If you're into card magic, you'll know about marked decks.  And if you're into marked decks, you'll know about the Butterfly Playing Cards by Ondrej Psenicka.

The Butterfly Playing Cards are the most popular edge-marked deck on the market right now, and my article about them explains why.  Outside of a factory marked Bicycle deck, these and the DMC Elites are outstanding marked decks, but you can do things with a Butterfly deck that you can't do with any other marked deck.

They've just come out with a Royal Purple version, as part of a collaboration with Penguin Magic.  They certainly look fantastic in purple!  This new version has all the features of the V3 Red and Blue decks, and is available here:

https://www.penguinmagic.com/p/18538

These definitely look amazing.

The Butterfly Playing Cards are one of the most amazing marked decks on the market, outside of factory marked Bicycle decks, and my article about them explains why.

They certainly look fantastic in purple!

Kickstarter - Clear Skies: Resistance Playing Cards (printed in Ukraine, in support of Ukraine)

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/newdawndecks/clear-skies-resistance-playing-cards

Premium poker-sized playing cards.  A deck made in Ukraine, to help Ukraine.

Project ends: Thursday, April 27, 2023

The information below is taken from the project page:

In April 2022, Old Gravity, Noir Arts and Max Playing Cards, teamed up to create the Clear Skies project, to pay tribute to the Ukrainian people, victims of an unfair and disproportionate invasion by the Russian army. More than one year later, governments around the world have not been able to definitively help end this conflict and the struggle is still alive and death continues to strike those who want to live in peace in their own country. For this reason, we decided to keep the flame of hope alive with a new edition: CLEAR SKIES RESISTANCE.



When the world begins to get used to a conflict that seems increasingly distant, there are voices that go on shouting to defend their lives and that of their families. This deck represents that constant struggle, that way of surviving and overcoming adversity every day, a fight for freedom against suffering and destruction that, after more than a year, has not been able to overcome the determination, courage and resistance of the Ukrainian people.

Clear Skies Resistance uses the same designs as the original Freedom and Unity editions, but all artwork is recolored in black and red - colors of Ukrainian resistance.

Bivas Bhattacharjee (Old Gravity) has created a tuck case with a modern design, with an eye to the future, a future of freedom adorned with the symbology of the Ukrainian country. On the front, national flower, the sunflower, now a symbol of resistance, frames emblem, the trident, a symbol of freedom and resistance.



The back is a song to peace, with a dove that takes flight but is being destroyed by the conflict. However, two tree-shaped hands reach out to catch the pieces and rebuild it.



The illustrations by Ritu Bhattacharya (Old Gravity) depict hope with watercolors that mix water with tears for those who suffer. A fight to achieve peace in the midst of massive explosions, indiscriminate destruction and the panic of war.

The golden tree of hope now decorates the back with the red and black of struggle and resilience. The entire deck has been completely customized, and each card is a canvas that brims with emotion.



The unjustified suffering and bloodshed shake those who see in Ukraine a beautiful and peaceful country, thrown into this merciless war. However, the strength, determination, and resilience of the Ukrainian people illuminate with hope the future of the country and its necessary reconstruction.





Each of the suits is inspired and expresses a positive value. The freedom of clubs, the unity of diamonds, the truth of spades, and the love of hearts. These cards are full of best wishes for a people fighting for their freedom.







The Resistance set includes two decks (Resistance and Freedom) together with a bullet shell (7.62 coming directly from the frontline).







The Unity set includes two decks (Unity and Freedom) together with a fragment of russian missile or cluster bomb.



This project has been designed exclusively with the Ukrainian people in mind and the restoration of their lives after this terrible invasion.



Link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/newdawndecks/clear-skies-resistance-playing-cards

Wonder Playing Cards - Emerald Edition (Kickstarter)

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/wondercraft/wonder-playing-cards-emerald-edition

Current funding level: already funded
Kickstarter ends: Wednesday, February 22, 2023

Wonder Playing Cards - Emerald Edition is the fourth colorway from the series of Wonder Playing Cards created by Chris Hage from Wondercraft Cards.  The first deck in this series appeared around two years ago in blue, and was later followed by a Scarlet edition in red, and a Royal edition in purple. 



These decks are especially notable in light of the beautiful paisley design of the card backs, which uses shadows and gradients to create the convincing illusion that the card back is actually 3D. 



The face cards are classically inspired, making it well-suited to card magic or card games, but there's some customization to the designs of the court cards, so that these look more expressive and alive.  The faces feature the use of metallic ink, and the gold on the court cards will especially add class and elegance.  The fully custom Ace of Spades reprises the paisley design, and the deck is finished with matching Jokers, and two gaff cards: a double backer and a blank faced card.









The tuck box uses a dark green matt cardstock, and is stamped with foil and embossing. 



Three different gilded decks are also available, a collector box set, half brick box, and extras like a fine art print and various goodies unlocked through stretch goals, plus add-ons that let you pick up the previous decks in the series.





The campaign closes around February 22, 2023, with standard decks priced at $17, and various levels that reduce the cost or include premium options.



Kickstarter link

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/wondercraft/wonder-playing-cards-emerald-edition

How Playing Card Improvements Have Helped Card Magic

The relationship between playing cards and card magic

Playing cards and card magic have always enjoyed a close relationship.  The original spread of playing cards was largely due to the popularity of card games.  And the rise of card games was closely accompanied by the two ugly step-sisters of gambling and cheating.  But there was also a Cinderella to be found close nearby: card magic.  Magicians employed similar techniques as card cheats, but instead of using them to swindle others, put these methods in the service of entertainment.   As a result, the history of playing cards is closely linked to the history of card magic.

But how exactly have improvements in playing cards helped card magic?  It seems obvious that as playing cards evolved, the tools that magicians had at their service became increasingly refined.  And that made some techniques in sleight of hand easier, while opening the door for other techniques that were previously impossible.  Wouldn't it be an interesting exercise to track the history of playing cards alongside the history of card magic, and see how significant developments in one have impacted the other?

Exactly this question has occupied the attention and interest of playing card expert and magician Lee Asher.  And in July 2022 he delivered a lecture on the subject to FISM, which is basically the Olympics of magic, and attracts some of the best minds in magic to perform and learn.  In connection with his lecture, he also published a useful resource on the subject, a book entitled "Lee Asher's Card Magic & Playing Card History Timeline", which further explores this topic by identifying key points of development in each area on a single timeline.



Lee Asher is the perfect person to take on an important and fascinating subject like this.  Because his credentials make it obvious that he has a foot in both disciplines, with expertise in both playing cards and in card magic.  His roots lie in card magic, and as a second generation sleight of hand artist, he began performing magic professionally already in his teens.  He's travelled the world, performing and lecturing on his brand of sleight of hand magic.  Even today he continues to serve as a magic consultant.

But Lee is unlike any other magician, because he is also the President of 52 Plus Joker, the world's largest club for playing card collectors.  He's served in that capacity since 2016, and is well qualified for this role, as one of the world's leading experts on the subject of playing cards.  In fact, at 52 Plus Joker's most recent annual Convention, Lee was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Dawson Award, which is only awarded occasionally, and given in recognition of monumental contributions to the club.  The fact that he was already deemed worthy of this prestigious award, says volumes about the size and scope of what he has contributed to playing card creators, consumers, and collectors.  Lee's expertise on playing cards is frequently sought, and you'd be hard pressed to find anyone else on the planet more passionate about playing cards, where this passion is matched by a careful scholarly approach and a deep knowledge on the subject, all within the body of a person who is a warm and friendly human being.

Lee's lecture focuses on the topic of how playing card advancements over the last few centuries have influenced the development of card magic, and I'm indebted to his insights for most of the material that follows.  If magic has benefited from improvements in playing cards, by refining the tools of its trade, in what ways exactly was this the case?  Join me in benefiting from Lee Asher's research and insights, as I share some of the key takeaways I learned from Lee on this topic.



The impact of playing card quality innovations

To begin with, playing cards today have many different physical qualities than those of yesteryear, because they have evolved over time.  Lee observes how playing cards have come a long way, pointing out how early playing cards were made of rough paper, had square corners that wore quickly, and were of uneven sizes.  It's not hard to imagine that these qualities made it more difficult to perform sleight of hand smoothly.  Playing cards were typically handmade, either entirely or in part, making them very expensive, and so as a magician you couldn't afford to quickly replace them, but had to use them even when well-worn.

Along the way Lee shows us examples of old cards that have stood the test of time, and asks us to imagine: How would magicians of the past have used these?  There is documented evidence that many popular techniques of sleight of hand were used already centuries ago, such as the Double Lift and the Glide.  Suppose you were using the playing cards from that time, with their lack of durability and inconsistent  handling, to perform sleight of hand card magic today.  Imagine how much more difficult it would be to do the card magic that you do presently!



The Industrial Revolution was a major catalyst for change in the quality of playing cards, and as printing technology progressed, playing cards became more affordable and more consistent.  Especially in the late 1800s and 1900s there were landmark developments that contributed to this development.  Examples that Lee points out include the invention of machines that automated the paper making process, punched cards instead of cutting them, and techniques that enabled production of playing cards with rounded corners, textured embossing patterns (finishes like Cambric and Linoid, both named after the types of cloth patterns they sought to emulate), and glazed coatings.

Lee's thesis is that over time there is a basic trend where playing cards become more consistent, making them easier to perform with, and this leads to innovations in card magic.  He makes a convincing case, giving numerous examples that support it.  For example, mid-19th century magician Hofzinser placed great importance on the quality of playing cards, and their improved quality facilitated the development of sleights that he popularized such as the cull.  The late 1800s saw a real increase of card manipulation and flourishing as part of magic performances (eg card-throwing, springs, and fans), and this simply wouldn't have happened without the higher quality playing cards that these feats of skill require.  The ability to more easily produce gaff cards was also game-changing, because it opened up the door to many popular packet tricks and other aspects of card magic that many of us love today.



The impact of other playing card developments

There were also artistic and other trends that led to innovations in playing cards besides innovations in machinery.  Corner indices were practically unknown before the end of the 19th century, and could you imagine doing card magic today without them?  To that we could also add things like two-way courts, and the addition of Jokers to the deck.

Another significant development that Lee highlights is an economic one.  At the end of the 1800s, card manufacturer Russell Morgan bought out all their competition and eventually became USPCC. In 1899 they built their Norwood factory in Cincinnati Ohio, which they would then use for over a century.  As an industry giant at the time, USPCC could afford to equip their new factory with all the latest technology, and playing cards were mass produced in a quality and volume like never before.

This in turn helped produce a renaissance in card magic, because these new and improved playing cards placed into the hands of magicians the very tools they needed for to innovate and be creative.  Lee points out that the 20th century produced most of the top card handlers who have collectively influenced and made card magic what it is today.  Big names such as Erdnase, Thurston, Vernon, Marlo, Scarne, Annemann, and many others all benefited from improved playing cards.



A couple of other separate developments are also worth observing, both of which were responsible not so much for improved techniques in card magic, but rather for increasing the number of people doing card magic.  DeLand's marked deck had been marketed towards laypeople already at the turn of the 20th century.  But with the arrival of television came increased opportunities for advertisers to bring products to the mass market, and this was especially responsible for the sales of millions of Svengali decks, which were advertised as "TV Magic Cards".  As Lee rightly points out, the arrival of these decks into countless homes must have inspired many to begin their journey into card magic.

The second example Lee mentions is the rise of the custom playing card industry.  He traces this back to the popular Black Tiger deck that first appeared in 2004, and was used by Ellusionist's Brad Christian to help make card magic appealing to a whole new generation.  This was also a big catalyst that helped grow the custom playing card market, and by putting a wide range of novel playing cards into the hands of people around the world, has attracted even more newcomers to card magic.  In my view, the rise of the internet videos and of social media has helped accelerate this trend.  As playing cards flourish, so does card magic, and the internet has unquestionably helped breed a whole new generation of card magicians, many who began their journey into magic with a deck of high quality playing cards already in their hand.



What does the future hold?

Some of the final items on Lee's timeline are worth sharing, as we consider what the future of playing cards holds, and speculate what this might mean for card magic.  In 2019 Cartamundi bought out USPCC, giving Cartamundi global dominance of the playing card industry as a manufacturer.  To be fair, improved technology has also seen the rise of growing competition in the form of smaller players that are also able to produce high quality playing cards, such as LPCC and EPCC, but Cartamundi / USPCC is the undisputed giant in this sector.

Cartamundi has openly stated that one of the driving forces for their acquisition of USPCC was because they see a huge growth potential in the playing card market, particularly as a result of the increased popularity of card magic today, and the rise of cardistry as a relatively new discipline.  In the past the innovation in playing cards was largely dictated by trying to improve the playing experience for card gamers, and card magic was mostly a beneficiary of whatever changes this produced.  But today it seems that the direction is being reversed, as innovations in cardistry and card magic, along with their unique needs and demands, are what is helping drive the direction of playing cards and their development.

The final entry on Lee's timeline notes how USPCC has ventured into the digital world, by producing Bicycle NFTs in 2021.  Despite the reservations some may have about this, the truth is that most of us have been comfortable using digital cards by playing Solitaire on our PCs for decades already.  But it remains an open question how card magic will make use of digital developments in the future.  As playing cards continue to evolve, they will inevitably continue to have an impact on card magic, and how magicians will make use of these possibilities in innovative and creative ways is unknown.  But what is certain is this: card magic owes a significant debt to advancements in playing cards, and there is good reason to expect that to continue.



The video lecture

Want to learn more?  You really need to hear what Lee Asher himself has to say about this topic, and listen to his FISM lecture for yourself.  And you don't have to be one of those people that likes to dabble in both playing cards and in card magic in order to enjoy and benefit from his presentation.  Even if your interest is just in one of those disciplines, it is fascinating to learn how they developed alongside each other, and how improvements in one helped the other evolve.

The good news is that digital access to a video of the lecture is included when you buy the timeline book.  Right now it's priced around $30 over on Lee Asher's website, and for that amount you get both the book, entitled Lee Asher's Card Magic & Playing Card History Timeline, as well as the video.

The video runs for about 45 minutes, and is filmed in high quality, with good editing and clear sound.  Most of it features Lee Asher himself presenting, but along the way he shows us slides of various historical cards and other details that illustrate the points he makes.  If you've ever heard Lee speak before, you'll know that you can expect something that is articulate, passionate, carefully researched, well presented, and interesting, and this is no exception.  I loved every minute of his talk, and for me this is the real value here.



The accompanying book

The book was somewhat smaller in size than I expected, with dimensions of 8.25 inches high and 5.25 inches wide.  It's a relatively slim volume, and consists of 104 pages.  But it is packed with information, and the high quality glossy presentation includes numerous colour photographs of playing cards and decks featured in the timeline.

The timeline begins with mention of the roots of Tarot in connection with the Egyptian deity Thoth, and the origin of playing cards in China.  Items are arranged in order by date, with the year listed in large bold printed, followed by a statement about a notable development in either the world of playing cards or in card magic.  These are presented in a very objective and factual way, with a brief summary of what the development was, often presented either as a direct quote from an appropriate source.  In each case the source is referenced directly beneath the overview of the item, and is typically a book or periodical article along with the relevant page number or chapter, or a link to a website.

As good as the video lecture and book are, I have two minor criticisms about the book.  Firstly, most of the quotations and information are presented without comment or analysis.  But it seems to me that not all of them are equally reliable, a prime example being the first item on the timeline, which quotes a book from 1912 that seems to make too positive a connection (in my view, anyway) between the origin of the Tarot and ancient Egypt.  Secondly, the book only has a brief introduction to set the stage for the timeline, and one really needs to first watch the video lecture in order to appreciate the content. I would love to see a future edition of this book where Lee expands on this introductory content, by providing more of his own commentary and analysis on the items included on the timeline, as well as an introductory or concluding essay that summarizes the key points of his lecture.

The above mentioned nitpicks aside, this book is a terrific contribution to the history of playing cards and of magic, precisely because it documents so many key points, along with references to source material where more can be learned.  Lots of people love playing cards, and lots of people love card magic.  But we also need dedicated researchers to take the time to document their history, and that's exactly what Lee has achieved with his book.



Final thoughts

It should be obvious by now that Lee Asher has produced a wonderful contribution that can be enjoyed by anyone with an interest in playing cards or in card magic.  Best enjoyed together, the video lecture and the book will help you be more informed about playing cards, and help you appreciate how big an impact they have had on card magic.

Hopefully this article has whet your appetite to learn more.  And at the very least, it should make you love playing cards all the more, and realize how important their evolution has been for the history of card magic.

Where to learn more?
● Lee Asher's "Card Magic & Playing Card History Timeline" book and lecture video
● Lee Asher's articles on magic and playing cards



Author's note: I first published this article at  PlayingCardDecks.

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I tried making a post in Playing Card Plethora, and got the following error, even though the message body is clearly not empty.

Snakes & Ladders Playing Cards

A unique deck of animated marked cards, with built-in card magic

I love decks with the novelty of flip-book animation.  And no one does this better than Mechanic Industries.  They have produced a growing range of terrific playing cards with animated decks.  They've also found ways to combine this with card magic, and typically each of their releases comes with access to extensive free video tutorials, teaching fun magic routines that can be done with their creative playing cards and gaffs.

Snakes & Ladders Playing Cards is their latest release, and is billed as a re-imagining of the classic Snakes & Ladders game, "but in a Quantum Mechanics kinda way."



The board game inspiration behind this ingenius custom deck is immediately obvious from the tuck box, which features exactly what you'd expect: a snake and a ladder.  The colour scheme of black, gold, and gray is our first introduction to the main colours we'll find on the playing cards.  The tag line "Animatdna Playing Cards" is a clever play on the word "animated", and indicates something about the animations to be found within..

The back of the tuck box shows us the snaking ladder design that is the chief feature of the card backs.  This is the effect created by animated card backs, when the deck is arranged with each suit from Ace through King: "Twinned serpents create a snaking ladder using our trademark 13 repeating back marking system. Riffle through the deck to activate the animation and give your spectators a truly magical moment... then hit them with the other hidden and surprise tricks."



The animations are very eye-catching in several ways.  The first thing you'll notice is how twin yellow bands move up or down the card backs.  But when looking more closely you'll notice other aspects that have been animated as well: a snake rotates in the center, between two snakes that also move in endless figure eight shapes.  The top and bottom of the card backs also have lines that turn and move.  It is very well designed, and will immediately attract interest from anyone that sees it.

You really need to see this for yourself by checking out the official promo video.



Won't that make it a marked deck?  Well, yes it will, and that's one of the built-in aspects of the deck that you can use for card magic, since you can decode the information on the card backs to figure out the value and suit of any given card.  The deck comes with a video tutorial for this that I'll cover in just a moment, but I'll mention already now that it teaches a gambling "demonstration" you can perform with the help of the marked backs.

While the card faces have a relatively standard look, making them well suited for card magic, the Snakes & Ladders theme is also very evident.  It has been applied to all of the Aces, each of which is decorated with a snake or ladder, as is particularly evident with the showcase Ace of Spades.



Immediately noticeable is that the traditional red used for the hearts and diamonds has been switched and replaced with a vibrant gold, matching the colour seen first on the card backs.  It's a stylish choice that works with the theme, without taking away from the deck's functionality.

The court cards also have some special touches.  All the characters have been given gold serpent-like eyes, and each is holding a snake, while ladders appear on some of the cards as well.



The deck comes with two "Snake Reveal" Jokers, both of which feature a snake on a ladder.

One of these is curled up, and the art has been designed in such a way so that magicians can use it to reveal a forced 8 of Diamonds by means of a fun colour reveal, in combination with the animations.



A duplicate 4 of Clubs is also included for use in card tricks. 

This is intended to be used especially in combination with the "Snakebite Gaff" that you can cut from the final bonus card that comes with the deck.  The gaff is easily made, and depicts a serpent holding a torn corner from the 4 of Clubs.  You can use this to create an unforgettable moment of magic as a snake shoots out of the deck, and steals the corner of the spectator's card. 



All this is of course fully taught and explained in the accompany video tutorial.  As we've come to expect from decks produced by Mechanic Industries, the ad card includes a link and password to instructional tutorial video on the Mechanic Industries website.  In this case it is a full-length video that runs for 44 minutes. The video includes an explanation of the markings and how to use them to identify the cards, with a sample gambling demonstration routine performed and taught.  There's also full teaching for tricks using the other gaffs, namely the Joker Reveal, and the Snake Pop Out. 

Check out this official trailer video to get an idea of how these routines look, and to see some of the possibilities these offer.



Once again, Mechanic Industries have presented us with a full tool-kit that gives us everything we need in order to maximize the potential of this clever deck.  It's not just a custom deck, although the animated backs alone should make it appeal to collectors.  But in combination with the unique tricks that theSnakes & Ladders Playing Cards will enable magicians to perform, it's especially going to be shine in the hands of magicians who like the idea of impressing their audience with something unique and memorable. 

Whether you're just a collector, or serious about performing card magic, you won't find much better value than what you get with Snakes & Ladders.  And if you're not yet familiar with Mechanic Industries, this unique and attention-grabbing deck is a great place to start!

National Park Playing Cards

The story behind National Park Playing Cards is worth sharing.  This deck was actually designed by Micah Hoang, at the age of 15! 

Think about that for a moment.  What were you doing at age 15?  Playing hockey on the street perhaps?  Riding your bike?  Playing computer games?  But how about designing a deck of custom cards that would go on to sell over 10,000 copies.  That's what Micah Hoang did.  And it all started in 2018 when he was just 15.

Here's how Micah introduces himself over on his Etsy shop:

"Hi! I'm Micah, graphic designer, nature lover, high schooler, and the founder of National Park Playing Cards. I created the deck as a passion project, which later transformed itself into a full-scale business after amassing over $6000 on Kickstarter."



Micah's Etsy page also goes on to describes the story of his National Park deck:

"It all started in late 2018, when Micah, a 15 year old graphic designer from Los Gatos, California decided to design a deck of playing cards, each with a different US National Park. What started out as an idea became a reality through his Kickstarter page, where he almost tripled his initial funding goal of $2500.

"In 2021, more than 10,000 decks have been sold in retail stores nationwide, including Canyonlands, Arches, and Zion National Park visitor centers.

"Besides managing his playing card business, Micah enjoys trail running, mountain biking, hiking, and exploring National Parks."

His father Lan Hoang managed the Kickstarter for him back in 2018.  But even so, I'd say that's a pretty impressive result for a 15 year old!  The fact that he's sold over 10,000 decks since then is quite remarkable.  The deck I own has the date of 2022 on the tuck box, so it's obviously been reprinted at least once, to keep up with the demand.



Here's how the ad copy explains the concept of the deck:

"Whatever your card game of choice, let it become a way to take you on a spectacular cross-country road trip through 52 unique National Parks. Each card in this beautifully designed, casino-quality deck features a different National Park through illustrations that capture the beauty of each park with a modern look and feel. Designed in California."



Now let's show how the deck looks, starting with the tuck box, and then moving on to the cards themselves:















On his website, Micah tells the story about the creation of the deck in more detail, and also explains the significance of different aspects of the deck:

"An Idea: It was early January when the idea first came to light. I wanted to work on a big personal project to start the year of 2018. Something that would take the entire year to complete.

"Something that I?ve seen a lot of designers take on is the task of designing a deck of playing cards. This looked to me like a wonderful idea. Not only would it strengthen my design skills, but it?ll teach me other skills like  how to manufacture, sell, and market a product. Not only did I want to design a custom card back; I wanted to design a custom case and card faces for every card.

"Somehow, the idea of creating a US National Park themed playing card deck arose. There just so happened to be about 55 registered National Parks in the US, and getting the official gift shops to sell them would be a good long term goal.

"The Process: I went straight to work. Designing each card face to feature a different National Park, I got about 3 completed every week. Along the way, I discovered my  own unique style. Using minimal linework to depict memorable scenes from each park, the cards give off both a vintage and modern vibe at the same time.

"The face cards (king, queen, jack, ace) have filled in circles with negative space lines to distinguish them from the other cards. The jokers depict Native American animals, also illustrated in the same minimal lifework style.

"Each suit represents a different region in the United States. Diamonds represent parks in the Southwest, Spades represent the parks in the Northwest, Clubs represented the East, and Hearts, the South.

"Additionally, the card values are sorted by park popularity, with ace featuring the most visited parks, and 2 featuring the least visited parks.



"With all the design elements ready, including the foil tuckbox, card faces, and card backs, I put the project up on Kickstarter, where I almost tripled my funding goal of $2500. You can check it out here.

"Within months, my first batch of playing cards were sold out.

"Retail & E-Commerce: My main strategy was to target small boutique stores as well as official National Park gift shops to resell my decks. This deck would be best appreciated as a collector?s item, or as a souvenir from a US National Park.

"National Park Playing Cards are now available at locations including REDEMPTION CA, Los Gatos; STRIPE Men, Santa Cruz; Canyonlands National Park, UT; and H?mage, Pasadena.

"They are now also available on Etsy, UncommonGoods, and on my Shopify store. I utilize both Facebook and Instagram marketing and promotion to gain sales and it?s been a huge success so far."

[/quote]

The decks were printed by WJPC, which is a Chinese playing card manufacturer that has also been used successfully by creators like Stockholm17 and Elephant Playing Cards, who have stated that they tend to be faster and cheaper, and more reliable than other alternatives. 

This particular deck uses WJPC's 310gsm German stock, which has the advantage of durability.  I personally prefer using WJPC's 300gsm German stock, because it is softer and thinner than this.  Because it handles so consistently and smoothly (e.g. faro shuffles and fans/spreads all work well), and is most similar to USPCC's crushed stock, it is my favourite of their stock options.  But given that this is a souvenir style deck for the mass market, durability is important, and so 310gsm stock makes sense for a deck like this.



Links to product pages:
https://www.rei.com/product/217991/articavisuals-national-park-playing-cards
https://www.etsy.com/listing/791184502/national-park-playing-cards

Social media:
https://www.instagram.com/nationalparkplayingcards
https://www.instagram.com/articavisuals

NB: I have no affiliation with Micah or this product, but just figured it was a pretty neat story worth sharing.  It certainly helped increase my appreciation for this deck and what he's accomplished with it!

Secret Tale of King Arthur Playing Cards

The Dutch Card House Company first got my attention with their Diamon series, which features colourful geometric designs that are perfect for cardistry, and are also at an affordable price point.  Based in the Netherlands, their team has now produced several different successful series of custom playing cards, including Tulip, Paisley, and others.

But it was when I first saw their Secret Tale of King Arthur Playing Cards that I knew that they were for real.  This is not just your average "custom" deck, but is a luxurious project that consists of two fully custom luxury decks that draw on the famous Arthurian legends.



Most of us are familiar with the classic tale about King Arthur, who was raised by the wizard Merlin, successfully removed the sword Excalibur from the stone, and became king.  The Dutch Card House Company has come up with the idea that a secret manuscript written by Merlin has been discovered, which tells more of the story about Arthur.

This newly found document is called "Merlin's Confession", and reveals a prophecy from the Lady of the Lake that Arthur and Guinevere will father a son who will rule over Britain and all Europe. It further tells the story of how King Clovis of the Franks works together with the sorceress Melina to try to prevent this prophecy coming to pass.   It is this "secret tale" that forms the back-story behind this lovely custom deck.



A 68 page mini-booklet telling this story was even created as part of the project. It includes pictures of all the court cards, along with a summary of how each of the depicted characters plays a role in the narrative.



But let's start by talking about the decks that are part of the project. There are two companion decks:
● Black Knight Edition, which was printed by LPCC in their Viper finish.
● White Knight Collector's Edition, which was printed by WJPC in a limited edition of 500.



The design of the card backs centers around a keyhole, which represents the entrance to the cabinet where Merlin has hidden his secret tale.  Careful observers will also notice details from the Arthurian stories as part of the ornate design, such as the legendary sword.

The Black Knight Edition and White Knight Edition both have the same combination of colours, and while the face cards are identical, the card backs have a very different look as a result having either a black background (Black Knight Edition) or a white background (White Knight Edition).



The style of the artwork on both the backs and the faces of the cards combines old folk art with antique colours from the Middle Ages.  The court cards especially bring the story to life, with lavishly illustrated characters that make good use of the space offered on the faces.





The court cards depict the following characters in each suit (from Jack through King):
● Spades: Sir Galahad, Lady of the Lake, King Arthur
● Hearts: Arthur as Ibex, Queen Guinevere, Sir Lancelot
● Clubs: King Clovis, Melina, Sir Pellinore
● Diamonds: Merlin, Lady Morgause, Sir Mordred





The pips and indices are beautifully customized in a style that is in keeping with the rest of the artwork.  The dual tones used for the pips makes them look very elegant, and the custom arrangement adds to the unique feel.


The deck is rounded out with some fine Jokers. There are two Jokers in the LPCC Black Knight Edition, and three in the WJPC White Knight Edition, namely the Holy Grail, Excalibur, and Guinevere.



Naturally the Ace of Spades also enjoys a fully custom look, and showcases some details from the secret story.  Head over to this gallery over at the Playing Card Scan Archive to see all the cards in the deck.



The tuck boxes of both decks are already beautiful, with embossed card stock and multiple foils.  But it gets better, because a deluxe "Camelot Box" was produced for each box.  These were created by WJPC, which also printed the Black Knight edition.  WJPC is an increasingly respected playing card manufacturer based in China that specializes in printing playing cards, as well as every aspect of luxury packaging for playing cards, and has a growing track record of real success.

The Camelot Box is a very sturdy box decorated with lavish gold foil for a classy look, and has a drawer with a ribbon that you pull open.  This drawer has ample room for storing a single deck along with the mini-book, and makes for a lovely presentation.



I can't say enough about how beautiful this project has turned out.  If you are going to search out a copy, I especially recommend a gilded edition, which adds that special touch in keeping with the luxury of all other aspects of the Secret Tale decks.

The gilded editions were produced in even more limited numbers, the Black Knight Edition with gold gilding, and the White Knight Edition with blue gilding.  These also both come with a custom numbered seal.



Collectors who appreciate what they're seeing here will be pleased to know that the Dutch Card House Company has gone on to create a second installment in the Secret Tale Playing Cards series, this time drawing on the legendary Robin Hood, with a project entitled The Secret Tale of Robin Hood.  This project is currently in the process of being fulfilled, after being successfully crowdfunded.  It looks to be just as spectacular as the first installment of the series.

With the newest Robin Hood project, all the decks are being printed by WJPC.  If the quality of the Arthurian decks is any indication, the Robin Hood decks will be equally wonderful.  With this beautiful series, the Dutch Card House Company has certainly shown themselves to be an important contributor to today's playing card industry, and well worth keeping an eye on!

Mechanic Industries

I have a special fondness for decks that have special features, especially flip-book animation.  Mechanic Industries has been producing some of the very best decks in this category, especially with their Casino Edition Range.  I first came across Mechanic Industries courtesy of their clever Mechanics deck, which doubles as a marked deck, and also produces an animation of moving cogs when you flip through the card backs.  The metallic deck set with gold and silver foil is especially stunning.

Following closely on the heels of this were their eye-catching Optricks decks, which came out in black and in red, along with some very unique gaff cards, including one that enabled you to produce an anamorphic illusion with the Queen of Hearts, and the Optibox gaff which can make a card box look empty even when the deck is inside.   The Visualies Gaff System from Mechanic Industries took this to a whole other level, with an entire deck of creative gaffs.



The Casino Edition Range continues Mechanic Industries' creative use of flip-book animation on the card backs, with a series of innovative decks that build on casino-related themes.  The first was Roulette, which has an animated roulette wheel on the card backs, along with customized artwork that draws on the roulette motives.  Its successor, Fanimation, was a reimagining of this concept, which used ideas optimized for card flourishing, as well as a clever use of a roulette-inspired fan display that had good application to card magic.

The latest in the series is Snakes & Ladders, which takes the classic game to the card backs with an animated snaking ladder, customized details on the artwork, and appropriate inclusions like snake reveal jokers, a snakebite gaff.  As with all the decks in the Casino Edition Range, with the decks you also get access to a full range of high quality video tutorials created by Mechanic Industries, where you get taught how to maximize the secrets of each deck, as well as some magic routines employing the gaffs and other features.



Craps Playing Cards

But the deck I'm covering here is Craps Playing Cards.  Like its siblings, this deck is perfectly suited for gambling routines and more.  For those unfamiliar with it, Craps is a popular and historic dice game where players bet on the outcome of a roll of a pair of dice.

The tuck box immediately introduces us to this theme, with casino-like betting charts, and of course some pairs of dice.  The tuck box flap includes a card reveal for the 7 of Spades, which magicians can take advantage of for card magic.



When the cards are in new deck order, flipping the card backs with your thumb will produce an animation of dice rolling on a table.  This really needs to be seen to be believed, and you can see it in action by checking out the official promo video.

Obviously this also makes this a marked deck, which can be used by magicians to quickly figure out the value and suite of each card by looking at the back.



The Craps theme has also been applied to all aspects of the artwork on the cards, and this is one of the most customized decks yet in the Casino Edition Range.  The backs have a thin black border, inside of which our dice will roll, against the moving background of a betting chart, to add to the illusion and feel of an actual Craps table.



You'll immediately notice that even the edges of the cards are coloured with a jet black, which adds to the sense that the complete deck is a mini-table, and helps this deck make an instant impression.

The card faces also look quite different from previous decks in the Casino Edition Range, and all help give this deck a unique vibe.  The edges of all the faces have black borders, along with a sweeping arc on the left and right.  The Ace of Spades is particularly appealing, with a fully custom look.



The colours are reduced to just red and black for a more classy casino-style look, and the font and pips have also had stylistic adjustments to give them a fully custom feel.

The court cards are classically inspired, but our familiar characters are all equipped with casino-related additions, in the form of a wad of cash (Jacks), a rake (Queens), and dice (Kings).



The black borders on the faces and backs of the cards are registered perfectly courtesy of printing by Cartamundi rather than USPCC, which is notorious for making a mess of borders as a result of inaccurate printing.  Cartamundi's Slimline stock has become very popular in recent years, and it handles consistently and smoothly.

The flip-book animation and custom artwork doesn't end our fun with this deck.  It also comes with three Jokers, one with a pair of dice showing a 5 and 6, another with a pair of dice showing a 2 and a 5, and a third blank Joker.  These are ideal for magic tricks, and you can create the illusion of a pair of dice falling off the card, leaving it blank.



The final card is an ad card that includes some gaffs you can cut out for making flat dice, which you'll use for a "Squished Dice" routine (taught in the free support materials).

The ad card also includes a link and password which gives you access to a 50 minute tutorial video over at Mechanic Industries, which is full of information about how you can use the card backs as a marking system.  But best of all, this includes tutorials for performing a number of great tricks (e.g. Die Flat Purse, Squished Die, BPM Roll'em, Stick, Flat Top, and Splat), which utilize the novel card backs and features built into this deck.



It should be obvious that Craps Playing Cards is much more than just a deck of custom cards: it's a full toolbox of creative magic effects.  It will appeal to collectors who like the idea and novelty of the flipbook animation.  But it will especially find a welcome home amongst magicians, who are best placed to take full advantage of all its unique features.

Regardless of whether your love is just collecting novel playing cards, or serious card magic, Craps Playing Cards is excellent value given everything you get for the price.

Here's a write-up I put together about this project. This may show up on Kickstarter as a first project, but don't let that hold you back, because Stacey has been working in the playing card industry for a long time, and has also run previous projects.

 Kickstarter: Sardines Playing Cards in Tomato Sauce

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/squiddleink/sardines-playing-cards-in-tomato-sauce

Luxury playing cards illustrated by Stacey Jay Kelly

Cost: ?12 per deck
Project ends:  9th December 20:00 GMT



Squiddle Ink is the brand name of artist Stacey Jay Kelly, who has lots of experience with the playing card industry.  Two of her previous decks include Fishing For Compliments and Legends Digital Petroglyphs.  She also gave a presentation at one of the virtual conventions for 52 Plus Joker (the world's largest playing card club), which you can view here, in which she discussed her playing card designs, as well as her work with the Worshipful Makers of Playing Cards.

The goal for this fully-customized deck was to create a clean design, that blends a modern and vintage style, so that the deck looks like it comes from an artisanal Spanish sardine-canning factory.



The tuck box will be made from pearlescent stock, and have embossing, a custom seal,  and internal printing with a wave pattern set on a yellow background.  It has a nautical theme using anchors, rope and marine vegetation with the back of the tuck being reminiscent of the traditional sailor's tattoos.

The card back features a two-way design depicting a sardines tin with the lid being peeled back to reveal four sardines inside, which are placed so that fans reveal fish along the sides.  One of the stretch goals is to have the area on the card back that depicts the tin peeled back printed in hot foil, creating a silvery metallic effect.



The Kings depict sea fishermen, the Queens mermaids, and the Jacks skippers-in-training.







The custom Ace of Spades includes nautical details and a sardine tail.



The pips are also completely customized, with the Spades featuring a sailor's knot, the Diamonds an anchor, the Clubs a starfish with seaweed, and the Hearts a shell design.



The Jokers feature the sea otter holding a playing card.



The deck will be printed by Legends Playing Card Company on their popular Viper Finish, and the goal is to have silver hot foil on the card backs.



Another stretch goal is a customized embossed printed tin to house the deck.  Other add-on items include t-shirts, an enamel pin, uncut sheets, and art prints, so Stacey has thought of everything!



I've followed Stacey's work in the past, and really enjoyed her 52 Plus Joker presentation, so I'm excited about this project, and am confident that playing card enthusiasts and collectors will just love the quality and look of this great custom deck she has created!

I also like the fact that despite being fully customized, it's still very functional and usable for playing card games.  I've got quite a few decks that use LPCC's Viper Finish, and really like the handling feel and quality, so this really does tick all the boxes. Bravo Stacey Jay Kelly!

Project link

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/squiddleink/sardines-playing-cards-in-tomato-sauce

10 Top Playing Card Designers

To help celebrate the recent 5th anniversary of PlayingCardDecks, I've been writing a number of articles with Top 10 lists.  This time around, let's take a look at ten top playing card designers.

I should explain what I mean by a "Top 10 list", so that this doesn't cause anyone to shoot flames across the internet in my direction.  I'm not suggesting that this list represents the absolute best ten.  It's hard to narrow down a strong field down to just ten names, and it is not my intention to suggest that any name not included isn't as good as the ones that are included.  This list simply represents ten top candidates, while recognizing that there are others that could be mentioned alongside them.  Hopefully what we can all agree on is that if we are going to have a discussion about the best, these ten names belong in that discussion.

So here are ten top playing card designers, listed in alphabetical order by their last name.

1. Randy Butterfield (Midnight Cards)

Randy Butterfield might be one of the lesser known names on this list, but in terms of the sheer volumes of cards he's produced, he is also one of the most prolific playing card designers of today.  I'm not exaggerating when I say that there are literally hundreds of thousands of decks that have been produced with his designs.

Some of these are under his own brand, Midnight Cards.  This name refers to the fact that while he works as a packaging designer by day, at night he burns the midnight oil designing playing cards.  Other designs he's made have been under other brand names, and some have even hit the mass market in large numbers.  His first deck, Ornate, was for the House of Playing Cards in 2012.  One of my favourite designs from Randy is his Draconian series, which features incredible borderless card backs that convey the sense of a spiral of dragon scales.  Maybe you're familiar with the beautiful Honeybee decks from Penguin Magic?  Also Randy's work.  The gorgeous LUXX decks produced for JP Playing Cards were his designs too.  He's also produced several exquisite decks themed on ancient Rome. And much more.

There's no doubt that Randy is an extremely versatile designer who has his own unique style, and has the ability to produce a wide range of diverse and well-themed playing cards.  If you're a serious card collector, there's a good chance you have one of Randy's decks.



Want to learn more?  See my article: Spotlight on designer Randy Butterfield

2. Paul Carpenter (Encarded Playing Card Co)

Paul Carpenter isn't the kind of designer you'll see pushing out one Kickstarter after another, quite simply because he doesn't need to.  The deck that made him famous was called Tendril, and was an eye-catching design featuring luminescent colours and flowing lines.  At the time in 2012, it was the highest funding playing card project ever.

Since then, Paul has acquired a steady following of fans, and releases high end playing cards in extremely limited editions to the collectors willing to pay their premium price tags.  Many of his designs have sold out and become prized items for collectors.  So while crowdfunding gave him his initial success, today he no longer has to rely on it, because the market for his limited edition decks is already well established.

Some of the decks that Paul has produced under his Encarded label include Aurum, Deco, Zenith, Chancellor, Celestial and more. These are classy playing cards that are in high demand and sell out quickly.  If you find his style appealing, you'll have to stay closely informed about his newest releases in order to get your hands on them.



Want to learn more?  See my article: Interview with designer Paul Carpenter

3. Alexander Chin (Seasons Playing Cards)

If playing card designers were musicians, then Alex Chin would be a rock star.  In fact, if they wanted to do a Super-bowl half time show with one of the all-time greats, he would be one of the first names on the list.  Alex describes himself as a visual communications professional who specializes in interactive package design.  And there's no question that he brings a wealth of expertise in illustration and design to his playing cards, because when it comes to innovation, especially in the area of package design, nobody does it better than Alex Chin.  He's one of the few designers whose playing cards have won multiple awards in general design competitions, competing alongside non-playing card related products.

Seasons Playing Cards is Alex's brand, and his gorgeous series of Seasons Playing Cards marked his debut as a designer, with separate decks representing different seasons.  He applied a similar concept to later designs, such as his Apothecary series, which includes a limited edition colour-changing tuck box that responds to heat and touch.  His Magna Carta series features a gorgeous panoramic polyptych on the tuck cases.  Alex is a true artist, whose designs are all about elegance, luxury, and innovation.

Alex is also very involved in the community. He pioneered the National Playing Card Collection Day, which is a global event that runs in the middle of October each year.  For many years he's also produced a very special and limited edition deck - much coveted by collectors - in honour of the day.  He is also the man behind Portfolio52, the internet's free online database that lets you help keep track of your collection.  He's a fixture at playing card conventions, and almost every year either he or his decks are nominated for Deck of the Year and Artist of the Year awards.



Want to learn more?  See my article: Spotlight on designer Alex Chin

4. Elettra Deganello

Elettra Deganello is one of the up-and-coming designers on this list, and her contributions are more recent than most of the other names that appear here.  Besides working as a visual designer and illustrator, she also teaches classes on illustration and graphic design at the International School of Comics in Florence, Italy.   Elettra only discovered the world of custom playing cards around 2017, but her first design (Pinnochio), which appeared under the Passione Playing Cards label in 2018, was a Silver Design Award winner in the Toy, Games and Hobby Products category at the prestigious 2018-19 A'Design Awards & Competition.

After her Florentia deck (2020), Elettra produced the amazing Blue Jay Dentistry decks, which in my opinion are the most beautiful of all her designs, and which take full advantage of beautiful cold foil technology.  Her Bold deck recently won Portfolio52's Deck of the Year award for Best Graphic Deck.

She's currently finalizing more beautiful designs, which include the Genoese Tarot, a huge deck which draws on the traditions of tarot deck; the Rx Almanac, a light-hearted but clever deck featuring fictional advertisements for imagined pharmaceutical products; and Once Upon a Fly, which promises to be an incredibly creative transformation deck.  We certainly haven't heard the last of this very talented lady.



Want to learn more?  See my article: Interview with designer Elettra Deganello

5. Jody Eklund (Black Ink Playing Cards)

The name of Jody Eklund's company, Black Ink Playing Cards, describes well his favourite modus operandi.  Jody has a real eye for clean artistic design, which he creates with a pen and ink look, accomplished through a process of digital design, in an instantly recognizable style of his own.

But what makes Jody's work stand out isn't merely his attention to visual aesthetics, but his attention to historical detail.  His decks typically tell the story of a unique era of history, and depict the individuals that populated it.  His success as a playing card designer began with his Golden Spike deck in 2014, and numerous Kickstarter projects followed, which covered a range of fascinating themes and individuals from innovators and inventors, to business tycoons and flying aces.

It's obvious that Jody immerses himself in the historical background behind the characters and stories that his decks depict, and much research goes into each project.  This also makes the end result all the more rewarding for those prepared to pay close attention to the detail he has incorporated into his playing cards.  Over time he has developed a solid base of supporters.  Fans of history and science will particularly enjoy his work.



Want to learn more?  See my article: Interview with designer Jody Eklund

6. Lorenzo Gaggiotti (Stockholm17 Playing Cards)

Few playing card designers are in as much demand as Stockholm17.  Such is his reputation, that his name on a deck almost guarantees its instant success.  Originally from Italy, Lorenzo eventually made his home in Stockholm, Sweden, hence the name of his brand.  Already a gifted graphic designer, it was when he discovered the world of custom playing cards that an avenue opened up for him to explore and develop his creativity further.

Virtually all of Stockholm17's decks are in high demand from collectors. His work started making an appearance around 2014 with a series of successful decks that began with Requiem, Heretic, No.17 series, Ravn, Gemini, House of the Rising Spade, and several more since.  He has a very unique style of his own that is instantly recognizable, and his work reflects both artistic creativity as well as careful thought.  This is evidenced by the fact that some of his decks draw on classical themes and even include quotations from ancient Greek poetry.

But talent alone won't produce success, and Stockholm17 has found a way to match his talent with a pursuit for perfection, an attention to detail, and an ability to understand the market. He's very active online, and does a good job of interacting with those who enjoy his work.  He was invited to produce 52 Plus Joker's 2021 Club Deck, which won three of Portfolio21's awards, including the prestigious 2021 Deck of the Year.  It's not the first award his decks have won, and it won't be the last.



Want to learn more?  See my article: Interview with designer Lorenzo Gaggiotti

7. Lotrek (Oath Playing Cards)

If designers like Alex Chin and Stockholm17 are playing card rock stars, then Lotrek is a star among stars.  Few designers have won as many awards as he has, including the 2017 "Deck of the Year" Diamond Award for his stunning Golden Oath deck, and four United Cardists / Portfolio52 "Deck of the Year" awards for his decks Icons Imperial (2016), Golden Oath (2017), Silk (2019), and Crypt (2020).

Almost every deck Lotrek produces wins something, and there's a good reason why.    His Golden Oath deck from 2017 stunned the playing card industry with its amazing all foil artwork on all the cards.  If there's anything Lotrek knows how to do well, it is work with foils.    His playing cards often feature gorgeous gold and silver foils, and are unrivalled in terms of beauty and design.

These qualities have led Lotrek to become one of the most sought-after and highly regarded playing card designers in the world.  When it comes to innovative luxury playing cards, he's at the top of the game, and he continues to produce masterful works of art on a regular basis.  He regularly pushes the boundaries of what is technically possible, especially with multiple foils, and matches this with an artistic style that is classic in every sense of the word.



Want to learn more? See my article: Spotlight on designer Lotrek

8. Lee McKenzie (Kings & Crooks)

Lee McKenzie's first custom deck designs are probably more well-known than his name.  That's because he started off his career around 2008 as a playing card designer working for Ellusionist.  This was right in the middle of when the playing card industry was booming, and when Ellusionist was one of its biggest players.  Lee created their popular Arcane, Artifice, Infinity, and Fathom decks, decks that were largely responsible for getting non-Bicycle branded custom decks entering the mass market, and for helping the Ellusionist brand achieve remarkable success.

Lee's five year stint with Ellusionist ended in 2013 when he started his own brand, Kings & Crooks, which debuted his incredibly popular Empire series of playing cards.  This was followed by further successes, including Empire Bloodlines, Outlaws, and most recently, the remarkable Royales, which is a classic looking deck oozing with luxury and style.

I've corresponded with Lee numerous times, and few playing card designers are as passionate and perfectionist as he is, or as deep. He's a real philosopher and thinker, and puts a huge amount of thought into every aspect of his designs, and into life generally.   His epic interview has some wonderful insights that are well worth reading and thinking about carefully, and will give you even more appreciation for his work and ethos.  Lee's decks are much like himself: symbols of passion, philosophical thought, and excellence.



Want to learn more?  See my article: Interview with designer Lee McKenzie

9. Giovanni Meroni (Thirdway Industries)

You can instantly tell when you see a playing card designed by Giovanni Meroni and his brand Thirdway Industries.  He's very active as a playing card designer, with constant projects on the go, and has developed an inimitable and distinctive style of his own that is immediately recognizable.

Based in Italy, Giovanni brings an enormous wealth of experience as a freelance designer and art director to the table, along with a real depth of substance.  His first deck already appeared in 2014, but it was with his series of Omnia and Dedalo decks from 2015 onwards that he really came into his own, showcasing his unique approach to playing cards.  Not only did these decks feature a visual aesthetic different from your run-of-the-mill playing cards, but Giovanni also drew heavily on mythology, literature, and art in their creation and design, with the artwork hinting at huge background stories and mythology behind them.  Many decks would follow these, all featuring his modern and sharp vector style.

Unlike some creators today, Giovanni does not stoop to lazy designs or simple recolours as a way of producing more decks.  His playing cards are all about full customization, and every creation has had the benefit of much thought and work.  What you can expect from a Thirdway Industries deck is a sophisticated style of artwork with a Mediterranean and classic feel, accompanied with a thematic depth that is closely woven with his artistic vision.  His playing cards aren't just pretty faces, but have depth of personality and character.



Want to learn more?  See my article: Interview with designer Giovanni Meroni

10. Jackson Robinson (Kings Wild Project)

Jackson Robinson represents a very rare breed: he's one of the only people around the world that makes a full-time living as a designer of custom playing cards.  When he first announced his arrival to the playing card industry, he was just a one-man operation.  Today he runs a business with around 20 employees, who help him produce an ever-growing number of playing card designs and accessories, and send them to collectors around the world.

The deck that launched his career in 2013 was Federal 52, a wildly successful project that was cleverly inspired by paper currency.  It featured a graphic design that borrowed elements of style from the traditional engraving designs of bank notes.  A follow-up project in a similar style proved to be an even bigger hit, and was one of the most successful crowdfunding projects of its time.  Jackson continued building on this formula with further successes, including a Reserve Note deck and a Silver Certificate deck.

One of the reasons for Jackson's continued success is that he creates limited edition decks on a subscription basis, which command premium prices and are highly desired by collectors.  These include his Kings Wild Shorts and his Table Players subscription decks.  His output is enormous, and his decks showcase a range of styles and subject material, and reflect versatility and quality.  It was no surprise that he took out the 2020 Diamond Award for 52 Plus Joker's Artist of the Year.  And despite the constant stream of new decks coming out from Kings Wild Project, the quality is rarely diluted, and the impressive range of associated brand name products like clothing and even coffee only continues to grow.



Final Thoughts

As mentioned at the outset, this isn't an exhaustive list.  There are certainly other strong contenders that deserve to be considered for an official Top 10 list, such: big names such as Steve Minty, Jocu, Uusi, and Montenzi.  Each of these also represents top designer talent in the world of custom playing cards.

But there's no doubt that the ten designers on the above list are among the elite playing card designers around today.  If you look at the Deck of the Year award winners and Artist of the Year award winners from 52 Plus Joker's annual Diamond Awards, as well as winners of similar awards from United Cardists (now Portfolio52) and Kardify, you'll see their names feature prominently, as nominees and winners, and in many cases even as repeat winners.  These aren't playing card designers who produce a one trick pony, but all of them have made numerous and strong contributions of supreme quality, and rightly deserve to be regarded as among the very best in the industry.

Some collectors focus on specific brands, and that's a legitimate approach to collecting playing cards.  But another approach is to focus on collecting playing cards from specific playing card designers like these.  Many of these creators have their own brand, although Randy Butterfield is an example of a designer who has also published a significant amount of work under a variety of different labels.  Whatever your preferences in custom playing cards may be, these are names that represent high quality work that  you absolutely should be familiar with and check out.

We are certainly privileged to live in a golden era of playing cards, where creative individuals like these are sharing their talents with us, and where we can even own a piece of their artistry in a small box that we call a deck of playing cards.



Author's note: I first published this article at PlayingCardDecks.