talkmagic.co.uk

Does anyone know where I can buy a standard, unmarked deck of zener cards?

I have tried searching the magic shop links at the bottom and Google but have only been able to find marked decks and tarot cards for sale.

Must be tired this morning!

Preferably they should be very plain. Black symbols on white background on the front and plain black on the back.

Someone who stocks associated material would be useful too.

World Magic Shop do a set with Bike Backs

Ah I see they are called ESP cards there. I do not really need them to be marked for the effect so I'll just search for "ESP Cards".

ESP cards and Zenner cards are essentiall the same thing.

I understand that Zenner was the inventor, hence the name, whereas he invented them as a means to testing for ESP. Therefore, one and the same.

I don't think that the WMS shop ones are marked and it would be well worth giving them a call.

Fairiesnuff is the person that you want to speak to about this.

cards 4 magic have got a huge selection of different ESP cards, some marked and some not.

HI A-N-T. Is there a reason why the cards must be unmarked ? Magicbox sells an exellent set of esp cards. You get 2 sets of 25 in a box - one red backed and one black, and the backs are a plain solid colour whith a white border. They are marked, but the system used is so subtle no one will ever notice. These could be used for any routine you have in mind and you dont have to use the markings

I'm with Jim. The Beyond ESP 2 deck is excellent and you don't have to use the markings if you don't want to. Your audience will certainly not see them. Or just check out the large range of ESP decks at www.cards4magic.co.uk - they have all sorts, including the original ESP deck.

Thanks for your suggestions.

No particular reason why they should not be marked, however the two, maybe three effects I am thinking of that would nicely roll in to each other do not call for a marked deck as they are all achieved through other means.

As an alternative, have you considered making your own deck? I've used a home-made ESP deck in the past and it has a certain charm about it; I think it can somehow look more authentic, if that makes sense. I just used those little blank cards (about business card size) that you can get from Rymans. If you'd rather a more professional look, then by all means buy a deck. They're not exactly expensive. (Unless you choose the outrageously priced Vernet ESP deck from cards4magic!)

The set from beyond esp are subtle enough that I've never had anyone notice. Most of the unmarked ones look more suspicious. The original Rhine were plain backed until they realised participants could see through. The star backs that they chose later I know a number of people dislike as they look like magic cards. Cards4magic has most of the options available.

This thread has an interesting discussion about ESP/Zener cards.

the piatnik range have nice bridge sized ESP cards...

or, why not just draw them on blank card stock instead?

dat8962 wrote:
Fairiesnuff is the person that you want to speak to about this.

Errrrr ok - why?....

(apart from the fact i have six regular sized and one jumbo deck )

The ones i use are not marked per se, and are from Paralabs. They do regular sized and jumbo sized (a5) for stage work.

f x

Here's yet another shout out for the Beyond ESP 2 decks.

These really are a very beautiful, high quality deck, at a superb price.

These aren't marked in any classical sense at all, and - as a bonus - you can pull off some truly amazing effects with them too.

The review for this set is here: http://www.talkmagic.co.uk/ftopic6406.p ... beyond+esp

Hope this is of use

Rob

robstanley1 wrote:These aren't marked in any classical sense at all

I don't think that this is a fair comment. They are marked and are marketed as such. I wanted to buy unmarked ESP cards once but, after I bought a couple of these packs, I could no longer see the point in having unmarked cards. You can perform effects that do not require marked cards with them, of course. But the marking is so good that no one will suspect marking (unless you really burn the cards yourself when performing).

...they contain an incredibly subtle marking system that allows you to identify each card with a short glance...