ShanHai V2 Playing Cards by ARK Playing Cards (Kickstarter)

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cardcollection/shanhai-v2-playing-cards-by-ark

A sequel to ARK's Shan Hai that unlocks new artwork, plus an unfolding tuck case and flip-book animation

Current funding level: already funded
Kickstarter ends: Saturday, March 15, 2025



At the end of 2023, luxury playing card creator ARK Playing Cards launched their project for ShanHai Playing Cards, which raised over US$100,000 with the help of almost 800 backers.  It was a huge success, like many of their other projects.  If you browse the comments from happy backers, you'll find gushing compliments like these: "These cards are amazing!" "Fantastic", "Amazing looking cards", "Really beautiful, I love it", "Such gorgeous art and quality", "Amazing deck, Ark's best so far", "Definitely very mindblowing on all the artworks of the deck", "Really nice design and quality.", and "Everything far exceeded my expectations, and I couldn't be happier".

Now, more than a year later, again with the help of Kickstarter, they're producing a sequel: ShanHai V2 Playing Cards.  This new release has everything that was beautiful about the first project, drawing on the same inspirations but with new creatures and artwork, and implementing the same amazing design features.  There are three things that make this deck stand out from the crowd:

1. The artwork

Like the previous deck, this is inspired by Chinese mythology, specifically the Shan Hai Jing. Also known as the Classic of Mountains and Seas, this classic Chinese book originates from more than 2000 years ago, and is a compilation of mythic geography and beasts. The new deck further explores and expands this fantastic world and includes more mysterious creatures, featuring all new artwork.  The illustrations utilize techniques from Chinese ink paintings, with the illustrations of new beasts on the court cards being a highlight.





2. The tuck box

The tuck box has an unfolding double layer.  The inner layer consists of four separate compartments, each used to store the cards from a different suit, and these unfold into four panels, producing a single panoramic image.  This is inspired by Chinese screens, and the unfolded polyptych pictures the mighty leader Lord Dongwang on the front, and the Four Divine Beasts on the back.





3. The card backs

The card backs also combine to create a single expansive image when the entire deck is spread. In addition, there's a flipbook animation on the card backs, so when you thumb through them at high speed it generates a movie effect, with the two tigers on the back design rotating rapidly against a changing background.





As with previous ARK projects, the ShanHai V2 Playing Cards are available with four different levels and styles of luxury packaging, and the main decks are as follows:
● Standard Deck (limited edition of 3333): single deck (US$30)
● Artist Boxset (limited edition of 999): holographic foil deck & monochromatic deck (US$75)
● Rosewood Boxset (limited edition of 333): holographic foil deck with gilded edges, plus a collectible coin (US$185)
● Luxury Black (limited edition of 99): black and white deck, plus an embossed metal plate (~US$125, only available as part of the "All-In" reward)
Extra add-ons like uncut sheets and coins are also available.



1. Standard Deck

The standard deck comes with all the features that make this project unique, including the flip-back animation and panoramic image of the card backs, and the special tuck case with the four-panel unfolding design.



The Aces on all the decks picture four divine beasts which are also featured on the unfolded tuck box panorama: the turtle Bi Xi, the unicorn-like Qi Lin, the winged snake Ming Snake, and the majestic White Tiger.



The court cards depict some of the rarer and more exotic creatures from the Shan Hai Jing classic.



The number cards use a style that matches the ink painting design evident on the rest of the cards.



The Jokers combine to make a diptych.



2. Artist Box set

The Artist Box set has a beautiful presentation.



The holographic foil deck

The Artist Box set  includes two decks, the first being a deck with holographic foil.



The card faces feature similar artwork as the standard deck, but colors are added to the background to give a more vibrant look.







The monochromatic deck

The other deck in the Artist Box set is a special deck with a monochromatic design.







The album

The Artist Boxset comes in a gift box that can be pulled apart and changed into a folding album that displays large pictures with the ink painting artwork from the deck itself. 



3. Rosewood Box set

A beautiful feature of this box set is the wooden box.





This deck has the added luxury of gilded edges.



The cards feature holographic foil for extra luxury.



The wooden box can be displayed in four different ways, including one which showcases a special collector's coin that comes with this set



4. Luxury Black set

This special deck is only available to collectors opting for the "All In" reward. 



It has fully black edges that are individually signed in silver paint.



The cards feature the ink drawings in white set against a jet black background.



An individually numbered embossed metal plate is another special feature of this reward.

Head over to the project page for more images of these extravagant and gorgeous collectors pieces.

Kickstarter link

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cardcollection/shanhai-v2-playing-cards-by-ark

Rose Playing Cards by TCC

https://tccplayingcard.com/products/rose-playing-cards-by-tcc

Custom playing cards in honor of the exquisite beauty and passion of the rose

Price: $9 (Standard Edition), $22 (Gilded Edition)



Rose Playing Cards is the latest deck just released by TCC, a China-based playing card producer.  Here's how the ad copy describes it:

"The blooming of a rose is always breathtaking, unfolding its delicate petals and rich fragrance to express deep emotions and love.  When the artistry of gold foil meets the elegance of a rose, it radiates a brilliance that captivates the heart.  Paired with exquisite embossed designs, the luster and intricate textures of the petals seem to softly whisper enchanting tales of love."

The tuck box has several special features to give added luxury befitting the rose, including a custom seal and embossing.  But what really caught my eye is what's been done with the red roses on the tuck box.  These are finished with shiny red foil, and because of the embossing, when held up to the light they reflect the light and you get a real sense of color and shape.  Beautifully done, and it makes an instant positive impression!



The inside of the tuck box has a lovely pattern comprised of roses and leaves, made with shiny red foil set on a deep maroon colour.



Perhaps my favourite part of the deck is the card backs.  Pictures really don't do it justice!  I was simply expecting the rose pattern seen in this photo.  But what I didn't expect is that the red roses on the card backs are actually done with a red foil.  So when the cards catch the light, it looks amazing! 



All the Aces have special touches to give a very custom feel.



The court cards are unusual - you'll either love them or hate them - but the rose theme continues to be strong here.





I like the customization that's been done with the number cards.  Not only is the pip arrangement non-standard, but the mention of "Rose Playing Cards" on each card works.



The two jokers each feature a bouquet of roses.



Also included are two ad cards, one with some nice quotes about the allure of the rose, as the embodiment of romance.

While the foil on the Standard Edition already makes it stand out from your average deck, the real highlight for me is the Gilded Edition, which has patterned gilding on the edges.  The ad copy again:

"Like sunlight cascading over diamond-edged petals, deep brown and crimson intertwine, ultimately transforming into a visual language of passion and romance.  Limited to 200, each deck comes with a unique serial number."



Product link

https://tccplayingcard.com/products/rose-playing-cards-by-tcc

Snakes Playing Cards by TCC

https://tccplayingcard.com/products/year-of-the-snakes-playing-cards-by-tcc

Custom playing cards to commemorate the 2025 Year of the Snake

Price: $9.95 (Standard Edition), $25 (Gilded Edition), $25 (Special Edition)

TCC is a playing card printer and producer based in China, and in the last couple of years their output has been quite prolific.  Given where they are based, it's not surprising that they've made a special release to commemorate the Chinese New Year.  29 January 2025 marked the commencement of the Year of the Snake, and that's what this striking custom deck celebrates.  The date corresponds to the Lunar New Year, which is typically celebrated with a Spring Festival holiday, to mark the arrival of spring and start of a new year. 



I confess that I knew little about this, so it was time to educate myself by learning something about the Chinese new year and what the Year of the Snake is all about.  I learned that the snake is one of the twelve animals that are part of the Chinese Zodiac.  While it is commonly associated negatively with poison and evil in the West, in many Eastern countries the snake is a celebrated and revered sign with a positive meaning connected with rebirth, wisdom, and wealth.  The Year of the Snake is associated with positive transformation by letting go of the past and shedding bad character traits like anger.

Each year the animal of the Chinese zodiac corresponding to that year is also combined with one of the five basic elements in Chinese cosmology.  This year that element is Wood, which means that technically speaking 2025 is considered the Year of the Wood Snake.  Being a Wood animal means it is associated with growth, flexibility, and tolerance.

Three versions of this deck have been released via TCC's website: a Standard Edition, Gilded Edition, and Special Edition.

Standard Edition

Red and gold are considered colours of luck and fortune in Chinese culture, and so it is fitting that these make an immediate appearance on the tuck box of the Standard Edition.  It is embossed with shimmering gold and red foil, as well as embossing, with an ornate design in which a snake is central. 





The interior of the tuck box has a flower pattern with red foil.



The tuck box is finished off with a custom seal in the lucky colours of red and gold. 



The card backs employ similar colours, and a mostly two-way design that incorporates the coils of a snake along with red and white peony flowers, and red borders completing a celebratory look.



All the artwork on the card faces is customized, including the court cards and pips.  The courts have a somewhat traditional style, but what I especially love is how all the pips incorporate intricate Chinese knot patterns.







All of the above elements - the snake, the peonies, the knot patterns, and the colours red and gold - recur in the custom Jokers.



Gilded Edition

The gilded edition (limited to 200) is similar to the Standard Edition, but has gilded red edges.



It also comes with an individually numbered seal.



Special Edition

The Special Edition (limited to 500) has a different colour scheme. The colours are inspired by the blue and white of classic Chinese porcelain, as is immediately evident from the tuck box. 

What you can't tell from pictures is how gorgeous the tuck box looks.  As well as embossing, it is finished with twin coloured foils, one being a deep blue/purple, the other being an iridescent silver.  When you hold it up to the light, the silver foil generates a holographic multicolour shine featuring a rainbow of colour. 



Once again there is interior printing, this time with blue foil.



This version of the deck also comes with an individually numbered seal. 



The borders of the card backs are white, and using more than one shade of blue really adds to the overall appeal.



The artwork on the cards corresponds to the artwork as the standard deck, but in white and blue. 







The same colour scheme is used for the Jokers.



Product link

https://tccplayingcard.com/products/year-of-the-snakes-playing-cards-by-tcc

Atlantis Playing Cards by ARK Playing Cards (Kickstarter)

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/elementplayingcards/atlantis-playing-cards-by-ark

Current funding level: already funded
Kickstarter ends: Tuesday, February 4, 2025

Creator ARK Playing Cards continues to produce quality custom playing cards with lavish tuck boxes that are works of art in themselves.  Their latest project is Atlantis Playing Cards, and depicts the dreamlike palaces from the ancient city of Atlantis, the legendary city that sank beneath the ocean.

The tuck box of an ARK deck is always a stunning feature, and this one is no exception.  The front of the deck represents the door of Poseidon's palace.  When the cover is removed, the tuck case unfolds accordion style with eight cardboard units into the Atrium Courtyard, which has a dome-shaped structure.



The beauty doesn't stop there, because the cards use what ARK describes as a "Wave HOLO" process, which relies on holographic technology to give the card faces a shimmering effect that brings to mind rippling water.  The artwork of the card backs is filled with ancient symbols and patterns. 

The faces of the court cards feature underwater characters from a range of classes.  But there's an extra special touch, because the court cards of each suit can be assembled together to produce a small picture, and all 12 can be placed together like a continuous scroll.  Even the number cards are works of art that bring to mind the decor and luxury of a palace.



The Atlantis project is available with different levels and styles of luxury packaging:
● Standard Deck (limited edition of 3333): single deck, including the creative pop-out plus tuck case (US$30)
● Artist Boxset (limited edition of 999): holographic foil deck & monochromatic deck, in a gift box with a book (US$75)
● Walnut Boxset (limited edition of 333): holographic foil deck with gilded edges, plus a collectible coin, in a walnut gift box (US$185)
● Luxury Black (limited edition of 99): black-edged deck, plus an embossed metal plate (US$150, only available as part of the "All-In" reward)



For more information on this project, and more pictures of the tuck boxes and cards, as well as details about the different options and decks, head to the Kickstarter page.

Kickstarter link

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/elementplayingcards/atlantis-playing-cards-by-ark