In this episode we unbox the latest deck from Magician David Blaine, give you a chance to
win one for yourself and announce the winner of the DMC Elites V.4.
All that coming up next.
[Music]
There was a lot of controversy surrounding the last David Blaine deck I reviewed on this
channel.
Outcry from his otherwise adoring and devoted audience that maybe he’d finally succumbed
to the darkside of consumer marketing; the deck was ill-handling, included unadvertised
features that drastically altered it’s functionality and was altogether generally disliked.
That of course was the Stoics deck.
A short while ago Blaine’s camp released another deck, the Skull n Bones Private Reserves
which was pretty much a re-release of the existing gold Superior branded cards of the
same name.
Despite that both decks eventually sold out but it’s safe to say that Blaine’s footing
on the pedestal of elite card producers was no longer sure--how long would his diehard
audience continue to support him through lackluster releases?
Well, the deck I’m about to review, the Split Spades Gold Edition, spells a bit of
relief in some respects at least--but is it enough?
Welcome back to the go-to place for playing cards content, I’m the Gentleman Wake.
If you are new here, we hope this great episode will compel you to like, subscribe and hit
that notification bell.
Be sure to stick all the way to the end for a chance to win a deck of Split Spades Gold
Edition playing cards.
This latest version of the Split Spades, the gold edition, comes packaged within a premium
white cardstock tuck case with deep gold foil embossing.
The front of the box prominently features the split spades branding, an image of a pouncing
lion (Blaine’s favorite animal) and Blaine’s inverted split spade logo which of course
doubles as his initials; lower case d and b.
It’s a classic design, and one that to a degree inspired the design of my upcoming
kickstarter deck collaboration with Stockholm 17, the Parlour which, incidentally, I announced
in at the end of my Top Ten Decks of 2018 video.
If you haven’t seen it you should certainly check it out--they’ll be a lot more about
the deck in the coming weeks.
David Blaine’s decks have been a source of inspiration for many--most recently Daniel
Madison also cited Blaine’s Gatorbacks as a massive influence on his own Hellions decks.
Part of the reason for Blaine’s dominion of influence is the astounding attention to
detail.
The top of the box is a perfect example.
There’s an ambigram; a word that changes its reading depending on which way it’s
oriented.
If placed face up the box reads Split Spades.
If turned upside down, it cleverly reads Superstitious.
The back features a beautifully embossed representation of the back design of the cards.
It’s fairly accurate down to the wide white border surrounding the design.
We’ll talk more about it in a moment.
The deck wouldn’t be a David Blaine deck without a few secrets of course.
On the tuck box that comes in the form of two reveals.
Opening the tuck flap reveals a golden dove--the same one on the back design--on the large
flap with what appear to be a couple of calligraphic ornaments underneath.
Turning them on their side actually reveals it as an 8 of diamonds reveal.
The smaller tuck flaps also have a reveal in the form of a blind embossed heart pip
and a 6 or 9 depending of course on which way the box is turned.
One of the biggest gripes Blaine faced with both his most recent releases was the printing
company he chose to produce them; the expert playing card company.
Blaine is good friends with EPCC founder and owner Bill Kalush--so much so Kalush’s likeness
has permanent residency on one of Blaine’s customized court cards, so it’s really no
surprise he chose to go with his good friend’s manufacturing company.
The problem is Expert has had a history of touch-and-go quality control problems and
also suffers from a glaring inconsistency problem predicated on the fact that EPCC uses
printing facilities both in China and Taiwan that have proven to provide very different
results.
End products that despite both technically being considered printed by Expert handle
very differently.
The stoics were printed in China, the lesser renowned of the two facilities, and there
was quite a bit of backlash about it.
To the delight of many, this deck sees Blaine’s deck back in the capable hands of the United
States Playing Card Co.
Part of the reason for the decision may have come down to the inclusion of the USPCC’s
proprietary metalluxe printing technique which gives the cards their brilliant and shiny
gold foil backs.
The deck is certainly eye-catching and the reflections make the deck feel luxury.
There are however a few issues.
First of all, the split spades back design is known for it’s fantastic details but
the metalluxe printing doesn’t really do those details justice.
There’s even a bit of inconsistency from card to card.
This is most evident in finest linework.
Still the back design is great, once again prominently featuring the inverted spade logo.
Each corner of the deck has an winged angel stabbing through the spade logo with a sword,
much in the way Daniel Madison’s Hellions have a devil stabbing a trident through Madison’s
logo.
There are some other interesting things as well; some scrollwork, crescent moon shapes
and the reappearance of the dove found on the tuck flap.
But again, all but the most obvious details can get lost in the poor resolution of the
metalluxe printing technique.
I didn’t notice the forked tongue serpent heads within the loops of the spade until
looking at the blown up image on my screen.
Apparently there are snarling lions in there as well--but that discovery needed referencing
of online images.
Additionally there’s one more side-effect of the gold foil printing process; The white
poker borders are especially thick--thicker than any other previous versions of the split
spades.
This may also have had detrimental effects on the resolution of the back design as it’s
been shrunk down to fit the restrictions or limitations of the metalluxe process.
This has the unintended effect of producing uninteresting fans as the brilliant gold foil
tends to hide behind the wide white edges of the deck.
Ultimately, although the idea of a gold foil split spade deck is brilliant in theory.
The execution however was not up to par.
The truth is the back design should have been simplified a bit.
The deck however does handle brilliantly.
Just as to be expected from any other air-cushioned embossed deck printed on crushed premium stock.
Dribbles and springs are easy.
Packet cuts too.
The deck is modern cut as it faro’s back to front.
The deck has bicycle standard spot cards with traditional pips and indices.
The hearts and diamonds do have metallic crimson red rather than the standard bright red ink.
The court cards are the standard blaine fare; semi-custom takes on the bicycle standard
courts.
11 out of the 12 court cards include re-drawn faces--redone with the likenesses of blaine’s
friends and family including Blaine himself on the King of Spades.
The king of hearts is representative of EPCC owner Bill Kalush.
Designer mark stutzman also makes an appearance on the Jack of Spades.
The queen of spades, rumored to be Blaine’s ex-fiance Alizee Guinochet, includes a three
of clubs reveal.
Some court members modeled after others I could not recognize.
In fact, if you can identify anyone else in specific please comment below.
Interestingly the Jack of Diamonds remains the only court card in the deck to keep his
original standard visage.
The ace of spades will be familiar to most fans of David Blaine playing cards, a spade
pip, printed in gold metallic ink, that features a disrobed woman.
As is often the case with blaine’s decks though, things often have a secret meaning
or perception.
In this case the same image can be read as a stylized cartoon rendering of a lion--where
the light ray streaks behind the woman become the fine hair of the lion’s mane.
There are a few additional cards in the deck.
Three ‘jokers’ although neither them actually say joker.
The first is the simple inverted spade logo.
The second the image of two angels standing on the back of a playing card whilst holding
up an hourglass.
And the third is the image of a anthropomorphized frog, in a turn of the century waistcoat.
Complete with mustache.
He seems to be stitching closed a J-shaped tear with a giant needle, even while a striped
fish swims between his legs.
Finally there’s an included gaff card that at first glance appears to be a duplicate
king of spades.
But actually reveals itself to be a cleverly disguised ad card that includes Blaine’s
social media handle and website.
Interestingly the sword is also missing the traditional wavy center line found on the
typical king of spades.
The Gold Edition Split Spades are still available on blaine’s website, DavidBlaine.com.
The go for about $20 which is definitely on the higher end of the price spectrum as the
metalluxe backs are apparently not cheap to produce.
But if you want to win a deck of Gold Split Spades from me here’s what you have to do…
1.
Like this video.
2.
Be a subscriber to this channel.
And 3?
Well here’s a bit of a treasure hunt for you.
In honor of David Blaine’s penchant for hiding things in plain site, I’ve hidden
a link somewhere in this video.
That link will take you to a contest site where you can enter.
When you get there be sure to follow the instructions!
I’ll give you a hint in the form of a limerick;
Within the film is a frame of twins.
Both are regal and stately kings.
Although one weapon surely stings.
The other from a distance always wins.
It may not be the one you think.
So be sure to scour everything.
It goes by fast so don’t you blink Or miss the opening for the link.
Good luck.
Congrats to JIB, winner of the DMC Elites v4s.
Contact me to claim your prize.
As usual it’s been a pleasure!
If you have yet to subscribe be sure to click here.
Also check out another video by clicking here.
I’ve been the Gentleman Wake, thank you so much for watching!
See you next time!