ESP/Zener Card Case for HasLab Exclusive Oversized Cards – Classic & DFI Exclusive Designs
 
Keep your ESP cards safe and display them in style with this ESP/Zener Card Case, designed for a perfect fit with the extra-large ESP cards included in the Hasbro HasLab "Two in the Box" Trap/PKE Meter set. Whether you’re storing them for safekeeping or showcasing them at a convention, this case provides the ideal balance of protection and presentation.
 
A Durham Legacy: The History of ESP Cards
The ESP (Extra-Sensory Perception) cards, also known as Zener cards, have deep roots right here in Durham, North Carolina. In the early 1930s, Dr. J.B. Rhine, a psychologist at Duke University, conducted groundbreaking research into the possibility of human extrasensory abilities.
Rhine’s work was inspired by earlier studies of psychical research, but he sought to apply scientific rigor to the field. Alongside his colleague, Dr. Karl Zener, a perceptual psychologist, Rhine developed a standardized deck of five symbols—a circle, a cross, wavy lines, a square, and a star—as a tool for testing ESP under controlled conditions. Unlike previous anecdotal reports of psychic ability, these cards allowed researchers to conduct experiments using statistical analysis to determine whether results deviated from chance.
 
The Duke University Experiments
Rhine’s experiments typically involved a sender and a receiver, with one person drawing a card from the deck and concentrating on its image while the other attempted to guess the symbol. To reduce the possibility of cheating, Rhine introduced double-blind procedures, where neither the subject nor the researcher knew the card’s identity in advance.
 
His findings, published in books like Extra-Sensory Perception (1934), sparked public fascination and intense academic debate. While critics questioned his methodology and struggled to replicate his results, Rhine’s work laid the foundation for modern parapsychology, inspiring decades of research into psychic phenomena.
 
Duke University remained a hub for ESP research until Rhine left in 1965 to establish the Foundation for Research on the Nature of Man, now known as the Rhine Research Center, which continues to study consciousness and the unexplained.
 
From Science to Pop Culture
ESP testing, particularly with Zener cards, became a staple of paranormal lore, making its way into books, television, and films. Most famously, Ghostbusters (1984) opens with Dr. Peter Venkman using ESP cards to test students for psychic ability—though his methods were more about flirting than science!
 
At Dirt Farmer Industries, we take special pride in this history. Our business was founded just outside the Bull City (Durham), where these historic experiments took place. It’s only fitting that we bring this legacy full circle by crafting a case designed to protect and showcase these iconic cards.
 
Two Distinct Styles
Choose between two designs, both inspired by the history and pop-culture legacy of ESP research:
Classic ESP Card Box – Modeled after the original cases used for Duke University’s ESP decks, this design stays true to the history of parapsychology.
DFI No-Ghost Website Exclusive – A bold hazard-striped edition featuring the iconic No-Ghost logo, bringing a supernatural flair to your ESP experiments. Available only through our website (www.dirtfarmerindustries.com)!
 
Designed for Protection & Display
Perfectly sized for the oversized HasLab ESP cards
Durable, lightweight build for travel and everyday use
Secure, friction-fit closure keeps your deck safe
Functions as a stand for tabletop displays at conventions or in your collection case
 
Your ESP deck has a history worth preserving and protecting from the elements. Whether you’re a paranormal researcher, an avid Ghostbusters memorabilia collector, or a convention traveler, this ESP/Zener Card Case ensures your cards stay in top condition, ready for testing, display, or a little supernatural adventure!