These guy have gone crazy again…

Remember the Holiday Giveaway? It’s back and it comes with some real GOLD nuggets. Here are the details…

http://bit.ly/freegoldarcane

We wanted a way to give back to our customers and have put together some exciting FREE gift options. We are giving away exclusive items that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Here is how it works…

“Once a customer reaches a certain subtotal level in their shopping cart, they will be offered a choice of a free gift (below). Each time the customer reaches the next gift level in their shopping cart, they will be awarded an additional gift from the next tier. There will be no shipping charges added for the free gift(s).”

LEVEL 1: $75

Reach a subtotal of $75 and choose from the following FREE gifts:
Stained Skin Sample Tattoos: Highly realistic tattoos that go on your body to create amazing card reveals, mentalism and magic.
Tricycle by Daniel Garcia: This card case visibly reveals the spectators card.
Bicycle Deck Seals – Black: These seals make it look like your deck has never been opened.

LEVEL 2 : $175

Reach a subtotal of $175 and choose one of these gifts PLUS a gift from Level 1!
Arcane Ace and Ribbons T-Shirt – X Large, Gray: Designed by Arcane creator Jason Brumbalow, in the traditional Arcane style.
Arcane Ace and Ribbons T-Shirt – Large, Gray
Arcane Ace and Ribbons T-Shirt – Medium, Gray
Blue Back Bicycle Gaff Deck: A full collection of art cards designed to fit in with your normal Bicycle deck.
Red Back Bicycle Gaff Deck

LEVEL 3: $350

Reach a subtotal of $350 and choose one of these gifts PLUS gifts from Levels 1 & 2!
Gold Arcane Deck – Precious Metal Series: The Black Arcane deck lined with Metallic Gold ink.
Bicycle Black Ghost First Edition Deck: Created by Ellusionist in 2005, this is an ultra-rare, highly sought after deck of cards.
Red Porper Arcane Card Guard: Famed metal work, Joe Porper, did something “extra” special with this card guard.

LEVEL 4: $475

Reach a subtotal of $475 and choose one of these gifts PLUS gifts from Levels 1, 2 & 3!
Gold Arcane Deck in Gold-Bolted Lucite Case: The Bugatti of all card displays.
Black Ghost 1st Edition in Gold-Bolted Lucite Case
Black Ghost 1st Edition Uncut Sheet
Black and White Arcane Uncut Sheets (Get Two Sheets)

Click here to check out the full details of this awesome giveaway: Ellusionist Giveaway 2010

Known to many as the BEST CARD TRICK IN THE WORLD, the Invisible Deck as helped many famous magicians seal their reputations in concrete. David Blaine often performed this effect and completely mystified spectators on his now legendary shows.

Until THURSDAY night at midnight EST, we will be including a FREE Tally Ho Viper Invisible Deck Trick in every shippable order over $75

Go place your order at Ellusionist now.

Here is your chance! Every once in a while, fortune smiles on us all and grants us the opportunity to grasp something big.What’s the catch? It will only last for a short while. This is your chance to finally own some of the most sought-after playing card collectibles around. The Bicycle Black Ghost First Edition decks are now within your reach to proudly brag upon.

Until THURSDAY night at midnight EST, ellusionist will be giving away:

• 12 Bicycle Black Ghost First Edition Playing Card Decks
• 2 Bicycle Black Ghost First Edition Playing Card Uncut Sheets (unframed)

Every shippable order between June 7th 12PM EST and June 9th 11:59pm EST will have a chance to win ONE of the above items.

“We be giving away one of the above prizes in RANDOM, shippable orders over $50, you will not be notified if you have received one of the free items, you will get the item with your order when it arrives.”

Multiple separate orders over $50 each get a chance to get one of the above.

Start Shopping >

HISTORY OF THE BLACK GHOST DECK

The Ellusionist-created Bicycle Black Ghost First edition decks have become something of legend. If you are familiar with the Black Ghost First edition tale, then you already know why these have been so sought after.

If you are new to what the Black Ghost first edition deck is, they are a short run of a black version of the Bicycle Ghost deck printed back in 2004. These decks became available in 2005 as part of our now-legendary holiday promotions. Since then, they have become an ultra-rare and highly-sought collector’s item. The Black Ghost First Edition decks are now in short supply at Ellusionist. Only 5000 decks were ever made at the US Playing Card Co. Since 2005, most of these decks have found their way into magicians hands rendering them all the more sought after. Of that 5000 deck supply, there are only about 2500 in circulation over the past 6 years.

They will NEVER be reprinted, nor sold at Ellusionist. The ONLY way to obtain one is through one of the many promotions or giveaways we have here at E.

The Black Ghost First Edition decks are quickly becoming extinct. It isn’t uncommon to see one selling for $400 on Ebay from time to time.

To own one is to have full bragging rights.

When these decks were run at the US Playing card company, Ellusionist secured 100 Black Ghost First Edition full Uncut Card Sheets right off of the press. Of these original 100, only about 15 uncut sheets are in circulation in the entire world. Their value is largely undetermined due to the scarcity of this very limited collectible.

Start here:

ELLUSIONIST BLACK GHOST DECK GIVEAWAY PROMO

Time to go shopping, you can get one of the best Ellusionist classic decks and a stainless steel card clip for free!

From now until Thursday at midnight ALL shippable orders over $75 will receive a FREE Ghost deck AND a free Ghost Steel Card Clip

Make sure you use the coupon code ELL313 to get an extra 5% discount on your entire order.

Click here to go to the special promo: Ellusionist – free ghost deck and card clip

According to the Twitter account of @bucktwins (aka dananddave.com):

TODAY ONLY. Order the new Erdnase Journal and receive a FREE deck of Erdnase Playing Cards. http://bit.ly/cU4XKO

UPDATE: dananddave.com has extended the deadline through Friday for BMD readers so don’t pass this opportunity up!

The Experts Journal is a beautiful reproduction of the original 1902 publication ofThe Expert at the Card Table by S.W. Erdnase. On the outside, it’s a perfect facsimile, however, leaf through the pages and you’ll discover an empty canvas for new ideas. This isn’t just another edition, but “a journal in which to coalesce your card-centric thoughts.” More information can be found on dananddave.com/news

Are you looking for a great deal on custom playing cards from Ellusionist? Here is a great one…

Now, one of the darkest decks to hit the street is now on sale for almost 50 percent off. Until midnight Thursday, you can buy our Bicycle Shadow Masters decks for $3.87 each (limit of 12 decks).

The Shadow Masters are used by magicians and flourishers because of their shaded design and incredible durability, so this Memorial Day you can spend it weaving your dark art in style.

If you use the coupon code DECKPROMO during checkout you’ll get a 10% extra!

Act fast, this awesome magic deal ends Thursday night.

Click here to go to the sale: Ellusionist Shadow Masters

I’ll admit, when I got these cards, I was fairly shocked.

It might have been because of how “poorly advertised” they were. But with that aside, let’s talk in full about the Arcane Deck from Ellusionist.

The design of this deck, like most “exotic” cards on the market, have a one way back design built into them.

The feel:

This is something I had some “peeves” with. When I first opened them up and played with them for a few days, the edges felt sandy. It was almost like a low grain sandpaper. I should tell you that these are a little thicker than regular Bicycle cards. Moving on to overall feel of the cards. These don’t feel like normal Bikes. They feel a lot softer. Normal Bicycle playing cards have a very light oily touch. When you slide your finger across the surface of these babys, it just goes.

Handling:

These merit a very small window for opportunity in handling. Due to the edges and sides sticking together, you are left with nice clumps. These aren’t bad in normal card handling though. What I mean is for all my flourishing friends, if you do an elaborate 40 packet display cut, you will have an easier time doing it because they stick together where you cut. However, Sometimes when you are doing more “in the hands” flourishing where speed and fluidity is key, they tend to get a little choppy and blocky. So keep that in mind.
Design:

I generally don’t feel these types of cards look great in performance. I can’t really complain about the card faces. They look nice. Faded indexes and pips. Blood red hearts and diamonds. Silver spades and clubs. It adds a ghostly feel to them. Also, the court cards (Kings, Queens, Jacks). These are really faded and simplified. To add further design, smoke is going behind them. This looks INCREDIBLE. And lastly, the Ace of Spades….looked decent. So in wrapping up my design rant, these cards fit the role.

Other designs:

What does that mean? This means the Jokers and Case design pretty much. However, the design of this deck, like most “exotic” cards on the market, have a “one way” back design built into them. The 2 Jokers provided in this deck look really eerie. Each one had a Ghoulish creature creeping through the card in smoke. One Joker is actually a subtle card revelation. In fact, too subtle for practical use. Unless you are reading it up close, it might not be noticed in a real revelation effect. And finally, the case design. I wasn’t a fan. Too much unused space. You get the back design which is reasonable, and then the front is the design of the Ace of Spades. What I don’t like, is how prosthetic it looks. It just has a lot of wasted space all filled in with black.

For the overall review, I would say that these are worth your money if you are planning to use them for flourishing, or even just display. Sure they handle like butter (I STILL can’t believe they aren’t butter!), but they are hard to “understand”. On an overall rating, I would say a 3.5 out of 5.

Pros:
-Handle like butter
-Nice flourishing
-Stay together for ease
-Look catchy
-Thicker stock

Cons:
-Too complicated
-Hard to see in many places
-Sandy edges
-Smell bad (YUCK!)

So, what do you think about the Arcane Playing Cards? Leave a comment below.

Want your review posted here? Submit your review

One of the major advantages that plastic cards have over paper cards is durability. Whilst a single deck of good quality plastic cards can cost a similar amount to the price of a brick of Bicycles, they will outlast all of the cards in the brick many times over.

Plastic cards are not suitable as a generic playing card choice for all magicians. Their suitability for you really depends on the tricks that you regularly perform.

I personally have been using a single deck of Copag branded cards as my only deck of playing cards for well over a year and they are still in great condition despite being used daily.

Don’t expect to be able to fan or spread them evenly, tear them or perform tricks involving crimps or bends, but for a wide variety of tricks, the cards are still more than adequate.

Whilst using plastic cards as your main weapon of choice may not be for you, if you were to save your paper cards for performance situations only, you can save a lot of money by practicing with plastic cards because you won’t have to spend your hard-earned cash on new packs of playing cards anywhere near as frequently.

I have tried a few brands out and “Copag” seems to be one of the best of all the brands of plastic cards that I have used so far. They handle reasonably well, they retain their shape even after continued use and don’t have a strange smell or suffer from the ink coming off like some of the other cards that I have tried.

I used to perform in a bar and one of the great advantages of plastic cards is that if they get covered in beer they can simply be wiped dry and you are good to go!

Another cool thing I noticed is that if you draw on the cards with a dry erase marker, you can simply erase the drawing after your performance by wiping it off with a damp cloth. Lastly, if they cards start to look grubby – just wash them and they are as good as new!

In summary the plastic cards:

• Are waterproof
• Are washable.
• Can last for years of continued use.
• Are not stained easily. (Most stains can simply be be wiped off.)
• Retain their shape even if bent.
• Can save you money if used as your main deck or as a practice deck.

I’d be interested to know of anyone else’s views on plastic playing cards and their experiences with other brands. Just drop a comment below!

- John Harrower