Looking for a definitive David Blaine Split Spades list

[Mike Ratledge]

Thought so.  Wasn't it the "AIP" bottle with White Lion series A red decks that he released and the price went up as the quantity got lower?  That's what I remember, then again, my memory isn't what it used to be.

[Card Player]

Thought so.  Wasn't it the "AIP" bottle with White Lion series A red decks that he released and the price went up as the quantity got lower?  That's what I remember, then again, my memory isn't what it used to be.

I know there was an "AIP" bottle of Series A Red White Lions. I think it also came with another deck of Series A Red White Lions. The reason I know is because I almost bought one and then they were taken off David's website. I don't think they were sold out, just taken off. I don't recall any of the other details your mentioning.

[Mike Ratledge]

You do have them backwards.

1. First released was the Variety Box. The box is half RED and BLACK. 250 were released in total. The first 100 were $100 and the 150 remaining were $150. [SOLD OUT]

2. Second released was the Split Spades Box. That box is ALL BLACK. Only 100 were released for about $100. [SOLD OUT]

3. There is a third still available on David's website. The Limited Edition White Lions Box. That box is ALSO ALL BLACK. 400 were available. Those go for about $100. If you have watched David over the past year or his special, the White Lions are David's current working deck that he uses. These have been available for almost a year on his website. Most of us here bought the decks when they were first released and have other Box Sets of his. If your someone looking to get some Blaine decks, I would start with this at $100. Its signed twice, on the box and certificate of authentication. Its a nice deal and a nice piece of magic/playing card history.

I forgot to complete my thoughts earlier.  I have "Box #1".  I figure it's easily worth $250 if not $300 at this point, since many of the decks are now 3 or 4 years old, and quite a few of those decks just aren't available period any other way, maybe with the exception of special offers and the "AIP WL s A Red" with another Red.

[Mike Ratledge]

Thought so.  Wasn't it the "AIP" bottle with White Lion series A red decks that he released and the price went up as the quantity got lower?  That's what I remember, then again, my memory isn't what it used to be.

I know there was an "AIP" bottle of Series A Red White Lions. I think it also came with another deck of Series A Red White Lions. The reason I know is because I almost bought one and then they were taken off David's website. I don't think they were sold out, just taken off. I don't recall any of the other details your mentioning.

True, memories fade when you're an ol' faht like me.   There *was* something that increased in price as the number of available left went down, but I can't for the life of me remember what it was.

[Don Boyer]

Thought so.  Wasn't it the "AIP" bottle with White Lion series A red decks that he released and the price went up as the quantity got lower?  That's what I remember, then again, my memory isn't what it used to be.

I know there was an "AIP" bottle of Series A Red White Lions. I think it also came with another deck of Series A Red White Lions. The reason I know is because I almost bought one and then they were taken off David's website. I don't think they were sold out, just taken off. I don't recall any of the other details your mentioning.

True, memories fade when you're an ol' faht like me.   There *was* something that increased in price as the number of available left went down, but I can't for the life of me remember what it was.

The Series A White Lions red AIP was announced that it came with a red Series A deck - but unannounced was that it was part of a two-deck set including the purple "rainbow" edition deck.  The price did slowly increase over time as the bottles were selling, and I don't think it was that the AIP was "yanked" from the site so much as it was sold out, at least as much as David wanted to sell.  The remainder, if there are any, would probably be part of David's stash to give as gifts.

[Mike Ratledge]

Thought so.  Wasn't it the "AIP" bottle with White Lion series A red decks that he released and the price went up as the quantity got lower?  That's what I remember, then again, my memory isn't what it used to be.

I know there was an "AIP" bottle of Series A Red White Lions. I think it also came with another deck of Series A Red White Lions. The reason I know is because I almost bought one and then they were taken off David's website. I don't think they were sold out, just taken off. I don't recall any of the other details your mentioning.

The Series A White Lions red AIP was announced that it came with a red Series A deck - but unannounced was that it was part of a two-deck set including the purple "rainbow" edition deck.  The price did slowly increase over time as the bottles were selling, and I don't think it was that the AIP was "yanked" from the site so much as it was sold out, at least as much as David wanted to sell.  The remainder, if there are any, would probably be part of David's stash to give as gifts.

hmmm... I knew I forgot something: Don, when were the Split Spades "Tally Ho" decks first made?  I'm thinking it was 2005, is that right?  Maybe earlier?

[Don Boyer]

hmmm... I knew I forgot something: Don, when were the Split Spades "Tally Ho" decks first made?  I'm thinking it was 2005, is that right?  Maybe earlier?

http://playingcards.wikidot.com/split-spades:original

You are correct.  Assuming this guy's correct, of course, but he usually is.

[Mike Ratledge]

hmmm... I knew I forgot something: Don, when were the Split Spades "Tally Ho" decks first made?  I'm thinking it was 2005, is that right?  Maybe earlier?

http://playingcards.wikidot.com/split-spades:original

You are correct.  Assuming this guy's correct, of course, but he usually is.

Sure did seem right, and I know SS/Lions are dated 2008.  I knew it had to be at least 2006 if not earlier.

[Mike Ratledge]

Original Split Spades (also called Tally Ho Split Spades, with Tally Ho Ace of Spades)
Comes in red (red box back, red seal), black (black box back, red seal) and blue (black box back, blue seal).

Ah, glad I came back and re-read this one.  I have a lot of these decks, seem to have found a mis-listed group of them on ebay a few months ago and bought the lot for about $10 / deck.

The picture shows Red Tally Ho SS, Black Tally Ho SS and Blue Tally Ho SS - with black on the back, not blue.  Confusing a little, like the fact that the SS Lions have sepia boxes that actually contain a blue backed deck.  Key to remember is the red seals are on the actual color deck backs, and the blue seal indicates that the (apparently) black deck is actually blue.  hmmm...  These things are going to around $32-$35 on ebay right now, and I've seen a few go for a good bit more.  Curiously, even thought the SS Lion decks are newer, some people sell them for more, and they're bound to be more common at this point since they aren't as old.

[Don Boyer]

Original Split Spades (also called Tally Ho Split Spades, with Tally Ho Ace of Spades)
Comes in red (red box back, red seal), black (black box back, red seal) and blue (black box back, blue seal).

Ah, glad I came back and re-read this one.  I have a lot of these decks, seem to have found a mis-listed group of them on ebay a few months ago and bought the lot for about $10 / deck.

The picture shows Red Tally Ho SS, Black Tally Ho SS and Blue Tally Ho SS - with black on the back, not blue.  Confusing a little, like the fact that the SS Lions have sepia boxes that actually contain a blue backed deck.  Key to remember is the red seals are on the actual color deck backs, and the blue seal indicates that the (apparently) black deck is actually blue.  hmmm...  These things are going to around $32-$35 on ebay right now, and I've seen a few go for a good bit more.  Curiously, even thought the SS Lion decks are newer, some people sell them for more, and they're bound to be more common at this point since they aren't as old.

You got lucky on that purchase.  I think I paid about $25 a pack for mine a few years back.

The SS Lions are very popular.  There's one particular color of the Tally Ho SS that's tougher to get, I think it's black, and it tends to go for a premium.

The SS Lions were a very popular deck, David's first that was completely unbranded.  David Blaine made gaffed versions of the decks in boxes co-branded with Bicycle, and he released a number of gaffed cards - which probably doesn't eve scratch the surface of how many gaff cards he had made for himself.  Strangely enough, the available gaffs are almost exclusively red and blue, while black decks tend to be more popular again.  Perhaps David's holding back more black ones for himself - he does make a fair amount of gaffs in black but rarely releases them, saving them for himself.

[Mike Ratledge]

Strange, I thought it was Blue ones, mostly because nobody (hardly) knows what they have. I have plenty of Red & Black, but don't think I have seen more than 3 or 4 blue back decks. I have about 6 each extra of all except Blue.

[Don Boyer]

Strange, I thought it was Blue ones, mostly because nobody (hardly) knows what they have. I have plenty of Red & Black, but don't think I have seen more than 3 or 4 blue back decks. I have about 6 each extra of all except Blue.

The blue SS Lions came in both a sepia back box and a blue back box.  The sepia's a little harder to find, but there's a healthy supply of blue decks in total out there.

[Mike Ratledge]

Ah, OK.  Misread that.  You're talking about SS/Lions, I'm talking about SS "Tally Ho" (the real original edition from 2005).  Yep, for the SS/Lions, Blue is easier than black, but I've got a few black backs and at least 3-4 of each including White Lions except only two Red "A".  Those are a little tough to find...

[Don Boyer]

Ah, OK.  Misread that.  You're talking about SS/Lions, I'm talking about SS "Tally Ho" (the real original edition from 2005).  Yep, for the SS/Lions, Blue is easier than black, but I've got a few black backs and at least 3-4 of each including White Lions except only two Red "A".  Those are a little tough to find...

While they never released an exact number, to the best of my memory, they were printed and in more limited quantities.

White Lions have a number of varieties, Series A in particular.  This post lists all of David Blaine's decks through the Series A White Lions.  All that remains from there are White Lions Series B blue and red, White Lions Black Label (first introduction of a black version of the deck) and the Silver Split Spades - in every way like the originals but with metallic inks and silver backs, and I believe the Roman numeral on the box was updated to MMXIII.  Even the black had metallic ink - you can spot flecks of gold on top of the black and it's a subtle though attractive look.

Oh, and lest I forget, there's the White Lions Stealth Deck.  VERY limited release, sold as a set with some of his recent leather-wrapped Porper clips.  Modeled after the Series A box design, with a red background on the top portion of the box.  Contained a shortened deck of red and blue White Lions gaff cards.  Black gaff cards were also made, but were for David's exclusive use.  I managed to purchase some from a member here who got them from David himself - his Stealth Cards arrived in a damaged box due to the 56-card box holding less than 50 cards, so David sent them along as an apology.  The black ones I have are (if I recall correctly) double backers in black/black, black/red, black/blue and blank faced cards - if there were other models made, David kept them to himself.

And THAT is pretty much the definitive list of all of David's decks...

[Mike Ratledge]

Darn, that means I am still missing one: the stealth deck.

[Don Boyer]

Darn, that means I am still missing one: the stealth deck.

Yeah, those decks are few and far between.  But it's not a big deal if you're more interested in getting decks over getting gaffs.  It's nothing but gaff cards, and it's not even a complete deck, only 37 cards in a full-sized box - somewhere here we wrote about it, listing every card.  There was word that Blaine would release a full-sized set of cards by year's end, but that was last year.

I just pulled mine out from its drawer.  I have a really big drawer with nothing but magic cards and decks - there's over 70 stripper decks alone.  I was incorrect in my description - the top of the box is black, the bottom is red.  Only 22 decks were released, I think - they were offered in a set paired with either a brown leather Porper clip (only 11) or a black leather Porper clip and a packet trick wallet (also only 11).  I got the brown clip, then traded on eBay for the black clip with wallet and a set of Stealth cards PLUS some bonus cards from David Blaine.  I don't recall them being offered again after that.  They came out mid-December of 2012.

We usually list gaffs and such in the Magic board, but I'll give you a list of the cards in the deck here.

1. BLUE - AC with gold thumbprint on pip revealing an 8.
2. RED - same as #1.
3. BLUE - 5D missing the middle pip.
4. RED - 2H with only a half-face and a blank half.
5. BLUE - 2D, same gimmick as #4.
6. N/A - AD front, Split Spades joker back (this joker was used in WL Series B).
7. BLUE - AH, same gimmick as #1.
8. RED - same as #7.
9. BLUE - 4H blurred as if out of focus.
10. RED - blank facer.
11. BLUE - blank facer.
12. RED - AS with fine print sentence under "White Lions": "Your card is the 3 of spades".
13. BLUE - Same as #12 with 7H reveal.
14. BLUE - KH with one pip shown with a white blob in the middle.
15. BLUE - KC, same gimmick as #14.
16. BLUE - QS missing the faces.
17. BLUE - KS, same gimmick as #16.
18. RED/RED double backer.
19. BLUE/BLUE double backer.
20. BLUE - 8S with one index in bold type.
21. BLUE - 9D with only 6 pips in 6D pattern.
22. BLUE - QS holding 3H reveal in her hand.
23. BLUE - same as #22 with 2H reveal.
24. BLUE/RED double backer.
25. BLUE - square 4x4 box grid on face.
26. BLUE - same as #22 with QH reveal.
27. N/A - QH front, Split Spades joker back.
28. BLUE - same as #22 with AS reveal.
29. BLUE - same as #22, 8S reveal.
30. BLUE - same as #22, 8H reveal.
31. BLUE - same as #22, 7S reveal.
32. BLUE - same as #22, 7H reveal.
33. RED - 5S printed at bottom index corner as 7C.
34. BLUE - 5H, same gimmick as #33 with 7D corner.
35. N/A - 6H front, realistic picture of white light switch with wall plate on back.
36. BLUE - 10C with three smeared pips in one corner.
37. BLUE - AH with top index of 3H.

The box itself has the same "INDIGO" reveal as all other WL tuck boxes.

[Magic_Orthodoxy]

Don - Sorry to dredge this up, but it's on topic .....

Ok so the Bee decks that came out first - one had a black seal and one a white.

Reference article: http://playingcards.wikidot.com/split-spades:bee

The white sealed deck shows a double spade "extra card" and the black sealed deck shows a single spade "extra card"

Well, the extra card is the one card you can see through the transparency on the back of the tuck.

In my variety box - I have BOTH the black seal and the white seal (unopened) and the SAME "double spade" card is shown.

So do you think I just have two black decks ... and the seal is wrong OR is the reference photo wrong?

[Don Boyer]

Don - Sorry to dredge this up, but it's on topic .....

Ok so the Bee decks that came out first - one had a black seal and one a white.

Reference article: http://playingcards.wikidot.com/split-spades:bee

The white sealed deck shows a double spade "extra card" and the black sealed deck shows a single spade "extra card"

Well, the extra card is the one card you can see through the transparency on the back of the tuck.

In my variety box - I have BOTH the black seal and the white seal (unopened) and the SAME "double spade" card is shown.

So do you think I just have two black decks ... and the seal is wrong OR is the reference photo wrong?

It does sound like you might have two of the same deck, despite the different seals.  But I can't say for certain.

[Magic_Orthodoxy]

yea my set looks just like this...... I suppose to open one.... id open the white to see if they were the same

http://www.ebay.com/itm/David-Blaine-BEE-Split-Spades-Black-White-Set-MINT-Sealed-RARE-Playing-Cards-/352107664768?hash=item51fb409580%3Ag%3AiOsAAOSwTf9ZXvSZ&nma=true&si=Rb8SuRnO%252FO%252FCpWwaqEBOeOIODUs%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Actually.... on ebay, I see MORE evidence that THIS is what most people have. Both windows showing the same card

[Don Boyer]

yea my set looks just like this...... I suppose to open one.... id open the white to see if they were the same

http://www.ebay.com/itm/David-Blaine-BEE-Split-Spades-Black-White-Set-MINT-Sealed-RARE-Playing-Cards-/352107664768?hash=item51fb409580%3Ag%3AiOsAAOSwTf9ZXvSZ&nma=true&si=Rb8SuRnO%252FO%252FCpWwaqEBOeOIODUs%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Actually.... on ebay, I see MORE evidence that THIS is what most people have. Both windows showing the same card

It's possible that those are what was included in the first Variety Box he released.  I have a few pairs I bought before the Variety Box and they have different extra cards with the DB logo on them - one has a single logo, one has two logos.  I can't recall which was which, I'd have to look.

[Msp062]

I have the both the Black and white seal Bee Split Spades.  I have seen decks that have the single split spade showing and the double split spade showing.  Anyone who opens any of the decks will notice that it is an ad card that has the double split spade on one side and the single split spade on the other side of the same card.  Every black seal deck I have opened has been black and every white seal deck I have opened has been white.  My guess is that during the packing process the ad card was oriented differently for some reason, but it is the same card in every Bee split spades deck.

[Don Boyer]

I have the both the Black and white seal Bee Split Spades.  I have seen decks that have the single split spade showing and the double split spade showing.  Anyone who opens any of the decks will notice that it is an ad card that has the double split spade on one side and the single split spade on the other side of the same card.  Every black seal deck I have opened has been black and every white seal deck I have opened has been white.  My guess is that during the packing process the ad card was oriented differently for some reason, but it is the same card in every Bee split spades deck.

I should confirm that - I have the decks at home.  Unfortunately, I'm not at home for another week!  But it does sound about right to me.