Vanille Playing Cards by Paul Robaia – A Review

Here’s the Ad Copy for Vanille…

A limited edition print, Vanille Playing Cards are a marriage of minimalism and modernism.

A rich mint and black flirt with one another to provide beautiful juxtaposition and depth within the back design. The back design is complimented with minimal face cards where a striking color palette is further presented.

Composed of the same mint and black, it also hosts yellow and red. Together, the colors create a sensory experience of utter beauty and sleekness.

Designed by Paul Robaia, Vanille was printed at The United States Playing Card Company. Its matching, elegant letterpress tuck box was printed from Clove Street Press. These cards are suited for magicians, cardists, and collectors.

My Thoughts:

If you’ve purchased the Casual Playing Cards, Casual V2, Red Flora or Black Flora, then you have purchased one of Paul’s previous decks. Each was unique in its own way, with its own color scheme and limited availability.

Vanille playing cards are a continuation of this informal series of playing cards.. each designed to be both collectable and functional. I have reviewed three of the four sets created by magician Paul Robaia.. and the Vanille may be my favorite.

The black and mint colors of the back design are two of my favorite colors, and add both depth and unique style to Vanille. The number cards are all traditional, which I actually like. Getting too far from tradition prompts suspicion amongst your spectators, as, unlike the cardists, The court cards are traditional design.. but not traditional colors. They are black, red, yellow and light mint, forming a nice contrast.. but still maintaining a familiarity.

I actually use Vanille playing cards in a couple of effects. If I were much of a cardists, I would definitely use these cards in my flourishes. They look very good as you spin and twirl them for an audience. No kidding…

They are made by USPCC, finely cut, and the tuck boxes printed by Clove Street Press. I had no problem handling the cards straight out the box. It took me about a minute to condition the cards for my deals and handling. They are thin, crushed Air Cushion stock.. designed to be both super smooth and ideal for flourishes.

A certain segment of you guys are going to buy these for their collectibility. These are a very limited run of cards.. and I have noticed they are already priced at over twenty dollars a box on a certain popular bidding site.

Vanille Playing Cards include two unique Jokers, an advertising card, and a double-backer with a unique back.

I am impressed with Paul’s latest.. and I think anyone ordering Vanille cards will be quite satisfied. Buy them to collect.. or buy them to use. You’ll enjoy Vanille Playing Cards either way… (I encourage you to visit Murphy’s link below and watch several short videos of Vanille in use.)

$15.50 Available at Murphy’s Magic and dealers who carry their line of magic.

https://www.murphysmagic.com/product.aspx?id=66512

Review by Rick Carruth – The Magic Roadshow