https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/on ... rs-edition
A version of the famous Butterfly Playing Cards, now with a versatile white border, designed for working magicians.
Cost: €15 per deck (€13 early bird)
Project launches: September 1, 2022
Project ends: September 29, 2022
The ad copy says: "Destined to become the new quality standard of playing cards and the everyday carry of many magicians, the new Workers edition of the Butterfly Playing Cards comes with an adjusted marking system, a clean white border, and our lowest price tag ever!"
I've been fortunate enough to see in person a prototype of this new workers edition. And as much as I like the original borderless Butterfly decks, I am happy to report that a version with a white border still captures the beauty of the original back design, while white borders ensure that it looks somewhat more like "normal" deck for laymen, and for some card magic will simply be more practical. And while not as powerful as an edge-marked deck, it's still is a fully marked deck which you can use for routines that require a marked deck.
The original decks
Both in the world of custom playing cards and of card magic, Ondrej Psenicka is a well-known name. He's the creator of the stunning Butterfly Playing Cards, which first appeared about half a dozen years ago now. These gorgeous decks had fairly standard faces, but had backs with a gorgeous borderless design that revolves around the beautiful buttterfly, and looks particularly spectacular in fans and spreads.
But this deck didn't just blow people away because of its good looks, but its ingenious secrets. It came with an innovative edge marking system, and full video instructions about how to use it, which enables magicians to read a card without even spreading the deck. Proof of this deck's potential is that Ondrej used it to successfully fool Penn and Teller on their Fool Us show. Magicians who need more convincing that this is one of the very best marked decks on the market, should read my article Recommended marked decks that aren't Bicycle decks.
But since so many people loved the deck's design, more versions were created, including some luxurious black versions with gold or silver foil, and matching gold or silver edges. These were available in unmarked versions as well, making them perfect for the ultimate in luxury when playing card games. Then followed the "Seasons" series, which continued the beautiful borderless look, with individual decks corresponding to the colours that typical each season.
The workers edition
Now Ondrej is bringing us yet another version of his beautiful Butterfly Playing Cards, this time with a white-bordered version, geared to be a practical deck that is ideal for regular use. And especially when buying in larger volumes, it's been priced to make it more affordable, and at the lowest price point we've seen from a Butterfly deck yet (e.g. the 12 Butterfly Special early-bird price works out to €11.00 per deck).
The essence of the marking system has been retained, but has been adjusted in light of the borders, making it functional for working magicians. The cards are marked for value and suit on all four corners, using the one-way marking system of the previous borderless decks.
As with previous Butterfly decks, the cards are printed by Cartamundi on their Slimline stock, with a traditional cut, using the cut that makes it ideal for doing faro shuffles smoothly. The cards all have a standard look, with the exception of the Aces (which all have custom over-sized pips), two different butterfly Jokers, and two extra cards.
Kickstarter link:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/on ... rs-edition
Goes live on September 1, 2022, at 5PM CEST.
(I really hope that's the case and he's not going the luxury NOC route by offering foiled/gilded color variants!)
).
@playingcardophile