I always have a deck of cards with me. If I am wearing one of my regular jackets, its highly likely I'll keep the deck in one of my beautiful card presses.
Maybe they are a magician's affectation. A card press may also just be an accessory, like a nice pen or watch, that I can carry. Years ago, when my friend Michael gifted me the rather plain looking stainless steel sleeve on the right, he told me they'd help preserve cards and keep the deck workable, longer. This one certainly helps keep bowing out of my cards, but mostly I like how it looks and feels. Having been with me almost 20 years, it has a lot of sentimental weight. I have no idea where to get another.
The golden card press was also a gift, it is Jamie D. Grant's "The Vault." He sent it to me several years ago, and I've been carrying ever since. I also showcased it on our Gadgets podcast a few weeks ago. The wrap around styling provides a decent amount of pressure on the deck and seems to help straighten them out. This press always gets me asked questions. It just looks like magic is about to happen.
From Jamie's website:
The Vault is new era card guard that does three things! I wanted to design a card shield that protects all the corners of the box. Decks of cards are expensive these days, and I wanted something that protected every aspect (#1). I also wanted something that could be used to keep your Industrial Revelation in it's ready-to-go state if you threw it into your backpack. The Vault does that beautifully (#2)! Lastly, I wanted a guard that could display my box on a table if I was using the cards (#3)! This is what I came up with and I'm so happy to share it with you!
The twin card sized stainless steel plates are called Shuber Plates, designed by Chris Wasshuber, and they come with two rubber bands for securing them around your deck or a smaller sets of cards. I love keeping my favorite packet trick waiting in them, and I've incorporated the beautifully engraved press into the routine.
I've heard these called card presses, card guards and all sorts of other things. Card press is what I heard first, so it is what I use. Call them what you will, I think they are lovely.
TSA hates them.
