RANCHO CORDOVA, California, USA, May 11, 2026 — Alexander Marsh — the pen name under which British mentalist Alex McAleer publishes his magic work — has partnered with Vanishing Inc. to release a substantially updated edition of his AF ESP Deck, available through the dealer.
The name is a joke Marsh has been making since the original 2023 release: another — well, you know — ESP deck. The self-deprecating title has not hurt its standing in the mentalism community.
“I decided to stop complaining and design my very own ESP deck,” says Marsh, whose 2026 edition addresses what he identified as longstanding flaws across every deck on the market. The updated deck is produced on premium plastic cards designed to withstand the wear of regular performance use, a direct response to the paper stock that has plagued most ESP decks for decades.
On the question of symbols, Marsh is direct: “I hate the wavy lines, and most mentalists do, too.” The updated deck substitutes a triangle for the traditional wavy lines symbol, while retaining wavy lines for performers who prefer them.
A complete video tutorial accompanies the deck, covering four routines: AM’s Matchup, a five-for-five matching routine; AM’s Tableless Matchup, a standing version designed for strolling work; Visa Cabaret Style, a free-will prediction routine; and Jazz Gemini Twins, a participant-driven matching effect using the ESP symbols.
The deck retains the design choices that defined the original: trump card sizing at 62mm x 100mm, a marked back system, a subtle one-way back design, and a suite of gaff cards for expanded routines. The release also includes a gusset-style kraft envelope for storage, a nod to the common practice among mentalists of discarding the standard card box in favor of something more in keeping with the cards’ purpose.
“This might seem like just another ESP deck,” says Marsh, “but when you use it, you’ll realize this is the last ESP deck you’ll ever need.” He is convinced that other performers will appreciate the benefits he designed into the deck based on his needs as a working professional.
McAleer has built one of the more distinctive careers in contemporary mentalism, touring internationally with Champions of Magic from 2013 to 2023 and lecturing at The Magic Circle in London. His consumer title, This Book Will Read Your Mind, brings ten interactive mind-reading experiments to general audiences. His television appearances include segments on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, Seven Network’s Today Tonight in Australia, and NBC’s Access Hollywood in the United States. He is currently touring the United Kingdom with his solo show Mind Reader, with dates running through May, including an appearance at Wilton’s Music Hall in London on May 21.
Under the Marsh name, McAleer has written several books for magicians and mentalists, including Hybrid Mentalism and Head Wired and produced instructional videos: The Art of Stage Craft and Billet Masterclass. The Marsh name is also known for marketed routines including They Will be Done and Hot.
The AF ESP Deck is available exclusively at Vanishing Inc.
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