Neil Patrick Harris deck by Theory 11, the deck features a VERY interesting USP that I shall discuss later on in the article. We all know that Theory 11 is a leading authority within the playing card industry, known for their luxurious designs and impeccable handling, let see how the NPH deck compares!
To start with let’s take a look at the design, the tuck box is gorgeous with metallic gold, silver and red ink embossed upon a soft touch tuck box, with an elegant seal to finish things off which is of course also metallic ink, the detail is exquisite both on the front and the back, the more you look the more detail you’ll uncover, this deck is wonderfully intricate but then again, what else would you expect from Theory 11! Despite the fact that both the front and back designs are lovely, I have a criticism… They are very, very similar, this isn’t the end of the world by any means, just an observation that I thought I’d share, look at the pictures and come to your own conclusion! Moving onto the inside of the tuck box, it is once again patterned with metallic gold ink featuring the same circle design shown on the front continuing the luxurious aura throughout.
The back design of the cards themselves is identical to the design on the back of the tuck box, with more gold ink. I personally really like the design and all of its detailed intricacies, however, I have noticed a rather apparent flaw which may or may not surprise you, the cards have been printed by the United States Playing Card Company, the playing card enthusiasts amongst you probably know that cards by USPCC are prone to misalignment issues, annoyingly this luxury, collectable deck is no different, the borders are all over the place – this doesn’t affect the deck’s usage or novelty, it is just an annoying quality control issue that may bug some more than others, I myself accept the irritating misalignment and look past it because let’s be honest, the deck is excellent regardless.
Moving onto the face designs, the court cards are standard in appearance with a change in colour, they feature an updated red and gold colourway – this is great because it meets both the criteria for magicians, who want standard faces and collectors who want something novel. The ace of spades is wonderful, it is yet again intricately detailed in gold and black ink, take a look at the pictures – I think you’ll like it! The spot cards are all very basic, they feature a very, very slightly different pip design that card enthusiasts will notice, laypeople however will not, this once again is excellent for the magician who wants to perform with these cards yet retain the standard feel to avoid the audience’s suspicion of trick cards! I think the face designs of the cards meet the equilibrium between the collectors and performers needs, they sit in between the two making the practical advantage per individual more likely.
The deck of course comes with a few extra cards, let’s explore them. First of all the NPH deck comes with two identical jokers, this is perfect for magicians who may wish to do routines using the two cards, a nice touch that the performers amongst you may appreciate. The next two extra cards lead me onto the amazing, unique feature of this deck. Here it comes, the moment you have all been waiting for, the deck is a puzzle! The two extra cards are the puzzle cards to get you started, one quotes the brief and the other is full of cryptic clues, I must admit I haven’t cracked the secret puzzle…yet, however, it is a fascinating challenge that creates the unique selling point of this deck, many people buy this pack just for the puzzle! Considering most magicians like to solve puzzles as well as shuffle cards, it is the perfect combination!
Moving onto the feel of the deck. They feel great, it’s exactly what you would expect from Theory 11 and USPCC. The card stock itself is relatively standard, it sits between thick stock and crushed, this means you get the best of both worlds – smoothness and durability! The cards are very smooth to handle and shuffle with ease.
Let’s explore the practicality of this deck. Honestly, for magicians, you are better off using a regular pack of Bicycle Cards, Bee’s, Tally Ho’s etc merely due to the fact you are going to be getting through decks like there is no tomorrow if you were to use the NPH deck for practice and performance you’ll suddenly have a very expensive habit on your hands, at the very least reserve them for special occasions! For card collectors, the deck is wonderful, the luxurious feel, the detailed design and of course the hidden puzzle. This deck should be in your collection, there is no doubt about that! Once again, I can’t speak for cardists but at the end of the day, you can use any cards for cardistry – it is simply a matter of your personal preference and style!
In conclusion, this deck is wonderful, one of the most luxurious and novel decks in my collection, I highly recommend it due to the reasons listed above. I won’t perform with the deck, that’s not to say you can’t though, it will instead take a pride of place position in my display, it’s a gorgeous deck and deserves to be displayed accordingly!
The deck is available worldwide here: The Neil Patrick Harris Deck
I sincerely hope this review has helped you and that it has provided the insight you were after. Let me know your thoughts about both the blog and the cards in the comments down below and feel free to ask any questions either on here or directly through my Instagram, @matthomermagic.
Thank you for reading, until next time,
Matt Homer
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