially benefit working performers who want quality, want to amaze, and are willing to give attention to detail.

As is typical for most magic publishers, Penguin does hype this trick, billing it as follows: "Perfect for close-up, parlor, and stage, this effect will deliver some of the strongest reactions you've ever gotten."  But in this case the lavish praise is not undeserved.  This really is the complete package, and there's little to disappoint here.

First of all, you get a very solid trick, with great presentational possibilities.  The idea of a thought-of card appearing in a wallet in your spectator's pocket is quite astounding.  Intrigue is immediately aroused by saying: "I have the answer to a question inside this envelope, but the question has not yet been asked".  Giving the wallet up front to your spectator to hold on to also strengthens the impossibility. Having your spectator shuffle an imaginary deck also makes for some fun byplay, as those familiar with the invisible deck will immediately realize, but it also creates an outcome that seems all the more baffling and astounding.   And despite what some might think, the method doesn't rely on multiple layers of equivoque, and aside from the colour, it really is a genuinely free choice on the part of your spectator.  The "off by one" ending won't excite everyone, but when presented right it can also add more amazement.  Arguably mentioning this at the outset can even strengthen the entire routine.

Secondly, you get a great prop, which has the potential for being used as a tool in the rest of your magic.  Especially if you don't yet own a Himber Wallet, or have always wanted to get your hands on the older style like the one included here, this is a great opportunity.

Finally, the teaching is superb.  This is much more than just an explanation of how to do this trick, but at times aspects of it become a mini-course in improving your card magic and performance. Giobbi covers all the aspects of the handling, and while equivoque isn't at the heart of the routine, there are numerous "outs" that you're working with, in order to make things seem truly impossible for your spectator, and by the time you've watched the video you'll know exactly what to do.



Recommendation

I'll admit that I'm somewhat of a Giobbi fan-boy.  And I'm also a big fan of clever card magic.  That makes me the ideal target market for something like The Prophecy.  But I know that I'm not alone in appreciating this trick for the classy and sophisticated piece of work that it is.  It can be considered an impossible trick, a versatile prop, and a mini-magic course, all wrapped into one. 

The Prophecy isn't ground-breaking in the sense that it comes up with a brand new principle or something that we've never seen before.  But what it does, it does superbly, because it is a highly polished work of art.  I highly recommend it.

Where to get it? The Prophecy is available directly from Roberto Giobbi or from Penguin Magic.


67
Magical Cardistry Bonanza / Review: The Birthday Deck by Liam Montier
« on: June 10, 2022, 04:09:55 AM »
The Birthday Deck is a trick by Liam Montier that was released through Big Blind Media.

If you want to see what the effect looks like, check out the official video trailer, which includes a full performance:



Here's the ad copy:

"Liam Montier?s The Birthday Deck is a near self-working miracle which allows you to predict any spectator?s Birthday!  No complicated sleight of hand - No preshow - Works with ANY birthday.

People are fascinated by fortune telling and ?readings?, and Liam Montier?s new release takes that and builds it into a KILLER revelation of a spectator's ACTUAL BIRTHDAY!  Meet someone for the first time, with no pre-show, and demonstrate a ?reading? with the cards, using the numbers and month of their birthdate to generate the cards that will reveal their fortune! 

Then, as a kicker, you spread the rest of the deck face down across the table - every single card is blue backed? except for the cards the spectator landed on.  Those are the ONLY RED CARDS IN THE DECK - and written on the back of them IS THEIR ACTUAL BIRTHDAY!



A dynamite trick in real life, or perform it virtually on ZOOM for your online shows!

● NO forces - the cards will be different each time for the ?readings?!
● NO pre-show - perform the trick in real time to a stranger you?ve just met!
● NO complicated sleight of hand!
● NO rough and smooth or sticky stuff!"



My thoughts

The main thing you get is a gaffed Bicycle deck.  You'll have to do some initial set-up by writing dates/numbers on the cards, but once you've done that the first time, your deck is set to go, and resets easily each time you perform.

You also get access to online video instructions that run for a bit over 20 minutes, covering a performance (3 min), explanation (13 min), alternate handlings (3 min), and credits (2 min).   This was produced by Big Blind Media, and features their usual high quality production qualities.

Calling this trick completely self-working and saying there is no sleight of hand is a bit of a stretch, because there are moves you need to do.  But they are very straight-forward and easy, and are well-justified by the handling. So this is not the kind of thing that you'll get caught out with, and is well within the reach of a beginner.  For the rest the gaffed deck does all the work for you, and it is a very clever concept.

I'm not a huge fan of the "fortune telling" style presentation with a personalized cold reading.  But you can easily change the presentation to the idea of a "lucky card", or something else along those lines.  Technically you're not quite predicting their birthday from scratch, because your spectator does need to reveal the date at the outset.  But the way that the trick is constructed does produce a surprising revelation of their birth date on the cards they select. The final way of displaying the cards also really emphasizes something magical, because there's a spread of blue-backed cards, and the selected cards which have the birthdate revelation are the only red-backed cards.  It's a very convincing and surprising finish with a nice look to it.

Red Hot Prediction by Cameron Francis was an inspiration here, but this really takes things to another level.  The Birthday Deck has a very personal touch, while remaining very easy to do.  If you like gaff decks that offer something personal with a fun presentation, this definitely hits the mark.

Find out more info over on the product page at Big Blind Media.


68
Magical Cardistry Bonanza / Review: Parkin Email Premonition (P.E.P.) by Thom Parkin
« on: June 03, 2022, 09:08:22 PM »
 Parkin Email Premonition (P.E.P.)

Send a photo prediction to your spectator's phone in advance, and always get it right!



Overview

Imagine this scenario.  You send your spectator an email with a photo you took the previous day at the beach.  He checks to see that it arrives in his inbox, but for the moment doesn't open it.  Then you get him to select a word.  Any word.  A legitimately free choice.  He then opens his email to find your photo, where you had written that very word in the beach sand.  Yesterday.

Or this: You send your spectator an email prediction.  He rolls six dice, using any combination of arithmetic, to produce a completely random number.  And opens his email to find that you've predicted that exact number.

Maybe you want to take it to another level. Imagine you could send an email in advance of the Superbowl, and predict the winner.  In fact, the exact score. With  Parkin Email Premonition (P.E.P.), you can do all that and more.  And it's good as it sounds.  Because an email is like a sealed envelope.  We all know that once an email is sent, you can't get it back, and you can't change it.  And yet your prediction is right.  Every time.

If you want to get an idea of how powerful an email prediction can be, take a look at these two routines from the shows Fool Us and America's Got Talent.  In the Fool Us episode, Brazilian magician Guilherme Silveira travels forward in time, and then back to the present, to predict a freely selected animal, the cumulative total of freely selected dice, and a freely selected colour and US state.  In the America's Got Talent episode, the judges freely select details like a date, a name, and a word, all of which appear in a photo that was taken and sent in advance of their choice.

I'll emphasize the word freely selected, because that's what makes this so baffling.  And yet this is exactly the kind of thing you can do with Parkin Email Premonition (P.E.P.).  So let's tell you more about it.  NB: Right now you can take advantage of a special offer to sign up for a free 10 day trial.



The history

Some magicians may already be familiar with Inject, which is highly regarded as an amazing app that can be used for a large variety of remarkable effects using a phone.  Inject is a separate product from a totally different creator, but P.E.P. does integrate with some Inject effects, and combine them with an email prediction.

But what if you're like me: you don't have Inject, and you don't even know how it works?  Then this write-up is especially for you, because P.E.P. is also a stand-alone product that allows you to do email predictions, and that's what I wanted to do.  Now if you have Inject, you'll already be familiar with some of the concepts that Inject lets you do, so you'll immediately understand how P.E.P. lets you make an email prediction as well as the Inject effects you are using.  In fact, that's how P.E.P. originated.  The creator, Thom Parkin, wanted to find a way to use some Inject effects, but make them even more powerful by being able to predict them in advance via an email.    So P.E.P. started as an add-on for Inject.

But Thom didn't stop there.  He continued to develop what he'd created, and turned it into a stand-alone product that enables you to do email predictions completely independent of Inject.   And that's the aspect of this product that particularly interested me, because that's what I wanted to do.  So let's completely forget about Inject for a moment, and assume you're a reader who isn't familiar with Inject, and you want to be able to do amazing email predictions.   That's exactly what P.E.P. lets you do.

As the ad copy says: "Reveal ANYTHING (image or text) in an email message with a timestamp proving it arrived before the selection was made."  The beauty of having something with a timestamp proves that the email was sent in advance (and it really is!), before anything that happened and yet is correctly predicted.  And that's the real strength of P.E.P.



The effect

Here's how that will look, if you break down the steps involved in using Parkin Email Premonition (P.E.P.) to successfully make an email prediction:

● You make a prediction by email.  Your spectator witnesses you composing the email message, which you can tailor to the situation, but you keep the content secret for now.
● Your spectator confirms receipt of the email.  They don't yet open the email, but can confirm on their device that they have received the prediction message.
● The spectator makes a truly FREE choice.  No force is involved whatsoever, and it is a genuinely free choice.
● Your spectator opens the prediction email, which is 100% correct.  The email reveals (with photos or text) exactly what the free choice was, and timestamps prove it was sent before the choice was made.

That's pretty much how it looks to your spectator. And amazing as it seems, the choice made by your spectator is truly a free one.  It need not even be something chosen by your spectator (e.g. a random playing card) but can also be the results of a sports event, what the weather will be like, or genuinely anything you wish.   And the headers of the email can be checked thoroughly after the fact: the prediction really was sent in advance of the event that was predicted.

I should mention from the outset that no app is used to accomplish any of this.  All of this is simply accomplished with a phone, mobile device, or even a desktop computer with an internet connection.  If you have access to the internet and a web browser, then you can do this.



How it works

The best way to explain what P.E.P. can do is show you how it works.  I have also run this by the creator, Thom Parkin, to make sure he is okay with the level of information I'm sharing, and he's given this his blessing.  Unlike a lot of other tricks in the magic industry, what you're buying with P.E.P. isn't so much the secret about how it works.  From the advertising copy on the product page, that should be pretty obvious: after you send the prediction email, there's a way in which you or a confederate can input the information that will show up in the prediction email when it is read after the fact.  So it's really the technology that is doing all the work for you, and this requires skills and resources that none of us will otherwise have access to without P.E.P., and it's access to this technology that you're paying for when you become a subscriber.

Step 1: Making the email prediction

Once you join up and become a subscriber of P.E.P., you get two special personalized links.  The first personalized link brings you to a starting screen on whatever device you are using to make the prediction.  The Inject Effects only apply to Inject users, and what I'll be using are the "Dynamic Effects".   From this screen all I need to choose is "Email Fallback".  Basically this lets me choose the image that my spectator will see if they open their email too early. There are around 10 different options you can pick from, such as a blue spinner, a "failed download" message, a Queen of Hearts, and several others.

Next we go to a "compose email" screen, which is deliberately designed to look like a basic email editor, and lets you enter the email address of your spectator. You can even enter multiple email addresses, as long as they're separated by a comma. Some working professionals use this to enter the email address of 100 audience members or more, to get them all to receive the prediction email.  With P.E.P. that's no problem, and the creator does offer a few special provisions for stage performers, including a system to easily enter many email addresses.   You can also customize the subject line, and the initial text of your prediction.  If you prefer, these last two values can also be pre-populated by the standard text of your choice, to help expedite the process and save you time.

Pressing "Send" will ship off your prediction email to your spectator, and at this point you can have them check that they've received it - as long as they do not open it, otherwise the trick won't work.  If they do open it too early, you do have a fail-safe measure in place - they'll see the "Email Fallback" image you selected instead. A blind copy of this prediction email is also sent to you automatically as the performer, which has the advantage that you can reference the exact reveal and date of the performance when you are doing follow-up marketing.

Step 2: Sending the secret information

Now for the hocus pocus.  After sending the prediction email you'll click a button to go to a special "Browser Thump Helper" page.  Alternatively you (or an accomplice) can use your second personalized link to go directly to this page, even if it is on a different device than the one used for making the prediction.  On this page you will enter the "free choice" after your spectator has made his choice, or the results of whatever event you have predicted.  You can have a confederate do this if the spectator is going to make his choice under your nose, and you are busy with the spectator.  There are ways for Inject users to enter this information by special patterns of swipes, but another alternative is to sneak away to another room and enter it yourself.  I predicted the results of a sports event, and so I had more than an hour to do this after sending the prediction email.

From this page you choose one of more than two dozen "Helpers" that you'll use for revealing the prediction in the email you have already sent.   Most of these "Helpers" take advantage of dynamic images created by Photofunia, which is a separate service that Thom partners with to make this work.  Each of these reveals has its own look, and depending on what you choose, you'll have a different number of fields to fill in for your revelation.  For example, the "Airline" Helper lets you make a revelation of a word (up to 10 characters) on the side of an aeroplane, in the colour and font of your choice.

Other options include a having the revelation of a word or short message appear on a yacht or hot air balloon; on two arrow signs; on a sign on a beach or street; on a number plate, birthday cake, book, bracelet, cross-stitch, type writer, or tree carving; or as writing in sand, snow, or water.  Further creative options that give some wonderful presentational possibilities include revealing the information as part of a diploma, cinema ticket, newspaper, or gravestone.  And that's just a sample of the many options available to you!

Step 3: Revealing the prediction

Let's say we're going to reveal a playing card, and opted for the "Hot Air Balloon" as the dynamic effect to use.  Let's enter "8 of Clubs" and press "Thump it" to send it to P.E.P.  Now we're all set, and that's all we need to do!  In the example below, I predicted the result of the recent 2022 Giro d'Italia cycling race, which was won by Jai Hindley.  I opted for the "CrossStich" Helper, entered the relevant information about Jai Hindley being the winner, and selected the other options for that Helper, such as the colour of the text, and the colour and pattern of the frame above and below the text.

After pressing "Thump It", P.E.P. will give us a preview of what the created image looks like.  In my case, using a photo of a cross stitch gives presentational possibilities, because I could even say that I was so confident of my prediction in advance, that I had my wife make a cross stitch with the winner's name the previous evening, and I took a photo to prove it.

Now everything is ready for the prediction email to be opened up and read by the spectator, because P.E.P. together with Photofunia will do all the hard work for us.   When the spectator opens up the email, they'll see the initial text that we composed, along with the image that P.E.P. has incorporated, with the revelation built into whatever image we have decided to use.  This prediction image is permanent, and will not be changed, so if your spectator forwards the email to someone else, the prediction image will be preserved intact just as we created it.

If you want to see screenshots of all the steps involved in making this particular prediction, see the official User's Guide for Making A Prediction With P.E.P., and to see examples of some of the Other Reveals.



 The technical side

The beauty about P.E.P. is that you don't need to install any app or software, because everything works with the help of the two custom links provided to you.  So all you need is a device with an internet connection, and you're set to go.

The guy behind this is Thom Parkin.  By day he is a professional software developer, so when it comes to the technology side of things, he really knows his stuff.  But he's also an amateur magician, so he loves tinkering with technology to find ways to integrate it with magic.  That means that when it comes to customizing things or resolving issues, he's the right man for the job, because he has all the expertise needed.

This is very much a passion project for Thom.  While folks new to this effect might raise their eyebrows initially at the price, the reality is that this is primarily a labour of love for Thom, and not a money making endeavour.  There are a lot of expenses involved in running P.E.P., and when I asked Thom directly about this, he shared that he's not even breaking even most of the time.  Whatever income P.E.P. generates right now doesn't even cover his running costs.  I mention that, because I think it's important not to balk at the price too quickly.

There's a lot of overhead in running the email systems involved, and the various technical aspects of the service.  There's a lot of "behind-the-scenes" work that is required which users don't get to see, and yet is essential.  For example, because the system uses email, Thom has to make sure that he has things in place to prevent hackers exploiting his network.  And because he relies on Photofunia for many of the images, he also pays them a recurring fee for API access to Photofunia's back end.  He has a positive working and business relationship with the folks at Photofunia, which gives some assurance about the longevity of P.E.P., but naturally this also adds to the cost.



 Additional features

I've given an overview of what P.E.P. can do and how it works, but there are more things worth highlighting, even though some of these have been mentioned already:

●  Private Facebook group. Once you become a subscriber, you get access to a special Facebook group that has been set-up for subscribers of P.E.P.  I found it helpful to browse through previous posts in the group, because it gave me ideas for presentation, and also helped me get a handle on how to get the most out of P.E.P.

●  Multiple recipients. Sending the prediction email to multiple audience members is done easily by entering their email addresses, separated by a comma. So if you're performing to a group, you can have all of them get the prediction email.  This is also a fail-safe in case one person does open the email too early, to prevent that from ruining the effect.  And it's no problem to have your spectators look over your shoulder when you're typing their email addresses, to help ensure that you're getting them right - everything looks entirely innocent.  Some working pros even get this email sent to their entire audience, which in some instances includes more than 200 people!

●  Email footer. Because you can fully customize the text of the prediction email, this is an ideal way to include any promotional information about yourself to your spectator immediately underneath the revelation image.  I can see this being a feature that pro magicians can especially benefit from, because you can include details such as links to your website or social media, or even images like a company logo or a promotional coupon.  Because your spectator can forward the email to friends and family, all of this will get automatically included as well.

●  Premium features. The normal version of P.E.P. is fully functional, and will work just fine for most users.  However, because the creator is a tech expert, it does mean that he can do some additional customizing for an additional fee, to cover his time and costs incurred by whatever he is setting up for you.   Premium features include several additional dynamic effects, e.g. an eye chart, refrigerator note, small notepad, free open text, and a few others.  Some even enable you to incorporate your own images within other images, which is very powerful.  Another premium feature available is the capability to simplify the process of entering multiple email addresses for an entire audience in a live performance or virtual show, by using a customized QR code or a separate web form.  You can even have the revelation appear on your own webpage.    Thom will also work with clients to build revelations based on their own images.

●  Inject integration. I'm not a user of Inject, so I really can't say much about this.  But I do know that users of Inject have spoken very highly about P.E.P., because it enables them to incorporate an email prediction along with things they are already doing, and works well with Inject.  Thom has a positive and friendly relationship with the creator of Inject, so everything is above board.  The list of Inject effects currently supported by P.E.P. is lengthy, and includes things like Houdini Cards, Joker Cards, Numbers, Toy Price Tag, Hotel Key, Roulette, Big Ben, Colored Dice, Love Poem, Playing Cards, ESP Cards, Magic Square, and numerous others.  As I understand it, with these effects you can input what is revealed by swiping on your device with Inject, so you don't need a confederate.



Impressions

●  Very powerful. The ability to apparently go forward in time in order to make a 100% accurate prediction can be mind-blowing.  Especially when combined with an interesting presentation, this method can be the backbone of a very strong routine.  You only have to look at the success of the concept of an email prediction in performance videos from Fool Us and America's Got Talent to get an idea of the potential here.  And the final result is very convincing. Even a thorough look at all the email headers will prove that the timestamp is genuine, and the email really was sent ahead of the event that was predicted.  I've used P.E.P. to successfully predict the results of sports events such as a cycling race, and even a government election.  If something can happen, you can predict it, so the possibilities are endless.

●  Very flexible. I was amazed by the range of options available with P.E.P.  This is by no means a one trick pony, even though the concept of an email prediction isn't something you'd use multiple times with the same audience. But when it comes to ways in which you can customize things, you have a large amount of options.  This starts with customizing the subject line and text of your prediction email.  But it especially applies to the large range of different kinds of images you can choose from for your revelation. And if you really want more, Thom Parkin is more than ready to help work with you to create whatever effect you are looking for.

●  Very commercial.  This is a very professional product, and I can see that it would especially be a powerful tool in the hands of a performing professional.  David Copperfield has even incorporated an email prediction with a photo in his show, and with P.E.P. you're able to do exactly that.  I'm an amateur, so for me this is mostly fun to play around with, although I've had a lot of enjoyment tinkering with P.E.P. to impress my family and friends.  But for the performing professional, P.E.P. can really be a powerful tool that could be incorporated as part of your repertoire, and even combined with an existing effect to make it even stronger. The ability to have the prediction sent to your entire audience at a convention or in a show really strengthens things.  The ability to include a footer with custom ads or links is also very useful when used in a commercial context.

●  Technology dependent.  The method behind P.E.P. is of course entirely dependent on technology.  That's part of the beauty of it, because there are no sleights to learn or secret moves to accomplish, other than finding the best way to enter the text for your revelation.  This has the advantage that you can put all your energy into the performance and presentation.  But it can also come with its own baggage.  When experimenting with P.E.P., I did notice that in some instances the image can load slowly, since Photofunia images are quite high resolution.  Thom is currently working on a way of reducing the file sizes, because if your spectator notices the image load visually and slowly, it might tip the method.  Mind you, this is less of an issue with dynamic effects that are built into a photo, and where the user has been told in advance to expect a photo as the prediction.   But I have read that people involved in email marketing or those with a close familiarity with live images and live text in emails could easily figure out the method.  In my limited experience with P.E.P. so far I haven't personally had this happen with a spectator yet. I also think that the chances of your spectator reverse engineering the method can also depend on the patter you use and how you present this.

●  Well supported. I did also have a couple of times where the technology failed me - or perhaps I failed it because of what I was doing!  Whatever the cause, Thom was immediately at hand to help me resolve matters, and to take steps to prevent this happening again.  Thom Parkin has a real passion for technology and a passion for magic, and this project is first of all about a way he can combine these two loves.  He's not in this to make money first of all, but to create something that he's put his heart into, so he loves to see other magicians achieve success with the help of what he's done, and give them constant support along the way.  So it's no surprise that Thom is super helpful with everything.  I asked him a lot of questions about P.E.P., and he was always willing to go the extra mile in explaining things and answering questions.  It quickly became obvious to me that Thom is extremely dedicated to this project, and is constantly looking for new ways to add new effects and improve things.  This also means that P.E.P. is not a static product, but is a passion project that has the benefit of his ongoing development.



● Learning curve.  Now that I know how P.E.P works, it's really very simple.  It's actually not difficult to learn how to use, but if there is something that it lacks, it is a good and simple explanation of what it does and how it works (Update: I've since helped the creator put together a useful P.E.P. User's Guide which walks you through all the steps of registering and making a prediction).  I suspect that the "How it works" section of this review will accomplish exactly that, because that was what I would have liked to have had when I started out.  Especially for non-Inject users like me, all the information I was confronted with at first was a little overwhelming.  I wrongly had the impression that a considerable amount of tech know-how was required. I was actually a little intimidated initially by all the options and text boxes, which made things seem far more complex than it actually was.  So don't let the options and customization put you off, because actually it's all rather straight forward.  If you've read the "How it works" section of this review, you're pretty much ready to sign up and use this.

● Audience management. You will require some good audience management when using P.E.P.  If your spectator opens the email too soon, they'll get your "Email fallback" image, and once that's loaded, the prediction email is basically locked in place, and will only ever show the fallback image, and not the correct prediction.  That is actually a good feature of P.E.P., because it means you're covered if your spectator does open the email too soon.  But it does mean you'll have to give very clear instructions about this.  I had it happen with one nonchalant spectator who did open the email despite my instructions, and said "but I didn't read it, so it doesn't matter".  While he didn't think it was a big deal, meanwhile he'd blown the effect.  I've learned from that experience, and have managed to avoid a repeat, but it does show that your patter needs to be carefully considered.  Describing the prediction email as the equivalent of a "sealed envelope" which shouldn't be opened to the very end is a good way of achieving this in a way that makes sense to your spectator.

● Presentation options. When it comes to your patter and presentation, you will largely be on your own.  On the one hand, one of the strengths of P.E.P. is that it is so flexible, and that it has so much scope for a wide range of possible presentations.  But for a brand new user like me, especially if the world of predictions is somewhat new, I found myself a little lost at sea, and could have benefited from a bit more guidance, with some suggested patter and presentation.  For example, I quickly learned that it can actually be a positive to tell people that I'm sending them an image.  Not only does that help provide a good cover for the method, but it also prevents them getting side-tracked when opening up the email and being confronted with an image rather than plain text, and ensures that they will instead focus on the baffling accuracy of the prediction itself.  Some of the Photofunia photos also lend themselves naturally to striking presentations (e.g. "Yesterday I took a photo of ....").  But having a video with a suggested performance would help the learning curve, and so would a list of presentation or patter ideas.  This will be less of an issue for Inject users, since many of the effects it enables already incorporate presentations, and in those cases P.E.P. will simply function as a natural extension to this.

● Subscription based. Parkin Email Premonition isn't a physical product that you purpose, but works by having users pay an annual subscription fee to use it.  It's $119 annually, and that will make some magicians immediately balk.  But in reality that works out to just under $10 a month.  And it needs to be considered that the actual costs for running P.E.P. are higher than this, and even at that price its creator Thom Parkin isn't making any money.  Really.   It may put P.E.P. out of reach for the casual amateur who is looking to use this for the family Christmas dinner and perhaps a handful of other times.  But for the working professional who is actively using it, this price shouldn't prove to be a barrier given the high value they'll get from using it.   Compared with other products that offer email predictions, P.E.P. stands head and shoulders above everything else currently on the market.  I raised my eyebrows too the first time I saw the subscription price, but it seems reasonable now that I know more about what the product offers, the running costs for the developer, and the lack of decent competition in this market space.  NB: Right now Thom is offering a free 10 day trial, so take advantage of that while you can.



Recommendation

Don't bypass Parkin Email Premonition (P.E.P.) too quickly just because of the price.  This is a product that does exactly what it promises to do, and can be a very powerful tool in the right hands. It is well worth taking a careful look at what it offers, and thinking about whether or not it is something that you can use, especially if you're a working professional.

There is a lot of scope for taking this in different directions, and when it comes to the presentational side of things, you'll largely have to figure things out for yourself.  But for the practiced performer, you'll not be getting this in order to get ideas for presentation or for performance, but in order to achieve the impossible.  As such, it's more of a prop than an actual trick.

And it's a prop that is incredibly effective and flexible, and you can build a stunning routine around it.  You can even easily add it to some of your most stunning tricks, concluding a card routine by showing that the selected card was predicted all along.  Especially if the selection was genuinely free and not forced, it can serve to strengthen something that is already impressive, by taking it to the next level.

I've been having a lot of fun with P.E.P., and regular users of this amazing email prediction product are universal in their praise.  Users of Inject will especially get a lot of mileage out of it.  Highly recommended.

Special offer: If you sign up here today, you can take advantage of a special offer that is currently running for a free 10 day trial.  A credit card is required (which won't be charged until the end of the trial period), but you can cancel at any time.

Want to learn more? A subscription for Parkin Email Prediction (P.E.P.) can be purchased for $119 annually.
● Parkin Email Premonition: P.E.P. Product Information Page, P.E.P. User Guide, P.E.P. Subscription Page
● User guide: How to register, How to make a prediction, Other reveals
● List of effects: P.E.P. Dynamic Effects, P.E.P. Premium Effects, P.E.P. Inject Effects
● From the same creator: Instant Card Magician (see my review)





69
Playing Card Plethora / Kickstarter: The Illusionist & After Sound Playing Cards by Ark Playing Cards
« on: May 31, 2022, 11:27:25 PM »
The Illusionist & After Sound Playing Cards by Ark Playing Cards (Kickstarter)

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/elementplayingcards/the-illusionist-and-after-sound-playing-cards-by-ark

Current funding level: already funded (already over $250,000 raised!)
Kickstarter ends: Wednesday June 15, 2022

This project is already on its way to the top 10 most-funded playing card Kickstarters of all time.  It was created by Danny from ARK Playing Cards, who specializes in extremely lavish packaging.  Each of his previous projects has been more successful than the previous one: Card College Playing Cards, Tempo Playing Cards, Kingdom & Kinghood Playing Cards, and Azure Dragon & Time Machine Playing Cards.

With his current project, The Illusionist & After Sound Playing Cards, he continues to stretch the boundaries of his "next-level" tuck boxes and packaging even further, with some very creative and stunning box sets.



Here's some pictures from the current campaign.

The Illusionist Playing Cards

The Illusionist box sets are a tribute to the magic arts.  Each deck has a magic theater theme, and the tuck box has an unprecedented design that consists of 7 separate pieces of cardboard, which unfold to produce a 3D theater, featuring the classic sawing-a-lady-in-half illusion.

The design of the cards is inspired by a 1958 Swedish film about a traveling magician.   The Aces show common magic props, while the court cards each depict a different genre of classical magic, such as effects with linking rings, doves/rabbits, card manipulation, and more.  The cards have coloured foil, and judging by what I've seen from the cards from previous Ark projects, this looks amazing.























After Sound Playing Cards

The After Sound box sets feature  hand-drawn illustrations themed around the Peking Opera, an important piece of China's national culture.  Two important traditional opera stages were the inspiration: the Changyin Pavilion inside the Forbidden City, and the Qingyin Pavilion in the Chengde Mountain Resort.  The title "After Sound" represents something about the beauty produced by song after song, reverberating and lingering in these beautiful buildings.

Once again the tuck box consists of 7 pieces of cardboard and unfolds to produce a theater.  The cards have color foil, and their designs are inspired by images from the opera.  The card backs feature an extension of the stage pictured on the tuck box, where a scene from "Farewell My Concubine" is being enacted.  The illustrations are all hand-painted and based on opera costumes, characters, and many other elements drawn from this theme.





















Kickstarter link

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/elementplayingcards/the-illusionist-and-after-sound-playing-cards-by-ark




70
Playing Card Plethora / The Best Decks of 2021: A Gallery of Award Winners
« on: May 26, 2022, 03:59:12 AM »
The Best Decks of 2021: A Gallery of Award Winners

Almost every industry has some kind of awards.  Fortunately for us, the same applies to the world of custom playing cards.   Like all awards, there's always going to be a certain amount of subjectivity involved.  Who picked the nominees?  What were the criteria?  What kind of voting system was involved?  And the announcements of winners may even spark debate.  Were other candidates better?  What potential candidates were overlooked completely?

But regardless of how you feel about awards, I'm convinced they're good to have.  They are one way of recognizing some of the best in the industry.  And they create discussion, and candidates other than the eventual winners will always be part of that discussion.  And it will give some indication of the top performers.

When it comes to playing cards, there are several different communities that issue awards.  In this article, I'd like to take a look at the award winners from 2021.  But rather than fill your screen with words about the playing cards, I'd like to focus on the beauty of the decks themselves.  They say that a picture is worth a thousand words, and let's face it, when it comes to playing cards, what matters is what we see.  That's exactly what we appreciate about a good custom deck: how it looks.  So let's get started, and enjoy this showcase of some of the best decks from 2021!



52 Plus Joker's 2021 Deck of the Year winner (Diamond Award)

52 Plus Joker is the largest club of playing card collectors in the world, and ever since 2017 they have been running their Diamond Awards, which recognizes the best deck of the year, as voted by their large membership.  Anyone can join the club by paying the membership fee, but there's no doubt that this club represents a large community of experienced and discerning playing card collectors.  So to win their award, a deck has to be good.

The eligibility period for their annual awards runs from July to June each year, so the 2021 Deck of the Year Award represents a release from July 2020 through to June 2021.  Typically the winner is announced at their annual convention in October, so from July through September there's a period of nomination and voting.  The planned convention for October 2021 had to be cancelled due to COVID, so instead the winners were announced at a special Virtual Weekend event in April 2022.

Winner: Circus by Marianne Larsen & Martin Helgren

Offered in two editions - the Deluxa Edition shown here, and a companion Black Mosquito Edition - this deck has an exquisite tuck box, and features a vintage circus theme.  It's the first time design from Marianne Larsen in collaboration with Martin Helgren, and was printed by NPCC.











Nominee: Bird Deck by Hilary Pfeifer

This unique deck was created by an artist who first created the artwork for each card as an intricate collage, which was then reproduced onto playing cards.  A huge project, and strikingly different.











Nominee: Charmers by Lotrek & Kellar O'Neil

Magician Kellar O'Neil engaged rock-star playing card designer Lotrek for this project, to create an artistic and elegant deck described as evoking the art, luxury, and taste of the Victorian era.  It's intended as a practical deck, so although it has a vintage feel it still has a standard look about it.











Nominee: Holographic Legal Tender V2 by Kings Wild Project (Jackson Robinson)

Jackson Robinson is a familiar name, and the Legal Tender is a familiar deck.  But with this holographic V2 edition, he has built on his legendary design to create something truly special, combining his banknote-inspired artwork with holographic luxury.











Nominee: Onda by Jocu (Alessandra Gagliano & Anthony Holt)

The Jocu design team produced Onda on the heels of their successful Green Man decks and Hops & Barley decks, but the Onda deck is a real standout, as a vibrant exploration of a mythical ocean.  The highlights are the 12 court card characters that inhabit the azure depths of this fantastical marine mythology.











Nominee: Umbra by Jody Eklund

Umbra continues Jody Eklund's Luminosity saga, and was inspired by Norse mythology.   It captures something of the allegory written by Ricky Cassford, and tells something of the characters from the world of Luminosity, illustrating a journey from shadow into light.











Portfolio52 winners

Portfolio52 is a massive online playing card database that is free for any collector to use, as a way of keeping track of their collection, and was started by rock-star playing card designer Alex Chin.  Their awards were previously known as the United Cardists Deck of the Year Awards (DOTY), and were connected with the United Cardists forum.  They have been an annual feature there since 2013.  But in September 2021 an announcement was made that Portfolio52 had acquired United Cardists and all its assets.  As a result, the 2021 DOTY Awards came under the Portfolio52 umbrella for the first time.  In actual fact the 2020 DOTY Awards had already been a collaboration between United Cardists and Portfolio52, so the way for this had already been paved the previous year.

What makes the Portfolio DOTY Awards unique is that they acknowledge winners in a much wider range of categories, besides a single and overall DOTY winner, which is their blue ribbon event and crowning award.  This includes an award for Best Graphic Deck, Best Magic Deck, Best Cardistry Deck, and Best Rookie Deck.  There are also separate categories for things like: Best Tuck Case, Best Joker, Best Back Design, Best Aces, Best Court Cards, Best Color Use, and Best Print Use.  With almost a dozen different awards issued, I won't show all the winners, but will focus on the winners in the main categories.

Winner: 52 Plus Joker 2021 by Stockholm17

Stockholm17 is a huge name in the custom playing card industry, and for 52 Plus Joker's 2021 club deck he really pulled out all the stops, with an extraordinary tuck case, and beautifully designed playing cards.











2nd place: Alice in Wonderland by Kings Wild Project (Jackson Robinson)

With this deck Jackson Robinson created a delightful tribute to Lewis Carroll's classic story about Alice in Wonderland.  All the cards are fully customized with gorgeous and charming artwork.











3rd place (tie): Royales by Kings & Crooks (Lee McKenzie)

Lee McKenzie is the man behind the Kings & Crooks brand, and when he put his Royales series on Kickstarter, it was an immediate hit.  These are playing cards that are oozing with elegance, with a classic look of sophistication and style.











3rd place (tie): Tale of the Tempest by The Gentleman Wake & Lotrek

Lotrek is one of the biggest names in playing cards today, and is highly respected for his luxurious looking decks.  This collaboration with The Gentleman Wake didn't disappoint, with lots of love and creativity evident in both the beautiful tuck cases and the playing cards themselves.











Best Rookie Deck: Inception by RunIt Decks & Dhon Ragadio

The RunIt Decks team behind this deck hails from the Philippines, and their Inception deck aims to be a modern-day celebration of their origins and culture, with depictions of warriors, weapons, traditional clothing, and mythical creators, in a modern and colourful style.  This deck also took out the awards for Best Use of Colour, Best Court Cards, and Best Back Design.











Best Cardistry Deck: Nebula by Emily Sleights 52

Cardistry decks require lots of colour, and the Nebula deck from Emily Sleights 52 deck has plenty of it.  It was inspired by the rebirth of stars and galaxies, and also functions as a metaphor about how we are always progressing and growing into better versions of ourselves.











Best Magic Deck: Butterfly Border series by Ondrej Psenicka & Stefan Eriksson

The marked version of his original Butterfly Deck from Ondrej Psenicka became a real hit after he successfully used it to fool Penn and Teller, but since then it has spawned some wonderful unmarked versions that make use of its gorgeous back design, including the seasonal decks that are part of the Border Series.











Best Graphic Deck: Bold by Elettra Deganello

Italian designer Elettra Deganello is a relatively new face on the playing card scene, but her expertise and creativity as a graphic designer really shines in her Bold decks, which come in a Deluxe and a STD version.  These decks reinterpret the traditional English courts using decorative elements that cleverly make use of typographic symbols.











Kardify's 2021 Deck of the Year winner

While the Deck of the Year award from 52 Plus Joker (above) and Portfolio52 (below) are both voted on by members of their respective community, Kardify's Deck of the Year award is simply chosen by the people who run the Kardify website.  This is an independent portal that covers playing card news, analysis, interviews, reviews, and previews.  It is run by playing card enthusiast Ivan Choe, who also showcases wonderful work by photographer Anthony Ingrassia.

Kardify has been running Top 12 lists each year for some time already, but their Deck of the Year award was only issued for the first time in 2020. That means that the 2021 Deck of the Year makes only the second time they have crowned an overall "best".  The award is announced at the very end of the year, and represents their choice for the best deck that appeared on the market in that calendar year.

Their Top 12 list for 2021 consisted of a dozen wonderful decks, and they also named another 13 honorable mentions.

Winner: 52 Plus Joker 2021 by Stockholm17

The deck that took the top prize was the 52 Plus Joker 2021 Club Deck, which also won Portfolio52's "2021 Deck of the Year".  You can read their article which covers their announcement of the winner.







Top 12: Alice in Wonderland by Kings Wild Project (Jackson Robinson)

In this whimsical deck we go down the rabbit hole with Jackson Robinson, who brings the memorable characters of the Alice in Wonderland story to life.  It also took second place in Portfolio52's awards, so it was no surprise to see it in this Top 12 list.





Top 12: Atlantis by Riffle Shuffle

The mythical Atlantis is well-known from the tales of legend as a lost city below the ocean depths.  This deck brings to life the mythical legend about this advanced civilization with two companion decks, one showing the city at its height before it disappeared, the other showing the city as it rests in the depths of the sea.




Top 12: Black Market by Thirdway Industries (Giovanni Meroni)

This limited edition could only be accessed for purchase with a special password, and this hidden gateway echoes what the deck is about: the Black Market Secret Society, which is a fictional company that specializes in selling special items to its members.





Top 12: Blue Jay by Meadowlark & Elettra Deganello

As sequel to the beautiful Meadowlark deck, the Blue Jay deck showcases the talents of Elettra Deganello, who took some core features of the original deck but added a dentistry sub-theme, and gorgeous design that made excellent use of Cartamundi's cold foil.





Top 12: Harry Potter by Theory11

Getting the licence for creating an official Harry Potter deck comes with a big responsibility, but Theory11 is the company able to live up to that.  The gorgeous tuck boxes didn't disappoint, and the custom artwork on the cards does a superlative job of representing some of the key characters from the famous stories.





Top 12: Kingdom & Kinghood by Artisan Playing Cards

These stunning decks feature extraordinary tuck boxes, and a level of innovation not previously seen.  The exquisite illustrations on the cards and the boxes echoes the theme and opulence of royalty from the Middle Ages and Renaissance, and two very different decks were part of this project.





Top 12: Marvelous Hummingbird by Kellar O'Neil & Chris Tipton

Hummingbirds are associated with rapid movement and exquisite beauty, and the extraordinary tuck boxes and card backs of this deck do a terrific job of paying homage to the beauty of hummingbird feathers, including copious amounts of eye-catching iridescence that looks amazing when it catches the light.





Top 12: Pioneers by Ellusionist

This marked deck was created by Ellusionist with a deliberate vintage look, which is immediately evident from the tuck box, and the aged look of the playing cards themselves.  Period style artwork has been used to capture something of the 1893 World's Fair, which commemorated the 400th anniversary of the arrival of Christopher Columbus.





Top 12: Republic by Uusi

Creators Uusi are famous for bringing traditional art techniques to playing cards, and this lovely deck featured hand-inked artwork inspired by earth tones, with monochrome cards in either red or black, featuring a woodcut look.  It's based on Finnish/Nordic folk art and design, and the name is taken from Uusi's home-town in Michigan, where there is a large Finnish community.





Top 12: Royales by Kings & Crooks (Lee McKenzie)

We've seen this deck previously already as part of the Portfolio52 routines, and its excellence makes it a worthy addition to this Top 12 list.  This luxury deck is inspired by the gold and glamour of a fictional casino, in the style of Monte Carlo, and where we can expect to find the world's wealthy at play.





Top 12: Wayfarers by Joker and the Thief

This deck captures the spirit of travel and adventure, a spirit embodied in James, the man behind the Joker and the Thief brand.  The playing cards represent those who wander far and wide, capturing themes such as personal freedom and the human desire to fly high, while also depicting the elements of nature.





Final Thoughts

These awards give us some idea of some of the top custom playing cards that are on the market today.  Certainly there are others that could have made the grade as well, so this is by no means a list that is exhaustive.  But does give some sense of the superlative playing cards that creative designers are producing.

We are fortunate to live in an era where playing card manufacturers are able to produce playing cards of the highest quality, and where designers have the time and ability to match this with wonderful designs like the ones recognized by the above industry awards.  The future is bright, and I'm already looking forward to seeing what decks will win awards for 2022!



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

71
Playing Card Plethora / Kickstarter: Sketch & Draft Bicycle Playing Cards
« on: May 25, 2022, 09:56:23 PM »
Kickstarter: Sketch & Draft Bicycle Playing Cards

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/playingcarddecks/sketch-and-draft-bicycle-playing-cards

Limited edition decks designed by Randy Butterfield, produced by Will Roya, and printed by USPCC

Cost: US$11 per deck
Current funding level: over 100% funded
Project ends: June 20, 2022

Ad copy: "2 limited edition decks from prolific playing card designer Randy Butterfield of Midnight Cards. These poker sized decks will be printed by USPCC on classic stock and will be fulfilled by trusted playing card retailer PlayingCardDecks.com."



Sketch Bicycle Deck

The Tuck Box for the Sketch Bicycle Deck emulates a traditional sketch pad. The spiral rings are visible on the front and back, and the sides graphically feature the individual edges of each sheet. The pencils, eraser and copy treatment on the front complete the sketch pad look in the design.



All of the Card graphics, including USPCC?s Maiden Back and the standard modern Court Cards, were completely hand drawn in a sketch style. To finish the sketch vibe, accent shapes / markings and spiral rings are added symmetrically throughout each Face Card.



The Ace of Spade and Jokers feature a wood mannequin hand model. They're often used for drawing and painting reference with artists of all genres.





Draft Bicycle Deck

The Tuck Box for the Draft Bicycle Deck emulates a blueprint drawing pad. The black bounding at the top wraps over to the front and back, and the sides graphically feature the individual edges of each sheet. Similar to Sketch Tuck, the pencils, eraser and copy treatment on the front complete the drawing pad look in the overall design.



The sketch style drawings utilized in the Sketch Deck?s Cards are inverted to create a traditional white line art on blueprint grid paper look. To help with gameplay, the Hearts and Diamonds large PIPS contain Red borders throughout. To complete the blueprint feel, accent shapes and markings are added symmetrically in each Face Card.



The Ace of Spade and Jokers feature a wood mannequin hand model. They're often used for drawing and painting reference with artists of all genres.




Gilded versions

A gilded version with blue gilding (Draft deck) and copper gilding (Sketch deck) will be available as an add-on after the campaign, along with extra decks and uncut sheets.



Project Page

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/playingcarddecks/sketch-and-draft-bicycle-playing-cards



72
Magical Cardistry Bonanza / Moving beyond Hugard and Braue's The Royal Road to Card Magic
« on: May 18, 2022, 10:49:12 PM »
Moving beyond Hugard and Braue's The Royal Road to Card Magic

Next steps and alternatives to a classic book for those serious about learning card magic

Jean Hugard and Frederick Braue's classic The Royal Road to Card Magic (often just dubbed Royal Road or RRTCM for short) is arguably the most recommended book for beginners wanting to learn the essentials of card magic.  That's despite the fact that it was written in 1948.  In my previous article, we took a close look at this classic work, gave an outline of its contents, and summarized some of its strengths and weaknesses.  My conclusion was never really in doubt: despite its age, this book is still a solid choice for beginners wanting to build a solid foundation by mastering the fundamentals of card magic.

What's good about it?  The Royal Road to Card Magic has many strengths, including a good treatment of most of the key techniques of sleight of hand card magic, along with a very strong set of card tricks.  It also includes many excellent tips about presentation, misdirection, and other important aspects that are essential to know in order to amaze and entertain.  And one of the best parts of the book is the approach it takes to learning, with a very systematic study of material that gets you learning and mastering techniques, while applying them to good tricks you can perform at the same time.

But what is the best way to undertake one's journey along this royal road?  In my previous article I noted that relying on the book alone does have some real pitfalls, in part due to its age.  Despite all the great things it offers, there are aspects where the presentation and patter needs updating, or where techniques have been refined and improved.  And let's be honest, sometimes it can be hard learning from the printed word alone.

Fortunately good help is at hand.  In this follow-up article to my detailed review of the book, I want to introduce you to some great companions that you can take with you on your journey along the royal road to card magic.  Today we now have access to a couple of annotated versions of the book, where contemporary magicians have provided expert commentary and suggestions on the material taught in the book.  There are also some wonderful videos based on the book, which you can use along with it to help you actually see the things that the book describes, and which will really help jump-start your learning.   I'll introduce you to all of these, and will conclude by covering some of the best alternatives - both books and videos - that you should know about as other great places to start your journey into learning the fundamentals of card magic.



Annotations from Mark Lewis

The Annotated Royal Road to Card Magic from Mark Lewis is available as a digital version from Lybrary.com and other places online, or as a hard copy from Mark's website.  He says about the original Royal Road book: "This is the book that changed my life," and he's not exaggerating.  He has been performing for over 60 years, and it's hard to think of someone who has lived and breathed this book more than Mark Lewis.

The idea of this annotated version first germinated on the Genii magic forum, where Mark wrote this before he embarked on the project: "I keep thinking that I should annotate this book and self publish it. I suspect I know this book better than anyone else. I studied it backwards, forwards, zig zag and inside out. It has been the most important book in my entire life. ... I can do nearly every trick in it. Nobody knows this book better than I do. Nobody.". Given how much time he's invested with the Royal Road, having performed the majority of its tricks countless times, and really making them his own with the benefit of his personal handlings and tweaks, Mark is certainly highly qualified to provide annotations for this classic book, and many other magicians encouraged him to do so.

I used the electronic copy of Mark's annotated book, which is a 400 page PDF, and is based on the 1991 Dover reprint of the original first edition.  It contains the complete text and illustrations of the original, and Mark's annotations are included at the end of every section in red, making very clear what comments are his.  In some instances he  even includes helpful illustrative photos of his own, to show various grips or techniques.  It comes with a brief but gushing foreword from Harry Lorayne with his endorsement,  and indeed Harry has been mentioned several times in the book.

Mark's tone is very conversational at times (eg "O.K. Let's get down to business." p45), and at times even a little unpolished, with instances of all capitals ("THAT IS NOT PART OF A TRICK" p45) or sentence fragments ("Really bad procedure." p46).  It feels quite different from the more formal and academic tone of the book, which uses italics rather than capitals for emphasis.  At times he provides lengthy additions, such as over two pages of material on flourishes (p44-46).  In other instances there are lengthy sections and tricks with zero comment at all.  In his defence, Mark would probably suggest that the book is so well written that he doesn't need to add anything, but it would still have been nice to have heard some opinion on the trick or sleight in question, and to have some comments on each sleight or trick that describe his thoughts about it. 

It's clear that Mark's contributions come from a battle hardened veteran, and have been fine-tuned in the real world with the benefit of extensive experience.  When he does have something to say, it is often to provide a superior method or alternative technique.  Some examples: a nice suggestion in the chapter on the riffle shuffle for a complete false shuffle (p.38-39); a lovely subtlety for the glide that involves putting your finger on the face of the card (p.67); three alternative ways of replacing a palmed card (p.107); an excellent idea for using the swivel cut as a false cut, and a simple but effective way of using it as a surprise revelation where the selection appears to pop right out of the middle of the deck (p.202); superb tips on accomplishing the classic force (p.233-7).   In other instances he provides some needed updates.  Some examples: performing the spring at a vertical rather than horizontal angle as shown in the book; two alternatives to the inferior method of the double lift taught; the much preferred "swivel cut", which is superior to the original's "pretty cut"; the addition of the Erdnase change to strengthen the section on colour changes; the Hindu Force commonly used today; and many more. 



There are some elements where some more polish or double-checking would have helped.  I've already mentioned the overly informal style which seems to clash with the more serious tone of the original book.  The alternative three packet false cut (p.154) has a simple error, because it would actually change the deck order from ABC to CBA;- probably what is intended is a description of the Ose Cut.  I would also have liked to see some mention of more modern approaches to the technique for the Glide (by rotating the card slightly, as taught in Giobbi's Card College), and a more contemporary assessment of the Backslip, which Lewis somewhat surprisingly considers "excellent and versatile".  There are also a couple of instances where the original drawings in Royal Road have mistakes, and I would have expected the annotations to have pointed this out.   Perhaps Mark will someday produce a second edition that includes comments on all the tricks and all the techniques, and adds some more polish to what he's already written.

But what's especially valuable about this annotated version are the suggestions about the tricks.  Mark first performed "Poker Player's Picnic" to royalty as a 16 year old, and suggests a nice variation for if you ever repeat it. He also provides an idea from Derek Dingle via Harry Lorayne for using some sleight of hand to make this trick more impressive.  He shares a good idea for making "Thought Stealer" more impressive by using eight instead of six cards, and by having a card selected from a spread.  For "Do As I Do" he shares a slick one deck version which results in two face up kings in both your deck and that of your spectator, although this does require more advanced sleights including a sort of half pass.  While "Now You See It" is a great trick as is, Mark has come up with something even stronger with five instead of four cards.  I especially loved his idea for "Obliging Aces", where his suggestion to give a short personal reading with "numerology" is a great way to disguise the fact that 10-20 force yields the same result multiple times in a row - a weakness of the trick 'as is' in the book.  In the chapter on the key card Mark shares a nice simple routine using this method that has been his workhorse since childhood (p.83-4).  As a wonderful alternative to "Everybody's Card" he provides a simpler version of the "Deft Delusion" found in The Card Magic of LePaul.

Many more examples could be given, but this should give you an idea about the value of Mark's annotations.  It's not so much a brief guided tour on all the content as it is an opportunity to sit down with an expert tour guide, and stop at various points along the way, taking a detour off the main road in a slightly different direction.  Sometimes this comes with additional requirements, and assumes that you've mastered all the sleights in the book.  But if you have worked through the book and want to fine-tune your performances of specific tricks, there's much that can be gleaned from Mark's thinking and ideas.  He has applied his creativity and experience to many of the tricks in the book, and the small touches he suggests will really help elevate them to the next level.  Obviously when he does have something to say about the techniques, it's worth listening to him carefully, especially when he gives alternative methods to consider.

The final part of Mark's annotated version is a 50+ page appendix that is entirely his own contribution.  It consists of five additional chapters, and represents his own attempt several decades ago to write a book much like Royal Road.  But life got in the way of him completing the project, and so he came to the conclusion that he'll never complete it, and decided to share it in its current form.  The chapters here are as follows:
1. Easy Card Tricks: This contains five easy card tricks, some of which will already be familiar to many people, but the value here is they come with Mark's handling tips.
2. Showmanship and Presentation: This is particularly useful because it has the benefit of Mark's own experience.
3. Controls: This covers techniques like the key card, crimp, break, and injog, as well as more advanced techniques like the pass.
4. Discoveries:  This provides some fun ways of revealing a selected card, and relies on the ability to control cards as taught in the chapter before it.
5. Forcing.   This covers the Criss Cross Force, and forces using the Glide, the Hindu Shuffle, and a couple of others.
All this additional content certainly adds value to Mark's annotations beside his comments on Royal Road, and it's a good place for a genuine beginner to start, perhaps even ahead of the Royal Road itself.



Annotations from Andrew Musgrave

The Annotated Royal Road to Card Magic

Another magician who has tried his hand at annotating the Royal Road to Card Magic is Andrew Musgrave.  Andrew used to run a blog entitled Ye Olde Magick Blogge, which is where he first shared his insightful annotations.  The blog was discontinued about ten years ago, but fortunately for us, Andrew's Annotated Royal Road to Card Magic still exists in the internet archive, and a PDF version compiled by Garrett Holthaus can also be found floating around the web.  The PDF consists of around 120 pages, and comes with a convenient table of contents with hyperlinks that take you straight to the relevant section.

Unlike Mark Lewis' version, Andrew's annotations don't include the actual text of the Royal Road book, so you'll have to own your own copy.  But what he does do is provide useful comments on everything.  So no matter what the technique or the trick, Mr Musgrave will have something to say about it, which is very helpful and welcome.   In some instances he also includes links to YouTube videos of performances that highlight specific points.  He also offers some "General Thoughts" at the end of each chapter, where he reviews some of the main points, and highlights what is of particular importance or what needs adjusting.    There's also a final chapter with a study guide for learning card magic, which offers suggested areas to focus on, and a recommended order in working through them, as well as pointers to other resources.

Like any annotations, what Andrew provides is deeply personal and subjective.  That means you won't always agree with him.  For example, he really dislikes the trick Poker Player's Picnic, which is a popular favourite from the book, and even calls it "junk".  But it would be a mistake to dismiss all of his opinions just because you disagree with some of them.  He offers many thoughtful reflections, as well as good tips and suggestions.  For example, he has some very good comments on improving the handling of the glide taught by Royal Road.    He also offers some great discussion about the weaknesses of the backslip force, and isn't afraid to argue that the bottom palm is a much better place to begin learning palming than the Royal Road's top palm.   His extended section offering suggestions for constructing routines is terrific.  His style is also very conversational, and he's very honest about his subjectivity, but that's exactly what's helpful about his annotations.

Generally speaking Andrew's annotations tend to be more critical in nature than those of Mark Lewis.  Mark's annotations are like a love letter to a beloved bride that he's been married to for many years, despite some her weaknesses, whereas Andrew is quicker to point out problems he has with the Royal Road's way of doing things.  But Andrew is extremely well read and well-studied, and he frequently makes very specific references to other sources (both print and video), where you can find alternatives and preferred approaches.  He's certainly a good guy to have around when you want to know where to look for things aside from just the Royal Road to Card Magic.

Overall, the content provided in Andrew Musgrave's annotations doesn't contain the same level of detailed handlings as those from Mark Lewis, but at least it covers everything, and it is consistent in its coverage and depth.   Mark stops at fewer points along the way, but then has more to say on the subject. He's well worth listening to if the trick or technique in question is one you're wanting to improve.  In contrast, Andrew is more of a reliable tour guide who we can count on to give us brief thoughts on everything, even if he's less sympathetic at times.  He makes sure we notice what's really important and what isn't.  Both certainly have value.



The Jolly Almanac of Card Knavery

Andrew subsequently went on to start a Nu Way Magic Blogge where he continued his exploration of Royal Road to Card Magic, with the creation of an entirely new book entitled The Jolly Almanac of Card Knavery, or JACK for short.  JACK represents another revisiting of Royal Road, but this time Musgrave completely rearranged the content, and supplemented it with material from the book Expert Card Technique (by the same authors), and with other material sourced from the public domain.   The result is a 242 page PDF or e-book, which Andrew has made available for free here.  You read that right: he's giving this away entirely for free.

Unlike previous efforts, JACK is not merely an annotation of Royal Road to Card Magic.  Instead it is a complete reimagining of the original, revised, updated, rearranged, supplemented, and subtracted.  Much of the original content still hums, despite its age, but where there are creaks and groans, Andrew provides tips to tune things up.  And where old ideas are beyond repair and need abandoning, he provides alternatives.  In his introduction Andrew says that while doing his original annotations of Royal Road at times he "felt like being a cop directing traffic around a car crash."  The reality is that there was occasionally other material that did a better job of things, and so he made it his mission to compile the best of the best, using Royal Road as his starting point, but taking the liberty to rearrange things and add things.  For the most part he lets his original sources do the talking, but occasionally he adds comments of his own.

Does it replace Royal Road to Card Magic?  In some ways no, because the result is something considerably more detailed, and at times almost too dense for the genuine beginner looking to master the fundamentals.  But for anyone who has already worked through Royal Road and wants a refresher or an update, this is an outstanding next step or alternative.  It includes all that's good about the original, removes what's bad, and comes with updated scripts, more current handlings, and plenty of alternatives and additions.  I highly recommend it.



Video from Rudy Hunter

But what options do we have if we are going to stick with Royal Road to Card Magic, but are looking for some visual companions to assist us?  I grew up in an era when videos weren't as readily available or affordable as what they are today, and I remember struggling my way through parts of the Royal Road to Card Magic book, finding it difficult to visualize the moves being taught, and no doubt often getting things wrong, and at times even giving up in frustration.  We now live in a different time, where we often have ready access to high quality instructional videos, which enable beginners to develop more rapidly with card magic than I ever could have done in my time.  I'm not about to make an argument that videos are better than books.  But I do believe that videos that cover the same content as a classic work can serve as very helpful companions, especially for a genuine newcomer to magic, to help them properly learn the essentials of card magic.

Several video sets have been created based on Royal Road to Card Magic, but not all of them can be recommended.  I know of at least four such video projects that exist, including a single DVD from Jason Greenayer and a 6 DVD set from Greg Dow.  But the two that I especially recommend are a 4 DVD set from Rudy Hunter and a 5 DVD set from R. Paul Wilson.  While working through the book in my most recent revisiting of its content, I watched the Hunter and Wilson videos in entirety.  They were very useful, and really helped me visualize many of the techniques and tricks.  In addition, both of these sets also serve as annotations, because they update the material and provide alternative handlings as well as additional comments and advice along the way.

Royal Road to Card Magic video

The Royal Road to Card Magic video by Rudy Hunter was produced by Magic Makers and was first published in 2005.  It comes in a single DVD case that houses four DVDs, and is also available for online streaming. The content runs for about four and a half hours altogether.  These videos go through all the chapters of Hugard and Braue's book, with magician Rudy Hunter carefully explaining all the sleights and moves, and the effects that can be performed with them.  The video features baroque music with the menus, which heightens the overall feel of the classic magic within.  The content of the videos is arranged according to the book, going through the material chapter by chapter, although liberties are taken with the original material at times, and sometimes certain sleights or tricks are not covered or taught.



Rudy Hunter's style might be considered a little dry by some, and he doesn't have the dynamic or lively persona of the typical overly-exuberant in-your-face street magician.  But he is a professional (he estimates he's performed the Ambitious Card routine around a quarter of a million times while doing restaurant and similar gigs), and knows how to perform his card magic smoothly and cleanly.

Importantly for us, he's a good teacher who speaks clearly and carefully, with a friendly and personable style that works well for teaching.  And on the whole he does a good job in explaining how things work, while having his own sense of humour which helps keep things interesting.  The instruction is concise, and Rudy doesn't waste his words, so a lot is packed in a short amount of time.   At times I found things moved along too quickly, so you couldn't rely on the video alone to become competent with all of the more difficult sleights.  But in combination with the book it is just what you need.

Rudy also gives his own take on the sleights that he teaches, and there's a number of personal tips and ideas that he shares based on his own experience with magic, which I found helpful.  For example, in the section on flourishes, he adds in a few ideas of his own in relation to ruffles and fans, and how he uses noises with the cards to add a small impact to his own routine.  Multiple camera angles are used to ensure that it's easy to follow-along, and the menus make it easy to navigate to the section of choice.  Certainly if you're looking for a solid teaching resource to use together with the book, this is well worth considering.



Videos from R. Paul Wilson

Royal Road to Card Magic video

But we are spoiled for choice, because beside the Rudy Hunter version, there's also a Royal Road to Card Magic video from magician R. Paul Wilson, which was produced by L&L Publishing.  This was originally released as a set of 5 DVDs, and runs for more than 8 hours altogether.

That means that this is nearly twice as long as the Rudy Hunter version. The Paul Wilson version also tends to be more expensive, but that's because you get a lot more content, and the overall quality is arguably higher as well.  It's like having one-on-one personal instruction with Paul, who is an experienced magician who really knows his stuff, and is well placed to teach us card magic.  He skips less of the material than Rudy Hunter does, and the vast majority of the content from the Royal Road book is covered. Where appropriate, he provides alternative handlings for sleights that are somewhat obsolete, and he isn't afraid to point out methods that are less than ideal, and to provide alternatives.  His teaching is also very clear and thorough.

The tricks are performed to a live audience, so you get a real sense of what the performance looks like.  And with his teaching about the techniques, the video itself is very clear and once again you get all the angles and clarity you need for learning.   The explanations feel a little less rushed than those provided by Rudy Hunter, and you get more of a chance to be immersed in all the details you need to know to master each move and each trick.

This video series would even function as an effective learning tool on its own, although of course you'll get best results when used together with the book.  While books are excellent, being able to see a sleight or a trick being performed is tremendously helpful.  Certainly if you have the book and have struggled to make sense of how some moves should work, this video will be the ideal companion that you're looking for, and would be my top recommendation of the two.



10x10 video

Also from R. Paul Wilson is his 10x10 video, which he released as a digital download through Vanishing Inc.  This is billed as being "10 lessons on 10 principles of card magic", which explains the 10x10 title.  It normally sells for $12, but you can get it for free from Vanishing Inc via this link.  For each lesson, Paul uses one or two tricks to highlight an important principle of card magic.  The 10x10 video runs for an hour and 20 minutes, and is effectively a distillation of selected content from the larger Royal Road to Card Magic video course. However it is not just an edited selection of footage from his larger DVD set from L&L Publishing, but is something that was filmed completely separately and with slightly lower production values.

The majority of tricks are taken directly from Royal Road to Card Magic, and the material also covers the basics that you'll find in the book.  It's obviously much shorter than his 5 DVD set, but it is a great video to work through as a refresher of the main points from the book.  It does focus more on the tricks rather than the sleights, and Paul does cover some of the same ground as what you'll find in his video for L&L Publishing.  I wouldn't rely on it for learning the sleights or for working through the book, but it is a great resource if you want to get an overview of some of the best tricks in the book, review the main techniques, and get some great advice, tips, and updates from Paul Wilson.  His updated handling of Poker Player's Picnic, using an idea from Roberto Giobbi, is particularly worthwhile, to make an already good trick even more baffling.  The two tricks included that aren't in Royal Road to Card Magic are particularly worthwhile, namely "Invisible Card" and Roy Walton's amazing "Pass At Red". See my detailed review of 10x10 for more detailed information about the entire video.



Alternative Options

Is Royal Road to Card Magic still the best place to begin learning card magic today?  It is, after all, more than 70 years old at this point.  Fortunately, in today's age of technology, we are spoiled for choice. Here are the top books and videos I'd personally recommend for a journey into the world of mastering the fundamental techniques of card magic.

Fundamentals of card magic: Top books

If you are serious about learning card magic, and genuinely want to learn the fundamentals of card handling in a somewhat systematic way using a book, these are my top recommendations:

● Introduction to Card Magic by Roberto Giobbi.  This would be my top recommendation to start with, for several reasons.  While books like Royal Road are excellent, they almost contain a little too much for the average person starting out, and can be overwhelming to the point where a newbie gives up.  Giobbi's book is more geared to beginners and is more realistic in its goals.  It is a 150 page book (in PDF format) that originated as an introductory course in card magic.  It covers the fundamentals of card handling, and also includes half a dozen quite basic but solid tricks to get you going.  It's also much more current, with the first edition being released in 2012.  What's more, Giobbi is one of the best teachers in magic.  It's quite inexpensive, and is available from his website.

● The Royal Road to Card Magic by Jean Hugard & Frederick Braue.  This is a great "next step" after you've worked through Giobbi's introduction, and have mastered the very basics.  It is somewhat dated in parts, and parts of it will be hard to make sense of without some kind of video companion or other resource alongside it.  But it does cover all the essential sleights, and has a strong collection of tricks and general tips about card magic.  It's rightly regarded as a classic, and is readily available both digitally and as a hard copy.  I just wouldn't recommend using it on its own, but would suggest having a modern resource alongside it, and using it in combination with a video that goes through the book and updates it, like the one from R. Paul Wilson is probably the best way to work through the book.  I'd also recommend reading the annotations from Mark Lewis and Andrew Musgrave along with the book.

● The Jolly Almanac of Card Knavery by Andrew Musgrave.  In many respects this is really a completely reworked and expanded version of the Royal Road to Card Magic, and includes a great amount of its material.  It has the advantage that it updates things, subtracts what's mediocre, and adds supplementary content from other reliable sources.  And it's free.  The disadvantage is that it's going to be far too detailed for the person genuinely starting out, because it covers a little too much.  I think it's a great resource to work through carefully after you've worked through Royal Road.

● Card College 1 & 2 by Roberto Giobbi.  It doesn't get any better than this, and most magicians will agree that this is the gold standard for learning and mastering the fundamentals of card magic, while teaching you a strong set of card tricks at the same time.  It's the best-selling card magic book of all time, and Giobbi is highly respected for what he has achieved with this work.  It is much more up-to-date, and has effectively surpassed Royal Road.  As such it is the best modern resource available in print for anyone who is serious about card magic.  The one downside is that it is not cheap, and that's probably why many people don't start with it, until they are really sure they want to get into card magic.  My advice is not to balk too quickly at the price, and to see this as an investment rather than an expense.  If you are serious about card magic, you'll probably get this one day anyway, so you might just want to start with it from the outset.



Fundamentals of card magic: Top videos

Books are great, and there are few better ways to genuinely learn card magic properly than working systematically through a book like Royal Road to Card Magic.  But regardless of which book you choose, I would strongly advise using a reliable magic video to go along with the printed word, so you can visually see how certain techniques are performed.  I use the word "reliable" deliberately, because it would be a mistake to simply head to YouTube and watch whatever comes up first in your search results when looking for instruction about particular card magic sleights.  There is some good instructional material out there if you know where to look, but by far the majority of it is mediocre, and you'll learn poor technique, which will only hurt you in the long run.  If you're going to use videos for learning, make sure it's from someone reputable and proven.

● Crash Course in Sleight of Hand Card Tricks by Ellusionist. David Blaine's street magic TV specials spawned a resurgence of interest in card magic around the turn of the millennium, and this was one of the best selling videos on the subject.  In little more than an hour, it literally offers a crash course in simple sleights like the cuts and controls that are the basic building blocks of card magic.  It also gets you going with five fairly strong card tricks, including the famous "Out of This World" (under the name "Out of Sight").  Given the relatively short length of the video, don't expect too much in terms of learning fundamental techniques besides the very basics.

● Born to Perform Card Magic by Oz Pearlman.  This is nearly twice as long as the Ellusionist video, and covers more material, including breaks, controls, forces, palms, cuts, and flourishes, along with four strong tricks, including the classic Ambitious Card.  This video single-handedly got a lot of young magicians started, and is a good springboard into the world of card magic, with a larger range of techniques than the Ellusionist video.  Ten years after the original release, the content was re-filmed from scratch. This updated and expanded version is almost twice as long as the original, and also includes a couple of extra routines.

Both of the above videos are more suited for beginners wanting to get into performing tricks quite quickly, rather than mastering all the essential techniques of card magic first.  They certainly achieve what they set out to do, and at least you'll learn some basic methods of using a deck of cards properly, and not only tricks.  But for a more thorough grounding in the fundamentals, I especially recommend these next two videos:

● Royal Road to Card Magic video by R. Paul Wilson.  This video was produced by L&L Publishing, and corresponds to the material of Hugard and Braue's book.  It has eight hours of content, and is a superb introduction to all the fundamentals, with updated handlings pointed out where appropriate, along with performances and instruction for the best tricks found in the book.  It's considerably superior to the Rudy Hunter video based on the same book.

● Card College 1 & 2 video course by Roberto Giobbi.  This excellent video course is based on his books of the same name.  It is current, clear, and comprehensive, and of all the resources I have personally used in my journey into card magic is easily the best.  Giobbi does a great job of teaching all the fundamentals of card magic, and is a true expert and wonderful teacher.  Besides the techniques, he also teaches a great selection of strong tricks that put these into practice.  This is the kind of video that bears watching over and over, and should not be considered an expense, but a true investment into a lifetime of enjoying card magic.



Shortcuts into card magic: Card tricks

Not everyone wants to go through the effort of learning all the fundamentals of card magic, and some readers may just want to dabble with some simple tricks.  If that describes you, the good news is that there are plenty of books that teach great self-working card tricks.  Some folks will be quite content with the excellence available there, and are happy to restrict their card magic repertoire to such tricks.  If you really know absolutely nothing about card magic, and want to quickly get into learning some fun card tricks without worrying too much about sleight of hand, self-working card tricks are the place to start. 

There's a large number of books that cater to this need, given their wider appeal to the mass market, but the pick of the bunch will easily be Roberto Giobbi's Card College Light, Lighter, and Lightest series.  All the material included in this series is very strong, and the tricks are put together well as routines.  Giobbi also provides excellent presentation ideas and patter, so you get everything you need.  On the more inexpensive side is the Self-Working Card Tricks series by Karl Fulves, which is considerably older and not as consistent in its quality, but there are many gems to be found within. There are also more general books on magic which are only devoted in part to card magic.  Some of my top choices here are Joshua Jay's Magic: The Complete Course, David Pogue's Magic for Dummies, and Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic.

If you prefer learning from videos, you can hardly do better than the Ultimate Self Working Card Tricks series from Big Blind Media.  Big Blind Media's videos all feature superb production values and clear instruction.  And they've done a fantastic job of curating some of the top self-working card tricks of all time, and you'll be blown away by how powerful some of these are.  Each of the videos in this series has about a dozen different tricks from various creators.  Their Move Zero series of videos is also very good, and features self-working brilliance from John Bannon.

But quite frankly, I suggest that you get a proper grounding in the fundamentals of card magic before heading too quickly for specific tricks and toys.  If there was anything I would change about my own journey into card magic, it would be this: I wish I had started by learning the fundamentals with the help of a proper course like Royal Road or a modern equivalent.  Learning all the basic skills and sleights properly from the outset won't get in the way of you learning tricks, but will hold you in good stead for a lifelong enjoyment of card magic.



Recommendation

As good as it is, I don't believe that The Royal Road to Card Magic is the ideal place for the complete beginner to begin, especially not a child or even a teenager.  I wouldn't recommend giving it away as a gift to a young nephew or niece who likes the idea of doing card magic but knows absolutely nothing about it.  A better option is to get them going with some simple self-working card magic, or perhaps a video geared for genuine beginners, such as Joshua Jay's Magic: The Complete Course, which is a glossy book that comes with a DVD.

But if you're already hooked and want to take the next step beyond the simple and self-working card tricks that your uncle shows you, and are keen to seriously learn sleight of hand card magic, then The Royal Road to Card Magic will give you all that and more.  It will teach you all the basic techniques, and you'll learn some excellent tricks as well.  However, it doesn't really stand well on its own today, and you will really need the help of some companion annotations to guide you along the way, or better yet, have one of the video courses based on the book, so that you can actually see what you're learning.  Otherwise you might just find yourself becoming frustrated and giving up, as I did when I first encountered the Royal Road in my late teens and early 20s.  More is needed, but as we've seen, it's not hard to find, and the companion videos from R. Paul Wilson are especially superb.

The book alone is very cheap, and you can even get it free if you're going digital.  But if we're spending money anyway to get a companion video, then it makes sense to consider other options.  Giobbi's Card College 1 & 2 is outstanding, and both the books and the accompanying video course have superseded the Royal Road at this point, as a more modern and comprehensive treatment of the fundamentals of card magic.  But it's also more expensive, and that may prove to be a decisive factor for some.

If you do decide to go the Royal Road route, I highly recommend a careful and systematic journey along the road that the book teaches.  Whichever companion you choose to be your guide, you are certain to find the trip far more rewarding and successful if you take your time to master all the skills required by slowly working your way through all the material.  And that's why this is a book that bears re-reading.  I began my journey into card magic more than 20 years ago, and my only regret is that I didn't have a systematic approach in building up my skills and sleight, and that I wanted to dive into this or that trick too quickly.  It's been a real joy travelling the entire Royal Road to Card Magic all over again, carefully reading and practicing everything.  In fact, I think I even learned much more the second time around.  Even if you've been in card magic for a long time, this is a road well worth travelling.



Where to get The Royal Road to Card Magic:
● Hard copy of original RRTCM book: Amazon, Penguin
● Digital copy of original RRTCM book: Conjuring Arts, Internet Archive, Yumpu
● Annotated RRTCM by Mark Lewis: Mark's website (hard copy), Lybrary.com (digital copy)
● Annotated RRTCM by Andrew Musgrave: Ye Olde Magick Blogge, KUPDF
● Companion RRTCM video by R. Paul Wilson: Penguin, Murphy's Magic
● Companion RRTCM video by Rudy Hunter:  Penguin, Magic Makers, Master Magic Tricks

Where to get the best alternatives:
● Introduction to Card Magic by Roberto Giobbi
● The Jolly Almanac of Card Knavery by Andrew Musgrave (free)
● Card College 1 & 2 by Roberto Giobbi (see also: companion video course and free lesson)
● 10x10 video by R. Paul Wilson (see also: free offer)



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

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Magical Cardistry Bonanza / Review: Hugard and Braue's The Royal Road to Card Magic
« on: May 12, 2022, 01:21:20 AM »
Starting with Hugard & Braue's The Royal Road to Card Magic

A classic for learning the fundamentals of card magic

Overview

The Royal Road to Card Magic by Jean Hugard and Frederick Braue is one of the most recognizable and well known books in card magic.  For decades already it has been recommended by many as the place to begin a serious journey into card magic, and as an ideal course for learning all the fundamentals.  First published around 1948, this classic work has been reprinted many times, and inexpensive copies are readily available from Dover Publications.  My understanding is that the content is now in the public domain. Certainly you won't have to look hard to find a digital copy for free online (see the end of this article for some links).

I figured it was worth putting the spotlight on this classic work with the help of a review, for several reasons.  First of all, there's a generation of new magicians who are just starting out, and aren't familiar with classic works like this.  Many youngsters rely on inferior youtube videos to get started with their journey into card magic, developing poor techniques in the process, and thus making many false steps while trying to learn how to walk.  We need to point beginners to reliable materials. 

But a book like this is also of real value to those who consider themselves old hands at card magic.  I decided to spend a few months brushing up on my card handling techniques, by systematically working through the entire Royal Road to Card Magic yet again.  But unlike when I first attempted it on my own a couple of decades ago, this time I had some friends to guide me along the way: R. Paul Wilson and Rudy Hunter, with their video courses based on the book, and Mark Lewis and Andrew Musgrave, with their annotations.  I carefully worked through the book in entirety, reading all these annotations, and watching all these videos.  And I learned a lot.



Endorsements

Is Royal Road to Card Magic really that good, and does it still hold up today?  Absolutely.  Just read the following quotes from successful magicians, including some big names in the business, and consider what they had to say about the Royal Road to Card Magic:

● Simon Lovell: "The Royal Road to Card Magic remains as one of the great books on card magic for both the beginner and well seasoned card magician.  It is an absolute must read for anybody who is serious about card magic."
● Bill Malone: "Over the years I have taught magic to a lot of beginners and the first thing I ask them do is go out and get a copy of Royal Road to Card Magic ... Later on in your own Journey, through the Highways and expressways of all card magic, the information you studied here will be a solid foundation for future growth in the art."
● Steve Draun: "Some books bury themselves in your soul and stay there forever, "Royal Road" is such a book.  I am relieved that I am not the only one who is influenced so deeply by a "beginners" book.  The writing and selection of material are first class.  My magic still reflects its teaching."
● Martin Lewis: "Royal Road to Card Magic was my first magic book and the only book I ever learned from cover to cover.  I guess that says it all. I still use many of the techniques I learned from it."
● Paul Cummins: "The Royal Road to card Magic holds a special place in my heart, as it is the very first book on magic that I picked up ... It is this book that opened the entire world of sleight-of-hand magic to me and thus, changed the course of my life!"
● Paul Gertner: "When ever someone asks about learning card magic Royal Road to Card Magic is one of my first suggestions.  It is one of the first books I had when learning magic and I spent many hours as a teenager with that book in front of me and a deck of cards in my hands."
● Andrew Wimhurst: "The name of this great book sums up the enjoyable, thoroughly engrossing and never-ending quest that is the study of card magic. Whenever I crack open the cover of my copy, I'm reminded of the many hours of pleasure I've had in poring over this, one of my first card books."
● Walt Lees: "There is enough in the book which is timeless to make it worthy of being compulsory reading for anybody who aspires to handle a pack of cards in public."
● Wesley James: "Royal Road was, and remains, a useful primer for the near-novice but aspiring card worker."

With this article I'm hoping I can provide a useful service to others by providing some detailed thoughts about this classic. If you're already familiar with card magic, maybe this will inspire you to revisit the fundamentals of card magic, encourage you to refine your techniques, to rediscover some hidden chestnuts, and to recapture the joy  you felt when you first learned card magic.  If you're brand new to card magic, maybe this will help point you in the right direction towards exactly the resources you need.  Whatever the case, I know that I've been enjoying working through all the basics again, and returning to some wonderful card tricks you can find in this classic.



Contents

So for those new to the book, what can you expect to find inside?  Royal Road to Card Magic consists of around 300 pages, including a table of contents, introduction, preface, and index.  But the bulk of the book consists of 20 chapters divided according to different techniques.  And in each chapter, there's first a detailed description of the technique and its importance, typically accompanied by a few black-and-white illustrations that illustrate the moves.  And in most cases this is followed by a number of tricks that utilize that technique.  It's a progressive course, so you're constantly learning more, and along the way you are applying the various techniques you learn.

The techniques

Here's a list of the different chapter topics:
● Part 1: 1. Overhand Shuffle, 2. Riffle Shuffle, 3. Flourishes, 4. The Glide, 5. The Glimpse, 6. The Key Card, 7. The Palm, 8. The Backslip, 9. The Overhand Shuffle II, 10. False  Shuffles and Cuts, 11. The Double Lift and Turnover, 12. The Pass, 13. Miscellaneous Flourishes.
● Part 2: 14. The Reverses, 15. The Hindu Shuffle and Other Controls, 16. The Classic Force, 17. Top and Bottom Changes, 18. Arrangements, 19 Routines
● Part 3: 20. Platform Tricks

Many new magicians make the mistake of wanting to progress too quickly and want to jump straight to performing difficult tricks or routines.  Instead, it is important to lay the foundation by grasping the basic mechanics and fundamentals of card magic, which will hold you in good stead life long.   The Royal Road to Card Magic really does cover all the basics, and each chapter has a good overview of the key concepts and applications.  For example, the chapters on the overhand shuffle don't just teach the shuffle itself, but teach you how to control a single card, retain top or bottom stock, perform false shuffles, perform an injog and hold a break, and other essential controls related to the overhand shuffle.  As such it provides a more thorough education in the fundamentals of card magic than many of the `crash course' style videos I've seen from companies like Ellusionist, which are more focused on street magic and learning a small selection of tricks.



The tricks

The Royal Road to Card Magic is geared to complete beginners, and I especially appreciate its didactic approach.  First it explains the techniques needed for mastering a sleight, and then it immediately goes on to include one or more routines that employ that sleight.  So it is deliberately set up to focus on teaching the techniques and skills that card magicians need, while at the same time providing direct practical application with tricks you can perform straight away using the newly mastered sleight.  As such, not only new magicians can benefit from this course, but intermediate magicians will find a lot of good material and routines that they can use.

Overall the tricks in the Royal Road to Card Magic hold up quite well, despite the passage of time.  By my count there are over 80 tricks in total, with around 3-5 in each chapter.  Some of them are a little dated, because nowadays you can't count on your spectator wearing a hat or a vest, nor is it acceptable to start reaching into a spectator's pocket (especially that of a woman).  The patter also needs an injection of new life at times, but it is a strength of the book that it not only teaches the mechanics of a trick, but also how to present it.

While some of the tricks are so-so, the majority are really quite good.  With some polish, a number of the tricks from the book (e.g. Three Cards Across) are easily good enough to be used in a professional repertoire. From the first half of the book I especially recommend the following:
● Top-tier: Topsy Turvy Cards, Poker Players Picnic, Design For Laughter, Gray's Spelling Trick, Do As I Do, Gathering of the Clan, Circus Card Trick
● Second-tier: Thought Stealer, Observation Test, Non Poker Voice, Now You See It, Tantalizer, Poker Puzzle

The tricks in the second half of the book are perhaps not quite as strong, but there are still some gems here, the standouts for me being:
● Top-tier: Rapid Transit, Ambitious Card, A Tipsy Trick, Pulse Trick, Think Stop, Three Cards Across
● Second-tier: Dr Fu Lui Tu, Righting a Wrong, Double Reverse, Mentalivity, Mountebank Miracle, The Changing Card ("Top Change" chapter), Think Stop, Everywhere & Nowhere



The tips

Constantly interspersed among the description of the techniques and tricks taught in the book, you'll find many valuable tips about how to present magic.

Mark Lewis has said about the Royal Road to Card Magic, "I love this book.  Fully 50% of my repertoire with cards comes from here. To be a good card magician you really don't need much else except this book. And it tells you how to PRESENT the tricks therein. In some ways that is more important than the actual material."  While I wouldn't be quite as extravagant with my praise and suggest that you don't need much else besides this book, I'm inclined to agree with his positive assessment of the many valuable tips about how to present magic that you'll find inside.

The truth is that we should be spending just as much time working on our presentation as we do on our moves, and there are many hidden gems and great insights that the authors share about this. The Royal Road to Card Magic doesn't just teach you the hows of technique, or the method of the tricks you are learning, but also gets you thinking about the larger elements of presenting magic in a thoughtful and entertaining manner.  That's an essential part of card magic that will hold you in good stead throughout your magic career.  In the "Sample Content" section below I've shared some examples of the gems you can expect to find interspersed throughout the book.



The method

One of the best parts of Royal Road to Card Magic is how the material has been organized and structured from a didactic perspective.  The approach it takes to learning is by providing a very systematic study of material, which gets you learning and mastering techniques, while at the same time applying this to good tricks you can perform.

Here's what some master magicians and big names in the magic industry have had to say about the advantages of this approach to learning card magic, and why it really serve as a "royal road" to card magic:

● Max Maven: "I have always loved the title.  The image of a road succinctly conveys the valuable idea that the study of card magic is a journey, not a quick fix.  And by defining that journey as being royal, the issue of worthy respect is immediately established."
● David Regal: "There is perhaps no better method of training than that used in Royal Road.  By offering up effects one can do with each newly-acquired skill it becomes a system of rewards, and the book becomes, literally, a pleasure.  There are tricks in this book I've performed for over twenty years ... This book continues to be a profoundly positive force in card magic."
● R. Paul Wilson: "It is important to follow this course from beginning to end, without moving forward until you have mastered each sleight and explored the routines in that chapter. This was the most valuable piece of advice I received when I first bought this book."
● Roger Klause: "I found that the structure of the chapters which lead the student step by step through the fundamentals to the final chapters on routines allowed rapid progress on my part."
● Bill Malone: "It is very important to read every page, not to skip through the book but read it the way it was intended as if you are going down a road from beginning to end.  Do not take shortcuts!  Even if the chapter heading doesn't excite you, study it."
● Wesley James: "Its primary value derives from its tone, perspective and aspiration, rather than its scope.  Few books in magic's broad literature were as pedagogic in approach but importantly, few view teaching technique as a requisite tool, giving direct means for the effective performance of tried and true plots."
● Walt Lees: "When it first appeared, it was a highly innovative concept - a step-by-step guide to enable an absolute novice to progressively build up a working repertoire of sleights and effects by following a structured learning path.  The endurance of the book is testimony to its success in doing just that."

These eminent and experienced magicians are correct: this is something that Royal Road to Card Magic does very well.  Other didactic resources follow a similar approach, notably the highly respected Card College by Roberto Giobbi.  The material to be learned is divided up into topics, and for each topic there are a number of tricks that enable you to put what you've learned into practice.  To start learning card magic with tricks alone is to put the cart before the horse. But to wait with performing your first tricks until you've mastered all the fundamental techniques comes at the cost of the opportunity to develop presentation and gain experience, and sucks the joy out of the learning exercise.  The Royal Road to Card Magic does a great job of striking the right balance, while remaining very organized along the way.



Sample content

To give you an idea of the strength of the material in Royal Road to Card Magic, and particularly some of the wisdom and tips you'll learn about presenting magic, below are a few of the quotations that I especially found helpful when re-reading the book.  Plenty more could be given, but I'm confident you'll already benefit from reading these excerpts.  And hopefully that will whet your appetite to read the book and discover more for yourself.

● On the difference between knowing the secret of a trick and knowing how to perform a trick:
"We cannot emphasize too strongly that knowing the secret of a trick is not the same as knowing how to perform that trick; and that knowing the secret of hundreds of tricks is of little value unless each can be performed smoothly and entertainingly. It is far better to know only a few tricks which can be performed with grace, skill and effect." (p.xv)

● On the difference between doing and performing card tricks:
"We reiterate that there is a vast difference between doing and performing card tricks. Since your primary purpose in performing sleight-of-hand with cards is to entertain those who watch, it is not enough that you should achieve technical perfection alone." (p.xvi-xvii)

● On the importance of good patter:
"You must also make your tricks amusing and interesting by weaving about a trick's basal plot a pleasant discourse which will divert the spectators. We have tried to show you how this is done by outlining talk - or "patter" - for most of the tricks.
"Naturally, your patter should be in keeping with your own personality, gay and amusing if you have an ebullient personality, more factual if you are a more serious person. For this reason you should use the patter we have suggested only as an illustration of how the bare bones of a trick may be clothed in talk and action to make the presentation a striking one." (p.xvii)
"Your talk, or patter, is an integral part of the routine and should be given as much thought as the mechanics of the trick." (p.238)

● On the importance of good presentation:
"The most important thing for the beginner at card magic to bear in mind is this: A conjuring trick is just what the performer makes of it. It may be composed of the simplest elements, yet, given a plausible plot and dressed with appropriate patter, it can be transformed into an imposing illusion. In other words, it is not so much what you do as what you make the onlookers think you do.
"It has been said that "the proper way to do tricks is to do tricks." That is true, provided it is borne in mind that the tricks must not only be done but must also be presented or acted properly. Good presentation can only be acquired by actual performance before an audience, even if it is composed only of your home circle. Confidence in yourself is the main thing. If you know that you can do the trick without any possible hitch, then you can devote your whole attention to "putting across" the fairy tales which you are telling." (pp.15-16)

● On the importance of personality:
"A routine of card tricks which may serve one person admirably may not be nearly so effective in the hands of another, for the personality of a performer has much to do with the entertainment value which is got from the routine." (p.238)



● On the value of self-working card tricks:
"The art of interspersing these self-workers with tricks that call for skill is an important principle of card magic. The most eminent magicians use self-workers; but they use only the good ones, never those which call for endless dealing of cards or obvious mathematical principles. Some of the good self-workers are gems of subtlety and misdirection. Some of them depend on faults of observation on the part of the spectators; many depend on the inability of most people to understand properly what is being done." (p.16)

● On the use of flourishes:
"Flourishes are certain movements with the cards which do not come under the heading of sleights, since they are done openly. In general they are used to show elegance in handling the cards; sometimes, however, they serve a more useful purpose, that of misleading the audience as to the moment when an effect is really brought about. Used in moderation they are a decided asset to the card conjurer, but when carried to extreme lengths they defeat the very object that the magician should always have in mind, namely, that the effects he produces are done by magic and not by skill. A series of brilliant flourishes leaves only the impression of juggling skill on the minds of the onlookers, and the performer's feats are dismissed by them with the remark, `He's clever with his hands'." (p.37)

● On the use of the double lift:
"When used in moderation and properly done this sleight is one of the most useful and deceptive of modern card sleights.  Unfortunately many card men do it badly and far too often.  We would caution the student first to learn to execute the sleight perfectly and then to use it sparingly and discreetly." (p.141)

● On performing routines:
"Roughly the plan should be to start with a good trick, one that arouses interest at the very beginning, continue with tricks the effects of which are on an ascending scale of interest, and finish with the strongest effect of the  series." (p.236)

● On the length of routines:
"Construct your routines so that they can be performed in from ten to fifteen minutes. You will build a number of them, using different types of tricks?those performed at the table, those for use when standing and surrounded by people, and so on?and by limiting them to fifteen minutes at the most you will  be sure that you do not monopolize a gathering. If when you have finished a routine your audience clamours for more, you have only to perform one of the other routines." (p.239)

● On performing to family and friends:
"It may be wise to tell you at this time that you cannot gauge the effect of a trick accurately when you perform for your family or intimate friends. They know you too well. They will either tell you that you are wonderful or that you are not very good, and neither may be the exact truth. To determine the value of a trick and its presentation, perform it for strangers." (p.239)



Further thoughts

Is the Royal Road to Card Magic the best place to begin learning card magic?  I don't think so.  In my opinion, the complete novice would be well advised to begin their journey into card magic with the help of some good self-working card tricks first.  These allow you to focus on developing presentation, will quickly get you into performing, and you'll quickly discover whether or not card magic is for you.  We're not talking here about painful and boring tricks that just involve lengthy periods of dealing and counting, because there are truly some top self working card tricks out there just waiting for you to try.

But after you've tested the waters of card magic in this way, and are keen to begin a more serious study of sleight of card magic, that's where something like The Royal Road to Card Magic comes in.  On balance, here are some of its strengths and weaknesses:

Strengths

If you are genuinely interested in learning some sleight of hand, then Royal Road to Card Magic remains one of the better options available.    Despite its age, many still consider this book as a Bible for card magic, and an ideal place for beginners to start their journey into card magic.  The training method of having beginners systematically acquire a growing set of skills in sleight of hand, and teaching them tricks along the way, is excellent.

The majority of the tricks taught are very good.  And the techniques for card handling and manipulation that are covered are quite sound.   The many tips about presentation and other aspects of the art of card magic that are taught along the way are excellent.  Especially compared with other works from its time, it's well written, and the illustrations are generally quite clear and functional.  And it doesn't leave any huge gaps by omitting significant amounts of essential material that one would expect to find in a book of this kind; at least, not gaps that you can't plug up later with supplementary material.  Overall, this classic work has stood the test of time, and even stands head and shoulders above most modern books that promise to provide a grounding in card magic.

Weaknesses

But because the Royal Road to Card Magic has been around for a while, this classic book does also show some signs of age, and it has some real weaknesses too.  To begin with, it is somewhat dated in parts.   I personally learned my card magic fundamentals from Roberto Giobbi's more contemporary Card College, and when working through the Royal Road to Card Magic it really struck me how many aspects of this older work have been superseded.  In numerous instances the patter and presentational touches need updating to bring them into our modern age, and so does the terminology and phrasing.  Some of the tricks are poorly constructed in terms of technique or presentation, and need real polishing and refinement to make the most of them.  At times there are even straight out mistakes in the descriptions (e.g. the Double Lift Force).

Some might argue that these are merely cosmetic weaknesses.  But there are more substantial issues too.  In a number of instances there are sleight of hand techniques that have been improved over time with better handlings.  For example, some of the tricks later in the book rely too much on the classic pass, whereas nowadays there are safer and more deceptive means to accomplish the same result, such as through controlling a card.  Other techniques that are very popular today, like the Elmsley Count, Erdnase Change, Cull, and Tilt, aren't covered at all.  Also missing for obvious reasons are the excellent innovations from recent decades in the area of false shuffles and cuts, and a lot of the recent work on stacks and memorized decks.  More attention could also have been given to the psychological aspects of magic, and related art-forms that enhance card magic.  And the absence of appropriate crediting and referencing would be considered completely unacceptable by today's standards.



Related resources

There is an additional challenge that isn't unique to the Royal Road to Card Magic.  Especially to a modern audience that often relies on learning from instructional videos, it can be hard work to make your way through written descriptions.  In my first encounter with the book a couple of decades ago, without the benefit of any videos, I remember struggling my way through parts of the Royal Road to Card Magic, trying to visualize the moves that were being described and pictured, and not always getting things right.

Fortunately, good help is readily available today, and these weaknesses aren't a reason not to pursue card magic with the help of this book.  There are a couple of excellent video courses which systematically work through the book.  They give you the opportunity to use the book while seeing the various moves and sleights demonstrated visually on screen.  As such they serve as an excellent visual guide to the classic written work, help bring it alive for modern audiences, and even update aspects of it.  There's also a couple of very good written  annotations to the book from contemporary magicians.  These give valuable comments and tips on the material in the book, with the benefit of a modern perspective, and update it where necessary.  I will cover these in further detail in a following article, but here are the resources that you should already know about if you are considering picking up the book:

● Royal Road to Card Magic video by Rudy Hunter. This was first produced by Magic Makers in 2005 as a set of four DVDs, and can now also be sourced as a digital download or watched via streaming video.

● Royal Road to Card Magic video by R. Paul Wilson.  This originally appeared from L&L Publishing as a set of five DVDs, and covers the book more comprehensively, running for nearly twice as long (8 hours) as the Rudy Hunter video set.

● 10x10 video by R. Paul Wilson. This runs for only around 80 minutes, and covers 10 lessons featuring 10 principles of card magic (hence the name), mostly teaching tricks and content from RRTCM.

● The Annotated Royal Road to Card Magic by Mark Lewis. This is a copy of the original book with personal annotations from Mark Lewis, a very experienced performer who credits RRTCM with changing his life, and uses it for at least half of his performing material.

● The Annotated Royal Road to Card Magic by Andrew Musgrave.  Andrew has written up detailed companion annotations for every technique and trick taught in the book, and includes many alternative handlings and references.

I especially recommend using one of the videos based on Royal Road to Card Magic in combination with the book itself.  Sometimes it's difficult to get an accurate idea of how to manipulate cards correctly based purely on a written description of a sleight.  Seeing something demonstrated visually can be a wonderful way to really learn a technique properly, and these videos really help with that.



Recommendation

Many people who learned card magic using the Royal Road to Card Magic will have a nostalgic attachment to it, and be somewhat blind to its faults.  So I'm not surprised this continues to be recommended as much as it is, especially given how inexpensive it is, and because there are very few modern alternatives that recommend themselves above it.  For its time, it was an outstanding work, and even in the decades following it no other work on the same subject really came close to matching its excellence.  More recent books like Roberto Giobbi's Card College have surpassed it, but they are also more costly, and go into far more depth.

With the help of the extra resources like R. Paul Wilson's companion video course and the annotated editions of the text, The Royal Road to Card Magic remains a solid introduction to the basics of card handling, even by today's standards.  Not only does it provide an excellent introduction to the key sleights and skills you need, but it also teaches some excellent and time-tested card tricks in the process.  Even more than 70 years after they were published, tricks like Design For Laughter, Poker Player's Picnic, and Three Cards Across are as good as they ever were, and will delight and entertain modern audiences.

When used in conjunction with expertise of the additional resources such as the ones mentioned, the Royal Road to Card Magic still remains an excellent choice for the beginner who is serious about card magic to start out with.  If you work your way carefully through it, ideally with assistance of a contemporary companion to guide you (e.g. video or annotations), you are certain to build a solid foundation of skills and tricks, and will be well set for a lifetime of enjoying card magic.

Next time: In a follow-up to this article, I'll take a closer look at the videos based on this book, provide a detailed review of the annotated versions, and point to the top alternative options that you should know about when beginning your journey along the road to card magic.

Where to get The Royal Road to Card Magic:
● Hard copy: Amazon, Penguin
● Digital copy: Conjuring Arts, Internet Archive, Yumpu



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

74
A Cellar of Fine Vintages / Re: Interview with Playing Card Historian and Antique Collector Jason McKinstry
« on: May 04, 2022, 09:48:30 PM »
Antique American Playing Cards

What would you consider to be some of the biggest developments in playing card history in the late 19th century?

This question is the heart of the story of antique playing cards. We take for granted today the way that playing cards work and the features that went into their development. Each manufacturer was responsible for at least some improvement, but if I were to single out the most important, then you'd arrive at this list.

- Double-Heads or Two-Way Courts. The seemingly simple transition from single-ended courts to double was a game-changer for card players because after, it didn't matter which way your cards were orientated. We see the beginning of the Double-Headed decks in the 1840s and early 1850s by manufacturers like L.I. Cohen, Samuel Hart and Andrew Dougherty.

- Round Corners. Believe it or not, rounding the corners of a deck of cards makes them much less susceptible to chipping and having the corners rounded through play. Before their implementation, Square corner decks were the standard, and they couldn't be shuffled in any reasonable way. Like double-headed courts, round corners arrived in the late 1840s early 1850s. Rounded corners, coupled with John J. Levy's patent for bevelled edges in 1868, created a perfect combination for easy shuffling.

- Corner Indices. Can you imagine fanning a poker hand and not being able to read the corner indices? Imagine instead that you have to separate each card to see what you have. The invention of corner indices in 1864 was one of the single most important developments the industry had ever seen. Cyrus Saladee patented the development, and Samuel Hart purchased the rights to exclusivity. Hart promoted the invention for over a decade while other manufacturers scrambled to catch up. It was at this point that the battle for playing card supremacy in America heated to a boiling point.

- Best Bowers & Jokers. During the 1860s, Euchre was becoming one of the most popular games in the country (and overseas.) Circa 1865, cardmaker Samuel Hart introduced many decks 32 card decks, especially for the game. He also began including an exclusive "High Trump Card" or "Best Bower." This extra card gained popularity and soon began to accompany many other decks. Hart's Best Bower was, of course, the precursor to what would become the Joker, and by the mid-1870s, almost every deck made came with one.

- Other Developments. After the era when the fundamental features were implemented, playing cards continued to evolve and refine, and so would the machinery that made them. It would take until the turn of the century before they would become an exact reflection of what we use today.

Is there anything that makes 19th century American playing cards distinctly different from European decks from the same time period?

Our American playing cards were initially based on British designs. This means the history of our playing cards and theirs follows a very similar path. It's important to point out that most European nations had their own types of cards and a lot still do. Germany, Hungary, Russia, for example, all had very different styles and were unique compared to British design. With that said, there are many similarities to each other too, like suit management, number of cards etc. 



Is it true that some of the leading figures in the American playing card industry had connections with important politicians of their day?

With an enterprise as large as the early American playing card industry, it's only natural that they became a considerable interest to the government. Playing card sales would represent a distinguishable portion of the GDP of the United States throughout the 19th century. This would also equate to a lot of revenue gain from their taxes. If we narrow it down, we know of some interesting and powerful relationships between card makers and politicians. The best example is New York manufacturer Andrew Dougherty.

During the Civil War, Dougherty lobbied the government for higher taxes on playing cards to assist with the effort. President Abraham Lincoln embraced his plan, and he was invited to Washington for a meeting to explain the merits. An 1895 newspaper article for Dougherty's retirement paid tribute to the events of that day.

One can imagine the warmth of which the noble-hearted martyr to liberty shook hands with Andrew Dougherty when the feasibility of the scheme was made clear. It was the imposition of a tax of five cents per pack of playing cards. This tax was a heavy loss financially for Andrew, but he had the president's gratitude which were expressed in the words - "It is citizens like you, Mr. Dougherty, who make the liberty of the United States indestructible."

Of the big names like Lewis Cohen, John Lawrence, John Levy, Samuel Hart, Andrew Dougherty,  Russell, and Morgan, who do you consider to be your "hero", and why?

I love all the playing card makers! They all have fascinating histories, and each was dovetailed to the industry in some way, shape or form. If I had to pull favourites, I would say that Andrew Dougherty was very different than his contemporaries, and he was undoubtedly the underdog of the tale. He created his empire from basically nothing. Most makers were able to rely on predecessors to teach them, or in many cases, they were banded together competing against Dougherty. All of this adversity would only move to strengthen Dougherty's resolve. And he pushed through and built something unique and very much of his design.

Andrew Dougherty was everything you ever hoped a character could be. He had a larger-than-life personality and was a bombastic promoter of his work. But he wasn't just a gregarious businessman; he was also a charitable man who used his financial means and respectable reputation to assist those less fortunate. With the help of deep political connections, Andrew championed fairness for immigrants and helped arrange funds for the civil war. He was also the Director of The Museum of Natural History and a member of The Historical Society and Art Association.

Dougherty was known affectionately as "The Cardman of New York." When he died in 1901, there was a massive outpouring of love and support for his life. One of the many articles punished at the time was by a reporter named Ricardo, who had been covering Andrew's career for thirty years. I think his final caption described Dougherty the best.  "He leaves an enviable name for business integrity, moral probity and all the attributes which go to form a `manly man,' which will be more lasting than silver or gold or earthly possessions. Peace to his memory."

Have decks of playing cards always been mainly red-backed and blue-backed, and why?

Red and blue have always been around in a way, but not in the brilliant hues we're used to today. Early decks dating from 1810-1840 usually carried a basic snowflake back. These would come in various shades of red, blue or even black. As we moved into the 1850s-60s, Fancy Back playing cards were offered in a rainbow of colours and colour combinations. If we moved to when back design colours were more standardized (the 1880s-1910s), we'd find red, blue, brown, green, yellow.

By the 1920s and certainly during the great depression, the life and colour were gone from the industry. Everything that the card makers did between 1890-1930 was intended to save on costs. Less intricate designs meant less ink used, and the dies wouldn't wear down as fast. They switched from elegant printed paper wraps to simple wax paper. Everything was to cut costs! Then the great depression knocked out what was left quality-wise. After that, red and blue were left as the standard.  It was cheaper and took less man power.



Your Own Collecting

What is it about collecting playing cards that you especially and personally enjoy?

For me, it's the history behind the cards. The lives of the makers, the people who bought them and the families that looked after them for all this time. But the playing cards also clearly represent the stepping stones of American history. This can be viewed in many different ways, but it's easiest to say that the cards can represent anything you want them to. Art and beauty, technology and advancement, eras and events can all be viewed through the window of playing cards. 

What types of decks do you especially focus on collecting, and what are your favourite types of decks to collect?

I'm a full-spectrum golden age collector. That means I'm most interested in decks from 1835-1935, with some exceptions. There's so much goodness crammed into that one hundred years that it's kept me busy for almost a decade so far. If I had to zero in on two areas, I say Samuel Hart & Andrew Dougherty in the 1850s-1870s are my favourite decks to find. That was an extraordinary time in playing card history.

How many decks would you estimate that you currently have in your collection?

I have over 275 decks in my collection. I used to think I had a crazy amount of cards but seeing what some modern collectors have, I don't feel so bad anymore. My focus has narrowed substantially in the last few years. I try to stay focused on the big seven, and as I mentioned before, I don't keep everything anymore. Once I've had an opportunity to research them and take pictures etc. I can let them fly. Of course, I'll always keep my core collection of impossible-to-find top-shelf decks.



Which deck (or decks) in your collection is your favourite, and why?

Oh, man, that's like asking which is your favourite kid. It's such a tricky question. When I look into my cabinet, the first deck I always see is the George and Martha Washington Illuminated deck made by Samuel Hart in 1866. The Ace of Spades is heavily ornate and has two miniature portraits of the first couple in colour. The deck is illuminated, which means there is a decorative use of gold accents. It is incredible!

The second deck that I might choose is my Thomas Crehore deck from approximately 1825-1830. It's the oldest deck in my collection. For me, this deck represents everything that the playing card industry was before the golden age (which also so happens to be the industrial age of playing cards.) Drawn by stencil and coloured by hand, but with a level of intricacy and human precision, rarely seen again afterwards.

A third deck would be a perfect example of Andrew Dougherty's American Cards from 1870. This convex-corner deck featured Dougherty's second "Excelsior" Ace of Spades, and it was unreal-looking!

What is the most valuable deck in your collection?  What accounts for its value, and what else can you tell us about it?

From what we've seen over the years, my Samuel Hart Transformation deck likely has the most value. Transformation decks feature various imagery filling the white space of the cards. The courts and pips were usually incorporated into the design in some comical fashion?a unique type of card and an exceptional deck. Most mid-century makers are known to produce at least one transformation deck. As for value, most that come to auction sell between $1500-$2000, with perfect examples realizing considerably more.

You also collect historical playing card related ephemera.  What are some of your favourite items, and why?

You'll come for the decks, and you'll stay for the ephemera. In many ways, ephemera tells the other half of the story of playing cards. It's been my experience that some people aren't sure what ephemera is. But it's simple; ephemera is anything that falls within a subject that's not the actual item. Types of ephemera are paper/non-paper advertising, stamps and seals, store displays, subject-specific literature and more. In my collection, I have a bit of everything, but a few of my ephemeral favourites are.

Samuel Hart Travelling Bottles: Many people don't know that Sam Hart produced a lot more than just playing cards. He was also a major manufacturer of glass travelling bottles. I have two beautiful bottles in different sizes. Hart's Bottles were sealable and came with a cup or shot glass and a leather case. These bottles wouldn't usually be considered playing card ephemera, but because they were made by one of the biggest card makers in the country, I let them in.

John Omwake Business Card - If someone asked what item I treasure the most, I would say a business card belonging to John Omwake would be the one. John began employment at The Russell & Morgan Company in 1883 as a 27-year-old and became President of The United States Playing Card Company in 1902. The business card is from his time as Chairman of the Board, his final position before retiring in 1937. John Omwake was an incredible figure in playing card history. He was with the company from infancy all the way through its astonishing rise and eventual total domination of the market. He was even there throughout most of the great depression and saw the downsizing that happened at the time. His business card embodies an entire era of playing card history.

How do you organize or display your collection of playing cards?

I've been fortunate to display my collection in full-size glass cabinets. My decks are kept safe in plastic cases and arranged first by the manufacturer, then by age. I do my best to tell the story of early American playing cards through the cabinets, making it's easy for me to demonstrate anything I need to by simply pointing at the cab.

I also have binders where each deck has a page of representation. There I keep the Jokers, Extra Cards and Back Designs and Court samples. My binders make research a breeze because everything can be instantly compared in a like-wise fashion. To add to the collection of binders, I also keep a few stock books for deck wrappers, stamps & seals and paper ephemera.



How do you go about adding new decks to your collection?

I've gone through different phases of collecting, each with its own set of criteria and level of intensity. These days there's only a handful of exceptionally hard-to-come-by decks that I'm looking for, so I don't get to play as much. I miss the old days of discovery when every deck was something I hadn't touched before. They were exhilarating years. I still watch the various auction sites, and occasionally I'm approached by a club member looking to part with something special.

Are there any specific decks you are chasing for your collection, and why?

You know it's been interesting to observe playing card collectors and the white whales they chase. One of the decks I've been hunting for since I started collecting is Andrew Dougherty's 1865 Army & Navy. Sometimes referred to as the Monitor & Merrimac, this transformation deck is filled with incredible naval imagery. The Ace of Spade proudly stated the reason for the deck and read, "To commemorate the greatest event in naval history, the substitution of iron for wood." This was a reference to the 1862 "Battle of the Ironclads." The deck was one of the most beautiful ever made, and it's a tough find.

Do you prefer the Ace of Spades or the Joker, and why?

I enjoy both of them the same, but there's a caveat. When you drop below 1865, the Jokers disappear entirely. When you get into these earlier periods, look to the AOS and the many old-world features. Back designs, Courts, finishes and paper types are all intriguing things to check out.

What do your family and friends think of your interest in playing cards?

They've been entirely supportive of my new direction. Believe it or not, my wife likes most of my social posts! What's true for my family and friends is the same for everyone who hears the incredible story of the playing card makers; they feel it needs to be told. I'm sure that they wish it were someone else telling it occasionally.



Other Collectors & Advice

If you would start collecting all over again today, would you do anything different?

No, I couldn't change anything that's happened. Each deck was part of the journey that's still unfolding today. But I can offer advice to those just beginning to collect playing cards and hope they have the same great experience. The best piece of guidance I could give would be to pick the era of time that most interests you and find out what was available at the time. Then let your collector instincts be your guide. Also, don't be afraid to reach out and ask questions and get opinions. There are plenty of experts in our community (myself included) that are there to help.

What interest do you have in collecting modern decks? How does their appeal compare with vintage/antique decks?

I collect modern decks too. There's no doubt in my mind that one day, people will look back at the current 2022 playing card scene and see that it was history in the making. Beauty, originality and innovation were more or less absent in playing cards from the time of the great depression until after the new millennium. Those lost qualities are back now, and we have our modern-day designers to thank for it. With that said, my collection of modern decks is small compared to my antique ones, but it's very potent!

I recently had an opportunity to work with Kings Wild Project on their Vintage Reimagined Series, and I can tell you that there is about to be an exciting blending of the vintage/antique world and the modern. I foresee a time in the future when the history of playing cards, past and present, will be one and the same, with a united goal of looking to the future with a complete understanding and appreciation for the past.



What can you tell us about your involvement with the 52 Plus Joker club? Do you belong to any other playing card organizations or connect with other collectors, either online or in any other way?

52 Plus Joker is an American playing card collector organization founded in 1985. In a nutshell, we give collectors the tools they need to access antique/vintage playing cards in a safe and trustworthy environment. 52 Plus has an impressive roster of members across a broad spectrum of playing card-related interests. Vintage, antique and modern collectors, magicians, illusionists and sleight of hand artists, poker players, historians and enthusiasts, and card players from all around the world are part of our club.

My contributions to the club include writing monthly for our online magazine Card Culture. My Collector's Corner articles cover many fascinating discoveries and topics relating to playing cards history. They're a good reflection of everything I do and encounter outside of the realm of my primary research for Paper Empires. I also create presentations for our annual 52 Plus Joker Conventions and other videos and promos for the club.

Outside of 52 Plus Joker, I've also been able to connect with people and organizations all over the globe. This typically happens through my website or social media, and it's always amazing to see how much influence and intrigue playing cards have.

What role does social media play for playing card enthusiasts and collectors?

A significant role and getting more important all the time. I would imagine that in the future, most people's first experience with the history of playing cards, and the potential to collect them, will happen online. This is the reason I've been getting my playing card maker mini-documentaries ready to go. As we move into a new technological world, we need to provide innovative and interactive ways to learn.



Concluding Points

What can we expect from you in the future, and do you have any special plans or projects in mind?

I do! Paper Empires Volume II is coming soon, and I also hope to have another edition of my Collector's Corner Annual available in the near future. Upcoming projects include the maker mini-docs and unboxing videos. There are also some great things under wraps waiting for the time to come.

Where can we follow you on social media or elsewhere online? (e.g. websites, blogs, etc.)

My website www.worldofpaperempires.com is your best place to start, and from there, you can access all of my social media channels. I post regularly on Instagram and Facebook/Meta and upload most of my video content to YouTube. You can also find me on eBay if you're looking for antique/vintage playing cards.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

You've done an excellent job selecting the right questions to ask, and I can tell you're now formally under the spell of Early American Playing Cards. I appreciate the opportunity to speak to an audience I may not have otherwise and hope that everyone reading this has the notion to find out a lot more about this extraordinary subject. When I first wrote Paper Empires, I came up with a tag-line that I believe is still as effective today as it was back then. Once you meet the makers, you'll never look at playing cards the same.   Thanks for having me!

Jason McKinstry
World of Paper Empires



Final Thoughts

Wasn't that fantastic?  Jason is a real expert with a wealth of knowledge at his finger-tips, especially when it comes to the period that he describes as the golden age (1835-1935).  But he is also a true gentleman, and just loves sharing with other collectors, and talking about playing cards.  He's a treasure trove of information and expertise, and it was absolutely fascinating to read his answers.

But he's not just a man who knows a lot.  His wide range of knowledge is matched by real passion.  And that's what makes Jason so much fun to read or listen to - whether it's this interview, his Card Culture articles, his Paper Empires book, or the video presentations he's done for the 52 Plus Joker club.  He's an experienced writer and interesting speaker, who is good at telling a story and engaging his audience.  Whatever the format, Jason's enthusiasm immediately shines through. And it's infectious, and you can't help but get carried along with his eagerness, and his love for the history behind the playing cards that is our shared passion.

We're fortunate to have men like Jason McKinstry on our team, so to speak.  As he himself explains, it was really just a chance meeting that led him to discover antique playing cards.  And did the rabbit hole he dived into as a result ever prove to be a deep one!  I'm grateful that Jason has been so generous with his time in carefully answering all the questions I put to him, and in sharing so much valuable content in response.  After all his years of research, he's well-positioned to share with the rest of us.

I particularly appreciated his careful answer on how to determine the rarity of a deck, his tips on dating playing cards, and his overview of the key developments in how playing cards changed in the 19th century.  But don't stop with this interview.  Follow Jason on his social media, and check out some of the delightful images he shares of antique playing cards, and of the people, places, and stories behind them.  Then go deeper by reading some of his articles in Card Culture, or pick up his book Paper Empires.

As collectors of playing cards, whether it is the antique or the modern that fires your passion, we need each other. And we need to stay connected and learn from one another.  Modern collectors need to appreciate that the playing cards of today are standing on the shoulders of the giants of the past.  And antique collectors need to appreciate how their beloved playing cards have given birth to a new generation that has inherited the genetic stamp of its ancestors, but also builds on it in new and interesting ways.  And together, we can appreciate the important lessons that playing cards convey about our history and about ourselves.

Each deck of playing cards has a story behind it, as a result of there being a living and breathing creator that helped produce it. And the history of playing cards doesn't just tell the story about individual persons, but also of whole communities and cultures.  I'm just glad that we have people like Jason McKinstry willing to find these stories, and tell them to us.



Want to connect with or follow Jason McKinstry?
● Website: World of Paper Empires
● Social media: Facebook, Instagram, Youtube
● Marketplace: Webshop, eBay

Want to watch some of Jason McKinstry's video presentations?
● Presentation: The Inspiration behind Paper Empires
● Lecture: Antique Playing Cards (52 Plus Joker's 2020 Convention)
● Q&A: Antique Playing Cards (52 Plus Joker's 2020 Convention)
● Presentation: Rare Playing Card Items (52 Plus Joker's 2021 Virtual Day)
● Mini-Documentary: The Forgotten History of Playing Card Maker Andrew Dougherty (1826-1901)



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

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A Cellar of Fine Vintages / Interview with Playing Card Historian and Antique Collector Jason McKinstry
« on: May 04, 2022, 09:47:31 PM »
Interview with Playing Card Historian and Antique Collector Jason McKinstry (author of Paper Empires)

Who is Jason McKinstry?

Any respectable field of interest doesn't just have aficionados and enthusiasts.  It also has historians, who systematically and carefully study the past, and document their findings.   In the world of playing cards, Jason McKinstry is one of those unique individuals.  There is certainly no shortage of playing card enthusiasts - you only need to visit online playing card forums to see how many passionate collectors are out there, or check out the thriving membership list of the 52 Plus Joker playing card club.  Plenty of people are interested in playing cards, and even in their history.  But true playing card historians are a rare breed.  And that puts Jason McKinstry into a special category, occupied by few others.

Jason's name may already be quite well known to some readers, because he has earned a significant amount of respect as a writer.  He's an established author and writer, and his regular contributions of interesting and historically informed articles in Card Culture, the monthly magazine put out by the playing card club 52 Plus Joker, ensures that some reputation precedes him.  But arguably his biggest contribution yet as a playing card historian is his landmark book Paper Empires.  The importance of this volume can't be under-estimated, because in this ground-breaking work Jason documents the lives and stories of America's earliest playing card manufacturers, exploring playing card history in a manner that hasn't been done before.  It's a work that is quickly becoming regarded as an essential reference point, much like Tom and Judy Dawson's Hochman Encyclopedia of American Playing Cards.

With such eminent qualifications and expertise, Jason is the ideal person to sit down with, in order to learn a thing or two or three about early American playing cards, about collecting, and much more.  He was kind enough to agree to this interview, and let me tell you in advance: this is good stuff.  Jason knows his material, is well-informed, and is an expert in this field.  But he also has a way with words, and I'm sure you'll be just as enthralled as I was, learning from him on a wide range of playing card related subjects.  So let's put on our listening hat, and give a big hand and warm welcome to our playing card historian and friend, Jason McKinstry!



The Interview

General Background

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

It's wonderful to speak to you today and everybody reading about the subject that changed my life. It might change yours too. Before all of the antique playing card collecting, research and writing, I was a contractor by trade. My wife and I specialized in century home restoration/renovation projects. Together we would take old run-down houses and transform them into places people would want to spend their lives in. Not your typical origin story for someone who researches and writes about playing card history.

How did you get involved in collecting playing cards?

Interestingly I received my first taste of antique playing cards when standing in one of my finished renovation houses. It was ten years ago, and one of the tenants had a deck of Bicycle Heritage (2012) sitting on a coffee table, and I ended up handling them for a few minutes. I remember thinking to myself that "I bet I can find a real one of these online." That was the start of something extraordinary, an all-consuming topic that's grown into what I believe is one of the greatest untold stories in American History.

How did your interests as a collector develop over time?

I've always been a collector. In my younger years, I would collect stamps, coins and paper money, but as I grew up, so did my tastes. We could say that I found that deck of playing cards at precisely the right time. That very night I had my introduction to the world of antique/vintage playing cards. At first, to satisfy my collector instincts, I wanted one deck that would do a good job representing the whole subject. A deck like that doesn't exist in reality, but that's what I thought on day one. I ended up purchasing a British Chas. Goodall deck from the 1880s. My decision to buy that one wasn't entirely unfounded. I knew Goodall had a connection to American playing cards, and I also knew that because the United States is a melting pot, many decks of all types would have been used there. After waiting two weeks, I received my package in the mail and had my first experience opening a 130-year-old pack of cards.

You aren't just a collector, because many consider you to be a playing card historian and researcher.  What has led to this reputation?

Well, that started while I was waiting for that first deck of Goodall's to arrive. I love history, so I began researching early American playing cards right away. Thankfully I found The Hochman Encyclopedia by Tom & Judy Dawson. As it turned out, playing cards have been collected and studied for over one hundred years. There are a handful of big names in the community whose work is a basis for everything I started with. Initially, Catherine Hargrave and Gene Hochman provided many of the seminal facts I used to construct this new and incredible narrative. But the more independent research I did, the more I realized that we were only scratching the surface of a much larger story.

You are known for specializing in American playing card manufacturers.  What got you interested in that area of focus?

My interest comes from the possibility to tell a story that not many have heard of. It's taken a century to gain an accounting of the thousands of decks that were produced in the old days and exactly who made them. My contribution to the subject is creating the historical biographies of the individuals and companies that made all the cards we know about. Once my curiosity piqued, I began to write a series of notes explaining key dates and a little bit about each maker. But like a real-life pandora's box, I quickly saw that the story I was discovering was absolutely incredible, and things very much snowballed from there. I found that playing cards and the people that made them were fully ingrained into the nation's fabric, and they both interacted with every aspect of life from colonial times forward.



Your Contributions

You are the author of the book Paper Empires. What is your book about, and what topics does it cover?

I cover the section of time known as the "Golden Age" of playing cards. 1835-1935 was a century of rapid development, invention and tremendous competition. From the ether, seven manufacturers rose to the surface. I call them the Big Seven. My book Paper Empires Volume I, follows the lives of the first four makers, L.I. Cohen, Andrew Dougherty, John J. Levy and Samuel Hart. These men perfectly represent the early days of playing cards in the United States, and each was the height of the industry for a time. Paper Empires takes you on the same journey that they took as they brought to life America's favourite pastime.

How did this book come to be, and what was involved in writing it?

I suppose I'm one of the fortunate modern-day researchers who enjoy the benefits of the technological age. I hunt information and imagery by employing a variety of techniques. For me, this usually begins by sifting through all of the fragments of history on Ancestry. There I find out exactly who the individual truly is. Where were they born? Where did they grow up? How did they get into the playing card industry? Who did they marry, and who were their children? Did they travel? What did they enjoy? How did they live their final years? When did they die, and what legacy was left behind? Once I have a basic timeline established, I combine this life history with the known facts about the business. The advertising produced by card makers provides another vital puzzle piece.

Then I turn to the playing cards themselves. Because I've had the opportunity to collect so many of the cards manufactured by these great companies, most of my research can happen right within my cabinets. Through Paper Empires, I'm able to provide high-quality colour images of near every deck ever made by each of these fantastic playing card makers. I also document the changes and evolutions that playing cards went through over the years. I'll just say that it was an exciting time of innovation and invention. The history told through the playing cards is also a perfect reflection of the broader picture of American life throughout the golden years. These themes include everything you'd expect, such as expansion, the wild west, the civil war, the industrial revolution. What makes Paper Empires different is that you can view these subjects through the lens of what people were really doing back then... playing card games.



Your book is subtitled Vol. 1.  Does that mean we expect further volumes, and what are your plans in that regard?

You bet! Volume II is nearing completion as we speak. It picks up right where the first one leaves off. I'm covering Lawrence & Cohen; they were the true successors to L.I. Cohen's playing card empire. Then we move on to The New York Consolidated Card Company. They were possibly the most successful playing card company in the early American scene. Although they, like many others, would be crushed by the weight of the final subject of Volume II, The United States Playing Card Company. Everybody's favourite playing card brand! The history of the USPCC is massive and extraordinary; I can't wait to share it with the world.

I plan on releasing future volumes as well. Volume III will be necessary to address the many peripheral makers that existed. Even though they were smaller, they also had rich and meaningful stories. Beyond that, I hope that people find my work (and others) and demand to know more. The history of early American playing cards is something everyone should be aware of. Considering how important I've found it to be, I'm surprised that historians haven't picked up on the subject before. Forget the Vanderbilts, Rockefellers, Henry Fords and Samuel Colts of the era for a minute. The history of a maker like Andrew Dougherty will blow your mind.

You also write actively on a monthly basis for the Card Culture magazine.  What kinds of topics do you especially write about?

Paper Empires keeps me focused on the makers and topics needed; Card Culture gives me an excellent opportunity to write about everything else I find. Playing cards were pivotal in the everyday lives of people until only a few decades ago. Because of this unwavering connection, there's a lot of fantastic playing card news to speak about. It would be an understatement to say that the well of antique/vintage playing cards information is deep. In reality, I find out something unbelievably cool all the time. Every day, sometimes multiple times a day. When the time comes to write my Card Culture article each month, I can't wait to show my readers all of the great discoveries.

Where do you go for your source material for your research on playing cards?

My source material comes from everywhere, but it typically starts with my collection of playing cards and ephemera. I've had great success from searching online museums and newspaper archives. But of course, there's no comparison to the amount of work and research our club, 52 Plus Joker, has created over the years. The history of the best collectors/researchers that came before me live on today as part of the club, and all members have access to it. For anyone interested in playing card history, whether it be antique/vintage or current deck releases and events, 52 Plus Joker is by far the world's best playing card club.



What can we expect to find on your website (worldofpaperempires.com), and what should we know about it?

My website worldofpaperempires.com is where you can begin a more serious introduction to my research topics. You'll meet the playing card makers and learn some of the basics about each one. A lot of their outstanding work is on full display. Of course, you can purchase my book Paper Empires in various formats. I also have available Collector's Corner Annual, the 2019 collection of my Card Culture articles. To complement everything that I've done up until this point, I've been working on mini-documentary series. The first video is on the website now; it's called The Forgotten History of Andrew Dougherty & 80 Centre Street. Another feature you will encounter is my Image & Art Gallery; this is where I post digital art, animations, colourizations and more.

Do you have any plans to develop your website beyond what it presently has?

Absolutely. I want my site to be everyone's connection to my books and research, and I also want it to be the premier destination for all things antique/vintage playing cards-related. In time, I'd like to offer more of the history of each maker, more playing cards and more documentation. Another thing is like to offer is the antique playing cards themselves. Once enough people discover the World of Paper Empires, I would love to be supplying them with the same decks of cards that wound up my enthusiasm in the first place.

What can you tell us about your youtube channel, and the kind of content there?

YouTube has been the perfect outlet for me, and I suspect that most people purchasing my books in the future will have seen some of my video content. I'm very excited about the mini-documentary series. There's currently little to no content about antique/vintage playing cards on YouTube. At the same time, I know that everyone loves watching various history subjects through the service; I think it's just a matter of time before people find the card makers. My channel offers most of what I've done to date, Mini-Docs, convention videos, themed promos, animations and more.

In the past you've mentioned the idea of a series of unboxing videos that shows and discusses antique decks.  Is there anything you can share about that?

I have big plans for Paper Empires, and given how much viewers enjoy regular unboxing videos, I figured why not make an unboxing event two hundred years in the making. I constructed a ceremonial "unboxing vessel" for the reveal, and the idea is that together we will unbox and discuss the historical deck inside. These decks are unlike anything seen by most typical playing card collectors, and I think they'll be impressed with the concept and the cards. These are the actual decks used by the real card players 1835-1935, and they're incredible. I hope within the coming months; we'll start seeing some of that content released.



Vintage & Antique Decks

Is there a difference between "vintage decks" and "antique decks"?

For me, there is a difference! I define anything one hundred years or older as antique. And similarly, anything under 100 years is vintage. I know there are a lot of opinions as to the answer to this question, and that's ok too.

Many readers are only familiar with collecting modern decks.  In what ways is collecting vintage and antique decks different?

Collecting modern decks is awesome! In fact, we're more than likely heading into another golden age of playing cards, thanks to the current designers. Collecting modern cards is a lot like collecting antique/vintage. Once you familiarize yourself with what was available, you can start purchasing what you like. Most parts of American history were displayed through playing cards, so I always recommend that collectors think about the period they're interested in.

What are some key things we should know about vintage and antique decks, and about collecting them?

First of all, playing cards and history go back a long time together. It's good to understand that the only reason we can own these decks currently is because regular researchers and historians do not yet know the story of the American playing card industry. Once this undocumented industry is discovered, I have a strong feeling that much of what remains will end up in museums and high-end collections. Right now, maybe the last opportunity to own a piece of history like an antique deck of playing cards.

What are the qualities of antique decks that especially appeal to you?

One of the things I find the most astounding about antique playing cards is how beautiful the cards turned out even though old world makers were using more limited technology. At times, that technology was both proprietory and experimental. Yet, we were left with finely detailed designs that are miniature works of art. Nearly everything that makes up an antique deck of cards appeals to me. But if I were to narrow it down, I'd say that watching playing cards evolve from square corners, full courts, no indices to the modern snappy cards we all know and love was a remarkable thing. The position of the cards in history is also important (civil war, the new century, roaring twenties.)



What makes something a genuinely "rare" deck?

This is a surprisingly tricky question. Many factors are considered when determining the rarity of an antique/vintage deck. First, you can look at the maker. Did they manufacture for long? If so, is this one of their popular brands, or something made in smaller numbers? A good general rule about makers is that the earlier you go in their catalogue, the rarer the decks become. This is because fewer were made. If you're looking at something expensive, then it's best to rely on the expertise of a seasoned antique/vintage collector. As a community, we've had a hundred years of studying the playing card market and the different trends along the way. This is one of the main differences between modern and antique rarity; in the contemporary world, it's typically known how many decks were produced. We simply don't have that luxury in the antique/vintage world.

It's also important to remember that historically playing cards were not designed to be collectible. They were made to be used and disposed of. If you contrast that with today, you'll find most decks are intended to be collectible, and hundreds, if not thousands, stay in their wrappers waiting to appreciate. What will this factor do to the future market for modern cards? Only time will tell, but for now, we can say that the steady rise in population can potentially increase the later demand. This same premise is true for antique/vintage; the more people there are, fewer decks will be available to satisfy them.

Last but not least while determining rarity is the condition of the deck. The condition can make all the difference in the world when buying any deck of cards, both modern and antique. Collectors across all spectrums/topics care about condition, and they are usually willing to pay high prices for top quality. 

What are the rarest decks you know about?

Wow, there's some scarce stuff out there. I would say that the rarest decks would be the ones we've only recently found. These playing cards are so rare that it's taken 200 years to discover them. But I think that for someone just starting, rare decks that fall into the middle of the timeline are what you're looking for. Maybe even something you're familiar with. Everybody knows Andrew Dougherty's Tally-Ho No. 9 playing cards. But did you know that Dougherty was a prolific manufacturer who had been in operation since 1848? Tally-Ho was released in 1885 and spent many years evolving. This created a variety of Ace of Spade designs and an entire line of back styles. This might make you wonder why you only know of a handful of Tally-Ho backs, usually Circle and Fan?

52 Plus Joker Club President Lee Asher and I have been collaborating for years on the Tally-Ho brand, trying to determine how many individual backs there were. I just released some of our findings in a Card Culture not too long ago. So far, we've identified 28 plus individual backs for the Tally-Ho Brand. That's a far cry from the two backs most people know and love. Examples of these non-typical backs are rare, but they do come up occasionally. Because even new collectors are familiar with Tally-Ho, these decks have inherent popularity. A great place to start looking for rare decks!

In the world of early American playing cards, any of the big seven manufacturers will be considered somewhat rare especially pre-1900, but the further you go back, the scarcer decks become. Makers to look for are L.I. Cohen, Samuel Hart, John J. Levy, Lawrence & Cohen, Andrew Dougherty, The New York Consolidated Card Company and The United States Playing Card Company. Other makers to look for: National, Russell, Standard, Perfection and Pyramid Playing Card Companies.

You may be thinking, wow, that's a lot of makers to look for, but this brings me to the most important point about rarity in general. Rarity doesn't always affect the value of a deck of cards. It will if enough people know about the importance of the deck or how rare it is, but most often, these things never meet, and rare decks sell all the time for either low or affordable prices.

If a deck is very old, does that automatically mean that it should be considered "rare"?

Not necessarily. Even in the 1800s, playing cards were manufactured in high numbers and eventually mass-produced. The best thing to do is a little research into the brand/manufacturer that you're considering. Tom and Judy Dawson (authors of The Hochman Encyclopedia) put together a price guide for all decks covered in their book. Although the prices may be a little out of date, that guide, if appropriately deciphered, can tell the tale of a decks rarity. It can also give you a good idea of value.



How do you go about dating an older deck of playing cards?

You can use a lot of different methods to determine the date of a deck. Although today a simple internet search should provide a good approximation for most decks you'd encounter. If we look to more traditional methods, here are a few tips. Square Corners, Full Courts, No Corner Indices, Thick Stock, are usually pre-1870s. Most decks with round edges, corner indices and double-heads are from after 1870. There's an overlap in the dates of the features; for example, rounded edges were available in the 1850s, and corner indices were invented in 1864. Thin and snappy cards are typically from 1880 forward.

Tax stamps on playing cards are also an excellent way to date a deck if you have the box. All decks of playing cards required a US Internal Revenue stamp before leaving the factory. The stamps were started in 1862 and rescinded in 1884. They came back in 1894 and lasted until 1965 when they ended for good. If you have the stamp, there is a cancellation date on it. The history between tax stamps and antique/vintage playing cards is fascinating, and some great stories revolve around those tiny little stamps.

Circa 1906, The US Playing Card Company began implementing a dating code system for their decks. Because the USPCC also owned many of the other manufacturers by then, the code was eventually used for them too. There's a great chart with the codes/dates on Lee Asher's website.

How does grading work?  What kinds of things would you look at to determine an antique's deck's condition?

The first thing to look at is completeness; does the deck have everything that originally came with it? This includes the correct number of cards, 32 for Euchre and Piquet, 48 for a Pinochle, 52 for a Standard, 60 for a 500 deck, etcetera. Does it have the Joker and any extra cards that may have come together? Does it have the wrapper and seals? Does it have the box and appropriate tax stamps? All of these factors go into determining if your deck is complete. Now you can look at the condition of each of those pieces of the deck.

Condition for antique/vintage playing cards has long been established, and I'll directly quote the Hochman for its breakdown.
- As issued - a complete deck, in mint condition, with all cards, jokers and extra cards contained in the original packaging when first distributed for sale. It might be unopened or carefully opened for examination, but not played with. If applicable, the tax stamp, not necessarily unbroken, would be attached.
- Mint - a complete deck showing no signs of use. Normally all cards would be present as would the original box in mint or near mint condition. The inside wrapper would not need to be there.
- Excellent - a complete deck that has been occasionally used, but still in first class condition. Gold edges would still be intact and you would be proud to use this deck in your game.
- Good - A complete deck showing signs of repeated use, but still useable. There would be no serious creases or bent/broken corners. The deck would not be swollen or misshapen and would fit comfortably into the original box.
- Poor - A deck not good enough to fit into one of the above categories. It likely would have at least one of these serious faults such as bent or broken corners, bad creases, heavy soiling, etc.
- With Faults - A deck in one of the good or excellent categories, but with a serious fault like a missing or damaged card or a damaged, incomplete or missing box."



What kind of condition should we expect for a 100 year old antique deck, in terms of damage, wear, and signs of age? 

It's a mixed bag, but surprisingly, you will find many Good to Excellent condition examples. I collect antique playing cards because of the history behind the cards. So having a deck of cards that shows the honest wear helps me get to the story. I own every condition you could have, from demolished relic decks to As Issued/Mint decks from the 1840s. The best strategy when looking at condition is to decide what kind of experience you want to have with antique/vintage playing cards.

What impact on collectibility and value do missing cards have?

Great question, and it gets asked a lot?missing cards matter. But like most things, it's on a sliding scale. It's always best to have a complete deck. But there are a few things to remember. The rarer a deck is, the more likely a collector will be to accept deficiencies such as missing cards. Also, in the early days (pre-1870s), many people would use a deck of playing cards as a quick source of writing paper. This produced many early decks with missing cards as a result. From my experience, complete decks matter the most from the 1870s forward, but there are still exceptions.

Do sealed antique decks exist, and is there anything you can share about this?

Sealed decks are rare, and you may wait a while, but they exist. Like everything we've discussed today so far, the further back in history you go, the harder they are to find. Pre 1900, you'll be more likely to find a perfect deck that's been opened for inspection. This can be for various reasons, but most often, in the collector community, sealed decks are opened to verify that the correct deck is inside. Sealed decks are not plentiful, but a little persistence can pay off.

In what circumstances would you personally open a sealed vintage or antique deck?

Most sealed decks I have date from the 1920s-1940s. So there's no desire there to open them. I know exactly what they are, and those decks are not particularly rare anyway. I may open a sealed deck if I don't have representation in my collection. Or if it's one of a handful of brands that could have a different deck inside. Lastly, I may open a deck if something looks off with it. This would be to verify the contents. It's a good thing sealed decks don't come around too often.

Why are some of these antique decks so hard to find, and how many copies of them typically exist?

It's impossible to give an accurate answer to this question that would cover over a century and a half of playing card making in America. What I can say is that for some early decks, there may only be one or two. These numbers generally go up as you move forward through time. By the 1880s and beyond, playing cards were being mass-produced on a much grander scale, and many copies have survived.

How do dedicated collectors go about sourcing these and other hard-to-find decks?

The hardest-to-find decks will usually circulate within our 52 Plus Joker community auctions. Access to the club auctions comes with membership, and we see a lot of great decks move there. With that said, 99% of my collection was sourced outside the club. I've owned nearly one of every Dougherty deck ever made by waiting for the right opportunity. I say owned because I don't necessarily keep everything anymore. I sell parts of my collection to help fund further research so that I can keep telling this incredible story. The reason I mention this is because it's people like me who bring these fantastic decks into the regular collectors market. Most of my cards came from eBay, to begin with, and that's also where I sell. I'm user suddsmcduff77 for anyone interested in having a look.

The generation before ours sourced their cards in flea markets and thrift shops all across the country. Today we have an assortment of online auctions sites available; even the big auction houses are online, streamlined and easy to use.

What kind of prices do antique decks go for?

This is a sliding scale answer for sure. Some early American decks can fetch thousands of dollars, but most rare decks typically encountered fall in the $200-300 range. From the 1890s forward, you can see anything from $60-200. It's safe to say that there's something for everyone collecting antique/vintage playing cards. I think most people would find them quite affordable given today's designer-fueled playing card world. Antique playing cards can also provide a much different experience than what people are used to currently. A tremendous personal connection can be made with a deck of cards that travelled through time for you.


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