DeKram Deck
Type: close up, parlor
Skill Level: 
Retail Price: $25
Effect: With this deck the magician knows the freely selected card(s) immediately. Many very entertaining, and very deceptive routines are possible.
Performance Time: Depends on the routine.
Reset Time: None.
Angles: 
Quality: Excellent deck of cards, but the unusual back design might raise some eyebrows. Wonderful booklet of tricks you can perform with this deck accompanies the pack.
Mike Maione: Psst. They're marked. But listen, the markings are really good. First, the markings are big. You can easily see them at an arm's length and you don't need extraordinary vision. Second, they're easy to interpret. No undiscernible cryptic markings that require counting flower petals or clock face positions. "2H" means Two of Hearts. "JS" is the Jack of Spades. The marks are easy to figure out. Third, the markings are part of the design. That is to say the artwork was modified before the cards were printed to include the markings. The marks weren't added afterward. So the color, sheen and texture are perfect. Finally, the marks are not very easy for the lay person to find. Sure, if you know they're marked, you'll find the marks if you try hard enough. But, believe me it's not easy if you don't know about it.
Let me tell you how I know. The cards are manufactured for and sold by Magic Masters ... a chain very high priced magic retail shops located in heavily trafficked tourist and convention centers. I discovered the shop in downtown Chicago on a business trip. The shops are not your ordinary variety magic shop with props pushed in every nook and cranny of the showroom and hundreds and hundreds of pieces of magic paraphernalia on hand. Nope. If Magic Masters sells more than two dozen products in their shops, then they've expanded their line considerably since my trip to Chicago. The store looks like a library. In the center is a wonderful demonstration counter, behind which the maigician performs some of the two dozen self-working tricks sold at Magic Masters. If they hook you (and believe me these guys do) a secret door on the library wall opens to a small nicely appointed room where another employee teaches you how to perform the trick you just paid too much for.
Well the fellow behind the counter did a few things with the DeKram deck for me. I knew the cards had to be marked but dang, I couldn't find the markings. I was intrigued. "These are marked aren't they?" A vague response was uttered that I interpreted as no. Silly me. "Okay, you win, I'll take a deck ... but please don't sell me a marked deck," I said as I shelled out my $25. After completing the transaction, I learned what I really already knew ... the cards were marked. I guess I could have made a fuss and got my money back ... after all that's a lot to spend on a gaffed deck. But, I was fooled and felt pretty foolish. Still, I don't regret it.
Anyway, I give the deck a thumbs up. Aside from the ridiculous price, what are the drawbacks? The back design is a little strange. I'm told the design is popular in Europe. But I don't believe it. And, I don't perform there anyway. In my view these cards would be perfect if they were Bikes, Aviator or some other popular brand. If you get the deck and use it, don't be surprized if you get a few skeptics scrutinizing the card backs when you start doing the impossible. The other drawback is "0" means 10 and "Q" is Queen. These are the only values that are so close in appearance that you might have to squint a little to see the difference.
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