Dan and Dave Buck
Daniel and David Buck, more known as Dan and Dave Buck, the Buck Twins - are both cardists and magicians heralded from California, USA. They at first were interested in magic during younger age when they saw the magic show of David Copperfield and David Blaine. Later, when they learned the "Five Faces of Sybil Cut" from Chris Kenner, their passion for the art of card flourishes (later known as Cardistry), they both starts dedicated their passion for juggling cards and creating visual art performance. In 2013, they founded Art of Play, a store specializes in customized playing cards (by employing various designers for collaboration under the brand), puzzles, and novelty items.
Smoke and Mirror
Smoke and Mirror is the very first playing cards that the Buck twins produced. The twins employ Si Scott as the main designer for the Smoke and Mirror. The tuckbox design features a stylistic word of 'Playing Cards' warped on a circle with swirls and various thickness of lines. The sides of the tuckbox features "D&D Playing Cards Co." and the name of the designer Si Scott. The top features the cards finish, while the bottom features an ad-info of D&D. The card back design shows an intricate detailed swirls and circles surrounding the double D letter on the middle [almost a resemblence to Dior's logo] - although on later versions [on colored ones], the design is further simplified: The D&D logo with circles on a full colored background and an array of dots with a thick border, and it has metallic ink. On the latest edition, the design features the older versions design with a thin border. It is said that the cards are made from recycled materials.
The Ace of Spades features a heavily detailled Power Pip of Spades suit made of swirls and lines, and below the pip is the name of D&D Playing Cards. The rest of the numbered cards are all standard. The court cards are modified: their looks are still the same, but their clothes are simplified into blocks of colors. The King of Clubs features the Buck Twins, Dan and Dave Buck. The Jokers featured a mysterious man in a fine gentleman suit with a tophat and a cane, the indices is a circle with a D letter. The Jokers might looked like a two-way, but the swirl lines on the clothes make it a subtle one-way artwork. The extra cards of the deck is an ad card with either a double backer or a color change gaff. All of the artworks are done traditionally hand drawn with pen and ink.
Why It's Famous
No one knows exactly why Smoke and Mirror deck series are sought after by both collectors and cardists. Although this might be the reason why Smoke and Mirror is famous over time. Dan and Dave Buck are the twins who popularize the art of card flourishing in the earlier years, and they both starts the trend in seperating the art of juggling cards away from magic performances - thus the Buck twins are heralded as the "Father of Modern Cardistry". And since they made their signature decks, people want to have a taste on their creations. For collectors, completing the Smoke and Mirror series proof to be a rewarding mission; you can see how it evolves from the year of it's birth to what it stands now. For cardists, the card artwork and finishes proved to be visual appealing in cardistry performances; the simplity makes it favorable.
Collaborations:
So far, the collaborations of Dan and Dave Playing Cards Co. Smoke and Mirror are with the other "hype" cardistry brands.
- Anyone Worldwide: Cardistry brand based in Copenhagen, Denmark led by cardist Tobias Levin. The brand logo is a seperated half sushi with the number '6006'. The brand is known for the use of geometric and text designs on the card design. They love to repear the patterns of Checks - Dots - Houndstooth - Logo. All of their cards are printed by USPCC.
- LotusinHand: Cardistry brand based in Taiwan, China. The brand logo is a poly-style artwork of a lotus flower. The brand is known to print a lower amount of print run, and the card designs are heavily towards the flourish visual looks, such as a connecting line or replacing numbered pips and courts with one single symbol. All of their cards are printed by Dex Playing Cards Co.
- Dealersgrip: Cardistry brand based in Copenhagen, Denmark lef by cardist Oliver Sogard. The brand logo is a graphical artwork of a hand holding a deck of cards in a dealer's grip. The brand is well known for the use of abstract art as the back design and theme, and the 7 of Spades has the middle pip oriented to the left. Recently, their decks are tucked in matte tuckbox with die-cut windows that correlates with the card design. All of their cards are printed by USPCC.
- Card Mafia: Playing cards producer based in China. They are known for the expertise in creating a special kind of tuckbox - like the fanning tuckbox as seen in their Armory series and the collaboration with Disney - Marvel decks.
- Brad Fulton: Arguably known as the "OG Designer", he had designed countless of decks. Most of his decks are vintage casino inspired and then the decks are becoming thematic. He is a long-time friend with the Buck Twins, hence a few of decks produced by Dan and Dave are designed by him.
Total Decks: 100 (7)
This is the list of all Smoke and Mirror decks, with a brief commentary about the versions. Entries with double stars are collaboration decks.
2008
V1 Mirror (Black)
V1 Smoke (White)
- The birth of Smoke and Mirror Playing Cards. Before, it is a seperate editions: Mirror is Black, while Smoke is White. The name of the edition is written on the center of the circle of the front side of the tuckbox.
- A total of 10,000 print run is made, with each edition has 5,000 print run.
- The bottom of the tuckbox has the standard ad information that to be brought to the later editions. There is no text that highlights the V1s.
- The back side of the tuckbox features the logo of D&D encased in a swirl frame.
- The D&D logo has the circle dots above and below the letters. The V1 Smoke has the bold border around the swirl frame of the back design.
V2 "Special Edition" Mirror (Black)
V2 "Special Edition" Smoke (White)
- A slightly updated design from the previous versions.
- A total of 10,000 print run is made, with each edition has 5,000 print run.
- The bottom of the tuckbox has the words "Special Edition"
- The back side of the tuckbox features the logo of D&D encased in a swirl frame.
- The V2 Smoke has the thinner bold border around the swirl frame of the back design. Both editions of V2 Smoke and V2 Mirror has the swirld frame extended to the center and overlapping on the logo.
2009
V3 "Luxury Edition" Mirror (Black)
V3 "Luxury Edition" Smoke (White)
- The standardized design for the entire Smoke and Mirror decks, not until 12 years later. The card design for V3 is set in stone.
- The back design has the D&D logo with circles along with circled dots above and below the logo, surrounded with swirl frame that acts like the border of the card back design. The showcase of the card back design is now placed on the back side of the tuckbox.
- A total of 20,000 print run is made, with each edition has 10,000 print run.
- The bottom of the tuckbox has the words "Luxury Edition"
- The V3 Mirror has a black border, making the cards have a full black background.
2010
V4 Eco (Green)
- The design for Smoke and Mirror had been simplified - D&D logo with circled on an full background with array of dots.
- Starting from v4 onwards, the decks will be colored - getting tired of the monotone Black and White.
- A total of 5,000 print run is made. There was a problem with the production by USPCC, leaving half of the print run produced decks with D&D standard seal = 2,500 print run without seal and 2,500 print run with seal.
V5 Denim (Blue)
- The design for Smoke and Mirror had been simplified - D&D logo with circled on an full background with array of dots.
- Firstly introduced during the first Magic Con.
- A total of 10,000 print run is made.
2011
V6 Rogue (Red)
- The design for Smoke and Mirror had been simplified - D&D logo with circled on an full background with array of dots.
- A total of 30,000 print run is made. It is seperated between two runs, which both runs sold out within minutes after release.
- Instead of a double backer, the V6 Rogue Red has a color change double backer, which foreshadowing a new colorway.
2012
V3 Reprint Mirror (Black)
V3 Reprint Smoke (White)
V4 Reprint Eco (Green)
V5 Reprint Denim (Blue)
V6 Reprint Rogue (Red)
V7 Carbon
- During the release, there are the Deluxe Box Set and the Individual Deck. There are 10,000 Deluxe Box Set and 5,000 Individual Decks for each Edition. In the Deluxe Box set, there are a total of 6 colorways, one of which is only exclusive to the set. Counting the total of decks produced [{5 x 5,000 Individual Reprints} + {6 x 10,000 Deluxe Box set} = 25,000 + 60,000 = 85,000}]
- V7 Carbon is the exclusive colorway only obtainable from the Deluxe Box Set. It has the simplied Smoke and Mirror design in black colorway.
- Deluxe Box Set is complete with a certificate of authenticity along with a number series and hand-signed by the twins
- All of the reprinted cards are tucked into premium matte paper with embossed and foiled elements [silver for white text, black for black text]. To differentiate the Reprints with OGs, the front design of the tuckbox features the stylized initials of S&M inside the circle area on the center, with the small D&D logo inside.
- The White Reprint tuckbox is not snow white color, but it's more to an eggshell white color.
- The cards are using standard USPCC's courts instead of the simplified Smoke and Mirror courts. Colored suits
- Individual Reprints don't have seal, but it will be wrapped in cellophane. Deluxe Box Set Decks will have a perforated silver seal with a tear line bearing the D&D logo, but the decks won't be wrapped in cellophane, BUT The Deluxe Box set will be cellophaned.
2013
Private Reserve Gold
- As the name suggests, this deck is meant for private use by Dan and Dave Buck. Although, the twins decided to release the decks. Originally given as part of a promotional and giveaway, the deck will be released in extreme limited quantity.
- A total of 2,500 print run of this deck. The cards will be wrapped in gold foil paper.
- The courts are standard USPCC artworks, with usage of gold metallic ink to replace the standard red color. The back design is also using gold metallic ink.
- It has a special tuckbox - it is a sideway tuckbox laced with golden foiling. The tuckbox will keep the paper-wrapped deck with a certificatte of aunthenticity stating the number of the series and signed.
2018
[*][*] A1 Mirror (Black)
[*][*] A1 Mirror (Black) Holographic
[*][*] A1 Mirror (Black) Holographic GILDED
Anyone's first collab with Dan and Dave to reprint the Mirror variant of Smoke and Mirror series. It is a black background with white logo and has a thick border. The Jokers have a brief description of Smoke and Mirror original release year and Mirror reimagined year. The Ace of Spades has a big black Spade pip with the white text "Mirror" in it; to the left of the pip's base has the year numbers while on the right is the brand's number 6006. The ad information is on the bottom left corner. All of the courts are standard with A1 Cap Logo slapped on top. The extra card features the brand's logos, and the other features a sillhoute of two javelin throwers with the Buck twins first full name in red [coincidentally, this image is based on a picture of two athlethes that happened to share the same name!]
The standard A1 Mirror has a 7,500 print run. A1 Mirror has two extra variants: Holographic and Holographic GILDED. The Holograpic variant has the same cards with the standard one, but only that the tuckbox has a holographic foil - Only 200 print run ever made. The other variant is the extremely limited Holographic GILDED: matte tuckbox with holographic foil and holographic gilded cards - Only 144 print run ever made.
2020
[*][*] A1 Smoke (White)
[*][*] A1 Smoke (White) Holographic GILDED
Anyone's second collab with Dan and Dave to reprint the Smoke variant of Smoke and Mirror series - to complete the Black and White re-imagined Smoke and Mirror by Anyone. It is a white backgroun with a black logo and has a thick black border. The design is similar with it's Mirror counterpart, with the Ace of Spades is a big outline of a Spade pip with the black text "Smoke" in it. The extra card features the brand's logos, and the other features a hand holding a royal flush hand casting a shadow.
The standard A1 Smoke has a 7,500 print run. A1 Mirror has the Holographic GILDED variant. That variant has tuckbox with holographic foil and holographic gilded cards - Only 256 print run ever made.
2021
[*][*] A1 Checks Eco (Green)
[*][*] A1 Checks Denim (Blue)
[*][*] A1 Checks Rogue (Red)
Anyone's third collab with Dan and Dave to reprint the Smoke and Mirror color variants of V4-V6 to be reimagined. For these releases, three color variants are released. The tuckbox is a premium matte with a slight embossing of checks pattern of respective colors. The card back design features D&D logo on top of colored checks patter of respective editions with a thick border. The Ace of Spades featured a big pip with spikes and number 6006. All of the courts are standard with Anyone CAP Logo stamped on them. The Jokers are information on the year of original Smoke and Mirror establishment and the reimagining by Anyone. Each color is 3,000 print run, making it a total of 9,000
V8 Blue Standard
[*][*] V8 Blue Deluxe
V8 Red Standard
[*][*] V8 Red Deluxe
V8 Gold Standard
[*][*] V8 Gold Deluxe
Nearly 10 years later from since the last release of the OG Smoke and Mirror, Dan and Dave decides to continue on with the series and establish V8s, featuring six colors - Blue, Red, Gold, Silver, Green, Bronze. The card design is adopted and updated based from the design back in 2008, complete with the minimalistic courts, the feature of the Buck Twins as King of Clubs, the subtle one-way gentleman sillhoute jokers, the double backer, the logo ad card, and the intricate Ace of Spades. Each color has two editions: Standard and Deluxe. The Standard edition features a premium matte color with embossing on the letters and design. The Deluxe edition features a specially crafted tuckbox in collaboration with Card Mafia - telescopic expanding tuckbox with magnetic lid that hides the foiled signature and the D&D logo beneath the levels. Each edition may be obtained individually or as a set. You can get a signed Standard Edition from Dan and Dave's personal webstore.
Initially, these V8 decks were released in the Chinese online shop TaoBao for a short while, and during that sales, they're offered decks signed by the Buck Twins. After these releases, Dan and Dave along with Card Mafia release one color step by step [the order of the colors are listed above] - most of the stocks will be sold through Card Mafia store, and then the leftovers from Dan and Dave store.
[*][*] Echo x Smoke (light hue holographic foil)
[*][*] Echo x Mirror (dark hue holographic foil)
LotusinHand collaboration with Dan and Dave's Smoke and Mirror. They adopted the design of LiH's Echo - ALL of the faces, from numbered to courts, featuring D&D logo in holographic foil; although the standard indices remained. The back design is a solid holographic foil emblazoned with D&D logo. Smoke will have lighter holofoil, while the Mirror will have darker holofoil [you can easily tell if you witness it yourself]. Both decks are only be sold as a set - two decks encased a fancy drawer box laced with holographic foil. Only 2500 sets existed, and the cards are produced by Dex Playing Cards Co. 1200 sets are sold by LotusinHand, the other half are sold by Dan and Dave - including 144 Artist Proof sets: two decks box set signed by the Buck twins.
[*][*] Dealersgrip Smoke - Theatrical Clouds
[*][*] Dealersgrip Mirror - Solidified Beams
Dealersgrip collaboration with Dan and Dave's Smoke and Mirror. Dealersgrip takes on phrase literaly and comes out with an abstract art for each aspect: Smoke is "Theatrical Clouds" and Mirror is "Solidified Beams". Both decks tucked in premium matte tuckbox with die-cut windows. Smoke is tucked in a box with a cloud die-cut window, with the card back design featuring puff of smokes. Mirror is tucked in a box with a spike die-cut window, with the card back design featuring reflective pillars. The Two of Spades feature the fragments of the card back design, to symbolized the Buck Twins. There are a total of 800 sets [two decks wrapped in woven elastic band] and 400 singles of each Smoke and Mirror, totaling up to 1600 print runs.
Watch this
VIDEO by December Boys that briefly shows all of the Original Smoke and Mirror versions.
2022
V8 Silver Standard
[*][*] V8 Silver Deluxe
V8 Green Standard
[*][*] V8 Green Deluxe
V8 Bronze Standard
[*][*] V8 Bronze Deluxe
[*][*] Dealersgrip Smoke and Mirror - Garden
[*][*] Dealersgrip Smoke and Mirror - Garden GILDED Emerald
A continuation of the collaboration between Dealersgrip with Dan and Dave's Smoke and Mirror. "Garden" is based of Smoke and Mirror v4 Eco Green - the deck is firstly revealed during Cardistry Con 2022. It features court cards that are sillhoutes to Dan and Dave's developed cardistry moves - tuckbox with die-cut windows and textured embossed patterns. The Gilded variant was released silently in Dan and Dave's personal webstore - only 144 made, the cards are gilded with emerald green foil.
[*][*] V8 Blue Standard GILDED Sapphire
[*][*] V8 Blue Deluxe GILDED Holographic
[*][*] V8 Red Standard GILDED Ruby
[*][*] V8 Red Deluxe GILDED Holographic
[*][*] V8 Gold Standard GILDED Gold
[*][*] V8 Gold Deluxe GILDED Holographic
[*][*] V8 Silver Standard GILDED Silver
[*][*] V8 Silver Deluxe GILDED Holographic
[*][*] V8 Green Standard GILDED Emerald
[*][*] V8 Green Deluxe GILDED Holographic
[*][*] V8 Bronze Standard GILDED Bronze
[*][*] V8 Bronze Deluxe GILDED Holographic
In 2022, Card Mafia released the gilded variants of Smoke and Mirror v8. The Gilded set for each edition and each color is ONLY 99 made. The Standard Edition will have cards gilded with metallic foil of respective color - have numbered seal based on the color as well. The Deluxe Edition will have cards gilded with holographic foil - have numbered seal of holographic foil.
V8 Smoke (White) Standard
[*][*] V8 Smoke (White) Deluxe
V8 Mirror (Black) Standard
[*][*] V8 Mirror (Black) Deluxe
The latest White Smoke and Black Mirror are completely based on the OG V3. Standard Edition is as usual, just the standard size box with the same design of the cards - Deluxe Edition is the telescopic tuckbox developed by Card Mafia, complete with Dan and Dave's signature done in metallic foil stamp.
V9 Purple Standard
[*][*] V9 Purple Deluxe
V9 Pink Standard
[*][*] V9 Pink Deluxe
Starting in 2022, V9 Smoke and Mirror will feature even more color swatches than ever before (now, it becomes Dan and Dave's very own "Fontaine"). The design is based from the OG Smoke and Mirror v4-7 - the colored version of Smoke and Mirror with the very minimalistic design, array of colored dots with the center logo of the Buck Twins. V9 also comes in Standard and Deluxe edition. The Standard edition features a premium matte color with embossing on the letters and design. The Deluxe edition features a new and different design - it is an oversized swivel box that hides the foiled signature and the D&D logo beneath the levels, it has embossed patterns and text and it now featured a foiled numbered seal - only 999 made
[*][*] A1 Mirror (Black) Foil
[*][*] A1 Smoke (White) Edge Print Foil
The collaboration deck of A1 with Dan and Dave Smoke and Mirror (White and Black) has an extra two variants that were available during Black Friday sales. The Mirror will have a silver foil on the tuckbox, while The Smoke with have an edge-printed cards with metallic foil along with metallic foil on the tuckbox
2023
V9 Gold Standard
[*][*] V9 Gold Deluxe
[*][*] 15th Anniversary Smoke
[*][*] 15th Anniversary Mirror
[*][*] 15th Anniversary Smoke GILDED Black
[*][*] 15th Anniversary Smoke GILDED Gold
[*][*] 15th Anniversary Smoke GILDED Silver
[*][*] 15th Anniversary Smoke GILDED Red
[*][*] 15th Anniversary Smoke GILDED Green
[*][*] 15th Anniversary Smoke GILDED Blue
[*][*] 15th Anniversary Mirror GILDED Black
[*][*] 15th Anniversary Mirror GILDED Gold
[*][*] 15th Anniversary Mirror GILDED Silver
[*][*] 15th Anniversary Mirror GILDED Red
[*][*] 15th Anniversary Mirror GILDED Green
[*][*] 15th Anniversary Mirror GILDED Blue
To celebrate the 15th Anniversary of Smoke and Mirror, the Buck Twins partner up with their long-time friend Brad Fulton to produce a reimagining of the iconic Smoke and Mirror design. The design is based on the vintage typography of the 19th century. The Ace of Spades featured vintage elongated tall intricate Spade pip. The Number Cards feature a singular customized pip for each card. Court Cards are that of the standard Arrcos design. The Jokers feature an illustration of a frog smoking the pip in the woodlands. The extra cards feature the typography artwork and the photo of the Buck Twins with Fulton. There is the twin-pack of Smoke and Mirror housed inside a letter-pressed tuckbox with a custom seal and signed by trio - only 500 are made. Each color variant is gilded in 6 different colors - making a total of 12 Gilded Decks with 15 decks each. These are sold in both webstores: Fulton's and Dan and Dave's
[*][*] Dealersgrip Smoke and Mirror - The Last Machine
The next one of the collaboration between Dealersgrip with Dan and Dave's Smoke and Mirror. "The Last Machine" is based of Smoke and Mirror v5 Denim Blue - the deck was teased during a live story in IG, and will be available in both DG and D&D webstore. It features court cards that shows machine fragments for the black suits - tuckbox with die-cut windows and debossed silver holographic foil texts and artworks. The deck is a dedication to the shuffling machine.
V9 Blue Standard
[*][*] V9 Blue Deluxe
V1 Smoke (White) RELAUNCH
V1 Mirror (Black) RELAUNCH
Introduced during Cardistry Con 2023 in London, Smoke and Mirror V1 will have a relaunch - the design of the OG Smoke and Mirror from 2008 produced in modern standards of cardistry deck.
[*][*] Dealersgrip Smoke and Mirror - The First Human
[*][*] Dealersgrip Smoke and Mirror - The Last Machine GILDED Sapphire Prism
[*][*] Dealersgrip Smoke and Mirror - The First Human GILDED Ruby
Another one of the collaboration between Dealersgrip with Dan and Dave's Smoke and Mirror. "The First Human" is based on Smoke and Mirror v6 Rogue Red - teased during Cardistry Con 2023 in London, and will be available in both DG and D&D webstore. It features court cards that shows organic matters for the red suits - tuckbox with die-cut windows and debossed silver holographic foil texts and artworks. The deck is a dedication to the human hands. Both THE LAST MACHINE and THE FIRST HUMAN have their gilded editions, which is only obtainable as a double-decker bundle which the box is sealed with silver foil sticker.
[*][*] 15th Anniversary Smoke and Mirror Green
[*][*] 15th Anniversary Smoke and Mirror Green GILDED Black
[*][*] 15th Anniversary Smoke and Mirror Green GILDED Green
[*][*] 15th Anniversary Smoke and Mirror Green GILDED Gold
[*][*] 15th Anniversary Smoke and Mirror Green GILDED Silver
The recolor version of 15th Anniversary Smoke and Mirror in Green. There is the twin-pack of Smoke and Mirror housed inside a letter-pressed tuckbox with a custom seal and signed by trio - only 250 are made; minor changes is that the letterpressed graphics are done in green color. For this twin pack, it contains one Standard deck and one "MYSTERY" Gilded deck from random 4 colors (you will know what the gilding is once you opened them) - [Black (100)/Green (100)/Gold (25)/Silver(25)]. These are sold in both webstores: Fulton's and Dan and Dave's
V9 Green Standard
[*][*] V9 Green Deluxe
[*][*] 15th Anniversary Smoke and Mirror Denim
[*][*] 15th Anniversary Smoke and Mirror Denim GILDED Black
[*][*] 15th Anniversary Smoke and Mirror Denim GILDED Green
[*][*] 15th Anniversary Smoke and Mirror Denim GILDED Gold
[*][*] 15th Anniversary Smoke and Mirror Denim GILDED Silver
The recolor version of 15th Anniversary Smoke and Mirror in Denim. There is the twin-pack of Smoke and Mirror housed inside a letter-pressed tuckbox with a custom seal and signed by trio - only 250 are made; minor changes is that the letterpressed graphics are done in blue color. For this twin pack, it contains one Standard deck and one "MYSTERY" Gilded deck from random 4 colors (you will know what the gilding is once you opened them) - [Black (100)/Blue (100)/Gold (25)/Silver(25)]. These are sold in both webstores: Fulton's and Dan and Dave's
TBA
V9 Orange Standard
[*][*] V9 Orange Deluxe
[*][*] 15th Anniversary Smoke and Mirror Red
[*][*] 15th Anniversary Smoke and Mirror Red GILDED Black
[*][*] 15th Anniversary Smoke and Mirror Red GILDED Red
[*][*] 15th Anniversary Smoke and Mirror Red GILDED Gold
[*][*] 15th Anniversary Smoke and Mirror REd GILDED Silver
