Bicycle Goes Digital By Launching their NFT Collection of Playing Cards

The United States Playing Card Company (USPCC), makers of the famous Bicycle brand of playing cards, is a playing card manufacturer with an illustrious history going all the way back to the late 1800s.  But in many ways they're also at the forefront of innovation, and very much at the forefront of innovation in playing cards.  So it's no surprise that they have been one of the first in the playing card industry to jump into the 21st century by offering NFTs in combination with their playing cards.   

To celebrate the launch of Bicycle's first-ever NFT collection, an exclusive launch party was held at Lume Studios in New York on the evening of 9th December 2021.  This date corresponded with the first of two drops, the second of which followed later in the month.  Let's find out more, but you may wish to start by watching the official trailer from Bicycle Cards about the NFT launch here.



What are NFTs?

So what are NFTs?  If you already know all about them, you can skip this and go straight to the next section.  But perhaps you've heard about NFTs but don't really know what they are.  Chances are good that you have come across them in the news, because throughout 2021 a number of NFT sales have made headlines for raking in incredible sums of money.  While they've been around for several years already, they have really taken off in the past year.

NFT is an acronym that stands for non-fungible token. For most of us, that doesn't say much other than that it doesn't have anything to do with fungus.  And deep down we're not sure we've even got that part right.  But actually non-fungible means that something is completely unique and cannot be replicated.  It's much like that ultra-rare one-of-a-kind collectible sports trading card you remember from the 1980s.  But in the case of NFTs these are products that exist purely in digital form.

Blockchain technology is used to store their information and to verify the name of the individual that is their actual owner.  Blockchain is a reference to a networked system of thousands of computers worldwide that store the digital information about the image, along with a digital certificate of ownership.  While the digital image represented by an NFT can be duplicated infinitely, only a single owner is associated with it.  So really NFTs are all about the ownership, and owning an NFT is like owning a token that proves you are the owner of the "original", even if others may have copies.



NFTs can be used by creators and artists as an additional way to sell their work, and by buyers to support creators and artists, and even to create a digital collector or as a potential investment.  A lot of the fuss around NFTs has been around the sale of digital images, but all kinds of things have been sold, sometimes for exorbitant amounts.  As long as a digital version of a product can exist, so can an NFT.  The founder of Twitter sold an NFT corresponding to his first tweet for around $3 million.  An NFT of a video clip of a LeBron James slam dunk sold for over $200k.  And an NFT of a work by the digital artist known as Beeple raked in a cool $69 million.  That's more money than some physical paintings produced by great masters of art!  There are even NFTs for digital pet rocks - and some of those have sold for large sums of money too.

Oddly enough, owning an NFT doesn't mean that you own the digital image itself or can reproduce it however you like, because you only get limited rights for reproduction, and others are still allowed to display the work as well.  But it does give you some bragging rights and some sense of quasi-ownership.  And you can certainly turn around and resell the NFT, often for the kind of big numbers that you purchased it for, or preferably for even more.

The technology behind all this has produced a thriving NFT market.  And while it's anybody's guess what the future holds in the long term, it's certainly proving very popular.  Large sums of real money are changing hands in exchange for NFTs.  There has been some criticism of NFTs, notably in connection with their environmental cost, since each NFT transaction requires a considerable amount of computer processing power, which in turn impacts the environment.  But for now, at least, it seems that they are here to stay, and there are early adopters that have become millionaires courtesy of them.



What is Bicycle doing with NFTs?

The Bicycle brand is USPCC's flagship, and has such a long history going back to the 1800s that it can well be considered in the antique category.  But being old doesn't make this company old-fashioned.    In recent years the company has been very single minded about finding new ways to bring young consumers on board.

To begin with, they continue to produce creative and interesting in-house custom decks of playing cards on a regular basis.  And they have been making aggressive efforts to enter the boardgame space with a growing inventory of social games and party games that appeal to a modern audience.  Recent USPCC presidents have indicated a strong awareness of the important playing card heritage they have inherited, and expressed a commitment to building a lasting legacy, by expanding the company's range into new areas of merchandise, and by introducing playing cards to a new generation.

Given their ambitious vision for the future, it is no surprise that the Bicycle brand has boldly stepped into the NFT marketplace as well, and seen this as an opportunity to attract new customers, and explore new terrain for business.  It's a way that they can provide modern consumers and collectors with the kind of creative and innovative digital products they are looking for, corresponding to the playing cards that have long been USPCC's area of expertise.   A representative from the company put it this way: "At Bicycle, we?re a heritage brand that has been at the forefront of playing cards for over 135 years and this NFT launch marks a special moment in our history where we?re bridging the gap between tradition and innovation."



For the digital artwork that is being offered for sale as NFTs, USPCC obtained the services of respected playing card artist Adrian Valenzuela.  Adrian is well known in the playing card industry for his many designs, one of the most popular being the Memento Mori Playing Cards which he produced in collaboration with magician and youtuber Chris Ramsay.

The concept is called the "Genesis Collection", and it represents a digital deck of playing cards as they might look a thousand years in the future.  Adrian's mission was to create a digital deck that imagines how Bicycle playing cards might look a millennium from now.  The artwork he has produced bears the hallmarks of the classic playing cards we are all familiar with, including the four standard suits, with indices clearly indicating these along with the values.  A striking one-way design strikes a modern touch that captures the feel of a digital era, which is further emphasized with a colour scheme that relies of a vibrant pink, blue, and yellow.

Various marketplaces are used for buying and selling NFTs, and the Bicycle's new NFT collection is being offered for bidding on the platform Kolectiv, and on their official app.  To handle their new venture into this new world, the executives at USPCC hired Spool Marketing to take care of their public relations in the United States, especially in light of their expertise in the NFT and crypto space.



The Genesis Collection

The Genesis Collection of NFTs that is being offered for sale consists of two main drops:

1. The Unique Collection

Beginning on 9 December 2021, unique NFTs went up for auction over on Kolectiv, each corresponding to a single playing card that has been digitally minted as a unique NFT.   Altogether around 24 NFT cards are part of this initial collection, with the 10s through Aces in each of the four suits, plus the Jokers.

Along with each NFT, Bicycle Cards is also providing some additional perks and bonuses, such as a gorgeous acrylic case.  This holds a digital screen that displays the NFT, a printed counterpart of the actual playing card (slightly altered to be truly unique), along with the rest of the printed deck.  To see what this amazing package look looks like, see this video.

I can see these quickly becoming hot collectors' items.  Strictly speaking these additional items aren't part of the NFT, so first-time buyers won't be obligated to pass on these physical products when reselling the NFT.

The starting bid for each of these unique NFTs was 0.5 ETH, but the final sales are expected to go for much higher amounts.  The first auction to close was for a Joker, selling for 3.22 ETH, which at the time was the equivalent to around US$12,500.    The Ace of Spades also attracted a lot of interest, receiving bids at least double that of the other cards up for auction, and went on to sell for 3.6 ETH.  Also popular was the King of Spades (3.4 ETH) and the Queen of Hearts (3.2 ETH). But the top dog proved to be Joker #2, which finished bidding at 4.6 ETH, which represents well over $15,000.



2. The Main Collection

The main 8008 collection released towards the end of December.  These are a physical deck that USPCC is producing in a print run of 8,008.   It is beautifully presented with a lovely tuck box, which is in turn packaged in a lovely hard-shell foiled box that has been specially created for this deck.

Along with a copy of this limited edition physical deck, buyers also get a corresponding NFT, each having its own unique digitally animated tuck case.  Each has its own mint number from 1 through 8,008.

In addition, 32 of the 8,008 buyers will be selected randomly, and be assigned one of NFTs corresponding to the number cards 2 through 9 from the "Unique Collection".  That makes the deck and NFT package from the Main Collection very attractive, because not only you get a physical deck, but you also get an NFT, and a chance to get one of the sought after Unique Collection NFTs.

These sell for 0.08 ETH each, with the option of using a Shopify plug-in to pay in US dollars.



Getting your Bicycle NFTs

Effectively this gives two ways to get NFTs.  The Unique Collection represents an NFT for a different individual playing card, with a printed counterpart provided for each, while Main Collection is an actual deck, with a digital NFT counterpart for each.  USPCC has also stated that NFT owners will receive exclusive perks from the company, such as access to community-only events, plus presales and whitelists of future Bicycle playing card NFT drops.

To get your Bicycle NFTs while they're available you'll have to head to Kolectiv and check out the listings there.  The cards from the Unique Collection have already been auctioned off, but some decks and NFTs from the 8008 collection are still available.

I applaud the folks behind the Bicycle for trying something new and different, and for their willingness to experiment in an effort to keep the playing card industry fresh.  A company representative had this to say: "The NFT launch demonstrates how Bicycle is leading the way for others as we continue to innovate and, in addition to introducing new tools that make our cards more digital and accessible, segue into a new era targeting younger generations."

But Bicycle's entry into this new space isn't all about making money.  They also plan to donate $100K of the profits made during their NFT launch to a non-profit organization called Mobile School, which has the goal of providing children around the world with access to education.



Final thoughts

Many big companies are entering the world of NFTs, with big brands like Adidas, Coca Cola, Budweiser, Sony, Time, Disney, Marvel and others leading the way.  Given the forward thinking of the executives at the top of the Bicycle brand, it's no surprise to see USPCC at the front-lines of this new territory.

But this is just the beginning.  According to information announced by USPCC, there are plans to continue to expand in the area of NFTs by creating new digital offerings in future.

Regardless of how you feel about NFTs, it is good to see the Bicycle brand at the forefront of innovation, exploring new territory, and eager to lead the way in keeping our playing cards fresh.  With an attitude to playing cards that embraces new possibilities and is unafraid to explore new areas, the world of playing cards is in good hands.

Want to learn more? Head over to the official site at Bicycle Cards.



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

What You Need to Know About USPCC's Crushed Stock

And the Elite Edition playing cards which are helping popularize it

Thin-crushed stock is all the rage these days.  A lot of modern cardistry decks are produced using this card stock since it is beloved especially for card flourishing and much loved by card handlers.

The main difference you'll notice with crushed stock is that it gives playing cards a softer and more flexible feel.  Right from the very first time you take them out of the box and use them, they feel worn in and comfortable.  You can go right into performing, without a prior need to "break in" a brand new deck because the cards feel too stiff.  Instead the cards handle smoothly immediately from the moment you take a deck with crushed stock out of the box, and they have a soft and supple performance that instantly makes a good first impression.

In this article we'll take a look at what crushed stock is all about, and consider some key decks that have helped popularize it.

What is crushed stock?

Most cardists, collectors, and consumers are so used to crushed stock now, that it's hard to believe that the playing card manufacturer and industry giant United States Playing Card Company (USPCC) only first started making this thinner and softer card stock available about five years ago.  Ever since their move to a new plant in Erlanger, Kentucky in 2009, USPCC had been offering only two stocks to their customers: Classic or Retail stock (sometimes called Bicycle Standard), and Premium stock (sometimes called Bee Casino).  Consequently these have been the two main USPCC stocks most people are familiar with.

But then in 2016 USPCC made a new option available.  After choosing one of these two stocks, you could opt to have your choice of stock "crushed" as an optional process.  Effectively that meant that creators of playing cards now had a choice of four different stocks:
1. Premium stock (= Bee casino stock)
2. Retail stock (= Bicycle standard stock)
3. Crushed Premium stock
4. Crushed Retail stock

A complete deck of crushed Premium stock is typically around 3-4 cards thinner than a complete deck of non-crushed Premium stock.  It is similar in thickness to a complete deck of Retail stock, but there is a slight difference in the amount of firmness/softness.  A complete deck of crushed Retail stock is about 3-4 cards thinner again.  So crushed stock effectively reduces the thickness of an entire deck by around 3-4 cards, and also makes the cards noticeably softer, and makes feel particularly present for card flourishes like springs, and even riffle shuffles.

It's important to realize that the different stock options that USPCC offers don't represent a set thickness, because USPCC allows a certain amount of variance within a specified range.  So the `thinnest' decks of Premium stock actually correspond almost exactly to the `thickest' decks of Retail stock.  USPCC considers this kind of variance acceptable, and it means that in theory you could order a deck with Premium stock and a deck with Classic stock and find that the cards almost have the same thickness - although that would be rare, and would only apply to the extremes of this variance.  The allowable thickness for a particular print run is measured by a machine, which USPCC uses to make sure that the stock used fits within their prescribed range of thickness for that deck's chosen stock (Premium or Classic stock). This is also why different print runs can result in a different feel or performance.

But as a general rule, a deck using Premium stock will be a few cards thicker than a deck using Retail stock, and the cards will be noticeably stiffer.  More importantly for the purposes of this article, decks with crushed stock will be noticeably thinner and softer than equivalent playing cards on the same stock that is not crushed.



Some inspirations

According to my sources, the very first decks that used USPCC's crushed stock were the Hollingworth Playing Cards.  These were produced as a collaboration between Guy Hollingworth and Dan and Dave Buck in 2014 (Emerald deck) and 2015 (Burgundy deck).  Hollingworth apparently loved the thin stock of the old Stud Playing Cards, and this was one of the motivations for going with crushed stock in the first place.

The time was ripe to make this thin stock a choice for more people - with the help of the Blue Choice Playing Cards.  Because once USPCC made crushed stock more widely available to customers in 2016, one of the very first decks to use this new thin-crushed stock was Blue Choice deck.  It was created by Penguin Magic in 2016 as a tribute to the same iconic deck that had motivated Hollingworth's desire for thinner and softer cards: the Stud Playing Cards.

The original Stud decks were produced by Walgreens Drug Stores, and were extremely popular for as long as they were on the market, i.e. a period of about 25 years, starting in 1980.  The Stud deck was first produced by the historic Arrco brand, and when USPCC took over Arrco in 1986 they retained the brand and continued producing the Studs using the same vintage Arrco faces.  These decks were beloved for their sense of balance and colour, and for their ultra-thin stock.  It's regarded as thinner and softer than any stock you'll typically find on the market today.



In 2006 Walgreens gave the tuckbox of the original Stud Playing Cards a new tuck box, a new look, and a new feel. These newer Stud Playing Cards don't have the same handling abilities or allure as the original.  But they are very affordable, and you can buy a two-deck set of red and blue Stud decks for around $10.  In contrast, the original Stud decks from 1980-2006 are now prized by collectors, and you can expect handsomely for them on the secondary market.   Buying one of these original two-deck sets will set you back as much as $100.

This is not the first time that older and thinner cards have been prized. Another fine example of the modern infatuation with older card-stock is the love affair that many collectors and cardists have with the legendary Jerry's Nugget Playing Cards. These date back to around 1970, and were printed on a card stock that is no longer available, using a printing process that cannot be replicated with today's manufacturing methods.  The Jerry's Nugget cards were also thinner than most contemporary playing cards, although they are snappier and not as soft as today's crushed stock.  But in the 1990s they developed a reputation among cardists for amazing handling.  Over time they became holy grails for collectors and cardists, now fetching prices of $500 a deck on the secondary market.

The rise of cardistry has certainly been a significant catalyst in the demand for thinner and softer playing cards.  Card flourishers have different requirements than those who use playing cards only for card games or for card magic.  Softer and thinner cards are often appreciated for their handling abilities in moves like card springs and dribbling.  Given all these factors, it is not surprising that there is a growing demand in today's playing card community for decks that feel very soft, and handle smoothly right out of the box.  In other words, the very qualities of USPCC's crushed stock.



Blue Choice deck

When crushed stock was first made available more widely by USPCC in 2016, following its success with the Hollingworth decks, Kevin Reylek over at Penguin Magic was one of the first to see the potential of this crushed stock, recognizing that it could meet a demand in the market.  Under his guidance, they developed the Blue Choice Playing Cards.  This deck was deliberately created as a homage to the classic blue and red Studs, and exhibits many similar qualities, including thin card stock courtesy of USPCC's new crushed stock, along with classic Arrco faces.

The Choice brand actually goes back earlier, because the very first Choice deck was produced with the help of Kickstarter in 2014, and was a fully custom deck that was hand-drawn by Ben Kolozsi.  But in 2016 the Choice decks made their way to the Penguin brand, and underwent a change in direction as a tribute to the original blue and red Studs.  Both Ben Kolozsi and Kevin Reylek deserve credit for combining forces and coming up with the ideas that led to the limited edition Blue Choice deck.  It featured an all-new back design and the crushed card stock which would become the hallmark of the Choice decks from that time onwards, and of many other decks that would follow.



The back design of the Choice Cloverback decks features a clover pattern which is the key motif of the Choice brand. It has thin white borders, and the design stands out nicely in white against a background of solid colour.  Much like the original Stud decks, a solid block of colour dominates the card backs for a pleasing and balanced look.

The faces of the deck take over the vintage faces of the original Arrco decks, and are the same as those used by the Stud Playing Cards.  They have a very traditional look, but with more rounded features that you'd usually see in a  modern Bicycle deck.  It's a classic style that remains functional and recognizable, and yet gives a slightly vintage feel.  The fact that all these visual features were combined with USPCC's crushed stock, helped make this deck a real hit once it hit the market.



Choice Cloverback deck

Two years later in 2018, the Choice decks were reprinted with some small tweaks in two new colours: Choice Cloverback Classic Red and Choice Cloverback Casino Brown.

The Casino Brown decks were printed in a limited edition of just 1000 copies with individually numbered seals.  Otherwise they are the same as the Classic Red decks, which had a larger print run.



A slight change was made from the original Blue Choice deck, and although it's not immediately noticeable, the back design is now completely symmetrical.  But for the rest all the features that made the Blue Choice deck a success were there: the traditional looking Arrco court cards, the solid block of colour on the card backs with a straight forward and memorable design, and perhaps most importantly, crushed stock that made these a dream to handle.

Just as with the Blue Choice deck, the Ace of Spades features the brand name, and a giant Spade made up with horizontal lines.  Extra cards include a double backer, and an extra Joker. This means that you get three identical Jokers, all with the same giant clover.  The deck is traditionally cut, making it ideal for table shuffles and practical use at the card table.



But special mention needs to be made about the stock.  This is USPCC's thin-crushed Classic stock, just like the Bicycle Elite and Tally-Ho Elite decks that Penguin would later produce, and which would become a big hit with magicians.  This was a deliberate choice, since the original Studs Playing Cards also had very thin feeling cards.  It's still durable, and yet feels softer and more flexible than a standard Bicycle deck.  And the result is something immediately soft in your hands, again honouring something of the tradition that the Stud Playing Cards were known for.

The Choice Cloverback deck is an ideal worker deck that you can use for performing card magic or for playing card games, because it won't draw too much attention to itself due to the extreme novelty that you'll find in other custom decks.  It has enough unique elements to stand out, while still remaining very functional.  A pair of the highly sought after original Stud decks will set you back around $100, but thanks to the Choice Cloverbacks, we can enjoy playing cards with a similar look and feel at a much more affordable price.



Bicycle Elite Edition deck

But let's just travel back one year.  The Blue Choice deck from 2016 was one of the first decks to use USPCC's new option for crushed stock, since it was geared to be a deliberate nod to the original Stud Playing Cards.  Emulating this old-school feel made sense with a tribute deck, given that it was meant to capture something of playing cards that were particularly beloved due to their thin and soft feel.   But why not try applying the same thing to more classic decks, like Rider Backs and Tally-Ho decks?

And so in 2017, at the suggestion of their resident card expert Kevin Reylek, Penguin Magic produced the very first Elite Edition playing cards, Bicycle Elite Edition (Red & Blue).  The Elite Edition is basically identical to a standard Rider Back deck, except that it uses USPCC's crushed Classic stock.



So how does this stock compare to non-crushed stock?  While thin-crushed Premium (Bee Casino) stock has a similar thickness to the non-crushed Classic stock of a traditional Bicycle deck, thin-crushed Classic stock is perceptibly thinner still.  Put these two decks beside each other, and a deck with thin-crushed Classic stock is about 3 or 4 cards thinner than a deck with non-crushed Classic stock.  This also means that these decks with crushed stock immediately have a different feel in the hands, and also perform more pleasantly and smoothly from the get-go.

To market this new stock with a distinctive branding, the new thin-crushed Bicycle Rider Backs were labelled as the Bicycle Elite Edition.  Over time they have proved very popular with consumers, and people speak very highly of the softer and thinner feeling stock, and how the positive impact it has on handling.  The Bicycle Elite Edition may well be a big factor in explaining why thin-crushed stock has become increasingly popular in recent years, because for many people - especially magicians - this deck represented their first ever experience with a thin-crushed deck.



The Bicycle Elite Edition continues to be very popular, and you only need to see the rave reviews over on Penguin Magic to see how good this deck is.  With over 200 reviews, it has an average rating of 5 stars, and the comments are brimming with praise from amateurs and professionals alike.    Many pro magicians have switched to using the Elite Edition as their deck of choice, instead of standard Bicycle Rider Backs, because they prefer softer cards which handle smoothly right out of the box.

Crushed stock has genuinely been a game-changer for playing cards.  While these decks retain the iconic look of classic Bicycle Rider Backs, and remain durable, they provide softer and more flexible handling.  A fresh deck will immediately spring and faro perfectly.  And they're also very affordable, at around $4 for a single deck, and even cheaper when you buy them by the brick.  The only downside for some is that the Elite Edition decks don't have a seal on the box.



It should be noted that Expert Playing Card Company also produced some Bicycle Rider Back decks using USPCC's crushed stock.  They are described variously as Bicycle Rider Back Expert Edition or simply Expert Thin Crushed Rider Backs, and were only released in 2020.  They also have the standard Bicycle Rider Back look, use crushed stock, and were printed by USPCC.

The main way to tell them apart from the Elite Edition decks from Penguin Magic (aside from the obvious mention of "Elite Edition" on the tuck box of those decks) is that the Expert Edition decks have a seal on the tuck box, whereas the Elite Edition decks do not.  The Expert Edition decks also cost a couple of dollars more than the Elite Edition decks, and they only come with 54 cards, i.e. without the two extra gaff cards that are in the Elite Edition decks.

I've seen mixed reports about which of the two is thinner and which has better registration.  To me it seems that there isn't much between them, although some people will swear that they handle differently and that they prefer one above the other.  Both were printed by USPCC on similar card stock, using USPCC's web press.  Whatever the case, certainly the Bicycle Elite Edition decks produced by Penguin have been well received by working magicians, due to how smoothly they handle out of the box, and their crushed stock has proven to be a winner.

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



Honeybee Elite Edition deck

Given how warmly consumers were embracing the new crushed stock, it's not surprising that a year later in 2018 (the same year that they produced the red and brown Choice Cloverback decks with crushed stock), Penguin Magic also decided to produce an Elite Edition of their popular Honeybee decks using crushed stock.  These were produced in two colours, Honeybee Elite Edition (Red & Blue).  After all, the Elite Edition of the classic Rider Back design put crushed stock into the hands of many magicians and card players for the first time, and they loved it.  Having popularized it among magicians, the market was ripe to produce other more traditional looking decks using this card stock.

Cardists were arguably much quicker to adopt this thinner and more flexible card stock, because they needed less convincing about the merits of softer stock.  In fact, by this time playing card creators like Art of Play had been producing virtually all their decks with thin-crush stock for several years already, which isn't surprising given their emphasis on card flourishing.  But like the Bicycle Elite Edition, the Honeybee Elite Edition was geared more to magicians and card players than flourishes.



The Honeybee deck (No. 15) had already shown up in 2015, as Penguin Magic's first ever deck of playing cards.  Designed by prolific playing card designer Randy Butterfield, it's a bee-themed deck in a classic design which pays tribute to the traditional Bee Casino deck.  But instead of the familiar borderless diamond pattern on the card backs, it features a borderless honeycomb pattern complete with two realistic honeybees walking on the back. As the ad copy says, "You can almost taste the honey as you gaze at the golden yellow backs!" The tuck box described this striking card back design as Honeycomb Back.  Two years later Penguin came with a V2 Honeybee deck (No. 17), which also used the Honeycomb Back but with white borders, and like the V1 deck, it used USPCC's thicker Premium stock.

But what about if you're partial to the softer and thinner stock of the Bicycle Elite Edition decks covered previously?  That's where the Honeybee Elite Edition decks (No. 18) came in.  Like their predecessor, these had borderless backs with the distinctive honeycomb pattern, but were intended as more of a traditional deck in red and blue.  Not only were the bees eliminated from the card backs of the original, but the customization that remained was more in line with a classic Bee deck, although the honeybee theme certainly was still very evident.  The court cards featured red for the Hearts and Diamonds and blue for the Spades and Clubs, for a classy look.



While the Honeybee Elite Edition decks are now sold out, you may occasionally still find them on the secondary market.  Somewhat surprisingly, the Honeybee Elite decks I own seem to have a slightly thicker stock than the Bicycle Elite Edition decks I own, and are closer in thickness to a standard Bicycle Riderback deck.  I wonder if crushed Premium stock was used for these rather than crushed Classic stock, unless it's just an example of variance within the allowed tolerances at USPCC.  But certainly they do have crushed stock, and people I've shown this deck to have really loved how it looks and handles, and it's also received very positive reviews all round.

As an aside, I'll mention that version 3 of the Honeybee deck came out in 2021, under the new name of Bicycle Honeybee.  While this latest deck is advertised as having the thicker Premium stock, the decks I have actually feel identical in thickness and handling to my Honeybee Elite Edition decks, and many reviews I've seen have also commented on them having crushed stock.  I suspect that perhaps both the V3 Bicycle Honeybee deck and the Honeybee Elite decks may actually use crushed Premium stock.



Tally-Ho Elite Edition deck

In 2020 USPCC finally gave permission for a Tally-Ho Elite Edition to be published with this popular stock, bringing it to the familiar design of the classic Tally-Ho Circle Back deck.  It's available in two colours, the Tally-Ho Elite Edition (Red & Blue).

At around $7 a deck, it's priced slightly higher than the Bicycle Elite Edition decks.  Both the Bicycle Elite Edition and the Tally-Ho Elite Edition come with a double backer and blank facer as the two gaff cards.  These were printed on USPCC's sheet fed press instead of their web press, but these days it is nearly impossible to tell any difference in feel between the two.

Just as was mentioned in connection with the Bicycle Elite Edition, Expert Playing Card Company has also produced Expert Thin Crushed Tally-Ho decks using USPCC's crushed stock, but on their web press, and without the two additional gaff cards that come with the Tally-Ho Elite Edition produced by Penguin. 



The Elite Edition decks are now the preferred choice for a lot of magicians and cardists today.  So if you've only ever had experience using Bicycle decks with Classic stock, then you really should give this crushed stock a try.

Everything about the Bicycle Elite Edition and the Tally-Ho Elite Edition looks the same as it always does, from the tuck box, to the card backs, and the face cards.  The only difference is that the cards feel thinner and softer - which is exactly what a large percentage of people love about them.

A large number of decks using crushed stock have now been produced since USPCC started offering this five years ago.  Penguin Magic's popular Marked Maiden Back decks is another such example that uses the thin-crushed Classic stock (only their initial print run of this deck used non-crushed Classic stock).  Now that Rider Back decks and Tally-Ho decks have also been released with this stock, we can expect its popularity to keep growing.   



Final thoughts

Are there equivalent options from other publishers?  Several years ago Cartamundi entered the custom playing card market in a big way with their popular Superlux stock.  This was noticeably thicker than a standard USPCC deck, but the card stock was also surprisingly softer, and it attracted many admirers.  Unfortunately the supplier of this card-stock went bust towards the end of 2019.  As a result, Cartamundi switched to the SlimLine stock that they now use for most of their custom decks.  This uses the same True Linen B9 embossing pattern that they introduced on their Superlux stock, but the cards are super thin.  While they are pleasantly soft, they are almost too thin, and won't always hold up to the exacting standards required by more demanding sleights or card flourishes.  [Read more about this subject in this article: The Cartamundi decks: a comparison between their popular finishes.]

Legends Playing Cards (LPCC) and Expert Playing Cards (EPCC) have also added a crushed stock to their quiver of options recently.  Last year they began using a new factory in China (PRC), and along with the use of these new printing facilities, they introduced a new card stock which they call "pre-crushed classic finish".  It is similar in thickness to USPCC's Premium stock, and while it is slightly stiff at first, with some use it quickly develops a pleasant softness.  This gives it a durability that matches USPCC's Premium stock, along with a softness that matches their crushed stock.  LPCC/EPCC playing cards are known to be stiff and snappy, so this crushed stock makes a welcome change from the usual handling associated with them.  Their new Viper Finish also gives great handling and is worth checking out.  [Read more about this subject in this article: A new factory and a new benchmark from LPCC and EPCC.]

And of course, creators are always on the lookout for the alternative stocks that might offer that new something special. At 52 Plus Joker's deck debut event held on 21 October 2021, Penguin Magic announced the release of a new stock and finish combination from an unspecified printing partner that they plan to use going forwards.  It's called the UltraLux Finish, and has received extensive testing from their team to ensure it meets their quality standards.  Their ad copy describes it as "the combination of casino-grade European card stock that has been crushed to the perfect thickness, with just the right amount of linen texture for a perfect glide."  Early reports indicate that while it's not as soft as USPCC's crushed stock, it handles well out of the box, and the cards still faro and fan without clumping despite weeks of usage.

Clearly this is a great time for creators and consumers of playing cards, and new options like USPCC's crushed stock have been readily embraced by the playing card community.   Crushed stock is here to stay, and the future continues to look bright with a growing range of options.  Be prepared to stretch yourself outside the safety of the old and familiar, try something new, and get ready to fall in love!

Where to get them? The decks featured in this article are available here: Choice Cloverback, Bicycle Elite Edition, Tally-Ho Elite Edition, Honeybee Elite Edition



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

The Azure Dragon & The Time Machine Playing Cards - Collector's Box Sets (Kickstarter)

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/elementplayingcards/the-time-machine-playing-cards-collection-box-sets

One of the most elaborate playing card set ever designed, in a very limited edition.

Current funding level: already funded (already over $270,000 raised!)
Kickstarter ends: Tuesday December 14, 2021



I keep a running list of the most funded playing card decks of all time on Kickstarter.  The project for Azure Dragon & Time Machine Playing Cards has already shot up into the #10 spot on this list, which is a phenomenal achievement.  And it still has almost three weeks of funding remaining.  Here's a complete list of all the projects that have raised more than $250,000.

1. $2,143,826 - Vivid Kingdoms by Ten Hundred (2021)
2. $630,300 - The Name of the Wind Art Deck by Elodin Enterprises (2017)
3. $589,660 - The Name of the Wind by Albino Dragon (2013)
4. $564,558 - MINT 2 by 52Kards (2018)
5. $477,229 - Jerry's Nugget by Expert Playing Card Company (2019)
6. $393,000 - The Eye of the Ocean by Stockholm17 (2021)
7. $364,000 - The Photography Deck by Travel9to5 (2020)
8. $321,052 - Anubis & Osiris Shadow by Steve Minty (2021)
9. $287,813 - The NOC Luxury Collection (Gold, Silver, Bronze) by Riffle Shuffle x House of Playing Cards (2020)
10. $272,810 - Azure Dragon & Time Machine Playing Cards by ARK Playing Cards (2021)
11. $271,484 - The NOC Luxury Collection (Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald) by Riffle Shuffle x House of Playing Cards (2021)
12. $265,200 - Arrow & Shield Playing Cards by Card Mafia (2020)
13. $250,887 - Kingdom & Kinghood by Artisan Playing Cards (2021)

The reason for the success isn't surprising.  This project was created by Danny (ARK Playing Cards, Artisan Playing Cards), who specializes in extremely lavish packaging.  Each of his first three projects was been more successful than the previous one (Card College Playing Cards, Tempo Playing Cards, and Kingdom & Kinghood Playing Cards) and his fourth project (ARK Light Playing Cards) was also a success. 

Now with the Azure Dragon & Time Machine collector's box sets he has stretched the boundaries even further, with some truly "next-level" tuck boxes and packaging.



Azure Dragon

This deck takes its title from one of the four divine beasts found in Chinese Mythology.

The innovation here is a stunning tuck box which incorporates the art of paper carving, effectively turning it into a mini art sculpture using intricate card cutting.

This deck is only available as part of one of three boxed sets: a Classic Collector's Box Set (1000 only), a Black Gold Box Set (500 only), or a Walnut Boxed Set (300 only).







Time Machine

This deck is full of baroque-style artwork and steampunk elements, and features time-related images like a clock, hourglass, cogs, and compass throughout.

The tuck box is packaged inside a remarkable display box which has a unique turn-table style folding mechanism [animated gif].  But that's not all, because the tuck box you find inside also features an ingenious design, with a self-flipping multi-page mechanism [animated gif].  Meanwhile the back design incorporates a flip-book animation feature [animated gif], and the cards also employ extensive use of foils [animated gif].  In other words: tons of features.

This is also available only as part of three boxed sets: a Classic Collector's Box Set (1000 only), a Dark Flare Box Set (500 only), or a Walnut Box Set (300 only).







Kickstarter link

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/elementplayingcards/the-time-machine-playing-cards-collection-box-sets

Video trailers: Azure Dragon and Time Machine

The Boy Who Cried Magic by Andi Gladwin

A classy book, full of classy content, from a classy magician

Overview

The name Andi Gladwin will be familiar to many people in the magic industry, largely due to his business partnership with Joshua Jay.  In 2009 they teamed up to start Vanishing Inc Magic, which has since become a leading magic retailer.  But one of the big reasons for the commercial success of Vanishing Inc Magic is that Andi and Josh aren't merely businessmen with an interest in magic.  They are magicians first and foremost, and each of them is highly respected for their credentials and contributions to the magic industry.

When I heard that Andi had written a book, in which he shared the best card tricks from his own repertoire, I wasn't surprised to discover that it was receiving rave reviews.  It was released on 21 November 2020.  Exactly one year ago today!  In a relatively short time it became Vanishing Inc's bestselling book of all time.  It's called The Boy Who Cried Magic because Andi realizes that creating good magic requires more than just passion and creativity.  A good amount of old-fashioned hard work - blood, sweat, and tears (hence the word "cried" in the title) - is needed to develop raw material. 



This means that the card tricks that Andi shares in this book are not merely the result of his labour of love, but also a lot of hard work and fine-tuning.  These tricks have evolved and developed over many years, as a result of much dedication and effort on his part.  In Andi's own words, "It is essentially my lifetime's work."  Because with every little change and refinement across 20 years of performing, each routine has improved.  Andi has applied similar attention to detail and quality in the production of this book.  He spent a lengthy period of time writing and crafting it, to make sure it would be the very best it could be.

That's why Andi's blood, sweat, and tears is good news for us.  His tears should put a smile on our face, because he is putting his finely tuned effects straight into our hands.  And that in turn should eventually lead to smiles on the faces of our spectators. 



Production Quality

First impressions say a lot.  There's the old saying that you shouldn't judge a book by its cover.  But we all know that in the world of magic, presentation is everything. It applies to how we dress and present ourselves when performing.  And it can even apply to magic books.

In the case of this fine volume, you really should judge it by its cover.  It comes in a high quality slip case.  Inside we find a well bound hard-cover book, with a splendid cloth feel.  Everything about it looks and feels like quality of the highest kind.  The production values are outstanding, and this book is even beautiful enough to be a piece of art and serve as a coffee table book.

As I began paging through the book, my admiration for the quality continued to grow.  It has glossy pages.  Around 250 of them in fact. There are over 200 clear photographs accompanying the text that show the various moves Andi teaches.  And text is well laid out with clear formatting, and well-organized with appropriate headings. 

The colour red unites everything as a central theme of the design.  There's even a red ribbon that serves as a marker.  It's all very nice.  Really, really nice. 



Contents

But does the quality of the content match the production quality?  Absolutely.  So what can you expect to find inside? Here are the key things you need to know:

Card magic: Andi's focus in this book is entirely on card magic. And that's quite deliberate, as he explains in his introduction about his goal. It is his belief that there is somewhat of a void in two main areas, stand-up card magic, and professional-quality walk-around card magic.  So those are the focus of his attention in this book.  This means that if you're not into card magic, this book isn't for you.

Principles: At the start of the book is a small essay with important tips about how to "bulletproof" your magic.  By this he means that with attention to the right details, we can guarantee a great reaction of astonishment.  The seven elements he sees as essential to accomplish this are: Be clear; Remove abruptness; Be authentic; Become adaptable; Create conversation and adapt to it; Overlap methods; and Study.  This opening piece is well worthy of careful reading, and applying its principles is certain to make all your magic stronger, not just the tricks taught by Andi in this book.

16 Tricks: Besides the introductory essay, the book is divided into four main sections.  These sections are: 1. Close-Up Card Magic; 2. Card Technique; 3. At the Card Table; and 4. Stand-Up Card Magic.  Each section consists of around five or six chapters, each devoted to a single trick or move/sleight.  While the second section covers half a dozen moves/sleights, the chapters in the other three sections make up the bulk of the book, and provide detailed teaching of 16 different card tricks.

15 Techniques: The second section in the book has six chapters that cover around 15 utility moves and sleights, notably his well-known Master Pushoff.  This section runs for about 70 pages, and represents just under 30% of the entire content of the book.

Video: When you buy the book, you also get access to performance videos of all the routines.  These don't include teaching material, but demonstrate what each effect looks like.  But this is a brilliant way that digital media can enhance a book, because seeing an effect actually performed really helps you understand how it is supposed to look, and you're not relying purely on written text and photographs.



The Tricks

This will give you a taste of what's inside the three sections that include card tricks.

Close-Up Card Magic
A fun variation of "Whack Your Pack" from Paul Harris appears under the name "Whack Your Phone", where a spectator's selected card appears under your phone.  If you can handle multiple double lifts, it has a very fun presentation that really gets your spectator involved.  "Perfect Order" is a Triumph routine that includes audience involvement with the mixing.  "Monte Python" is one of the cleanest monte routine you'll find that doesn't use gaffs or mixing the cards, courtesy of a very deceptive but convincing move. In the video trailer you'll see part of "Ghost", which is a nice impromptu sandwich effect based on a Dominique Duvivier trick. "Pocket Mule" was inspired by the classic "Smiling Mule" from Roy Walton, and turns this classic gag into a trick. A favourite for many will be "Fireworks", a wonderful piece that strings together multiple moments that are both magical and visual.

At the Card Table
"Red/Black to the Future" is a delightful and visual `Call to the Colors' routine with reds and blacks, which has a unique quality in that the cards are dealt face up. One of Andi's own personal favourites, and possibly the most impressive entry in this book, is the three-phase routine "Castle Jacks", mainly because of the jaw-dropping moment when the four Jacks are fanned (Classical Assembly).  The other tricks included in this section are "From the Centre", "Misdeal", and "Cut, Stop, Shuffle".

Stand-Up Card Magic
You may have seen "Silent Movie" performed on TV's Masters of Illusion.  It is a comedic piece that gets a spectator involved by copying your actions, and incorporates humor along with a surprising moment when matching cards are produced. "Aura" requires a bit more effort to prepare and perform, but it relies on a very clever method and has a delightful presentation involving a mystical touch. A thought-of cards-across routine is provided with "Thought Experiment".  This transposition is a very well-constructed version of a strong Edward G. Brown effect.  Also in the section on stand-up card magic are "Supersonic", and an idea for a different take on Aronson's "Shuffle Bored" called "ScriptedBored".



The Techniques

This section includes the challenging "Master Pushoff" (p.77), which was itself the subject of an entire DVD project that Andi produced with Big Blind Media, and gets more than 20 pages of coverage here. 

The "Undo Cut" (p.109) has been the subject of critical acclaim, and Joshua Jay believes it to be the best false cut that there is.  And if you're looking for a false shuffle to complement this, there's the "Undo Shuffle" (p.119) maintains the order of the entire deck while completing two overhand shuffles in an apparently fair manner.  Meanwhile the "Cull Shuffle" (p.101) helps make the sequence of culling and shuffling more seamless. 

Andi's handling of the "Brae Prop-up" (p.127) is included in the chapter covering "Four Finesses", and will strengthen your Ambitious Card Routine.  Similarly his "Convincing Tilt" (p.131) will add conviction in the mind of your spectator that the inserted card really goes into the center of the deck. The "Fan Change" (p.143) is a flashy colour change that is one of the more knacky moves in the technique part of the book.



Sample Performances

To get some idea of what the book is about, start by checking out the official video trailer, which was a remarkable accomplishment because it features footage captured in a single take. In addition, you can watch the following performances of some of the tricks taught in the book, which will give you a sense of how strong some of the material is:

● Monte Python (performed by Andi)
● Silent Movie (performed by Andi, from Masters of Illusion)
● Aura (performed by Andi, from the digital download)
● Perfect Order (performed by Craig Petty)
● Fireworks (performed by Craig Petty)
● Cut, Stop, Shuffle (performed by Craig Petty)



More Impressions

Practical tricks: This book is very much geared to being actually used by professional magicians.  Because it is the result of Andi's own career as a performer, it contains only practical routines that work well in the real world.  So this isn't a book full of magician foolers, or esoteric routines that require unusual gimmicks or unique settings to work.  It is full of practical magic that a working magician might use for close-up card magic or stand-up card magic.

Polished tricks:  Andi believes the best magic is the result of a lifetime of performing and perfecting. And that's what he's given us.  Over a period of more than twenty years of performing as a professional, he has honed and perfected each routine, making incremental improvements over time to make them really shine.  It's these routines from his own repertoire that he is now sharing with us, and they are the result of an enormous amount of fine-tuning and real-world experience.  He has worked incredibly hard on perfecting each and every routine.  He is very detail oriented, and has carefully tested all aspects of method and presentation, to maximize the impact and to eliminate any weaknesses. Aura is a case in point; elsewhere Andi has stated that he has tried at least ten different versions over the years before finalizing the routine you see in print here.

Previous tricks: Because the tricks included in the book are highly polished versions of tricks that Andi has been performing throughout his career, you may have seen versions of some of them before.  For example, in one of his At The Table lectures, Andi taught Fireworks, Monte Python, and Pocket Mule.  Aura was also released as a Vanishing Inc exclusive digital download.  And the material on the Master Pushoff will already be familiar to some people from Andi's lectures or his Big Blind Media DVD.  But to my knowledge, this is the first time any of this has appeared before in print.  And they are the most refined version of all of these tricks that we've seen so far.

Consistent tricks: All the tricks here are strong.  Andi started with his entire repertoire, and slowly whittled away the weaker effects, until he was only left with the best of the best. Those he polished and refined through his years of experience, and by applying his attentive detail to each and every element.  The result is a collection of very strong material that is consistently good.  There simply isn't anything here that you'd say is weak, mediocre, or completely impractical.  It's worker material, and it's good worker material all round.



Presentation driven: A good example of Andi's emphasis on entertaining presentation is his Aura routine.  This is a very fine piece of well-crafted magic that I'd previously come across when I picked up the download for it.  This trick really exemplifies what I'd learned from studying theorists like Darwin Ortiz, and was a perfect case example about how the construction and presentation of a trick is essential to produce strong magic.  Aura has an emotional hook that gets your spectator involved in a way that makes the outcome seem even more magical and surprising than the same method with a lesser presentation.  Especially the section in the book on Stand-Up Card Magic emphasizes interesting presentations that really drive the effect. 

Building on classics: Even though this book represents his own repertoire, Andi knows that he is standing on the shoulders of those who have preceded him, and gratefully acknowledges the work of others that he is building on. There's an extensive "Credits" section at the end of each chapter, that explains the origin of each trick or sleight in great detail.  In some cases the name is an obvious tip of the hat to the routine that inspired it, as is the case with "ScriptedBored" (a reworking of Simon Aronson's "Shuffle-Bored").  Magicians will appreciate the fine and detailed crediting that is included.

Intermediate level: Most of the material in the book is geared to magicians who already have experience with card magic, and especially intermediate level magicians will benefit from the content.  Nothing requires knuckle-busting sleights that are only within the abilities of advanced magicians, although some of the moves will require real practice (here's looking at you, "Master Pushoff"!).  There is even some content here that will be within reach of dedicated beginners.  Whatever level you're at, you are guaranteed to learn a lot, and will be inspired by Andi's passion, methods, and presentation - especially performing magicians.

Good value: This book does come with a fairly hefty $50 price tag.  But it's hard to think of another book on card magic in this price range which has this level of quality in terms of production values and in terms of content.  There's nothing mediocre here, and it's all top class material.  If you're serious about your card magic, you can be confident that you'll be getting your money's worth.



Endorsements

Publishers like to use endorsements to help drive sales.  Clearly it wasn't difficult for them to find some big names to endorse this book, given the quality of the content. Here are some examples of respected magicians who had good things to say about Andi's book:

● Paul Wilson: "A book filled with crystal clear descriptions and illustrations for powerful, commercial magic, and practical ingenious ideas."
● Paul Romhany: "If you love card magic that is quick and to the point you?ll love this book by Andi. The magic comes directly from his working repertoire so you know it?s going to be incredibly strong."
● Harapan Ong: "One of those books that you can flip to any page and find something practical, amazing, and polished to perfection."
● Dynamo: "The Boy Who Cried Magic is a perfect magic book, written by the best writer in magic. The tricks are world-class performance pieces, and the book itself is stunning. Every magician should own it!
● Joshua Jay: "A collection of all of Andi's best tricks."
● Steven Faulkner: "Full of workable, commercial and strong routines, this is a book by someone who knows not only how to create magic that works, but explains it in a way that makes learning it a joy. Excellent."
● Steve Cohen: "One of the most beautifully-designed magic books in recent memory."
● Luke Jermay: "The effects are direct, well constructed and very fooling. This collection ... is a robust, mature and hugely valuable collection of professional performance pieces that I highly recommend."
● Ollie Mealing: "Packed with a rare potency. Whether you?re reading the trick, method or theory, an extensive pursuit of excellence is revealed on every page."
● Jim Krenz: "The Boy Who Cried Magic is a beautiful book, both inside and out."



Recommendation

The Boy Who Cried Magic  has been highly praised from all sides.  And now that I've seen it, I know why.  This is a stunningly handsome volume that breathes quality inside and out. 

But perhaps that shouldn't surprise any of us.  This book is the result of 20 years of experience from a performing magician, who gives careful thought to every small detail of technique and presentation.

Andi Gladwin may have had to shed a tear or two as part of the blood, sweat, and tears required for him to produce this.  But if buyers shed any tears over it, they'll be tears of joy, not tears of regret.  Because for anyone who loves card magic, this is a book certain to put a smile on your face.



Where to get it? The Boy Who Cried Magic is available from Vanishing Inc Magic, and at your favourite Murphy's Magic retailer.

Want to learn more? See these related videos:
● Official video trailer
● Documentary: Making The Boy Who Cried Magic

Interview with Playing Card Designer Artur Rajch

Who is Artur Rajch?

Most of my readers have an interest in playing cards.  Some of you even stay up-to-date with all the latest custom playing card decks hitting the market.  So perhaps you even have a good idea what some of the biggest names in the business are.  Popular brands like Virtuoso, Fontaine, and Organic Playing Cards.  And popular designers like Alex Chin, Jackson Robinson, Stockholm17, and Giovanni Meroni.

So it may be somewhat of a surprise to come across the name Artur Rajch, who is the subject of this interview.  You might be thinking to yourself: Who is this guy, and have I even heard of him before?  While you may not immediately recognize his name, I suspect that many of my readers will recognize his work. In fact, you may even own one or more of the custom decks of playing cards he has designed.  That's because Artur tends to produce most of his playing cards under the PlayingCardDecks label, and his own name falls more to the background.  In other words, Artur is a playing card designer who is better known for his work than for his name.

I first came across Artur's work when I picked up the first deck of custom deck that he produced: The Guard.  I was immediately drawn to the ornate designs of the court cards, which had a fresh and imaginative look to them, instantly setting them apart from the many usual variations we see of traditional court cards.  After this success, Artur continued to fine-tune his style, and so came about a popular series of custom playing cards that is still ongoing, the majority of which feature insects.  It's a series that I personally refer to as the "Tiny Critter" series, and it is quite likely that you've come across one or more of them - and you may even have some in your own personal collection if you're a collector: Bicycle Ladybug, Bicycle Beekeeper, Bicycle Dragonfly, Bicycle Ant, Bicycle Caterpillar, and the forthcoming Bicycle Butterfly. All of these first appeared in PCD's Pip Box Club, which gave members the chance to enjoy these ahead of the official release.

There's no doubt that Artur has a distinctive and instantly recognizable style, and his current series of tiny critter themed playing cards is attracting the attention of a growing number of collectors.  I figured that it was time to find out more about him, and give some more attention and positive press to his work.  So I approached him and asked if he'd be willing to answer some questions about his work as a playing card designer.  Fortunately for us all, he agreed to do this interview, in order to share some of his own experiences as a playing card designer, and to offer some of his own insights and thoughts about playing cards.



The Interview

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

Well, my name is Artur Rajch, and I live in Poland in a beautifully situated area in the Holy Cross Mountains. Next year I will start my  fifth decade.  I am a professional illustrator - a freelancer. So on a daily basis I sit at home in front of the computer and create illustrations and graphics.

My interests are very wide, but music is  certainly the most faithful companion at work.  It gives inspiration, soothes nerves and allows you to focus on work. This is very  important especially for a freelancer who works from home.  In my spare time I ride a bike, and I also love to travel.  So it is just an ordinary life.

When did you start designing playing cards, and what got you started

My card making experience is relatively short. I have been working as an illustrator for 22 years, but I have been dealing with playing cards for only 4 years. Previously, I mainly illustrated books and puzzles for children.  I have cooperated among others with LEGO, and I have also created fantasy and sci-fi works.

My first contact with working with playing cards was through an advertisement on a popular  freelance portal. Working on children's illustrations is tiring in the long run and I think I wanted to try my hand at a new  aesthetic. That's why I replied to the advertisement, and today I know that it was a good decision.



What was your very first deck, and what do you like/dislike about it

My first deck is The Guard. Generally speaking, I have such a rule that I never hand over for approval a project that I don't like. I only offer my clients the variants that I like.  That way it rarely happens that later I have a problem with the final product. It seems to me that cooperation should be  based on mutual trust. This is important because the client, in a sense, entrusts you with the success of the entire project. If you  know that someone trusts you, then you give more of yourself.

How many decks have you designed so far, and which of these have been your most popular and successful designs?

I've never counted, but it's a good reason to finally do it. So I have 12 completed decks of cards, but there are also many other  projects that I've been involved in, e.g. just making the back of the cards or the tuck box.  There are several new projects still on my desk waiting for their turn.

Unfortunately, I don't know which decks were successful and which were not, because it is the client who can view the quantity of the product sold. But it seems to me that Ladybug deck and the Beehive deck received quite a positive reception.

How do you come up with an idea for a deck design?

It seems to me that I have the ability to easily visualize someone's ideas. In fact, when I read an e-mail from a client, I can already see (with the eyes of my imagination) what it might look like. So this process doesn't take time at all, it just appears in your mind, and then you just have to sit down and do it.



What are some of the things you especially enjoy about designing playing cards?

The coolest moment is when you hold the finished product in your hand and have the satisfaction that you did it right.

But that's not what you asked ... I think the most interesting part is the process of implementing new techniques that you have just learned.  There is double  satisfaction when it works and you like it.

I also like to adapt the already available patterns to the style of the deck. There are several old Polish card designs that I would like to re-edit.

But there is also the other side of the coin. Unfortunately, after 20 years of work, routine kills the  pleasure resulting from the  work process itself. The freelance profession has many advantages, but it also has its own rules that must be followed. The main  rule is to work quickly but well at the same time. Quick work, because if you work slowly, you will not earn as much as you want. Good work, because if you give the customer some crap, he won't come back to you again.

Which deck in your portfolio of created designs is your favourite, and why?

Coffee Culture is my favorite deck. It is in the style of the 1960s, it concerns the variety of coffee drinking in the world. It will probably be released in the first quarter of 2022.

The client gave me full creative freedom, so I was able to use the full range of design instruments. The 1960s was a baroque of our time, because then everything was beautiful, sublime, and harmonious while maintaining a soft and subtle approach: in architecture, hairstyles, cars, interior design, color combinations, fashion, music etc. I think we've been going backwards in this regard ever since.



You have created a number of decks that are clearly part of a series: e.g. Ladybug, Dragonfly, Ant, Butterfly, and Caterpillar.  How did you originally come up with the delightful court cards that we first saw in your Guard deck?

I admit that I don't really know, because the creative process is a unique phenomenon. For some it is easy, for others it is more difficult, and fortunately I belong to the first group.

I have always liked classic cards and the classic way of visualizing them, so my original  inspiration was the so-called English Pattern. However, I gave it individual features, but in such a discreet way that they still  imitate classic cards. It wasn't really difficult, but I admit that I was very happy to make this deck. Someone once said that simple things are doubly enjoyable.

Do you have more decks planned for this series, and is there anything you can tell us about them?

Above all, the condition for the continuation of this series is whether it will still be popular with customers. The series was invented by Will Roya, and its further fate depends on him. But I can only promise that I will continue to try to keep the series consistent and looking good.  And I can add that I am preparing new decks for the series.

A lot of playing card enthusiasts really enjoy this series.  Does this series have a name? (e.g. Bug series, or Tiny Critters)

No, the series doesn't have an official name. In my head - it's just "insects" . But I will tell you a secret that the featured character of the deck I have been doing recently is definitely not an insect. And that's why this deck is a bit different from its predecessors.  You will see everything in time.




How would you describe the style of your playing card decks?

I work on commission, so the style of the illustrations largely depends on the client and his expectations. I have many styles and  basically I can make cards in any style. But I haven't developed my individual style yet, because with commission work there's not much  room for that.

As I said before, I like the classic style, but I understand that this does not always fit the idea that the client wants to implement.  Recently, I have been making futuristic cards where the colors had to be heavily distorted and the graphics of the court cards  required resemblance to real characters. I always try to dissuade the client from the aesthetic intensity on the playing cards and  always give 2-3 aesthetic choices. But it is the customer who has the final say in the entire process, because he is responsible for  any possible profits.

Are there any particular features or characteristics of your decks  that you hope people will notice and appreciate, or help make your decks different from the many others out there?

After a few years of observation, I can say that the community of card collectors is exceptionally tasteful and  sophisticated. This is very pleasing, especially to me, because I can make projects for clients who have good taste, that are completely different from illustrations for children. However, clients who aren't experienced with playing cards often have the opinion that it is better when there is something more. That is why I often try to bridle a new client (like a horse in a meadow!), because that approach doesn't work with playing cards.

When it comes to a distinctive feature of my style, my "stamp" is probably a large pip on the right side of the court card, which is an element  of the entire design. I think it looks interesting and it's easier to tell the color of the card.



What is your process in designing a deck of playing cards, starting with the concept, all the way to completing the project and  having finished decks?

I start each project with the most difficult things, because then the rest of the job is on the other side of the initial  hump. The most difficult thing is designing the court cards.  They take the longest time, and the customer acceptance process also takes the longest. The box and the back of the card  are the most important elements, because they must be consistent. That's why I make them at the end of the process, to make them match well with the faces of the cards.

What has it been like working with Will Roya from PlayingCardDecks, and what involvement does he have in making and  producing your decks?

Will Roya is a very good and understanding client. It is surprising that he has not been yelling at me yet for all those mistakes, missing  pips, and uneven frames! I have a huge amount of creative freedom and I'm glad that he still has confidence in my taste and skills, since as I mentioned earlier this is very important in the creative process, at least in my case.

What is it about designing a deck of playing cards as a creator that you wish consumers realized more?

This is still somewhat of a mystery to me. My only contact with the consumers of the playing cards that I have made is reading what they say about my decks on forums.  I have personally not been involved in the publishing process of playing cards, or I have not really listened to the comments of people interested in buying my cards. I have always made cards for clients and only their opinion was important to me.  I am planning  to release my own deck, just out of curiosity, to see for myself what it is like. Maybe then I will know more?



How much time does it take to actually design a deck?  What aspects of this take the most work and time?

It takes me about a month to complete the entire deck. This of course may take more time.  For example, I have been doing my  own deck for three months, and I still see things to improve. In that case, however, I do not have to hurry, and I can pamper it in my spare time. Updating an already made deck, by making new backs and a tuck box takes about a week of work. Of course, court cards take the most time, depending on the style, and it can take 2-3 days to make one card.

Do you also collect cards yourself?  Is there anything you can share about your personal collection, and what you especially like collecting?

No, I'm not a collector yet. I wrote "yet" on purpose, because I have to say that there is something fascinating about the multitude of aesthetics, the stylistic diversity, and the variety of compositions ... Of course, I have a dozen or so decks, but I would  not call it a collection.

I look at playing cards a bit differently than collectors, and more as a design enthusiast in every aspect of it.  I collect knowledge of how to make details like an ornament, braid, floral motif; how to match colors; how to create a depth of a plan; and how to make various elements consistent.  This is what I get the main satisfaction from when it comes to playing cards.

Playing cards are a very rewarding design field from a technical viewpoint. There is a some base material: only 54 cards, the card back, and the tuck box.  From there, subtle visual changes create huge diversity and offer an endless number of possibilities. It's fascinating!




What do your family and friends think of your love for designing playing cards?  How do you explain your work to non-enthusiasts of playing cards?

My family is used to my need to concentrate on work, and even though I'm at home, I have to be absent from my family.  Of course, I can have three critics and three flatterers available at any time.  Sometimes I take pictures of them to capture a specific position of the hands  or head.

I also have a successor in my family, because my daughter is finishing art school this year.  I know that she wants to make a  playing card linocut for her final thesis, but I don't know if the professor will agree to it. She has enormous potential, much  greater than I had at her age.  If she follows in my footsteps, I guarantee you that she will be a great asset to the community of playing card collectors.

Do you belong to any playing card organizations, or connect with other designers, either online or in any other way?

I don't belong to any club or organization. Of course, I keep an eye on other designers, and this it is an inseparable part of my work.  If I see  some amazing work, I envy it, but it is a positive jealousy that motivates and encourages me to try to create something new, and to enrich and raise the level of my own skills. Of course, I browse Kickstarter and Instagram.

Personally I admire the work of Jackson Robinson the most. It constantly impresses me. I like his banknote style, because I think it adds elegance to any deck, but I also like its minimalism. I like his approach to court cards, and the delicate customization in decks like the  Silver Cross or Solstice decks. Each deck is universal, but at the same time it is tasteful and restrained, so that it looks beautiful on a desk, table or shelf.

Do you have any social media or way we can follow you online?

I invite everyone to my Instagram:  # playingcards72



Conclusion

There's no doubt that Artur is a very talented and committed graphic designer, and it is fascinating to learn more about how the custom playing cards he has been involved in designing have come to be.

In many cases, designers of custom decks are completely independent, and have little or no restraints to work with during the design process, other than trying to produce something that they themselves like and that will please consumers.  But from what Artur has shared it is evident that what he's created so far is the result of a combined effort, since the majority of the playing cards he's designed so far are actually commissioned projects.  That means that some of the concepts and ideas originate with Will Roya, who hired Artur as a graphic designer to produce these decks for him.  Will also had continued involvement with the design process as Artur submitted works in progress for Will's feedback.

Even so, it is Artur's creative design work that has made Will Roya's vision a reality.  And while Artur may have had some contours and limitations to work with as part of his commissioned work, the final outcome was dependent on Artur's own inspiration to make this a success.  Within the restraints he was given, he needed to rely on his creativity, imagination, and skill to produce a pleasing result.  In my view, he's done a splendid job, and the resulting playing cards are beautiful and unique.

I'm particularly fond of Artur's insect themed decks.  As mentioned already, I personally refer to these as his "Tiny Critter" series, which is perhaps a more appropriate name given that there is a forthcoming deck in the same mould that features a non-insect animal.  I've enjoyed all the decks in this series so far, and look forward to whatever else he produces along these lines - as well as whatever other designs may be heading our way from his design studio in Poland!



Where to get them?  Because the custom playing cards featuring Artur's designs are typically printed in limited numbers, many of his decks are sold out at the retailer level, although fortunately readers can still purchase a number of these at the links below.  More of his "Tiny Critter" decks are scheduled for release in the near future.
● The Guard
● Bicycle Ladybug
● Bicycle Beekeeper
● Bicycle Dragonfly
● Bicycle Ant
● Bicycle Caterpillar
● Bicycle Butterfly
● Bicycle Grasshopper (forthcoming)



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

Cotta's Almanac Transformation Playing Cards (1811) - Reproduction Deck #6 (Kickstarter)

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/playingcarddecks/cottas-almanac-6-transformation-playing-cards-reproduction

1811 "Knightly Orders" Deck 6 of 6 in a series - Precisely Hand-Recreated & Printed by USPCC - 2 editions

Deck cost: US$10 per standard deck, US$12 for limited edition deck (individually numbered)
Set cost: US$60 for all six decks in the series
Current funding level: already funded!
Kickstarter ends: Friday November 12, 2021



Transformation playing cards involve cleverly incorporating the pips on the cards into a larger picture. So an imaginative artist might transform the Heart pips into faces, the Diamond pips into hats, or the Club pips into paw prints.  Transformation playing cards 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. 

Transformation playing cards first started appearing in the 1800s, and especially in the latter half of the nineteenth century there was a real boom.  But the honour of the very first published and complete deck of transformation cards goes to Johann Freidrich Cotta, the man at the helm of publishing house J.G. Cotta from T?bingen, Germany, around 1804. J.F. Cotta 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.



A special project is underway, spearheaded by Will Roya from PlayingCardDecks, to produce reproductions of these rare and historic decks.  Roya has engaged the assistance of graphic designer Azured Ox, who recreates the cards digitally.  The plan has been to produce all six Cotta decks individually within two years, and this final deck will complete this special project.  The first five decks of the series have already been printed, and the sixth and final deck is now up for crowdfunding on Kickstarter.   

The sixth deck of the playing card almanac series was issued in 1811, and was themed around knightly orders.  The court card figures depict members of various knightly orders and the characters are in the robes of various orders of real knighthood/damehood or spiritual orders.



Pictured on the court cards (Jack, Queen, King) of this deck are:
● Clubs: Order of St. George, Company of the Amanthe, Order of the Crescent
● Spades: Order of St. Catherine of Mount Sinai, Order of the Sash, Order of Amaranthe
● Hearts: Order of the Porcupine, Tribe of Amazons, Knights Templars
● Diamonds: Order of St. Lazarus, Order of the Axe, Order of the Elephant

The theme of the number cards is romantic or even spiritual with a variety of subjects.  Sixteen of the pip cards have scenes that can be considered illustrative of the four seasons.



As with the previous reproduction decks produced by Will Roya and PlayingCardDecks, the Cotta decks are being printed by United States Playing Card Company, makers of the well-known Bicycle brand. This means we can expect a quality product with good looks and good handling. Funding will come with the help of Kickstarter, and Will Roya is an experienced and respected creator with a proven track record. He has often used crowdfunding to produce his decks, typically with a fairly quick turnaround.

Special purchase options for this project include an attractive uncut sheet, and the opportunity to purchase a complete set of all Cotta's Almanac decks for just $60.  The five previous reproduction decks in this series can also be purchased individually here.



The Cotta transformation decks are extremely significant, given the many transformation decks they subsequently inspired, and the unique place they occupy in playing card history. To be able to enjoy them in a fine modern version that carefully reproduces these keystone decks is a real privilege, and I'm delighted that these classics are being brought to contemporary audiences with a quality edition!



Here is a thread with more information about the entire project: The Famous J.G. Cotta Transformation Decks

Kickstarter link:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/playingcarddecks/cottas-almanac-6-transformation-playing-cards-reproduction

Instant Card Magician (Thom Parkin)

An astounding CAAN routine where your spectator is the magician, using his own phone

Overview

Anyone with experience in card magic knows that a good presentation is essential to making  magic memorable and compelling.  With Thom Parkin's Instant Card Magician, we get all that and more.

The ad copy describes it as follows: "At any time during a performance, a spectator from the crowd (or online conference application of choice) is invited to take on the role of "acting magician". The performer then becomes the "spectator"; a reversal of roles. Using their VERY OWN mobile phone the "Acting Magician" conducts a feat of mentalism with the help of the magician, acting as a spectator."

This card trick promises a lot, but it really delivers on all the following points:
● It incorporates a great presentation, where your spectator becomes the magician.
● It uses technology, as the spectator uses their own phone to do the magic; yet nothing needs to be installed and it is 100% touch free.
● It is a powerful effect incorporating a holy grail of magic, with a selected card appearing at any number between 1 and 52.
● It is effectively self-working and easy to perform.
● It includes an ending where your spectator is directed to your own website, social media, or promotional page of your choice.

That may sound like too much to be true.  But Instant Card Magician really does achieve all this, in a very straight-forward way.  And yet you can be performing this right after learning it, because the method is so simple.  Let me tell you more about it.


 
Effect

You can lead into this trick by talking about how nowadays there's an app for everything.  In fact, there's even an app that makes you a magician.  You give your spectator a website link (which can be provided by a text message or a QR code, or which you can even enter manually), which they open up on their own phone. From now on, they'll be the magician, and you'll be the spectator.

Using their own phone, they read out a script where they become the magician, giving you instructions to select and memorize a card, and shuffle it (genuinely) into the deck.  Now they name any number between 1 and 52, and you deal down to that number, reveal it to be the card that was randomly selected.  Everything can be dealt cleanly and carefully, the shuffling is genuine, and there's no sleight of hand required.

And as a final touch, the spectator ends up at the website of your choice, easily modified for each performance, so you can use this as a lead in to whatever you want.



What you get

When you purchase this, you don't get a physical product, but all the digital goodies that you need to perform this trick.  The key things you get are a custom URL, and a custom printable QR code, both of which are individually tailored to you specifically.  You do have to provide your own deck of playing cards to use with the routine, and you are taught two methods, one with a standard deck, the other with a common gaff deck that makes your job much easier.

At purchase you need to enter your name and email, plus the redirect URL where your spectator's device will end up following the performance (an optional added bonus you can use for promotional purposes if you wish).  You then get all the information you need via email, including the custom link and a printable QR code that you'll use to give to your spectator at the start of the routine.

You're also provided with text instructions and an online video tutorial for the trick.   The video runs for just under 20 minutes, and features magician Brent Braun explaining how to perform the routine. It includes many helpful tips and suggestions about how to make the most of this trick, including some good ideas about how to take best advantage of the ending.



Impressions: What's hot

Here are some of the things I really like about this trick:

●  It offers a great presentation.  The best magic is much more than something that requires technical skill.  Magic is an art form that needs to entertain, so a good presentation is critical.  Ideally you want your spectator amazed, but also to have fun and be entertained.  That's exactly what Instant Card Magician does, because it immediately feels different from your regular card trick, with your spectator using their own phone, and playing the role of the magician.

● It uses technology.  Technology is a big part of people's lives in our world today.  So card magic that has a spectator use their own phone provides a very modern touch, and instantly helps make things engaging and relevant for them.  This trick is optimized for phones (rather than tablets or desktops), but it can genuinely work on any device, as long as it has an internet connection.  And you don't have to install any apps or software, because it just accesses a website, so strictly speaking it's just a web-app.

● It makes your spectator the hero.  Experienced magicians will know that one of the worst things you can do in magic is set up a challenge, where your spectators are eagle eyed and trying to catch you out.  You want them being entertained rather than feeling fooled or stupid, and one of the best ways to do that is by making them the hero. That's exactly what happens here, because they are the ones who play the role of the magician.

● It is very interactive.  Because there's a  script that your spectator is following, engaging with you throughout, there's a lot of potential for fun back-and-forth interaction.  Brent Braun really emphasizes this in the video tutorial, and gives some good ideas for how to maximize this.  The steps your spectator does along the way not only increases their involvement, but also makes it all the more impossible for them to reverse engineer.

● It is an impossible effect.  The best magic is an effect that seems truly impossible.  Having a random card selected, genuinely shuffled into the deck, and then selecting a random number from 1 to 52 and having the selected card appear at that actual number?  That's truly impossible.  There's a good reason why the Any Card At Any Number routine is one of the holy grails of magic, and while this isn't quite an ACAAN routine, it's the next best thing, and it truly is strong.



● It fools.  I've never had anyone come close to figuring this trick out yet.  Even if you're doing this with the recommended gaff deck, there's absolutely no heat on the cards, and your deck will typically pass a cursory inspection from a layman anyway.  Would the effect fool magicians?  It has the potential to, at least the first time around, although most magicians might figure out the method if they saw it a second time.   But due to your spectator's engagement with the app and the trick, and the steps involved, they'll typically not be able to reconstruct what happened except the essential details that makes it impossible: A card was selected, legitimately shuffled into the deck, and appeared at a random number that they chose between 1 and 52.

● It's easy to learn and perform.  It's no exaggeration to say that this is basically self-working.  Learning it is a cinch, and you can be performing this right away after you've learned it.  There's no sleight of hand required if you opt to choose the recommended method of using a readily available gimmicked deck (which you probably already own), which will do all the work for you.  For the record, you can genuinely show all the cards to be different before and after the trick, including their full faces.   

● It ends with potential promotion.  When you register, you enter a redirect URL that the routine will send your spectator to at the end of the trick.  Instructions are even provided for customizing this to a unique URL for each individual performance, if desired.  Brent Braun has some great suggestions in his video tutorial about how to capitalize on this.  It's a great feature for people who would like to find a seamless way to get spectators to their business website, a promotional page, something from Inject, or anywhere you prefer.

● It is well supported.  Thom Parkin's first love is technology, and he has real-world expertise in this area.  He's an amateur magician himself, but as a professional software developer, he's an expert when it comes to technology.  So if you need to customize elements of the routine, or need any help in getting things set-up or figuring things out, he's right there with prompt and helpful communication.  The web-app also supports multiple languages (German and Vietnamese are already implemented), and additional languages can be requested.

● It is being constantly improved. I suggested a couple of small tweaks, and Thom was open to feedback and quick to implement changes that would benefit users.  Thom also has some new features and alternate handlings he's working on.  For example, he's currently working on an alternative script that is puts the deck more in the hands of your spectator, because the original script was tailored especially to virtual performances in our COVID-era.  Thom's other products are also worth checking out, especially his Parkin Email Premonition.

● It is endorsed by Brent Braun.  Brent Braun is a respected magician, and his "Position Impossible" trick which he performed on Penn and Teller's Fool Us is proof of his talent.  He's worked with Thom on this project, and gives it his endorsement and recommendation.  If it's good enough for a pro like Brent Braun, it's good enough for me!



Impressions: What's warm

So with all this praise are there any downsides?  While this trick is excellent, it won't suit everyone, and there are some things you should keep in mind in deciding if it's right for you:

● It requires some basic familiarity with technology.  If your eyes start to glaze at the mention of the word "URL", then this might not be for you - although it sounds harder than what it actually is, and you don't need to be a techie in the least.  But the trick did have a somewhat of a cool reaction with one older person I performed this to, even though all your spectator really has to do is read a script and press buttons to go to the next screen.   But this person constantly needs to ask his kids how to use features on his phone, and for some older folk like this, even basic technology is intimidating and becomes a barrier to their enjoyment.  On the flip side, I think this is exactly the reason why the trick is perfect for the younger crowd that is always using their phones and gadgets.

● It won't always amaze. In theory this should be a stunning trick: a card is selected, genuinely shuffled into the deck, and appears a genuinely random number from 1 to 52.  But despite being theoretically mindblowing, it didn't always produce the reaction I expected.  I suspect this is because the spectator is so busy using the app, and this distracts them from the trick itself, taking their attention away from how impossible the effect really is. Because they aren't watching you closely a lot of the time, they can even suspect you did some funny business while they weren't looking.  I feel that this effect will play stronger in a group, when others can confirm that the handling was completely clean. 

● It requires good presentation. Because your spectator can be distracted by the app, you do need to think carefully about how you present this.  It is important to emphasize things as they happen, and to prove to your spectator that everything has been cleanly done.  I typically perform with my sleeves rolled up, and make sure that my spectator is watching when I'm shuffling and dealing, for example, to eliminate any possibility from their mind that any sleight of hand could have happened.  Good spectator management will help strengthen the routine.

● It benefits from some customization.   There were a few minor things about the script that I'd have liked to adjust, although Thom can even customize elements of that upon request.  For example, because the deck is in your hands the entire time, some spectators might suspect sleight of hand.  To make things seem even more impossible, you could have another person shuffle part way through.  You should also find a way to emphasize more strongly the random choice of a number between 1 and 52.  But there's plenty of flexibility here, and you can easily incorporate elements like this without them needing to be in the official script, and make the routine your own in how you interact with your spectator.   The basic routine is fine, but by giving attention to some aspects of the details in how you present things, you can enhance the spectator's sense of impossibility and amazement.

● It isn't real magic.  Some magicians are going to be disappointed by the method when they discover the secret.  Although it uses technology, it's not really a tech trick as such, and the technology is mostly used just for the presentation.  But it's important to remember that strong magic is all about the effect, and the fact that the secret is so simple should be seen as a strength rather than a drawback.   Yes it does use an app, but even apps can't do real magic or mindreading.  Of course you knew that already, but it's important to keep that in mind if you find yourself saying "Is that all?" when you are taught the method.



● It is best with the gimmicked version. Brent Braun does teach a method that enables you to do this with any deck (including any borrowed shuffled deck), but that does require some sleight of hand, and it's not quite as clean and easy to perform.  Of the two methods taught, most people will prefer the one using the gimmicked deck rather than a regular deck.  The gaff deck isn't supplied, and I do wish that the tutorial video had given a bit more information about it.  But the written information provided covers this, and it's a common gimmicked deck that you can easily get for around $10, and is something most magicians already own. 

● It does have some competition. Some aspects of the script reminded me of Mark Elsdon's Transference, which also has a spectator reading a script, but on your phone.  Transference simply uses a PDF, and I much prefer the way that Instant Card Magician uses a web app on your spectator's own phone, and which even engages them with some choices along the way.   This makes things seem less suspicious, and more mysterious, interactive and impossible.  Plus rather than just have your spectator take a random card, the fact that you give them a 1 in 52 choice means you can also do the trick remotely e.g. via Zoom.  As far as I know, the two tricks were created completely independently.

● It is not cheap. Probably the biggest thing this trick has going against it is the price, because it's not cheap.  It's important to realize that even though you're not getting a physical product when you buy the trick, you are getting access to Thom's expertise, the web app he's created, and the privilege of having him help you set things up and even customize things if needed.  Maintaining the hardware and software for running it costs him real money on an ongoing basis (e.g. hosting, domain registration), regardless of how many people use it.  And compared with other magic apps, a price north of $50 isn't unusual.  And this has the advantage that you don't even need to install anything, that you can run it on your spectator's own phone, and updates and improvements are automatic.  The app has also been built to support customized scripts (available at a fee), and different languages, all of which involve more time and expense for the creator.

● It directs to the website of your choice. I also listed this as a real positive, and the fact that the web app brings your spectator to a custom URL at the end of the routine is advertised as a real strength.  Especially if you use something like Inject, that's going to be a huge part of the appeal of this trick.  But what about if going to another website at the end of the trick isn't something you  can use?  The trick works perfectly fine without it, but then the price tag might start feeling a little high. 



Recommendation

It would be a mistake to dismiss this trick too quickly due to its simplicity.  The fact that the method is so straight-forward is instead a real strength.  And because it combines this with a fun presentation, and ends with the potential for personal promotion, this is a really great trick worthy of taking a close look at.

I've had a lot of fun with the Instant Card Magician, and so have many others.  It's definitely worth considering, and as long as the price isn't a barrier for you, you're not likely to be disappointed.  It does exactly what it says it will do, and is a very strong and clean routine that involves your spectator in a novel and fun way, producing something both impossible and memorable.  Recommended.

Want to learn more?  Instant Card Magician from Thom Parkin can be purchased directly from Thom's Websembly or from J & B Magic.  Also available from the same creator is Parkin Email Premonition.

An animated revelation in the style of Card Toon

Overview

One of my all time favourite effects to perform is Dan Harlan's Card Toon.  Most people with some experience in card magic will be familiar with it, or will at least have seen it performed.  It's a special gaffed deck, used for a fun revelation: riffling through the cards produces a flip-book animation that culminates in a stick man producing a card out of a hat - the spectator's selected card.

Now from Bandung Magic Production comes Steve Marchello's Mini Me.  This offers a similar kind of animated revelation, but without the need for a gaff deck.  Instead it relies on a single gimmicked card, but it produces a very cute animation that is eye-catching and will impress spectators. 


 
Effect

The basic effect is straight-forward to describe: In advance you show an envelope, which you state has a helper inside that will help make the trick work, or that you can present as your prediction.  Your spectator then remembers a card selected randomly from the deck. 

Now you open the envelope and show a card that has a mini stickman magician pictured on the back.  The mini magician has his hand inside a hat, and your audience then sees this miniature stickman pull a card out of the hat, which is shown to be the 7 of Hearts - your spectator's selected card. 

As an added touch, you can even hand out the card for examination. See the official video trailer here.



What you get

The product comes with impressive packaging, which reminds me of the thick cardboard covers of a small book. 

Inside we find a plain playing-card sized brown envelope, which we'll use for storing the prediction, and which the spectator will safeguard while a random card is being selected. For the trick itself, three special cards are provided, including the key gimmick.

Finally there's a link with a password for the online tutorial, which can be viewed with streaming video or downloaded.  It runs for 22 minutes, and it's a 348MB file if you download it.



Impressions

●  The instructions

Probably since the creator isn't a native English speaker, subtitles are used on the video.  But there's no real issue in following what is taught, and the video itself shows multiple angles and uses good camera work. 

There are several handlings offered, including an explanation of how to switch out the gimmick at the end so you can hand out a printed card with the reveal that is fully examinable.  For the force that is required, several common forces are taught, but for most magicians these will already be in your quiver of skills, and you can use whatever your favourite method is. 

There are also some good ideas offered in the instructions about how you can accomplish the animation without physically moving your fingers or your hands. 



●  The gimmick

The gimmick cards are well constructed, and all three that you get use the standard red Bicycle Rider Back design.  The key gimmick is particularly well made, and works well.  The mechanism isn't unlike tricks that use cards with moving pips.   

I found it a little stiff initially, and you need to apply some pressure for the movement mechanism, but this does get easier over time.  Once you've used it a few times, the animation does move smoothly, and to a spectator it looks truly amazing to see a single card becoming animating. 

Being able to switch the main gimmick (a double backer is one of the included cards, to facilitate this) and hand out to your spectator a fully examinable printed duplicate really adds to the overall power of the effect. 



●  The method

I don't think I'm giving anything away by saying that you'll be relying on a force, and that you can only do this with a single card, so you can't repeat it with a different selection. 

Most magicians won't be fooled by what's going on here, and will quickly figure out what is involved. But what you're paying for here is really a trick that's ready to go, with quality materials that you can use to achieve the animation. There's no way you'll be able to construct something like this yourself. 



●  The effect

This trick is really all about the effect with the cute animation, which you'll either like or you won't.  The gimmick is really just a tool that functions as a novel way of revealing a selected card. 

So while the core concept does use a common plot in magic (the magician finds a selected card), accomplishing this with an animation is something that makes it very visual and memorable.  It looks exactly as you see it in the video trailer, and if you like that idea, that's really the key factor that should determine whether or not this is for you. 

It might also be well suited as a revelation for a show performed on social media or over Zoom, because then there's less heat on the props and no need to worry about things being examined. 



Recommendation

Ultimately this trick is all about the visual effect.  It has good cuteness factor, and that's the real appeal here.  Mini Me is sometimes compared with Cardiographic by Martin Lewis, which I haven't seen.  The other product that invites obvious comparison is Card Toon by Dan Harlan.  Mini Me is in a similar vein, but fits a unique place in this niche because it works differently.

What you see in the trailer and in the pictures is exactly what you get.  Anyone who likes what they see and thinks it's worth the price-tag this sells for, isn't likely to be disappointed given the quality of the gimmick, and how easy it is to learn and use.



Want to learn more? You can get Mini Me from your favourite Murphy's Magic retailer.

Vivid Kingdoms Playing Cards (Kickstarter)

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/tenhundred/vivid-kingdoms-playing-cards

A custom deck of art playing cards by artist and youtuber Ten Hundred

Cost: ~US$16 per deck
Current funding level: over $1.8 million in funding
Kickstarter ends: Monday October 4, 2021

For the first time ever, a playing card project has generated over one million dollars in funding on Kickstarter.  Right now Vivid Kingdoms Playing Cards has over 20,000 backers, and almost $1.9 million in funding.  And with more than ten days still to go, $2 million in funding is looking very achievable.

It's a staggering accomplishment given that the previous all time highest level of funding for a playing card project on Kickstarter was $630,300 (see this Top 20 list).  This project has practically tripled that already.



The creator of Vivid Kingdoms is Peter Robinson, a modern graphic designer who goes by the artist moniker Ten Hundred.  He's achieved great success with his youtube channel TenHundred, which has over half a million subscribers.    His style of artwork is vibrant and appealing, and in his videos he documents his paintings, murals, and many fun art challenges and other projects. He already has a solid collection of art, apparel, and other merchandise for purchase over on his website.

This custom deck employs the signature style that has earned him a loyal following.  But before launching the project he wisely consulted some big names in the playing card industry, and worked closely with ideas and suggestions made by fans. As he designed the deck, he produced a series of videos documenting the process, and engaging with his audience.



The result is a custom deck that had the benefit of considerable input, and had significant support as soon as it launched.  The artwork on the cards is vibrant and stylish, and makes an immediate impression.  The suits tell the story of four different cultures, each with its own thematic elements.

I especially like the number cards, which have transformational features. What's more, the number cards of each suit combine to form a larger image, known as a polyptych. I'm a huge fan of decks that have this puzzle-like feature, because it helps them stand out from your typical 52 playing cards.



The court cards are especially spectacular, with a stylish one-way design, and showcasing Ten Hundred's unique brand of artwork.

The tuck case will have embossing and a custom seal, and there's even a custom die-cut sleeve that slides over the box for added style.  Printing will be by the United States Playing Card Company, in their usual air cushion finish and embossed card stock for good quality and handling.



Kickstarter link:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/tenhundred/vivid-kingdoms-playing-cards

More information:
● Official website: Ten Hundred
● Social media: Youtube channel, Facebook, Instagram
● Vivid Kingdoms Kickstarter: Vivid Kingdoms Playing Cards
● Video series about the project: Custom playing cards
● Article about the project: The First Ever Million Dollar Playing Card Project on Kickstarter

Cherry Casino Playing Cards (Monte Carlo Black & Gold)

Without a doubt, the Cherry Casino Playing Cards represent one of the most popular series of playing cards in recent years. It has proven extremely popular with collectors, card players, and magicians alike.  Created by Pure Imagination Projects, these decks first appeared in 2015 in aqua.  The concept was inspired by old-time casinos, which explains both the name and the artwork, which drew on the classic cherry artwork familiar from a gambling icon: slot machines.   In the years that followed, the Cherry Casino decks saw multiple versions and colours hit the market, and slowly grew in popularity.  The Cherry Casino deck (Monte Carlo Black & Gold) represents the latest addition to this series, and I was fortunate to be able to get my hands on a copy as soon as it hit the market.  This deck takes things in a slightly new direction, as our familiar red cherries turn gold for the first time.

This latest version of the Cherry Casino decks brings us to Monte Carlo, a popular resort destination in Monaco.  Monte Carlo was made famous by the first scene of the very first James Bond film, which featured Bond gambling in its legendary casino.  The Monte Carlo casino was featured again in another Bond film, GoldenEye, in 1995.  This is a deck that draws on all the stereotypes associated with the lavish lifestyle that we expect from card sharks like James Bond: piles of chips, fast cars, unstirred martinis, and pretty women.  We're not likely to encounter all of these things when using this deck, but the jet black look that is embellished with golden foil cherries certainly does give the impression of the class we can expect if accompanying Mr Bond to a black tie dinner at the Monte Carlo casino.



The tuck box continues the straight-forward design that we've come to expect from the series, with the words Cherry Casino emblazoned on the sides, and the back and front of the box decorated simply with the signature wavy lines and cherries.  In a striking departure from previous Cherry Casino decks, our red cherries have a new coat of paint, and have been plated with gold. The overall look is simple and elegant, and the metallic look of the gold ensures a degree of class that helps set this deck apart from many others like it.

A big reason for the success of this series is the metallic ink used on the faces and backs of the cards, and this signature feature is very much evident in the Monte Carlo deck as well.  The overall design of the card backs is the same as that of the tuck case, with the addition of white poker borders for practicality and added style.  And the black of the card backs is simply that: a very pleasing and solid jet black, which makes the white pop.  But arguably the most satisfying thing about these card backs is a result of the metallic gold ink used for the cherries.  This gives a metallic look to each and every card, and the shiny gold looks particularly appealing against the jet black backdrop.



The card faces have the familiar look you'd expect from casino cards, with standard designs used for the court cards and for pips and indices.  This helps make these playing cards look instantly familiar in the hands of a card player or magician.

But there are subtle changes to the colour palette, and instead of the usual garish red, a pleasantly pearlescent red is used for the heart/diamond pips and on the court cards. It can best be described as a metallic and muted maroon colour, and will look instantly familiar if you've ever used one of the other Cherry Casino decks.  Depending on the angle you hold the cards, you'll detect a pleasing metallic gleam, which is not too much that it distracts, but enough to add elegance and style.  The blue and yellow colours on the court cards have also been toned down slightly, to emphasize a classy rather than a gaudy look.



All other customization is restricted to what we've already seen in previous Cherry Casino decks.  The Ace of Spades is dressed with an oversized pip that reflects the Cherry Casino brand.  And the two matching Jokers each consist of two striking cherries in the same metallic red that has been used throughout the rest of the deck, with the traditional "Joker" replaced with "Jackpot" along the sides.  It's exactly the same as what we've seen in other Cherry Casino decks, and most of us wouldn't want any departure from this tried and tested formula anyway.  The two gaff cards included are a double backer and a blank card.

Printing is by the United States Playing Card Company, using their thin-crushed stock beloved by cardists for smooth handling.  Right out of the box the cards handle beautifully, and are a delight to shuffle and play with.



The fact that the Cherry Casino decks are so practical is exactly what makes them so beloved and successful.  They have relatively standard card faces, which makes them perfectly suited for playing card games or for card magic.  Yet there's enough customization to help them stand apart from your average deck, with a simple yet striking back design, and the well-placed sheen of some metallic inks.  Together the combination of retro feel and modern style adds up to a very pleasing deck of playing cards that has proven to have wide appeal, and there's good reason to think that the Monte Carlo deck will enjoy the same success as its predecessors.

Not every deck is a Cherry Casino deck, just like not every gambler is a James Bond.  But when Mr Bond does make his appearance, all eyes turn towards him.  A deck like this can have a similar impact.  It stands apart from the competition, and yet is so well-rounded that it can be used to suit almost any occasion that requires playing cards.



Where to get it?  This product is available from your favourite Murphy's Magic retailer.

 Crafting with Playing Cards: Kirigami

The term playing cards is a dead give-away about their original intended purpose, because it tells us something very obvious: Playing cards are for playing card games.  It may seem self-evident, but it needs stating that this is what playing cards were first created for in the first place, especially given some of their wider uses today.  In fact, card games are the single reason behind the rapid spread of playing cards throughout Europe from the 15th century onwards.  Adding money to the equation only made their popularity increase, courtesy of gambling.  But it is a historical fact, and still true today: a significant amount of playing cards are used for games.

But any playing card collector will know that this isn't the only thing you can use playing cards for.  Chances are good that you yourself may have a high quality custom deck stored somewhere safely, still in its original shrink-wrap, perhaps even with no plans to ever open it.  That may seem very strange to someone who only uses playing cards for card games.  But to the serious collector, this is perfectly logical and understandable - even though there are also many collectors that ardently will defend the virtues of "freeing the pip".

The point is that playing cards aren't only used for playing card games.  That's all the more true today in our modern crowdfunding era, where there's a thriving market for custom playing cards, some of which have been created specifically for card flourishing or card magic, or even purely just for their visual beauty as works of art intended to be enjoyed by collectors.

But even alternative uses like card flourishing and magic still involve using playing cards in a somewhat traditional manner.  What about arts and crafts that use playing cards as the base building blocks for entirely new forms of arts and crafts?  One obvious usage that fits into this category is building card houses, and we've got a separate article that covers this in detail, featuring world record holder Bryan Berg.  In this article, we'll instead take a look at some other fascinating and creative ways that playing cards have been used to create crafty novelties.  Los Angeles based artist Scott Dyer is at the forefront of this kind of art, and I'll be featuring a number of his artworks below.



Kirigami

Naturally you've heard of origami, which is the art of folding paper into various shapes.  It is typically associated with Japan, and the word literally means folding ("ori") paper ("kami").    The Japanese term for cutting paper on the other hand is kirigami, and is derived from the word to cut ("kiru").

A simple example of kirigami that most people will have tried in their childhood is the creation of a paper snowflake, where you fold a paper in half and then thirds before cutting it, to create a symmetrical pattern.  Symmetry is a common feature of kirigami, and most kids will have experimented with making a paper chain of dolls or a Chinese paper lantern.



The development of kirigami into an art-form of its own is somewhat recent.  Although technically kirigami can be considered a variation of origami, in the last half a century it has gained its own place, and it is no longer considered by many to be a type of origami.  Florence Temko's book Kirigami, the Creative Art of Papercutting (1962) played a definitive role in the widespread use of the term kirigami.  You only need to head to Pinterest to see how kirigami has become increasingly popular.  You'll quickly see a wide range of inspiring examples of beautiful crafts that have been made simply by a process of folding and cutting.

A common feature of a lot of kirigami is that it is made out of a single piece of paper, which is then manipulated further by cutting and folding.  This is kirigami in its purest form, where no additional components are added.  That makes playing cards the ideal building materials for kirigami, since they are effectively single sheets of paper.  There are different approaches to the art of kirigami with playing cards, but one universal rule that usually holds true is that even if parts of the card are removed permanently, theoretically you should be able to unfold the card and bring it back to a flat state.



Scott Dyer

If you want to get some sense of the amazing possibilities of kirigami with playing cards, you simply must check the stunning gallery of creations by American creator Scott Dyer.

Scott is somewhat of a jack-of-all-trades when it comes to playing cards, because he also does a number of other things like card stacking.  His current best is a tower of playing cards that was 6.25m high, which is really not that far from Bryan Berg's current world record of 7.87m.  The sky is the limit, as they say, but on that occasion the limit was the length of Scott's ladder.  He does have his heart set on breaking the world record someday, but this would require a considerable amount of time, and equally the right building and space.



But what I especially love about Scott's work with playing cards is his kirigami creations.  These have a quality about them that is almost the opposite of card stacking.  While the size of a card house is limited only by the space you're working with, kirigami cards are by definition very much constrained to the canvas of a single playing card.  Within these strict contours, it is up to the creator to come up with something unusual and interesting.

Scott will be the first to admit that he has been inspired by others who have gone ahead of him.  But you only have to look at pictures of the vast amount of different creations he's produced over time, and it is obvious that he's a master of his craft.  He has spent hours and hours in understanding and mastering this unique art-form, first by refining existing designs, and then going on to create original designs of his own.

He considers each of his creations to be a kind of independent "puzzle", where the final work of art seems mysteriously impossible.  With effort you can figure out how they have been made, but this element of mystery and impossibility really adds to their appeal.  When you look at the result, the way that this has been accomplished isn't immediately obvious.  And yet with some effort, you can certainly unfold the card and bring it back to its original form as a single playing card.  One of the most remarkable things about these kirigami cards is that no gluing is involved, but only cutting and folding.

Given the impossible look of many kirigami cards, it won't come as a surprise to learn that they are alternatively known as "impossible cards", and "puzzle cards".  You'll also find them referred to with names like "WoW cards" or "Ian cards", terms which originate with another popular creator, Ian Rowland. But not all kirigami cards have an impossible look to them; others simply look pretty, and appeal by virtue of their visual aesthetics.



True topological cards

It is not my intention to give an authoritative categorization of different types of kirigami cards.  Like Scott, I'm not so much interested in making strict scientific distinctions, as I am in enjoying the visual artwork of these delightful creations.  So bear in mind that some practitioners of kirigami may interpret the suggested categories below differently.  But these are some categories that Scott suggests, and who am I to argue with him - I just want to enjoy the beautiful art that results!

Trapdoor fold

This is the first of several categories that can be considered "true topological" cards, because they uphold the strict criteria of being continuous pieces, with no detachments or glue or trickery, and they are fully examinable.  The trapdoor fold is the bread-and-butter fold for kirigami cards, and is the key element of the cards pictured here.



Cat's grin fold

A hinge point in the middle of the card is key to many of these, while more complex designs increase the number of crossing points to produce very impressive visual aesthetics.



Folded/woven stems

These typically have long steps of shapes that are folded and interlocked or woven into themselves, often producing an apparently impossible look.



Rotationally symmetric/geometric knots

The way these work produces a very visually pleasing effect, but in most instances they look more complicated than what they actually are, and don't require the same "impossible" folding techniques used in some of the previous examples.



Braided cards

Now let's ramp up the difficulty somewhat, at least in terms of how the result looks.  These build on earlier techniques, but look more complex and really maximize the number of crossing points for a stunning effect.



Other cards

One-way topological

Unlike the "true topological" cards of all the preceding categories, there is somewhat of an illusion at work here.  Even so, these designs still use continuous pieces that rely exclusively on twisting and folding, with no detaching or glue involved.



Topologically impossible

Finally there is some genuine trickery involved - although when you're examining them you may still find it impossible to figure out how these have been accomplished.



I recommend that you check out Scott's full image gallery, where you'll see dozens and dozens of images in these categories.  One thing I really admire about Scott Dyer's work is how he incorporates the designs together with the pips and shapes on the card faces.  The colours and designs of the card backs are often chosen carefully as well.  This all helps add to the visual impact, and the overall look.

Mystery box cards

Scott also has tried his hand at creating 3D pop-up cards, which he refers to as a "mystery box".  Those who have the Bad Robot deck might recognize what inspired this name.  It originates with the Mystery Box decks from Theory11, where a Bad Robot deck was wrapped in plain brown packaging, and advertised by the creator J.J. Abrams as a "mystery box".

But Scott has put his own spin on the name, and in his case it refers to a 3D design created out of a single playing card. For a while he even challenged himself to create a new mystery box every single week, and over time he has produced over 125 different designs.



These are effectively 3D paper sculptures created from a single playing card.  You'll find plenty of this kind of thing by searching for "kirigami pop-up card" or "3D paper sculpture", but what makes Scott's work in this area unique is his application of these principles to  creations that employ playing cards.

The concept is a fascinating one, and you'd be surprised at the mysterious 3D forms that are lurking inside your playing cards, just waiting for creative individuals like Scott to come around and tease them out!

Check Scott's full image gallery to see over a hundred such `mystery boxes' that he has created over the years.



Give it a try!

Now it is your turn!  The basic tools for kirigami are easily obtained.  Ideally you want to use some kind of cutting mat, and you will find self-healing mats that work particularly well.  In a pinch, there's always good old cardboard.  You'll also need a sharp hobby or craft knife, such as the popular X-Acto brand.  Finally, to help you ensure that your cuts are straight - and also for your own self-protection - a steel ruler will be of great benefit.

As for what designs to use, there's no real secrets here.  Just check out some photos of designs created by others, and it is clear where the cuts need to happen.  The tricky part tends to be figuring out how to do the folding.  But that's effectively a puzzle you'll have to solve on your own, and that's all part of the fun!

Scott's technique is to create the design digitally on his computer first.  He then re-sizes it to match a playing card, and tapes the printed template to a playing card for accurate cutting.  He recommends printing an oversized design on a full sheet of paper first to help with figuring out how the folds work.

A good place to start might be by tackling some of the mystery boxes that Scott has made.  To help you out, he's provided templates in PDF form that you can freely download and use.



Other sources

I appreciate how Scott Dyer makes it very clear that he is standing on the shoulders of those who have gone before him, and he also tries to credit and attribute his work carefully where possible. For his mystery boxes he's done a lot of research on kirigami pop-up designs, many of which he's reverse engineered and found ways to apply to a single playing card.

For the other kirigami cards, puzzler extraordinaire Angus Lavery is a big inspiration.  Angus is considered one of the pioneers and giants of the genre, and many are indebted to him for his brilliant designs.  By building on Lavery's work, Ian Rowland has also done a great deal to popularize kirigami cards, which he initially called "WoW cards" and "Reflexions", and now refers to simply as "Ian Cards".

Other sources for ideas include Ralf Rudolph, Luc de Smet, and Allen Rolfs.  On his links page, Scott includes a long list of others who have contributed to the art of kirigami cards, and there are plenty of links you can explore, including Instagram accounts for other creative designers.



Final thoughts

What about if you don't have the patience to figure out these puzzles, or the time and energy to make one, but still want to own one of these wonderful works of art?  Scott's cards are available via Art of Play, in several different designs.    Ian Rowland also sells some designs commercially, and has figured out a way to simplify the process by having a machine do some of the card cutting.

Whether you buy a ready-made kirigami card, or try this unique art-form for yourself, I'm sure you'll join me in marvelling at the creativity and ingenuity of these wonderful creations!

Want to see more of Scott Dyer's work?
● Official site: cardstories.co, Kirigami gallery, Mystery Box gallery
● Social media: Instagram, Facebook

Images courtesy of Scott Dyer, and used with permission.



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

Playing Card Enthusiast, Collector, or Addict - Which Are You?

Do you consider yourself a casual playing card enthusiast, who merely dabbles in playing cards and occasionally buys something?   Or are you more of a serious hobbyist and collector, with a level of involvement that rates somewhere between passion and fanaticism?   Or have you perhaps moved beyond this stage already, and would you consider yourself an addict?

Here's your guide for how to move from a complete playing card novice to a full blown playing card addict, in eight easy steps.  This isn't intended to be taken too seriously, of course.  It's more of a light hearted look at how many of us dive into the rabbit hole of custom playing cards.

Most of us begin in blissful ignorance, not even knowing that custom playing cards even exist.  But somewhere along the line we have a moment of enlightenment, and we discover an exciting new world.  And we dive in head first. And before we know it, we've moved from being a complete muggle, to a casual enthusiast, to a serious collector, and perhaps even to an addict.



The Making of a Collector and an Addict

So how does this happen, and what are the typical stages that this journey usually involves?   With tongue firmly in cheek, let's tour through the stages that describe the typical evolution from a complete playing card newbie into a passionate collector and beyond.   As you read this, ask yourself if any of the stages below sound familiar, and if you can recognize any of this development in your own experience with the world playing cards.

The entry level MUGGLE

Stage 1: Ignorance
This is how we all begin.  At first you don't have any playing cards.  Well maybe a well-worn dog-eared deck.  Perhaps even a classic Bicycle deck.  But why would you ever need anything more than that?  It's doing the job just fine.  You use it for the occasional card game, and perhaps even some card magic.  You certainly don't need to be spending money on buying more. Status: MUGGLE

Stage 2: Entrance
But then you stumble across your first ever deck of custom playing cards.  Maybe it is a purchase on a whim while shopping.  Maybe someone gives it to you as a gift.  Maybe you are just browsing online and become curious about something you saw on a website.  Whatever the case, it starts with that one deck. Status: RECRUIT

Yes, you own a deck of playing cards, but you are basically still a playing card MUGGLE.



How to level up to ENTHUSIAST

Stage 3: Enlightenment
It is  just one deck at first.  But that is enough to make you start climbing down the rabbit hole.  And what do you find there?  A  dead rabbit?  No, more decks.  Amazing decks!  A whole world of stunningly beautiful custom decks that you never knew existed.  So you buy another one.  And then a few more.  Status: TRAINEE

Stage 4: Exploration
Now you start browsing online sites that sell playing cards.  You check out Kickstarter projects for playing cards.  Holy cow, how did you never know about this before?  Before you know it, you are making a mental list of decks that you want to get.  Decks that you can't live without.  You are well on your way to becoming a collector. Status: ENTHUSIAST

Congratulations, you are now a playing card ENTHUSIAST!



How to level up to COLLECTOR

Stage 5: Acquisition
Without realizing it, you've levelled up.  Because now you don't  just have one or two decks. Now you have half a dozen or so, and it is the start of a collection. It dawns on you that you are becoming a collector, and this is becoming a new hobby and passion.  Status: COLLECTOR

Stage 6: Anticipation
But does it stop there?  Oh no it doesn't.  You aren't content with those half a dozen decks. Because there is more goodness that you've feasted your eyes on, and that you've set your heart on.  Now you are seriously considering making your first ever Kickstarter pledge for a crowdfunded deck.  You've signed up with Kickstarter already.  And you've actually signed up for an account with a playing card retailer.  You've discovered some playing card forums, and learned that there are other collectors out there just like you.  Only their collections are even bigger.  For now.  Status: CONNOISSEUR

Congratulations, you are most definitely a playing card COLLECTOR, and crossed this line some time ago already!

 

How to level up to ADDICT

Stage 7: Congestion
You are becoming an authority on the subject of playing cards.  What started as just a couple of decks collecting dust in the games cupboard, is now becoming a feature on your desk and in your bedroom.  You find yourself making a miniature display of your favourites on your desk.  You begin thinking about storage solutions and display options for the ever growing number of playing cards arriving at your house.  Status: FANATIC

Stage 8: Profusion
Now you have an over-abundance of decks, and getting more all the time. You aren't just pledging for Kickstarters anymore, but you're subscribing to them long before they even launch.  You're a full-blown addict, and your family is thinking about staging an intervention. Status:  ADDICT

We're not sure if congratulations are still in order, but you are definitely now a full blown playing card ADDICT!

So where do you fit on the spectrum between a playing card muggle and a playing card addict?  And is there a point where you cross an invisible line, and move from being a collector and become an addict?  While this has been a light-hearted article, genuine addictions are a real problem.  But then the issue isn't typically what we're buying, but why.

If we have genuinely moved beyond the collector threshold and into the territory of addiction, the real problem isn't with playing cards, but with ourselves.  It's human nature to make the mistake of always wanting more, and think that it will make us happy. Which it won't, because there will always be that one thing that we don't yet have and want.  Letting this insatiable appetite for more go unchecked is going to be an issue with any hobby, when we give material things more value than we should.  It's a virtue to be content rather than covetous.

Final thoughts

Having a lot of playing cards doesn't mean you're an addict.  In fact, you may even have more playing cards than you want or need, and that doesn't necessarily have to be an indication of a serious problem.  The collector's mindset happens in all areas of life, and there can be legitimate reasons for it.  Playing cards can give a lot of joy, the same as any other product.  We are living in a time where the level of quality and creativity is increasing.  Not only are we seeing new levels of inventiveness and creative originality, technical innovations enable the publishing decks of unprecedented quality.  It's little wonder that many of us find the multitude of custom playing cards constantly appearing on the market irresistibly attractive. If we give them their proper place in our lives, we are allowed to enjoy created things.

Furthermore, playing cards are a consumable.  They do wear out, so there's nothing wrong with having a ready supply on hand to replace older decks as they become worn.  This not only holds true for card gamers, but is especially the case if you enjoy card magic or card flourishing, where intense will usage see the handling qualities and looks of a deck deteriorate quite rapidly.  Plus you can always resell your decks if you want to.  Playing cards produced in limited editions for collectors can often hold their value reasonably well.

In the current boom of high quality custom playing cards, it's not hard to see how a collector's mindset can develop.  But it is good to remind ourselves from time to time to keep things in moderation, and not to put too much emphasis on things that don't last.  So regardless of where you are on our spectrum, let's take the time to enjoy our playing cards, but ensure that we master them, rather than have them master us.  And remember that there are things that are of far more value in life than playing cards, like relationships, family and friends.  That said, happy collecting!



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

PRAHA CELESTIAL CLOCK Flip-Book Animated Playing Cards (Kickstarter)

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/swabbeddecks/praha-celestial-clock-flip-book-animated-playing-cards-uspcc

A flip-book animated deck of cards featuring Orloj, the world's oldest still functioning clock in Prague.

Cost: ~US$12 per deck
Current funding level: over 70% funded
Kickstarter ends: Sunday September 5, 2021

Designer and animator Stephen W. Brandt has been producing a series of Clockwork decks, all of which feature striking flip-book animation. He's an animator, broadcast designer, art director, illustrator, and graphic designer, so he has the ideal skill-set to produce animated playing cards as part of his fig. 23 brand. 

His Praha Celestial Clock deck is currently up for funding on Kickstarter, and is the fifth in his series of clock-themed decks with flip-book animation.   He has also created a series of "Storybook" decks (Wonderland, Looking-glass, and Wizard of Oz).



When it comes to playing cards, I have a special fondness for uniqueness and novelty. One of my favourite types of custom playing cards are those with flip-book animation.  The idea is that if you quickly flip through the deck with your thumb, the individual pictures combine to produce an animated image. You'll occasionally hear this described as "taking a deck to the movies". Playing cards are ideal for flip-book animation because a complete deck typically has of just over 50 pieces of thin cardstock, and these are just the right size and thickness for flipping through with your thumb.

The previous decks in Stephen W. Brandt's series of animated Clockwork playing cards focused on the international cities of New York, Paris, and London, and the state of Montana.  This new deck honours one of the world's most majestic timepieces: the Prague Astronomical Clock, which is also known as the Praha Celestial Clock, or the Prague Orloj.  Completed in 1410, this famous clock is the oldest still-functioning clock in the world.  Besides the time of the day (in three times), it also gives information such as the location of the sun, phases of the moon, star positions, and more.

Much research and time went into the making of this deck, in order to recreate both the design and movement of this famous clock, and to incorporate it into a custom deck of playing cards.  See this animated gif for the full experience of what the cards offer when animated.



The city of Prague inspired the deck's overall design.  This as well as design elements from the Orloj served to shape the heavily customized pips, and the composition of the card faces.  The court cards were inspired by a series of Czech postage stamps from the 1990's that commemorate medieval folk tales.  These have been reimagined with a Jugendstil flair.  The resulting deck has a style that reflects both medieval and Art Nouveau/Jugendstil elements.

The Jokers are a visual nod to Czech artist Alphonse Mucha.  They depict a regional archetype of the Devil with one human foot and one hoof, which forms part of the Christmas iconography from the region.

An "Information Card" is included along with the deck, and gives information about the Praha Celestial clock. Printing will be by the United States Playing Card Company.



Kickstarter link

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/swabbeddecks/praha-celestial-clock-flip-book-animated-playing-cards-uspcc

For other decks of playing cards in the Clockwork series are all available from the creator Stephen W. Brandt, at his website fig23.com:
● Clockwork Empire City deck
● Clockwork La Ville Lumiere deck
● Clockwork Quackington deck
● Clockwork Montana Mustache Manufacturing Co deck