Now Available! Bicycle Baroque Playing Cards

Bicycle Baroque Playing Cards are a lavish tribute to an era when opulence was not optional... it was expected. Drawing inspiration from the Baroque period (1600–1750), this limited edition deck by Mark Stutzman channels the grandeur, drama, and ornamental excess commissioned by Europe’s most powerful monarchies. 

At the heart of the deck is a richly reimagined take on Bicycle’s classic Maiden Back. While the original is known for elegance and symmetry, the Baroque edition amplifies it with 17th-century flair. The back design is densely layered with floral motifs, mythical creatures, and angelic figures arranged in perfect symmetry. Metallic gold accents, lace-like borders, and an interior rope frame evoke the look of sculpted plaster ceilings and cathedral reliefs, giving the cards depth and a distinctly old-world presence.

The court cards are where the Baroque theme truly comes alive. Illustrated with ink and watercolor washes, they are fully custom and designed for two-way play. Rather than sticking to the standard four solid color palette, the courts embrace a broader, painterly range inspired by period art. 

Each suit represents a different European monarchy: England (including Scotland and Ireland), France, Denmark, and Spain... reflecting the power struggles, alliances, and rivalries that defined the era. Every court card is captioned, grounding the artwork in real historical figures and inviting deeper exploration of the symbolism behind each character.

The number cards depart from modern conventions in favor of a more archaic aesthetic. Roman numerals replace standard indices, and the elongated, rustic suit symbols are arranged in clusters that feel antique yet readable. This design choice reinforces the deck’s historical tone while maintaining functionality for gameplay.

The Ace of Spades features two mirrored knights locked in a tense sword clash beneath a crown, an image that perfectly captures the uncertainty of power and allegiance during the Baroque age. The “813-ISH” mark pays homage to Bicycle’s original Maiden Back (No. 813), nodding to tradition while embracing reinterpretation. 

The two Jokers are framed to match the courts and presented in a two-way design, one embodying joy, the other sorrow... mirroring the emotional extremes so often depicted in Baroque art.

The tuck box is a statement piece in its own right. Printed by the USPCC on uncoated stock and flooded with warm gold-toned ink, it’s accented with cream and powdery aqua hues. Select decorative elements are stamped in gold foil and subtly embossed, while an additional bronze foil highlights intricate line work. Inside the box, a repeating fleur-de-lis pattern in metallic gold awaits.

Available now on Mark Stutzman's online store for $14.99.

Now on Kickstarter, Mount Olympus Playing Cards

Mount Olympus Playing Cards is a fully custom, mythology-driven deck by Midnight Cards that brings the gods, monsters, and legends of ancient Greece to life through hand-drawn illustration and premium production. Designed by Randy Butterfield, this deck is a personal passion project that blends classical inspiration with modern card design.

Every character in the deck has been hand-drawn. The courts, aces, and jokers were all hand-sketched before being scanned and digitally painted, preserving the organic line work while adding rich color and depth. The result is a deck that feels both illustrative and timeless, echoing the look of ancient manuscripts and mythological art.

The card back design showcases Mount Olympus itself, illustrated in a symmetrical, head-to-head layout ideal for gameplay and magic. Greek border elements frame the artwork, forming a silhouette reminiscent of ancient shields and architectural motifs, reinforcing the deck’s classical identity.

On the face cards, each suit is unified by a subtle sky-toned background within a Greek border—blue for Hearts, orange for Spades, grey for Diamonds, and greenish-blue for Clubs. The court cards depict twelve Olympian figures, including gods such as Zeus, Poseidon, Apollo, and Hermes, alongside goddesses Hera, Artemis, Athena, and Aphrodite. 

The aces highlight iconic mythological creatures: Cyclops, Cerberus, Medusa, and the Colchian Dragon... while the jokers feature a vertical version of the Mount Olympus illustration, tying the entire deck together visually.

Kickstarter backers can choose between two tuck box editions, each housing the same card designs inside. The Standard Edition features Zeus on the front and Hades on the back, printed in full color with gold foil accents framing the artwork and text.

The Limited Edition, produced exclusively for Kickstarter and capped at 1,000 decks, elevates the presentation with premium white pearlescent paper, dark green and gold foil detailing, and gold gilded card edges, giving the deck a ceremonial, relic-like presence.

Printed by Legends Playing Card Co., Mount Olympus Playing Cards balances artistry and performance. Pledge starts at $16 on Kickstarter.

Year of the Horse Playing Cards by TCC Fashion

Year of the Horse Playing Cards by TCC Fashion welcome the 2026 with an elegant blend of symbolism, craftsmanship, and Eastern aesthetics. Designed as a celebration of new beginnings, this limited edition deck channels hope, momentum, and prosperity... values closely tied to both the Lunar New Year and the spirit of the horse.

The core of the design is the calla lily, a flower traditionally associated with swift success, devotion, purity, and eternity. Its meaning of “flowers blooming at once” runs throughout the deck, lending the artwork a sense of calm confidence and forward motion.

Paired with dynamic horse imagery, auspicious clouds, and flowing floral elements, the composition feels both graceful and powerful. The double-sided symmetrical card back maintains visual balance, while the Eastern-inspired Joker reinforces the cultural narrative.

The tuck and cards are finished with hot foil stamping and embossing, layered to catch and shift with the light. This restrained approach to luxury enhances depth without overwhelming the design, allowing details to emerge naturally as the deck is handled. 

Limited to 2,026 decks worldwide, each set is sealed with an exclusive hot-foil serial-numbered seal, making it a refined yet accessible collectible at $11.95. Available now on TCC Playing Card.

Shuffled Stories Vol. 2: Arcane Playing Cards

Shuffled Stories Vol. 2: Arcane playing cards by Jack Brutus Penny is a thoughtfully designed playing card deck that draws visual inspiration from Tarot while remaining fully suited for shuffling, dealing, and traditional card play. Rather than functioning as a tarot deck, Arcane celebrates the shared history between tarot and playing cards, blending symbolic artwork with a structure that feels familiar in the hand.

Playing cards first arrived in Europe in the late 1300s, traveling from Asia through the Islamic world before evolving into the four-suited decks we recognize today. Tarot emerged later, in 15th-century northern Italy, as an expanded form of playing cards created for a game that introduced illustrated trump cards. Arcane is rooted in this overlap, reimagining tarot-inspired symbolism through the language of standard playing cards, honoring their long journey across cultures and centuries.

The deck features fully custom courts and pips, designed to function clearly for gameplay while carrying deeper visual meaning. The court cards are two-way, with mirrored compositions that subtly explore themes of light and shadow, duality, and balance—adding character without disrupting usability. Each suit maintains strong readability, making the deck suitable for card games, magic, and cardistry.

What sets Arcane apart is its narrative pip design. Rather than simple suit symbols, the pips are integrated into symbolic scenes, allowing each number card to suggest a story or interpretation. These layered visuals add depth for those who enjoy reflective or fortune-style readings, while still preserving the structure and clarity required of a playing card deck.

Shuffled Stories Vol. 2: Arcane will be released in two editions: Standard Edition, featuring the complete Arcane design with premium printing and finished. 

Signature Edition, which elevates the deck with experimental antique gold foiling and a hand-painted style gold gilding, continuing techniques first explored in Volume 1.

The Shuffled Stories Vol. 2: Arcane Playing Cards is scheduled to launch on Wednesday 11th 10pm Japan Standard Time on Kickstarter.