So as I posted earlier in my Bicycle Vintage Fan Back review, I also purchased these nice Aladdins - 2 blue, 3 red - that I got from the Magic Apple. I cracked open a pack yesterday, and have been playing with them ever since...
Box: The same on both sides, with the words "1001 Aladdin" printed below a diamond made of the four suits and two lamps on either side of that. The National and the US Playing Card companies are printed below the name. A nice change, but a little dull. 3/5
Ace of Spades: Again, a nice change - it's a spade inside a shining lamp - but nothing special. 4/5
Jokers: Identical jokers. Very bizarre, with a rabbit hatching out of an egg and a couple of... um... elves? hopping around behind it with an acorn on a stick. It sounds funny, but take a look and you'll be surprised. You might even laugh a little. 5/5
Card Faces / Court Cards: Standard face and court cards, except for the AoS I mentioned earlier. 3/5
Card Back Design: Pretty cool, but I think this is one instance where the picture look better than reality. A flower is set in the middle with a feather-like design spreading across the card. 3/5
Stock: Delivers a lot more snap than normal Bicycle Rider Backs, and the stick seems a tad thicker. I love the stock because I really like playing with cards with which I can really send a card flying with Daryl's Hot Shot Cut. 5/5
Fanning/Finish: Very nice. The finish reminds me of Aviators - not bad, but surprising because the completely smooth finish (no little divots all over the card) makes this card seem almost like plastic. 9/10
Magic: These are... interesting for magic. I need to get used to the feel before I take these onto the streets for reactions, because when I tried to do a couple of tricks, doubles took a couple of tries before I could get one to stay together the way I wanted. 9/10
Cardistry: Fantastic. These cards stick together better than almost any normal card (i.e. not custom, not casino-quality like Jerry's or Wynns, not plastic souvenir cards) when I performed a few of my favorite flourishes. They stick together when you want them to and separate when you don't. 10/10
Durability: I really don't know about this one... especially because I'm used to using broken-in decks, but this thing seems to be resisting my attempts to BE broken in. It's still as stiff and snappy as when I opened it 24 hours ago. Interesting... But I guess that means it IS durable. Especially when I dropped like 20 cards at school on the messy cafeteria floor, and they still fanned perfectly (yes, I can fan very well) after a quick wipe. 9/10
TOTAL: 60 / 70 = 86%
Verdict: Very nice. I don't like the aesthetics of the deck much, but these cards handle very well, regardless of your forte in cardistry and/or magic. I guess I made an excellent investment when I bought those New Fan Backs and these decks at the Magic Apple.
Box: The same on both sides, with the words "1001 Aladdin" printed below a diamond made of the four suits and two lamps on either side of that. The National and the US Playing Card companies are printed below the name. A nice change, but a little dull. 3/5
Ace of Spades: Again, a nice change - it's a spade inside a shining lamp - but nothing special. 4/5
Jokers: Identical jokers. Very bizarre, with a rabbit hatching out of an egg and a couple of... um... elves? hopping around behind it with an acorn on a stick. It sounds funny, but take a look and you'll be surprised. You might even laugh a little. 5/5
Card Faces / Court Cards: Standard face and court cards, except for the AoS I mentioned earlier. 3/5
Card Back Design: Pretty cool, but I think this is one instance where the picture look better than reality. A flower is set in the middle with a feather-like design spreading across the card. 3/5
Stock: Delivers a lot more snap than normal Bicycle Rider Backs, and the stick seems a tad thicker. I love the stock because I really like playing with cards with which I can really send a card flying with Daryl's Hot Shot Cut. 5/5
Fanning/Finish: Very nice. The finish reminds me of Aviators - not bad, but surprising because the completely smooth finish (no little divots all over the card) makes this card seem almost like plastic. 9/10
Magic: These are... interesting for magic. I need to get used to the feel before I take these onto the streets for reactions, because when I tried to do a couple of tricks, doubles took a couple of tries before I could get one to stay together the way I wanted. 9/10
Cardistry: Fantastic. These cards stick together better than almost any normal card (i.e. not custom, not casino-quality like Jerry's or Wynns, not plastic souvenir cards) when I performed a few of my favorite flourishes. They stick together when you want them to and separate when you don't. 10/10
Durability: I really don't know about this one... especially because I'm used to using broken-in decks, but this thing seems to be resisting my attempts to BE broken in. It's still as stiff and snappy as when I opened it 24 hours ago. Interesting... But I guess that means it IS durable. Especially when I dropped like 20 cards at school on the messy cafeteria floor, and they still fanned perfectly (yes, I can fan very well) after a quick wipe. 9/10
TOTAL: 60 / 70 = 86%
Verdict: Very nice. I don't like the aesthetics of the deck much, but these cards handle very well, regardless of your forte in cardistry and/or magic. I guess I made an excellent investment when I bought those New Fan Backs and these decks at the Magic Apple.