Deck review: black tally ho fan backs

The Black Tally Ho Fan Backs are the least customised of all the decks I purchased, being that they are essentially a black version of the standard deck, but with a double-backer gaff included in the pack for the houdini fooler. Most of these decks seem to contain double-backers, and thinking about it, it's probably the most useful closest-to-being-normal gaff, if you just had to pick one. I'll probably be gunning for a double-backer in my deck as a result. Now down to business...

Box:

The box is traditional, bold, striking and very crisp. It's packed full of design, single colour and text-heavy. The side panels are in keeping with the design style, very bold and crisp. This box is one of my favourites, I much prefer it to the Bicycle box, although I am a fan of that design also. This one just works! And looks great in black, it adds to the boldness.

Backs:

What can I say? My all-time fave :-) Tally Ho Fans are the greatest all-around back design on a playing card, in my opinion. They look great close-up, but come in to their own when viewed from a distance (like in the opening credits of David Blaine Street Magic where they're scattered on the pavement). The circular globes in each of the four corners looks awesome in a packet fan (prominent artwork in the corners is a recurring theme in the best-looking decks), and the repeating theme of circles works a treat. Black looks OK on these backs, but red and blue still kill it in my opinion.

What's really going on with that artwork?

From a distance it's just a pretty pattern, but on close inspection every back design tells a story. This one appears to be a dove in a tree surrounded by a flowering shrub. The fans that give birth to the name are in the middle pointing out like four compass points (see?).

Fronts:

I have to be honest, as much as I love the tallys, I don't like the joker artwork and the ace of spades design is so-so. Too traditional and big and Navy-like (whatever that means). The fronts are standard pips and court cards in regular colours.

Overall verdict:

Nice deck! Box looks great in black but still prefer the cards in blue or red. Double-backer is a sweet addition. This deck will always be a gold standard cos it looks and feels so damn awesome in the hands!