Civil War Illuminated Playing Cards USGS

Saw a fellow magician use these when performing and was intrigued. After looking them up, I decided to give them a go. Based on the illuminated hand painted cards from around the civil war era, they are indeed a sight to behold. True to history, they have the square corners and a slide-in box to keep them united and safe. They are beautiful and striking when used and sure to turn heads because of their unique look and history behind them but at the same time, I dare not incur daily wear and tear, so it will be only under certain special occasions that I break out this breath-taking deck. Many cards do not live up to the hype or expectations but I guarantee these do. A stellar add to my card collection.

Love the deck; it's a gorgeous set, with a good feel; however, I was looking for a vintage look with rounded corners, and these are square, despite the description.

Still happy with them, but they're not as good for some players.

US Games Systems has produced several reproduction decks, and this is easily my favourite. The pips and courts are finished with a luxurious looking metallic gold, which makes the cards look absolutely fabulous. The artwork represents decks from the late 1800s, which I also really like. But it's the touch of gold that really makes this special, and helps it stand out from similar decks.

There's also a special tuck box, which has a flat base so it can stand upright. This immediately came loose when I was unpacking it, so I had to glue it back together. Not ideal, but an easy fix. It is really a collector's item anyway, and a good one at that! I'm very pleased with this deck!