Are the edges of Asher's Fournier 605 cards actually given varnish? I haven't seen a definitive answer on the website, which makes me think no.

However, I was reading that the cards can be washed (and saw a video on youtube demonstrating this), and I just don't understand how that is possible without some type of protection over the edges to prevent water from seeping through.

No. Certainly not as far as I know. I use these cards regularly and I can tell you that they will hold up for a very long time (the first pack I opened is still going strong, Actually fans now!) but I certainly would not "WASH" them.

They are paper cards at the end of the day and you can clean them with a damp cloth and wipe them dry straight away but I would never wash them.

Byron