Reproduction of the Ackermann Transformation Deck from 1818. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/playingcarddecks/ackermann-bartlett-1818-transformation-playing-cards-uspcc/description

This pack was made by Heinrich Friedrich Müller, Vienna, most probably between 1810 and 1815. See his name on the King of Hearts. This is the Vienese published design of the pack. The cards first appeared in a publication entitled the “Repository of Arts, Literature, Fashion etc” published by Rudolph Ackermann in London. The magazine displayed the cards 4 at a time in 12 issues over the course of 1818, with the January publication from 1819 providing the last 4. The Ackermann published cards have backgrounds in the courts.

The 1818 decks represent the luxury peak of the "Bold" project. Up to 82 (1-81 plus no. 0) hand-numbered decks were released into the world. The 1818 Experimental decks, in particular, belong to a run of 18 decks with hand-crafted, special gilding realized in Italy. Each participant was given the possibility to choose the color of the tucks and the deck to gild (Deluxe or STD). With 3 possible colors for the paper stock and 2 possible decks to gild, the experiment led to 6 combinations. Why 1818? Giambattista Bodoni’s Manuale Tipografico is considered one of history’s greatest typographical achievements. Among other things, Bodoni’s Manual of Typography explores the origins of the much-loved Bodoni typeface, which is a fundamental element for the Bold decks too. The book was first published posthumously in 1818.

The 1818 decks represent the luxury peak of the "Bold" project. Up to 82 (1-81 plus no. 0) hand-numbered decks were released into the world. The 1818 Experimental decks, in particular, belong to a run of 18 decks with hand-crafted, special gilding realized in Italy. Each participant was given the possibility to choose the color of the tucks and the deck to gild (Deluxe or STD). With 3 possible colors for the paper stock and 2 possible decks to gild, the experiment led to 6 combinations. Why 1818? Giambattista Bodoni’s Manuale Tipografico is considered one of history’s greatest typographical achievements. Among other things, Bodoni’s Manual of Typography explores the origins of the much-loved Bodoni typeface, which is a fundamental element for the Bold decks too. The book was first published posthumously in 1818.