Bicycle/Ellusionist & other dark playing card decks

[paulrosk]

The ShadowMasters and Black Tigers are really cool "Black" decks, but you'll have to touch up the edges of the cards after a while, they tend to get "grey" or "white" on the edges when the ink cracks off. They didn't print them on "black stock" because of the ink colors, but you can take a black "Sharpie Marker" clamp the deck together and just go around the outside with the marker, it puts the deck right back to 100% "out of the box" condition! Most "Black" decks have this problem.

[paulrosk]

Here's what some of the "Black" decks look like:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...98&refid=store

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...85&refid=store

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...69&refid=store

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...12&refid=store

[Rhinemaiden]

Paul, thank you for the wealth of fascinating info! You obviously have quite a collection of playing card decks... what are your personal favorites?

[paulrosk]

Wow, I have SO many favorite decks, favorite Tarot decks too! Let's see, my favorite Bicycle Decks have to be:
ShadowMasters
Black Tigers
Black Ghost
Raiders (Black Deck)
Spider & Scorpion Decks
Red Dragon Deck
Alchemist X
Tally-Ho Vipers

Almost too many favorites (LOL)

[Essjay]

Slightly off topic but I want to take a bicycle deck and book on holiday - not sure which deck yet but am poised to click on Amazon.

Any recommendations for in-print cartomancy books? I've been wanting to get to grips with this for ages and buying a beautiful deck means I must get a book too (This is inspired by MysticalMooses thread in tarot decks where Le Fanu mentioned holiday decks and time to concentrate!)

[paulrosk]

Do you mean you want a "Standard" Bicycle deck of cards? Or a "Cool" Bicycle deck of cards? If you are looking for something REALLY cool in a standard Bicycle deck, take a look at the Anne Stokes collections.

http://www.annestokescollection.com/

https://www.annestokesshop.com/

http://www.heyprestomagic.com.au/ezi...t/prod3713.htm

[Essjay]

Originally Posted by paulrosk

Do you mean you want a "Standard" Bicycle deck of cards? Or a "Cool" Bicycle deck of cards? If you are looking for something REALLY cool in a standard Bicycle deck, take a look at the Anne Stokes collections.

http://www.annestokescollection.com/

https://www.annestokesshop.com/

http://www.heyprestomagic.com.au/ezi...t/prod3713.htm

Thank you!

I really need recommendations for a good cartomancy book. Deck-wise I'm probably going to get the 1800 or the white ghost

[paulrosk]

If you like the "White Ghost" deck perhaps you would really like these also:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...46&refid=store

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...39&refid=store

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...91&refid=store

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...85&refid=store

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=350332574825


And these are pretty good books, I have a few of them:

http://www.amazon.com/CARTOMANCY-SPA...003607&sr=8-12

http://www.amazon.com/Discover-Carto...6003607&sr=8-7

http://www.amazon.com/Cartomancy-Boo...6003607&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Power-Playing-...6003607&sr=8-4

Heck, my Grandma Mary (Maria) was a REAL GYPSY! Read the Tarot with standard playing cards! I should have something in my blood somewhere!

[Essjay]

Thanks - there's some great books there. I'll start researching them

[paulrosk]

Any one of the 4 books will do, have you done a web search for EBooks? You may find something you can download into an iPod or something.

Just one warning about using "White" cards. They get real dirty real fast, don't stay "white" very long, even if you have very clean hands. The oils in your fingers "darkens" the card faces and edges. Just thought I'd let you know since I've been working with cards for 3/4 of my life!