A New Green in the Smoke & Mirrors Series
The Smoke & Mirrors Anniversary Edition in Green is the third colorway in the original series of five, released fifteen years after the first decks. It's a direct nod to the original Smoke & Mirrors design but with fresh details that set it apart. If you're deciding between this anniversary edition and an original colorway, here's what the supplied information tells us.
Design Evolution: Anniversary Edition vs Original
The anniversary edition draws inspiration from 19th-century typography, giving the D&D monogram a new typeset and surrounding it with a mosaic pattern on the card backs. The original Smoke & Mirrors decks used a different monogram treatment. The anniversary edition also includes a custom ace of spades, joker, and suits for the number cards, while originals had their own custom courts. Both share the same thin stock from the U.S. Playing Cards Co. and classic Arrco-style court cards.
- Card Back Design: Anniversary: new typeset D&D monogram with mosaic pattern. Original: different monogram style without mosaic.
- Custom Elements: Anniversary: custom ace of spades, joker, and number card suits. Original: custom ace and joker, but number suits may differ.
- Stock and Finish: Both use the same trademark thin stock from U.S. Playing Cards Co. with classic Arrco-style courts.
Packaging and Presentation
The anniversary edition comes in a green letterpress-printed tuck box sealed with a stamp. Original Smoke & Mirrors decks also used letterpress tuck boxes but in their respective colorways. The anniversary edition has a limited Twinpack option signed and numbered by the artists (1 through 250), with random distribution of gilded decks inside. Original decks did not have this Twinpack variant.
Anniversary Edition Key Details
- SMOKE & MIRRORS ANNIVERSARY EDITION: GREEN: Each Twin Pack includes 1 Standard Edition Deck and 1 Mystery Gilded Deck in Black (100 Decks), Green (100 Decks), Gold (25 Decks) and Silver (25 Decks). The Twinpack offers a chance at a rare gilded deck, which originals did not. Only 250 Twinpacks exist, making this a limited collector item.
SMOKE & MIRRORS ANNIVERSARY EDITION: GREEN - SMOKE & MIRRORS ANNIVERSARY EDITION: GREEN: Printed by the U.S. Playing Cards Co. on our trademark thin stock using classic Arrco-style court cards. Same stock and court style as originals, so handling and feel should be familiar to fans of the series.
Which Should You Choose?
If you already own original Smoke & Mirrors decks and want a fresh take on the classic design, the anniversary edition offers a new colorway and upgraded custom elements. If you're a completionist, the Twinpack's random gilded deck adds a chase element. However, the original decks remain the foundation of the series, and their simpler design may appeal to purists. The anniversary edition's price of USD 12.60 (catalog comparison price USD 18.00) is reasonable for a standard deck, but the Twinpack's rarity may drive secondary market value.
