Final Days on Kickstarter! Dead Man's Hand Playing Cards

Final days on Kickstarter! Embark on a thrilling journey with the release of the Dead Man’s Hand playing cards, a captivating pirate-themed deck set by French designer Si’yann that promises swashbuckling adventures on the high seas.

Pirates have long captured the imagination of storytellers and adventurers alike, symbolizing the spirit of freedom, daring escapades, and untamed seas. Inspired by the rich history and romanticized tales of the Golden Age of Piracy, the creator of Dead Man’s Hand embarked on a creative odyssey to craft a deck that pays homage to these legendary figures.

The deck features a cast of colorful characters, each comes with captivating artwork and represents a different pirate faction with its distinct style and flair. From the fiery Searing Suns to the cunning Sly Serpents and the heartless Heartless Harpooners, every card tells a tale of treachery, adventure, and high-sea hijinks.

For the royals, the traditional card roles are reimagined to reflect the rugged hierarchy of pirate life. Kings become captains, queens become quartermasters, and jacks become deckhands, adding depth and authenticity to the deck’s thematic elements.

Packaged in a custom tuck box, premium-quality paper, and poker-sized playing cards, Dead Man’s Hand offers both collectors and casual players alike an immersive and unforgettable gaming experience. Whether you’re a seasoned sea dog or a landlubber looking for adventure, the Dead Man’s Hand deck is sure to captivate and inspire.

Printed by and in France on quality 310g paper and pledge starts at $20 on Kickstarter.

Bicycle Elton John Playing Cards

Exciting news for fans of Elton John and playing cards enthusiasts alike! The Bicycle Elton John Playing Cards, a vibrant collaboration with the legendary Rocket Man himself is available now for pre-order on the Bicycle Cards Online Store.

Packed with iconic artwork showcasing Elton John on the court cards, this deck promises to add a stylish twist to your game nights. The eye-catching tuck box is adorned with golden holographic piano keys, inviting you to embark on a musical journey.

Designed with attention to detail, the deck features a custom card back design adorned with Elton John’s signature logo surrounding a golden record. Additionally, the pips have been recolored, with purple spades and clubs, and pink hearts and diamonds, adding a touch of whimsy and elegance to each card.

Available for pre-order now at $14.99 on Bicycle Cards Store, with shipping slated for March 15th, don’t miss your chance to add this dazzling deck to your collection.

Black Hole Edition Orbits Playing Cards

The Black Hole Edition Orbits playing cards was born from the visionary mind of Joe Feldpausch back in 2017. After years of conceptualization and shelving, this unique deck finally sees the light of day, thanks to the collaborative efforts of Joe and the designer Daniel Schneider.

Meticulously crafted over a year in pre-production, this deck boasts a distinctive design where the hole mirrors the signature Orbit O on the back, creating an intriguing visual effect. With warped card faces around the black hole, this deck promises not only a fresh aesthetic but also invites exploration of new grips and moves.

Crafted for cardists, and collectors the Black Hole Edition Orbits is a must-have for those seeking innovation and style in their playing card collection. Printed by Cartamundi on B9 True Linen Finish and available NOW from Orbit Decks for $15.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Playing Cards

Cowabunga! Join Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello, and Raphael on an epic adventure through the streets of New York City with theory11‘s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Playing Cards.

These playing cards feature fully custom artwork depicting your favorite heroes in a half shell, each ready for action with vivid illustrations that bring the beloved characters to life. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to the TMNT universe, these cards promise to deliver hours of mutant mayhem and excitement.

With striking green, red, and silver foil accents on black paper, these cards are as visually stunning! Inside, you will find fully custom artwork of your favorite characters on the face cards- including Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello, and Raphael.

Perfect for collectors and fans alike, these TMNT playing cards are a must-have addition to any collection. Printed by the USPCC and available now from theory11 for $12.95.

Watchmakers Playing Cards

Horology. Intricate. Craftsmanship.

Watchmakers playing cards by Andy Kurovets of 3rd Dominion is a homage to the venerable masters of horology, the watchmakers. These exquisite cards result from meticulous craftsmanship, intricate illustrations, and the touch of a master.

The court cards pay tribute to those who, for generations, made intricate mechanisms accessible to all while guarding the secrets of their craft from the outside world. The design remains consistent across various decks, with the distinguishing feature being unique color combinations.

For the card backs, 3rd Dominion crafted an intelligible marking system based on distinct symbols, allowing you to quickly and effortlessly identify numbers, indexes, and figures. These premium playing cards are printed by NPCC and encapsulate the legacy of watchmaking dynasties.

Now on Patreon, Kardify Magazine Issue 82

Issue 82 of Kardify Magazine is now on Patreon! Patrons who pledged $3 or more will be able to download the latest issue from our Patreon page. This issue compiles selected articles published from mid-February to mid-March. Deck images, articles, and news to keep you informed and up-to-date with the latest playing card news, releases, and previews. If you love playing cards, you will love Kardify Magazine!

Also, don’t forget to check out our other cool reward tiers on Patreon! The tiers include monthly desktop and smartphone wallpapers, a mystery deck shipped to you every 4 months of ongoing contributions, social media shout-outs, and multiple sponsorship tiers! Check it out!

Funds received from the magazine will help us keep the site running and growing, and bring new quality content to you. Our aim is to support designers by backing crowdfunded projects and supporting magic and playing cards retailers with their new releases. If you want to support us, please head over to our Patreon page. If you have an idea for an article you would like us to pursue, do get in contact with us. We hope you enjoy the read. In this issue:   

+ Maduro 2024: Building on the success of the original collection, these new Maduro editions by Kings Wild feature updated artwork and intricate foiling elements.

+ Fantasma Revenant: The follow-up to Thirdway Industries’ Fantasma series featuring flashy neon, invisible UV inks and hot foil card backs. 

+ Apollo: ARK’s latest deck inspired by Greek mythology draws inspiration from Mount Olympus. This deck is a testament to creativity and innovation.

+ No Borders: From Joker and the Thief, this extraordinary collection comprises SIX distinct editions, each meticulously crafted to offer a unique blend of functionality and aesthetic appeal. Check it out!

+ Spaceship: Have a look at Card Mafia’s sci-fi-themed deck that comes with a transformative giant tuck box!

+ The Secret Tale of Ragnar Lodbrok: The Dutch Card House Company unveils its third instalment, delving into the enigmatic story of Ragnar Lodbrok, exploring Ragnar’s journey from humble beginnings as a farmer to his ascent as a Viking King.

 + Popcorn: From Fast Food Playing Cards, this playful movie night deck come in a vibrant burst of colors and fluid shapes in a sharp minimal style.

+ Butterfly X Bicycle: A collaboration between Butterfly Playing Cards and the United States Playing Card Company initially unveiled at Cardtopia 2023. These cards mark a significant milestone as the first marked deck of Rider Backs in a decade. Find out more!

… and more! 48 pages of articles and deck images. Enjoy!

Entwined Volume 4: Spring Playing Cards

Entwined Volume 4: Spring Playing Cards is now funding on Kickstarter, marking the final instalment in a captivating Entwined series designed by Ritu of Old Gravity. Drawing inspiration from the rejuvenating spirit of spring, this exquisite deck celebrates the beauty of nature through the graceful art of dance. Each card is meticulously crafted with custom-painted artwork by Ritu.

The Spring edition of Entwined Volume 4 features two stunning variants: Spring Gold and Spring Rose. The Spring Gold tuck case, adorned in pastel green, is elegantly embossed and dual-foiled with gold and vibrant cyan, reflecting the youthful essence of the season. Meanwhile, the Spring Rose variant boasts a vibrant rose gold foil against a backdrop of cyan, capturing the vibrant heart of spring.

Both editions come with custom-designed pips, with hearts symbolized as leaves on the side of the tuck, adding a delightful touch to the design. The card backs feature rich foil accents, with the Spring Gold edition adorned in olive-green-gold foil and the Spring Rose edition featuring rose-gold foil, both exuding the joyous spirit of spring.

The Spring cards showcase impressionist splashes of pink, greens, reds, blues, and violets that capture the youthful and effervescent nature of the season. From the elegant queens to the poised kings and playful jokers, each card embodies the harmony between spirit and nature, creating a truly enchanting experience.

Also on offer during the campaign, the Entwined Volume 4 Collector’s Box offers a special presentation for serious collectors, with two decks and a brass coin enclosed in a teal sky-colored box adorned with rose-gold foil.

With its meticulous craftsmanship and stunning design, the Entwined Volume 4: Spring Playing Cards Deck is a testament to the beauty of nature and the artistry of dance. Printed in Ukraine by NPCC and available NOW on Kickstarter for $19.

Eames Kite Playing Cards

In a unique collaboration with the Eames Office, Art of Play presents the Eames “Kite” Playing Cards, drawing inspiration from a beloved artifact designed by Charles Eames himself in 1950.

The Eames “Kite” Playing Cards pay homage to the simplicity of form and whimsical color scheme of the original tissue-paper kite. This high-design toy serves as a reminder to “Take your pleasure seriously,” embodying the playful spirit of the Eames philosophy.

Crafted in collaboration with the Eames Office, these playing cards capture the essence of the iconic kite design. Each card is a celebration of timeless design and artistic expression, reflecting the ingenuity and creativity of Charles and Ray Eames.

Packaged in a meticulously crafted letterpress printed box, the Eames Playing Cards pay tribute to the legendary house that Charles and Ray Eames designed and built. Printed by the USPCC and available now on MoMA design store for $16.

Kings Wild and Stockholm17 Announced Collaboration!

Get excited! Kings Wild Project and Stockholm17 officially announced their collaboration, bringing together two titans in the world of playing cards! The decision to join forces comes after extensive discussions between the two brands. According to Kings Wild on Instagram,

@stockholm17 and I have talked about it for quite some time, we just finally decided to actually do it, and it’s gonna be awesome!

While details of the collaboration are still under wraps, fans and card aficionados can expect something truly remarkable to emerge from this collab. Stay tuned for further updates on this exciting development!

Street Magic Playing Cards: Private Reserve

OG. Magic. Vintage.

Last year, Ellusionist celebrated to launch of its revamped site, with this nostalgic-looking playing cards. The Street Magic Deck sports a vintage design plucked right out of 2001- Brad Christianson’s How to do Street Magic DVD cover.

Created as a 20th-anniversary gift to Brad, the team at Ellusionist printed 2,500 to meet order minimums. The deck sports the iconic Ellusonist logo of the early 2000s in the mirrored card back. The face cards come with a bold custom Ace of Spades with the Ellusionist logo and semi-custom courts with cool shades.

The Street Magic Deck: Private Reserve offers a crushed stock. With a vintage design plucked right out of 2001, these cards are for the OGs of magic. Available NOW from ellusionist.com for $12.95.

On Kickstarter: The Eye of the Ocean Part 2 Playing Cards

In 2021, Lorenzo Gaggiotti released an archaeo-fantasy project based on the age of sails, the Eye of the Ocean – a story of discovering the mythical sailing island. It is not just a deck of playing cards that were offered, but also a novel telling its story along with an interactive puzzle. It was one of our Top12 decks of the year and also received the Diamond Award from 52+Joker in 2022. And now, the second and last part of the project is currently live on Kickstarter.

In the Eye of the Ocean Part 2 Playing Cards, the journey will take place on the mythical sailing island itself, exploring all the mysteries around the place. There are three main editions for this project: Gibborim, Malakim, and Nephilim.

There is a very limited edition, Windwatcher, which can only be obtained on higher tiers. Additionally, there is the mini version of Windwatcher which is available to everyone. All of the decks share the same faces, while the back designs vary in colors and graphics.

The tuck box for the decks features exquisite premium matte stock with multi-layers of metallic foiling and embossing, as well as many die-cut windows to see the cards in. The box has an elongated flap that extends fully on the back side of the box – it opens up like an envelope. The interior side of the box will have a full graphic artwork, with each edition having a different artwork. The tuck boxes are produced by Boschiero & Newton.

The back design features an artwork of interlocking geometrical shapes with runes and symbols all around it. The background features a building on a mythical island, with different buildings shown in their respective editions.

The Aces features illustrations of floating temples of the island in the shape of each respective pips. The court cards show rich detailed characters complete with vibrant colors.

The four Jokers depict story parts of the project, such as the schematics of the mysteries of the Eye of the Ocean. The card’s face background has a map portion on it, so when it is arranged carefully, it will form a large map of the mythical island.

In addition to the playing cards, there is also the novel. It will be a hardcover book with gilded pages that tell the story of the Eye of the Ocean from start to finish. There is also the card guard, designed to look like the face of a stone golem, and there’s the puzzle device which is needed to solve the puzzle built-in to the project.

All of the cards will be printed by WJPC. Pledge starts from $19 for either Gibborim or Malakim Playing Cards OR $24 for Nephilim Playing Cards on Kickstarter.

Fulton's Tellason Jeans Playing Cards

 

Celebrate the legacy of denim with a unique collaboration between Fulton’s Playing Cards and Tellason, the last maker of jeans in San Francisco, California. Designed by Brad Fulton and Dan Buck, these playing cards pay homage to Tellason’s commitment to quality and craftsmanship. Inside, the deck comes with custom card backs, Ace of Spades and Jokers.

But it’s not just the cards that make this set special. The tuck box is crafted from recycled denim paper in San Diego by Clove St using a vintage letterpress machine. Featuring blind embossing and clear and black ink elements, the tuck box is a work of art in itself, reflecting the rich history and heritage of denim.

Whether you’re a denim enthusiast, a playing card collector, or simply appreciate quality craftsmanship, Fulton’s Tellason Jeans Playing Cards are sure to impress. Printed by the U.S. Playing Card Co on crushed “Buck Twins” playing card stock.

Available now from Fultons Playing Cards for $20.

Check Out J&T's No Borders Playing Cards Series!

Now on Kickstarter, the captivating No Borders Playing Cards series is a collaborative creation by Joker and the Thief in partnership with the talented Pedro Oyarbide. This extraordinary collection comprises SIX distinct editions, each meticulously crafted to offer a unique blend of functionality and aesthetic appeal.

As the name suggests, the No Borders series offers a borderless experience that merges practicality with style. With each deck featuring a different back design, ranging from classic to abstract, this series celebrates the limitless potential of a deck of cards as a canvas for artistic expression.

From the sleek elegance of the Sovereign edition to the dynamic energy of Thunderbolt, each deck in the series embodies a distinct theme.

Grand-Prix is a tribute to the timeless allure of racing, with a checkered pattern that speaks to both classic racing flags and a modern aesthetic.

Cutback is an exuberant homage to the carefree surfer’s lifestyle, its design rich with the warm hues and rhythmic patterns reminiscent of the rolling waves and vibrant beach-scapes from Bali to Bondi. This

Thunderbolt is a dynamic evolution of the classic border design seen on the original Joker and the Thief decks, reimagined into a striking, borderless pattern!

The Honeycomb exudes a timeless elegance with its geometric precision, offering a sleek, classic aesthetic for the modern card enthusiast. 

The Crazy Back is a visual representation of the unpredictable and dynamic essence of the Joker and the Thief, key archetypes of our brand.

Sovereign pays homage to the storied history of playing cards with a pattern that captures the fluidity and elegance of vintage designs from the early 20th century in the United States.

All decks feature meticulously illustrated Court Cards and iconic Joker and Thief characters, adding depth and intrigue to the collection, and weaving a captivating narrative.

True to the Joker and the Thief brand, the No Borders series features luxurious tuck boxes crafted with meticulous attention to detail. Made from premium matte black paper stock and adorned with blind embossing elements, these tuck boxes exude sophistication and elegance.

The innovative die-cut window on the back of the box allows players to glimpse the back design of the cards. At the same time, the perforated Joker and the Thief seal ensure easy access to the deck without leaving any residue.

Pledge starts at $16 on Kickstarter. Don’t miss out!

Find Joy with the Joy Deck

The Joy Deck is not your ordinary deck of playing cards. It’s a celebration of joy and resilience, inspired by a decade-old project called the Different Deck. This new edition, launched on Kickstarter, revisits the original concept with a fresh twist: the addition of “JOY” to every card.

Each card in the Joy Deck is a masterpiece filled with symbolism and hidden elements. From over 100 languages to playful imagery, every detail is carefully crafted to inspire joy and exploration. The goal is simple: to remind us that amidst chaos and uncertainty, joy can still be found.

The cards feature a dual-color back design with a special JOY ambigram and a vibrant purple foil edge to bring smiles to every player’s face.

In a world filled with chaos and uncertainty, the Joy Deck reminds us that joy is always within reach if we choose to look for it. As the creator puts it, “If you look for joy – you will find JOY.

Printed on high-quality 310g black core paper with a linen finish by WJPC, the Joy Deck is available NOW on Kickstarter for $14.

WB 100th Anniversary Playing Cards

Century. Iconic. Characters.

The WB 100th Anniversary playing cards is a special limited edition deck by Theory11 produced in collaboration with Warner Bros. Discovery. These decks encapsulate a century’s worth of cherished characters and unforgettable moments from their most iconic series.

From Harry Potter and Willy Wonka to Superman, Scooby-Doo, Wonder Woman, Elf, Batman, Bugs Bunny, The Wizard of Oz, The Lord of the Rings, and many more! Each card takes players on a nostalgic journey through the timeless magic of storytelling.

The vibrant flat illustrations provide a visual treat for fans of these iconic franchises. Enhanced with intricate gold foil and letterpress printing adds an element of elegance to the ensemble.

Available for $12.95 on Theory11.

The Secret Tale of Ragnar Lodbrok by the Dutch Card House Company

Now on Kickstarter, the Secret Tale series by the Dutch Card House Company comprises exclusive limited deluxe playing cards, adorned with intricately designed artwork, each portraying undisclosed narratives of renowned legends never previously unveiled.

Following the success of the Secret Tale of King Arthur and the Secret Tale of Robin Hood, the Dutch Card House Company unveils its third instalment, delving into the enigmatic story of Ragnar Lodbrok. This narrative explores Ragnar’s journey from humble beginnings as a farmer to his ascent as a Viking King, entwined with the mysterious symbolism of a bee sting.

Maintaining the series’ signature aesthetic, the design seamlessly blends traditional folk art with vintage color schemes. Inspired by Ragnar Lodbrok’s saga, the back design incorporates a plethora of motifs, contributing to the cohesive ambience of the Secret Tale series.

Like its predecessors, the Ragnar Black Bee edition features elements that resonate with its storyline, while the White Bee edition serves as a collector’s item, symbolizing the vibrant Viking era. Limited to just 350 units, this edition boasts a numbered insignia, adding to its exclusivity.

The newly designed Courts spotlight central characters from the Secret Tale of Ragnar Lodbrok, some of whom have remained concealed for centuries until now. The artwork featured in the Secret Tales series is entirely exclusive, offering collectors a unique addition to their collection.

The Ace of Spades provides insight into Ragnar’s life narrative, while the customized pips and font enhance the deck’s allure. The Limited Orange Warrior edition, available in 150 prints, features opulent foil embellishments on uncoated orange paper stock, creating a luxurious tactile experience.

In addition to the three decks available during the Kickstarter campaign, enthusiasts can choose from Gilded decks and extra accessories. All decks will be printed by WJPC, ensuring the highest quality standards for discerning collectors. Pledge starts from $19 on Kickstarter.