Skip to product information
1 of 7

Sorcerer's Apprentice Playing Cards

Sorcerer's Apprentice Playing Cards

Regular price $12.00 USD
Regular price Sale price $12.00 USD
Sale Sold out
Shipping calculated at checkout.
Color
Type
View full details

Don't be fooled by the simplicity of the back design. It contains an openly-readable marking system that allows you to secretly learn the suit & value of a card just by looking at its back!

Full Description

A magical deck of cards 225 years in the making!

The desire to wield true magical powers is a wish as old as mankind itself. One of the most well-known stories about this fantasy is "Der Zauberlehrling", better known as The Sorcerer's Apprentice. Written by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and originally published in 1797, the story stands the test of time.

Exactly 225 years later, Penguin Magic is proud to present our tribute to the original poem, crafted into an exquisite deck of playing cards. Designed by Douglas Fuchs and art directed by Kevin Reylek, the entire deck is illustrated in a woodcut style.

The blue & white back design features the Sorcerer's spellbook, the enchanted brooms, and of course the waves of unending water. The design also contains an openly-readable marking system that allows you to secretly learn the suit & value of a card, just by looking at its back!

The custom faces give the deck a unique flair, while still being suitable for all applications. Some of the court cards are even performing small feats of magic themselves. The Jokers showcase a broom and a bucket of pouring water. The Hearts & Diamonds use a deep shade of red, while the Spades & Clubs use a dark blue with light blue highlights.

The tuck box features the Sorcerer himself on the front, casting a spell over the whole package. The box is crafted from a premium matte blue paper stock, with the interior and exterior designs in white foil. The package is topped off with an individually-numbered silver foil sticker seal.

Sorcerer's Apprentice playing cards feature Penguin's exclusive UltraLux™ Finish and AquaFlow™ Coating. The casino-grade European card stock has a perfect linen texture that handles like an absolute dream. The cards are traditionally cut with smooth edges that provide just the right amount of grip.

Printed with vegetable-based inks and water-based coating, the cards are planet-friendly as well! Sorcerer's Apprentice decks are soft enough to get to work straight out of the box, but durable enough to meet the needs of a full-time magician, cardist, or card sharp.

The Sorcerer's Apprentice decks are available individually, or in a 6-pack with a custom collector's box made from the same blue paper & white foil as the tuck boxes.

•Limited printing of only 2,500 decks
•100% custom artwork by Douglas Fuchs
•Openly-readable marking system tells you the suit & value of each card
•UltraLux™ Finish with AquaFlow™ Coating
•Traditionally cut
•2 gaff cards included
•Custom matte blue paper tuck box with white foil inside & outside
•Custom silver foil sticker seal with individual numbering
•Available individually or in a collector's 6-pack

Holographic Gilded

•Ultra-limited printing of only 400 decks
•Holographic silver sparkle gilded edges
•100% custom artwork by Douglas Fuchs
•Openly-readable marking system tells you the suit & value of each card
•UltraLux™ Finish with AquaFlow™ Coating
•2 gaff cards included
•Custom matte blue paper tuck box with white foil inside & outside
•Custom silver foil sticker seal with individual numbering

What You Get

Standard Deck

•Limited printing of only 2,500 decks
•100% custom artwork by Douglas Fuchs
•Openly-readable marking system tells you the suit & value of each card
•UltraLux™ Finish with AquaFlow™ Coating
•Traditionally cut
•2 gaff cards included
•Custom matte blue paper tuck box with white foil inside & outside
•Custom silver foil sticker seal with individual numbering
•Available individually or in a collector's 6-pack

Holographic Gilded

•Ultra-limited printing of only 400 decks
•Holographic silver sparkle gilded edges
•100% custom artwork by Douglas Fuchs
•Openly-readable marking system tells you the suit & value of each card
•UltraLux™ Finish with AquaFlow™ Coating
•2 gaff cards included
•Custom matte blue paper tuck box with white foil inside & outside
•Custom silver foil sticker seal with individual numbering

What the Pros Say

More Videos

Customer Reviews

Be the first to write a review
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)

Quick Links

Contact Us

At Penguin Magic, we believe in real magic—and that starts with real people helping you. Our friendly support team is made up of passionate magicians who understand your needs and are here to help every step of the way.

Whether you're placing your first order or you're a seasoned pro with a tricky question, you're never just a number to us—we’ve got your back!

 

💬 Talk to a Real Human

Need help? Have a question? Just want to say hi?
Our support team is quick, kind, and genuinely excited to connect with fellow magic lovers.

 

Email us anytime:
📧 support@penguinmagic.com
We respond fast—usually within one business day or sooner!

 

☎️ Give Us a Call

We’re always happy to chat magic.

Toll-Free (U.S.): 800-880-2592
International: +1 707-317-6733

Please leave a message with your name, order number (if applicable), and callback number. We’ll return your call within 24 business hours.

 

🕒 Hours of Availability

Our team is based in California and available:

Monday – Friday
🕗 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM (Pacific Time)

 

📦 Mailing Address

For returns, mail orders, or fan mail:

Penguin Magic
3299 Monier Circle, Unit A
Rancho Cordova, CA 95742
United States

 

🪄 We're Here For You

No bots. No scripts. Just real people who love magic as much as you do.
Got a question? A shipping hiccup? A product suggestion? We’d love to hear from you.

Reach out—we’re always happy to help. 💙

 

Want to partner with Penguin Magic?

Partnering with Penguin Magic offers creators a unique opportunity to showcase their magic tricks on one of the world's largest magic platforms. By joining the Penguin Partner Program, you can:

  • Earn Generous Royalties: Receive a 50% royalty for exclusive products, with Penguin handling order fulfillment, credit card processing, and shipping.
  • Engage Directly with Customers: Utilize a private FAQ section to interact with your audience, answer questions, and provide updates or improvements to your products.
  • Monitor Real-Time Sales: Access daily sales tracking tools to evaluate the impact of your marketing efforts and understand customer feedback through reviews.
  • Benefit from Free Order Fulfillment: Avoid additional fees as Penguin manages the storage and shipping of your products from their California warehouse.

To become a partner, sign up for a partner account and email partner@penguinmagic.com to express your interest. Your submission will be reviewed by Penguin's team to ensure it aligns with their quality standards and community ethics.

For more details, visit the Penguin Partner Program page.

About Us

Welcome to Penguin Magic – Where Magic Begins.

At Penguin Magic, we believe in the power of wonder. Since 2002, we’ve been on a mission to inspire, teach, and connect magicians around the world—whether you're a seasoned professional or just picking up your first deck of cards.

We’re more than just a magic shop. We're a global community of creators, performers, and dreamers who share a passion for the art of astonishment. From exclusive, cutting-edge tricks to timeless classics, we curate the best magic in the world—and make it accessible to everyone.

What We Do

  • Unmatched Selection: Our massive online catalog features thousands of tricks, props, and accessories—meticulously selected by magicians, for magicians.
  • Exclusive Content: We produce high-quality tutorials and performances with some of the biggest names in magic. Only at Penguin will you find original, mind-blowing effects you won’t see anywhere else.
  • Community & Support: We're proud to support one of the most active and welcoming communities of magicians online. Need help or advice? Our team is here for you every step of the way.

Why Penguin?

Because we love magic. Every member of our team is a magician, and that passion drives everything we do—from hand-packing your order to filming the next blockbuster tutorial. We’re committed to helping you grow your skills, build your act, and perform with confidence.

Whether you're performing on stage, up close, or online, Penguin Magic is your partner in magic.

Thank you for letting us be part of your journey.

Stay magical,
The Penguin Magic Team 🐧✨

Return Policy

At Penguin Magic, your satisfaction is our top priority. We want you to feel confident with every purchase. While magic is full of surprises, your order shouldn’t be one of them.

🧾 General Return Guidelines

Because of the secretive nature of magic, many items are non-returnable once opened. However, we’ll always do our best to make things right.

Here’s how our return policy works:

  • Unopened Physical Products: You may return new, unused, and unopened items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund or store credit.
  • Defective or Damaged Items: If a product arrives damaged or doesn’t work as expected, we’ll replace it or refund you—no hassle.
  • Digital Downloads: All instant downloads, streaming videos, and digital content are non-refundable once purchased.
  • Opened Tricks or Props: Due to the exposure of magical methods, we cannot accept returns on opened or used magic effects (unless defective).

📦 How to Start a Return

1. Contact our support team at support@penguinmagic.com with:

  • Your order number
  • A brief explanation of the issue
  • Photos if there’s damage or a defect

2. We’ll respond within 1 business day to help you out.

3. If approved, we’ll provide return instructions. Once we receive the item, we’ll process your refund or store credit within 3–5 business days.

❗Important Notes

  • Return shipping is the responsibility of the customer unless the item was defective or sent in error.
  • All refunds are issued to the original payment method or as store credit.
  • Items marked Final Sale or Non-Returnable cannot be returned.

Still Have Questions?

We're here to help. Email us at support@penguinmagic.com — our customer happiness team is standing by.

🪄 Thanks for shopping with Penguin Magic. We appreciate your trust—and we’ll always work to make your experience magical.

Shipping Options

At Penguin Magic, we're committed to delivering your magical products promptly and reliably. Below is our comprehensive shipping policy to guide you through our shipping processes.

 

📦 Order Processing & Fulfillment

  • Same-Day Shipping: Orders placed before 4 PM Eastern Time (1 PM Pacific), Monday through Friday, are typically shipped the same day. Orders placed after this cutoff will ship the next business day.
  • Shipping Origin: All orders are shipped from our warehouse located in Rancho Cordova, California.

 

US Domestic Shipping (U.S. Orders)

  • Free Standard Shipping: We offer free standard shipping on all orders over $100. For orders under $100, a $5 flat-rate shipping fee applies.
  • Shipping Methods: Depending on the weight and destination, we utilize the following carriers:
    • USPS: First-Class Mail, Priority Mail, Media Mail, Parcel Select Ground
    • FedEx: Ground, Overnight, 2-Day
    • UPS: Ground, Overnight Saver
    • ePacket (for certain items)

Delivery Times:

    • USPS First-Class Mail: 2–7 business days
    • USPS Priority Mail: 1–3 business days
    • FedEx Ground: 1–7 business days
    • FedEx Overnight: Next business day
    • FedEx 2-Day: 2 business days
    • UPS Ground: 1–7 business days
    • UPS Overnight Saver: Next business day by 3 PM

Note: Delivery times are estimates and may vary based on location and carrier.

 

🌍 International Shipping

  • Flat-Rate Shipping: For international orders, a $10 flat-rate shipping fee applies.
  • Shipping Methods:
    • FedEx International: 2–6 business days with tracking
    • FedEx Connect Plus: 4–8 business days with tracking
    • ePacket: 2–6 weeks (tracking availability varies)
    • UPS Mail Innovations: 2–6 weeks (tracking availability varies)

Note: Delivery times are estimates and may vary based on destination and customs processing.

 

📌 Important Shipping Information

  • Business Days: All shipping timeframes are based on normal business days (Monday–Friday).
  • PO Boxes: FedEx and UPS cannot deliver to PO Boxes. Please provide a physical address for these shipping methods.
  • Customs & Duties: International shipments require a Customs Declaration Form detailing the contents and value. Import duties, taxes, and fees are the responsibility of the customer. In some cases, carriers may pay these fees in advance and bill the recipient an advancement fee. Please research your country's customs procedures before placing an order.
  • APO/FPO Addresses: Orders to APO/FPO addresses will be shipped via U.S. Mail.
  • Holiday Delays: Please anticipate potential delays during peak holiday seasons.

 

📦 Tracking Your Order

Once your order ships, you'll receive a confirmation email with tracking information. You can also track your order by logging into your Penguin Magic account.

 

❓ Need Assistance?

If you have any questions or concerns about your shipment, please contact our Customer Support team:

  • Email: support@penguinmagic.com
  • Phone
    • Toll-Free (U.S.): 800-880-2592
    • International: +1 707-317-6733
    • Please leave a message with your name, order number (if applicable), and callback number. We’ll return your call within 24 business hours.

 

Thank you for choosing Penguin Magic. We're dedicated to ensuring your magical journey begins with a seamless delivery experience.

Price Match Guarantee

At Penguin Magic, we're committed to offering you the best prices in the magic community. If you find a lower price on an identical item at a reputable magic shop—even during sales or members-only promotions—we'll match it without hesitation.

How It Works

  1. Place Your Order: Shop as usual on PenguinMagic.com and complete your purchase.
  2. Submit Your Price Match Request: Before your order ships, email us at support@penguinmagic.com with:
    • Your order number
    • A link or copy of the competitor's promotion or sale flyer
  3. Relax and Enjoy: We'll review your request promptly and adjust your order accordingly.

Important Details

  • Timing: Price match requests must be made after placing your order but before it ships
  • Eligible Competitors: We match prices from reputable magic shops.
  • Exclusions:
    • No additional discounts can be applied with a price match.
    • If the competitor doesn't offer free shipping and you've chosen free shipping with us, we'll deduct our shipping cost from the price match amount.
    • We cannot match generic products without a brand name, as quality and pricing can vary significantly.

Example

If you find an item for $12 less at another shop, and our shipping cost is $3.42:

  • With Free Shipping: You'll receive a refund of $8.58.
  • If You Paid for Shipping: You'll receive the full $12 refund.

Our shipping costs are based on actual rates from the courier, with no added fees.

Questions?

We're here to help! Contact us at support@penguinmagic.com or call us at 800-880-2592 (International: +1 707-317-6733).

Shop with confidence knowing you're getting the best deal at Penguin Magic!