Inq's Playing Cards - Custom Bicycle Deck

[Reylek]

Hey everyone. I don't think word has gotten out much about this deck, so I figured I'd share.

I learned via YouTube that these are available in the Curiosity Box 12 from curiositybox.com - no idea if they will ever be available for purchase separately or not.

Photos are taken from Michael Stevens aka Vsauce on Twitter (@tweetsauce)

They are also marked.

[STLBluesNut]

Without seeing the cards and in general not liking the flat glossy tucks, I really like these.

I contacted them to see if one could get the cards separately or box 12 as it seems to be a subscription service. They also have THE CUTEST orange octopus stickers. I love orange!

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[badpete69]

Saw these a few weeks ago through Jay. The only way to get them is through a subscription.. It was an easy pass but I think Jay was trying to smooched a couple hehe.. i thought there already was a thread but probably saw it on FB

[Reylek]

Yeah, I posted on the Bicycle collector FB group about 10 days ago and then realized I hadn’t seen it here.

Joseph Zompetti also reached out to them, and they confirmed the availability as being limited only to the subscription box.

No idea what size print run they did or how many subscribers they have.

[STLBluesNut]

It appeared that you could only subscribe to the box not buy a previous box. I still may buy some of those stickers though hehe.

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[Reylek]

The current box (Box XII) is the one with the deck in it. So if you subscribe now, you’ll get the deck. Not sure what the cutoff date is, but for right now it should be all good.

[Harvonsgard]

Great Back design. Cool mix of whimsicalness (is that a word?) and a nautical themed rider back. I didn't know that Vsauce is into playing cards. Is that a permanent playing cards subscription box like the pip box?

EDIT: Just checked, different gadgets subscription box. $67,90 is a hefty price, if one just wants the deck. I hope some hit the bay for a reasonable price.

[Outsider]

Yeah the little we can see looks really nice, though who knows if there are good custom courts. What a waste that it's only packed in with a box that doesn't have any particular relation to cards (or magic, or a nautical theme. One can only guess why they're packaged with this box.).

whimsicalness (is that a word?)

Whimsy.

[Harvonsgard]

whimsicalness (is that a word?)

Whimsy.

As a noun?

[Outsider]

whimsicalness (is that a word?)

Whimsy.

As a noun?

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/whimsy

Whimsy is primarily a noun, and the root of the adjective whimsical.

After thinking about it for a moment, it's obvious to me why this would be confusing since "-y" in english usually makes something into an adjective (like woody from wood), but whimsy is a little bit different. Whimsical, even.

[BaconWise]

I reached out to the Curiosity Box FB page and got this response:

Hi Curiosity Box Team! I wanted to reach out about your Inq's Playing Cards and request those be sold as separate items in your store catalog. I am part of a playing card collector's forum and I am seeing a lot of interest in the deck but it seems to be part of the current subscription box. What happens after the current box is done? Will it be made available or was it a strictly limited run? Thanks for the consideration. We want to get our hands on a deck to review it and take a peek under the hood. It looks very intriguing (INQtriguing?) and I would love to buy one! Cheers

We don't typically sell any items from the current box on our store website, but I've reached out to management and let them know your idea.

Please check on our site periodically to see if they are added there - and I'll pull for you...

That's a promising response, so I am hoping someone can snag a deck from the current subscription and post a review. Then, I am hoping they add the deck as a separate item for sale on their site after the current subscription box has ended. This deck is adorable. Maybe not a bad idea to have multiple people flood their FB inbox with the same request. We'll beat them into submission!

[Harvonsgard]

Maybe not a bad idea to have multiple people flood their FB inbox with the same request. We'll beat them into submission!

Awesome move, Bacon [BACON].

I don't use/have facebook, therefore I can't chime in but I definetly endorse this message. I think I'll hit them up on instagram; multi level warfare.

[vasta41]

They told me that they are considering selling the deck separately in their store. Hopefully they do soon. But I'm sorry to say that I'm probably gonna pull the trigger on the box. The rest of the stuff seems cool enough but as you all know I will not be opening the deck.

[Harvonsgard]

They told me that they are considering selling the deck separately in their store. Hopefully they do soon. But I'm sorry to say that I'm probably gonna pull the trigger on the box. The rest of the stuff seems cool enough but as you all know I will not be opening the deck.

Get the box - don't even open the box! Ultimate collector move!

[STLBluesNut]

I got an email reply that they were going to make sure to pass along the request to sell them as single items.

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[Reylek]

I got word that my box shipped yesterday, should be here in about a week.

I was also sent a referral link. If you use it, you’ll save $5 on your first box.

http://www.curiositybox.com/W0h3F1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Harvonsgard]

I got word that my box shipped yesterday, should be here in about a week.

Do you open your decks? I would love to see some pictures.

[Reylek]

When I can I like to do a “one open, one sealed” approach. However, if I can only get my hands on one of something, I will open it unless it’s EXCEEDINGLY rare/valuable. So I’ll definitely be opening these.

[BaconWise]

When I can I like to do a “one open, one sealed” approach. However, if I can only get my hands on one of something, I will open it unless it’s EXCEEDINGLY rare/valuable. So I’ll definitely be opening these.

Doing the Lord's work there, homie. Excited to see if these live up to my curiosity or if they are simply standard card faces.

[Reylek]

I'm guessing standard, but we'll see!

[Harvonsgard]

When I can I like to do a “one open, one sealed” approach.

I like this approach, too. $320 later... *cries in Lotrek’s Silk

[Reylek]

Received my Curiosity Box just a few min ago. Haven't opened the deck yet, but it was indeed included. I'm also pleased with most of the other items included in the box. Not stuff I probably would've bought stand-alone, but some fun & interesting items.

I should note that while the subscription box is quite full with goodies, it's not so full that the items inside can't shift around and knock into each other. The deck is loose among the other items, so the possibility for dinged corners is very real. I have a slight flaw on the bottom front edge of mine, but it is just as likely to have happened in transit from USPCC to the Curiosity folks. I've pulled many a deck out of a brick box with a similar slight imperfection.

I'm perfectly happy with the condition of the deck, but it's definitely possible that others might get one that's gotten dinged worse than mine, and I also know there are folks out there who insist on 100% flawless decks.

I'll post photos and/or video of the cards when I get a chance.

[Räpylätassu]

One deck on ebay for 31,50 USD. Shipping is from Pennsylvania.

[aardvarkgod]

I was curious about the other stuff in the box. Here's an unboxing video showing all the contents. The cards are at timestamp 1:47.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llnD0MW5lfI

[BaconWise]

I was curious about the other stuff in the box. Here's an unboxing video showing all the contents. The cards are at timestamp 1:47.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llnD0MW5lfI

Thanks for the link! I have been waiting to see what they look like. I died a little inside when he showed the instructions for the marked cards. That pretty much guarantees standard pips and faces for use by magicians/cardists. Oh well...

[robcan0630]

Disappointing... Thanks for sharing the video though.

[Harvonsgard]

Not a fan of reveiling the marking system. Unnecessary for a review.

Standard faces are really disappointing for these. Was willing to pull the trigger on eBay - ain't willing to do so anymore (at least not for $32)

[Reylek]

In fairness to Isaac, the creators revealed the marking system themselves on a video on their own channel.

The magician side of me doesn't love having marking systems exposed on YouTube in any form or fashion. But this clock-based system has roots that are over 100 years old and have been implemented on decks that have sold many tens of thousands to the general public. And yet, most people still will be unaware of their existence, let alone how to read them.

I totally get how collectors would've preferred a greater level of customization, but this deck wasn't created for or targeted to collectors. It was created to an audience of science/education fans who subscribe to the box. Usually there is at least a cursory interest in magic amongst that type of audience. They probably care a lot more about being able to perform an easy trick to fool their friends than having custom art on the faces.

That said, they did a really nice job with the back and tuck, so it definitely would've been cool to have a custom ace and jokers at the very least.

[BaconWise]

In fairness to Isaac, the creators revealed the marking system themselves on a video on their own channel.

The magician side of me doesn't love having marking systems exposed on YouTube in any form or fashion. But this clock-based system has roots that are over 100 years old and have been implemented on decks that have sold many tens of thousands to the general public. And yet, most people still will be unaware of their existence, let alone how to read them.

I totally get how collectors would've preferred a greater level of customization, but this deck wasn't created for or targeted to collectors. It was created to an audience of science/education fans who subscribe to the box. Usually there is at least a cursory interest in magic amongst that type of audience. They probably care a lot more about being able to perform an easy trick to fool their friends than having custom art on the faces.

That said, they did a really nice job with the back and tuck, so it definitely would've been cool to have a custom ace and jokers at the very least.

I think the intrigue for me was to see if they were catering to the cardistry crowd or to collectors. It is great to finally know because there was so little info on the deck. It's disappointing but they did a wonderful job for their target audience. Perhaps a missed opportunity, considering their adorable mascot, but collectors are a much smaller market.

[STLBluesNut]

Non custom is a bummer, but I think for a good price and being able to buy them as a standalone from the website, I'd pick one up for the tuck.

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