SPLAY is a collection of card flourishes compiled by Dan and Dave Buck during their early studies of sleight of hand with playing cards back in the late 90s. At that time, Cardistry did not exist.
There were only a small amount of these so-called “card flourishes” in print, scattered throughout various rare instructional magic books. What we present to you here is a collection of some of Dan and Dave’s early findings in a single book, findings which ultimately led to the development of Cardistry.
Over 200 archival film photographs shot by Brad Fulton. 20 classic flourishes. An outgrowth of Dan, Dave, Fulton & THE NEAT REVIEW's love for printed matter.
This is an homage to the founders of Cardistry. Available in 3 Editions.
- Standard Edition. Book in duo grey/black cloth with black foil block.
- Special Edition. 1 of 500 Books in Midnight cloth with carbon foil block + exclusive SPLAY deck.
- Deluxe Collector’s Edition. 1 of 100 signed/numbered Books in Midnight cloth with carbon foil block + exclusive SPLAY deck + SPLAY deck with gilded black edges and negative tuck + Brad Fulton Giclee print + two-part presentation box.
Printed in Europe on photo papers from Italy and Sweden, wrapped in vintage cloths salvaged from a retired cloth maker in Germany. The Collector’s Editions combine this with playing cards from Kentucky and letterpress boxes from California.
Lithographically printed.
Hardbound, section sewn, foil block cover and spine, with debossed cover imagery.
In the years leading up to the production of this book, the cloth stock we had spec'd to use for the covers of SPLAY had become increasingly hard to source, each of our NEAT suppliers complained at being unable to locate even so much as one roll of the stuff.
So, as a last ditch attempt, we went directly to the cloth maker themselves, in Bamberg, Germany, who, unbeknownst to us at the time, were in their last couple of weeks before retirement. We were surprised at how responsive they were to the request.
When asked about their elusive special cloth that we had searched everywhere for but couldn’t find, incredibly, in a store room at the back of their factory, they had some. We managed to procure the very last rolls they had ever made, and had it shipped to our print factory.
Salvaged from a cloth maker in Germany. By using this cloth to make SPLAY, these books take on an extra meaning and become completely unique. We are honoured to feature the last works of a now-retired company in the cover of SPLAY, making this limited First Edition print run truly one of a kind.
— THE NEAT REVIEW
Details
- 01 CARD THROW
- 02 CHARLIER CUT
- 03 CHINESE DEAL
- 04 DRIBBLE
- 05 BOOMERANG
- 06 LEPAUL SPREAD
- 07 IN-THE-HANDS ONE-HANDED SHUFFLE
- 08 TABLED ONE-HANDED SHUFFLE
- 09 INSTANT REPLAY
- 10 RIBBON SPREAD
- 11 RIPPER
- 12 PIROUETTE
- 13 CARD SPRING
- 14 TABLE FARO
- 15 T.G. MURPHY DECK FLIP
- 16 THUMB FAN
- 17 LONG DISTANCE SPINNER
- 18 BACK PALM VANISH
- 19 WATERFALL
- 20 THE FIVE FACES OF SYBIL
Dan & Dave Buck
Dan & Dave Buck are American sleight of hand practitioners known for their contributions to the art of cardistry. They are twins. Their 2004 instructional DVD 'The Dan and Dave System' is believed to have spawned, or massively expanded, the art form of cardistry and inspired thousands of magicians to learn card flourishing. Following the success of 'The System,' Dan & Dave released a three-box set entitled The Trilogy in 2007 which, unlike the System, also features card tricks, card productions, shuffles, table work, classic flourishes and finger exercises. In 2013 they founded Art of Play as a subsidiary of their lifestyle brand Dan and Dave Industries, Inc. featuring a collection of designer playing cards, many of which were created by Dan and Dave under their own Art of Play label.
Brad Fulton
Texas photographer and card vendor Brad Fulton photographed his friends Dan & Dave Buck in California in the late 90's, and we published a book of his photography, SPLAY.
Molly Budd
Molly Budd is a visual artist whose multi-disciplinary practice spans photography, sculpture, and printmaking to delve into concepts of space, perception, and existence. Graduating from Falmouth University in 2018, she is currently based in the South West of England, where her work combines experimental imagery with philosophical inquiry, translating an intangible impression of the world through form and material. Molly has taken part in notable exhibitions including the South West Graduate Photography Prize (2018), Studio KIND. Summer Open (2023), and Make SouthWest: Making It (2025).