Funded as a Kickstarter project on March 19, 2015 with kr462,035 (Swedish Krona, which is about $57k USD) pledged from 1,015 backers, this was the Kickstarter attempt at funding this project after the failed CardLauncher (cardlauncher.com) platform attempt, where that platform has since been abandoned.  In that process an earlier protoype (V.01) was created as a prototype and also as a promotional deck for CardLauncher itself which had 55 cards with black and white courts, different tuck-box, different aces, and was printed by MakePlayingCards in 525 units. 

For this project the deck was revised with new and modified face cards, back and tuck and was available in Bicycle branded, unbranded, plus a special Crown Edition hand created tuckcase with the same size and face cards.  It was printed by USPCC on Bicycle Stock with 56 cars including 3 jokers and a gaff card with a custom seal and embossed tuck used on both decks.  The deck as also available as an add-on in uncut format.  In addition, mini and micro formats were available as gifts with larger sized tiers which were printed by MPC (MakePlayingCards.com).

There is no specific theme in this deck, it´s quite eclectic and I let my fantasy run when I illustrated the courts. The diamonds have clearly an Egyptian resemblance, but overall they belong to a parallel world. There is a thing that connects all the court cards: the text circling the background is a part of the Aeneid, a Latin epic poem written by Virgil between 29 and 19 BC, that tells the legendary story of Aeneas, a Trojan who traveled to Italy, where he became the ancestor of the Romans. 

The House of the Rising Spade is a place built for your imagination: an esoteric realm full of mysteries built for cartomancers, cardists, magicians, collectors, dreamers, and card enthusiasts. Cartomancer has a tarot feeling. The aces have a magick sigil, the borders of the 54 faces are in gold. The Gatekeeper variant is a limited edition that will have the same cards as Cartomancer, its own tuckbox, a commemorative card with number and signature, and a miniature of the gate in painted resin. Through the cutout on the tuck-box you can see the gate, and through the opening of the gate can you see the number.

Funded as a Kickstarter project on March 19, 2015 with kr462,035 (Swedish Krona, which is about $57k USD) pledged from 1,015 backers, this was the Kickstarter attempt at funding this project after the failed CardLauncher (cardlauncher.com) platform attempt, where that platform has since been abandoned.  In that process an earlier protoype (V.01) was created as a prototype and also as a promotional deck for CardLauncher itself which had 55 cards with black and white courts, different tuck-box, different aces, and was printed by MakePlayingCards in 525 units. 

For this project the deck was revised with new and modified face cards, back and tuck and was available in Bicycle branded, unbranded, plus a special Crown Edition hand created tuckcase with the same size and face cards.  It was printed by USPCC on Bicycle Stock with 56 cars including 3 jokers and a gaff card with a custom seal and embossed tuck used on both decks.  The deck as also available as an add-on in uncut format.  In addition, mini and micro formats were available as gifts with larger sized tiers which were printed by MPC (MakePlayingCards.com).

There is no specific theme in this deck, it´s quite eclectic and I let my fantasy run when I illustrated the courts. The diamonds have clearly an Egyptian resemblance, but overall they belong to a parallel world. There is a thing that connects all the court cards: the text circling the background is a part of the Aeneid, a Latin epic poem written by Virgil between 29 and 19 BC, that tells the legendary story of Aeneas, a Trojan who traveled to Italy, where he became the ancestor of the Romans. 

for scans of each card

http://www.marytcusack.com/maryc/decks/httml/Cards/No17.html

Exclusively available only in the Stockholm17 patreon packages. Cards printed by Cartamundi. Features golden foil on the back design. Has edge printing. Numbered seal with signature. Includes a different map as the background and an Intrepid card. Tuck box printed by Boschiero & Newton.

With DAMASK we reached a technical and aesthetical limit in the number of different foils that can be used.

It was time for a more sophisticated challenge:

To go back to the basics and using just one foil -and a lot of imagination- to create a deck of spectacular luxury, an absolute must for every serious collector!

The result was "SILK" playing cards.

The play of light on a background made of incredibly thin lines that imitate the weaving in renaissance silk fabrics, creates an amazing 3D effect that no photo can capture.

Thanks to our workshop and expert plate makers, we're able to produce a deck with such a detail that will take your breath away!

DECK FEATURES:

• Limited edition to 350.
• No other color variations of the deck will ever be printed.
• Tuck case: Black and Gold foil with embossing on black stock.
• 100% custom courts inspired by renaissance engravings
• Gold foil on all cards, front and back
• Amazing handling

The 2019 52 Plus Joker Club deck was introduced at the 52 Plus Joker Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina by designer Lotrek of Oath Playing Cards. Lotrek's decks have always been the hallmark of custom playing cards in the collector's arena since he and his workshop in Greece always push for innovations in card designing and printing. He has created several high-end decks such as Arabesque, Silk, Fable, Icons, Damask, Ambassador, Sanctus, Liturgy, etc. This year's club deck features his elaborate design with his iconic foiling paired with the techniques of Expert Playing Card Company, resulting in a marvelous combination of intricate craft and luxury. "The Entertainer" 2019 club deck is cold foil (Sage Green) + hot foil stamped (Gold) on the back design, and cold foil on the faces with rich coloring. This is by far the highest sought after edition in the 52 Plus Joker annual club deck lineup.

N.17 deck V.01 was made for the official launch of the crowd funding website Cardlauncher.com and was printed by MPC (Make Playing Cards). It was designed by Lorenzo Gaggiotti through his Stockholm17 company. 530 total were printed, 505 available as prizes and promo items from CardLauncher and 25 reserved for Private Reserve from creator. The deck was printed by MPC (Make Playing Cards) with a linen finish. It was a near prototype deck, but with a larger printing and distribution as it was always intended for revisions and a full crowd funded release. That new version was a Bicycle branded deck which launched on Kickstarter on Feb 17 and funded on March 19, 2015.

LIMITED EDITION ICONS Imperial Demo This was the final attempt to produce official ICONS Imperial, and the only issue are tiny marks on the faces of some cards left by the silver foil. The tucks is printed on a very beautiful burgundy color stock with a shiny gold metallic ink.

We are beyond grateful for the opportunity to have Lotrek from Oath Playing Cards print our Future Edition tuck and deck. Seeing that he is known in the community as a master at his craft, we could think of nobody better to create this masterpiece. Additionally, this deck will be the very last one printed by Lotrek for a campaign or deck that he is not involved in. We are extremely grateful to have this privilege. The Future Edition of the Visions deck was printed by Lotrek and Oath Playing Cards as the last deck printed by Lotrek for a campaign or deck that he is not involved in. The Future Edition deck was limited to 350 and is gold gilded to match the back design. Of those 350, 250 were reserved for the 3 deck collector's box.

The deck features gold metallic ink on the faces, gold and silver metallic on the back and an intricate tuck case that was amazingly stamped on 2-sided color "metallic" stock, pushing the limits of detailed foiling. 600 numbered decks will become available out of the 700 produced and ICONS “SACRED” will never be reprinted. As it was technically very demanding, and before I go to the press for IMPERIAL edition's final print, I decided to “sacrifice” this deck and use it in order to test my new printer’s efficiency and also to experiment with various production aspects from cutting methods and metallic inks’ behavior to playing card finish.  I used my own varnishing formula which has a feel that I like but appears a bit sensitive to rubbing and should be handled with care. That said, crafted with much love, devotion -and some risk-, ICONS SACRED is an experimental deck, more an art object than a deck for playing games.  But who can actually play games with the Sacred? That would be a sacrilege…

"I C O N S" Imperial edition

It's the first deck ever printed having both Gold and Silver hot stamped foil on the back of the cards.

"IMPERIAL" edition is a strictly limited production: Only 555 decks produced.

THE TUCK:

For such a special edition, Lotrek wanted a special tuck case. He started searching and experimenting with various materials until he decided on velvet: The most obvious and appropriate option, came last as it often happens...

The tuck box is made of velvet and has embossing and gold foil accents.

THE DECK:

The Back design - the gem of the deck- with Gold and Silver hot stamped foil on a purple background, is inspired by Byzantine mosaics. It features the two-headed eagle, the Imperial symbol.