From 7,000 Won to 350,000 Won... The Record of 'Smoke and Mirrors' That Changed the Custom Deck Landscape

There are playing cards that have become more than mere consumables among magicians, evolving into collector's items. These are the custom decks 'Smoke and Mirrors,' produced by American twins David and Dan Dave. Evaluated as having changed the landscape of the custom deck industry, these cards have established themselves as legends in the magic world, showing a dramatic difference between their original release prices and current resale prices.

From 7,000 Won Cards to 350,000 Won, Resale Price Gaps by Series

The success of Smoke and Mirrors was a result of the combination of elegant design and the influence of the creators. Amidst traditional cards like Bicycle or Tally-Ho that magicians mainly used 20 years ago, Smoke and Mirrors caught the eye with its unrivaled design. In particular, as the magic lecture 'Trilogy' released by the Dave brothers left a huge impact on the magic community, their cards received enthusiastic interest among magicians, much like sponsored products of a famous brand.

Looking at each series, the increase in price is even more striking. The initial model 'V1' released in 2008 was at a level of about 7,000 won per deck at the time, but currently, the resale price for unopened decks has soared to about 350,000 won. The subsequently released 'V2' also formed a price line of about 200,000 won from the 7,000 won range. The 'V3' Collector Edition released in 2009 is traded in the 100,000 won range.

'V4', which had issues with the relocation of its production factory, is still loved by collectors for its excellent color sense and is currently traded in the 130,000 to 150,000 won range. The blue-colored 'V5 Denim' released in 2010 is about 80,000 to 100,000 won, and 'V6 Rouge', released in 2011 with an intense red color, forms a resale price of around 50,000 won.

15,000 Decks Sold Out in 1 Minute, Impact Continuing in Korea

The most dramatic moment in the history of Smoke and Mirrors was during the release of 'V6 Rouge'. The Dave brothers, the creators, struggled to open the sales page at their accommodation in Montana due to the poor internet environment, but the site was immediately paralyzed by visitors flocking from all over the world. This model set a record by selling out 15,000 decks in just 1 minute, and even the urgently produced additional stock wrote a legend by selling out in 5 minutes.

This craze continued in Korea as well. When Smoke and Mirrors was first introduced to the country in 2012, the impact was so significant that it took nearly an hour just to stand in line to enter the sales location. In particular, as the resale prices of V4 and V5 rose, hoarding phenomena also appeared in Korea. It is estimated that the volume brought into Korea at that time reached about 1,000 decks.

The Finale of the Original Series, 'V7 Carbon' and the Deluxe Box Set

The model that decorated the end of the original series is 'V7 Carbon' released in 2012. This card, produced as a limited run of 5,000 decks, currently maintains a resale price of around 100,000 won. The creators declared that they would suspend printing for the original Smoke and Mirrors brand for the time being following this V7 project.

What drew great attention at the time was the 'V7 Deluxe Box Set' containing cards from V1 to V6. This set, released as a limited edition of 10,000 units, included newly printed reproduction versions at the time. While the retail price was about 100,000 won back then, it is now recognized as having high value, trading in the 200,000 to 300,000 won range. This box set became an item symbolizing the heyday of Smoke and Mirrors, gaining explosive popularity to the point where requests for individual sales flooded domestic retailers in the past.

Smoke and Mirrors, which rewrote the history of custom decks, has now moved beyond being simple cards to remain as a symbol engraved in the hearts of magicians.

Source: PH (YouTube)