This deck is a no-nonsense, stripped-down version of the Albatross No. 5 deck. It features all the same artwork and motifs, presented in a crisp monochrome red on white, and it sports the following features:

• No aged card or water stain FX
• No foil on tuck
• No inside printing
• No stamp sticker seal
• Standard semi-gloss card used for the tuck
• Double backer card instead of the extra card found in the No. 5 deck
• Viper Finish instead of Classic Finish

The perfect worker deck for magicians, mechanics and cardists, our Albatross No. 231 oozes tradition and class while retaining all the character and charm of the Nautical themed Albatross Playing Cards, in a classic red colourway.

Printed on premium Viper Finish stock by Legends Playing Cards.

ALBATROSS No. 5 is a fully custom deck of classic playing cards, starting with a blank canvas and illustrated by hand from the ground up, using absolutely no stock elements and zero A.I. This deck has been crafted with the AHPC philosophy of creating a deck of cards that is "standard enough to be usable; custom enough to be collectable", using an aqua colour palette inspired by the sea, this deck sits comfortably on strong traditional foundations while incorporating several more interesting elements.

Combining the sensibilities of a classic deck of playing cards with the character of a small-batch rum label, the tuck is printed inside and out on premium matte stock with an aged patina and features the central motif of the Albatross at sea with classic decorations in a deep, dark aqua green. The font on the tuck is expertly applied in glistening red foil and the look is completed with a custom stamp sticker seal inspired by antique postage stamps featuring sailing boats from the 1800s.

Whether you plan on adding these to your display or collection, performing Magic or Cardistry, or using them for card games such as Poker or Whist, you will find the Albatross No. 5 Playing Cards have managed to strike that perfect balance between form and function, as was intended at every stage of the design process.

Legends pre-crushed stock with Classic Finish and matte tuck with foil application.

Gilded edition features all gold metallic ink on box, a gold tear band and custom numbered foil seal. Introducing a precisely digitally hand-recreated reproduction of the first published complete transformation playing card deck in the world! The blue "Joan of Arc" deck is the first in a series of six famous decks we plan to release. The very first transformation deck issued by Cotta is from 1805. This deck is probably the most famous of all six, and is incredibly scarce. Original illustrations were fiddling artworks done by hand, on copper plates that were manually engraved with stipple and etching, and the cards were printed on linen period stock that was 97 mm x 69 mm in size, with blank card backs and squared corners at that time. Only the court cards were hand-colored, while the number cards used red stencils. Cotta’s transformation cards were very successful and became a role model for later transformation decks from other publishers. And since the card backs were blank, individual cards were sometimes used by the nobility as visit cards and for leaving messages, so these playing cards often became multi-purpose items. The images on the court cards are characters inspired by Schiller's play "Die Jungfrau von Orleans" ("Joan of Arc"). The central figure of Joan of Arc is depicted as the Queen of Spades, the Maid of Orleans who inspired the French army to victory, but was later burned at the stake. The court cards were designated with the words "Valet", "Dame", and "Roi", which are the French terms corresponding to the Jack, Queen, and King. In the first deck, beside Joan of Arc depicted as the Queen of Spades, other individuals closely associated with Joan include Etienne de Vignolles or La Hire (Jack of Hearts), who helped Joan to victory in the battle of Patay in 1429; and Raymond (Jack of Diamonds), a peasant who was Joan's page. Key political leaders who figured prominently in the events surrounding Joan's life are also represented, including King Charles VII (King of Hearts), the French monarch who relied on Joan's help to reach the Rhiems, the traditional place of coronation; Charles' mother Isabeau (Queen of Hearts), who was in league with Charles' enemy; Charles' mistress Agnes Sorel (Queen of Diamonds); Charles' opponent Philippe the Good (King of Diamonds), an ally of England; and the king of Naples, René d'Anjou (King of Clubs), who lost the kingdom after defeat in battle. General Talbot (King of Spades) was the English commander of the outpost of Orleans at Saint Loup, who was wounded in battle, captured, and was part of a prisoner exchange. Both Joan's "sister" Louison (Queen of Clubs) and Montgomery (Jack of Clubs) are fictional creations of Schiller, while the fictional Lionel (Jack of Spades) is the character who holds up Joan's sword in a location revealed by the voices that she supposedly heard telling her to help.