“Korchma Taras Bulba”   ( 2005 )

This is the first of two decks designed by famous Ukrainian illustrator Vladislav Erko specially for “Korchma Taras Bulba” - the restaurant in Moscow which specializes in traditional Ukrainian cuisine. Taras Bulba is the protagonist of the romanticized historical short story by Nikolai Gogol about the life of an old Zaporozhian Cossack, Taras Bulba, and his two sons. The cards feature figures based on authentic traditional Ukrainian costumes in exquisite detail, including traditional tools and musical instruments.

There have been several editions of the deck. The second edition (2011) has modified suit symbols, a different box and back design, gold printing and an overall richer feel.

 

http://www.wopc.co.uk/russia/korchma-taras-bulba.html

“Korchma Taras Bulba” ( 2005 ) The first of two decks designed by famous Ukrainian illustrator Vladislav Erko specially for “Korchma Taras Bulba” - the restaurant in Moscow which specializes in traditional Ukrainian cuisine. Taras Bulba is the protagonist of the romanticized historical short story by Nikolai Gogol about the life of an old Zaporozhian Cossack, Taras Bulba, and his two sons. The cards feature figures based on authentic traditional Ukrainian costumes in exquisite detail, including traditional tools and musical instruments. Deck preview on Flickr

"Pekelna Horugva” (Пекельна хоругва in Ukranian which means Hell banner or flag of Hell) is the second deck designed by Ukrainian illustrator Vladislav Erko, manufactured by Nage Cards, Saint-Petersburg, 2012. Vladislav Erko is noted for his beautiful artwork in children’s fairy tale books, as well as his earlier deck for “Taras Bulba” the Moscow restaurant which serves traditional national cuisine. In this second deck, which also contains some culinary references, the imagery has turned rather grim and appears to be based on the mystical works of Nikolai Gogol expressing ethnic and nationalist themes, including death.

This entry is for the original printing of the deck printed by Nage Cards (http://www.nage-cards.ru/) that is a larger size (2.767" X 4.130") and features the original card back and thumb slot tuck compared to the reprints that were made after which had a modified tuck, standard bridge size and a new simpler back  (from the artist's Alice in Wonderland work for some strange reason).

http://www.wopc.co.uk/russia/pekelna-horugva.html

http://a.trionfi.eu/WWPCM/decks15/d13217/d13217.htm

Scans of each card can be seen at www.marytcusack.com/maryc/decks/html/Cards/KingsGameBlack.html

King's Game playing cards is a custom poker size deck that pays tribute to the timeless game of chess: its figures, its moves and its players (the Kings). With a medieval inspiration, this deck focuses on the figures that are represented by each chess piece: king, queen, bishop, knight, rook and pawn. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/bonafideplayingcards/kings-game-playing-cards

Homage to the ancient process of beer brewing, Hops & Barley is a classic deck of luxury playing cards for all beer aficionados.

A classic, slimline deck with vintage-style tuck boxes of which the paper is made from actual beer by-products such as the remaining hops, barley, yeast and even recycled beer mats and labels.

55 fully custom playing cards by Jocu designer Alessandra Gagliano

52 cards, two Jokers and a duplicate Ace of Spades

Beautiful black and copper foil design, with opaque foil details

Printed on slimline card stock with premium B9 linen finish by Cartamundi

Copper cold-foil printing on the backs of the cards

Matte, textured tuck boxes made from recycled beer mats

Copper foil and embossing on the tuck boxes

Individually hand-numbered limited run of 1000

Includes letter-press certificate of authenticity inside the box

Designed in Italy, cards printed in Belgium and boxes printed in Italy.

KickStarter: Hops & Barley by Jocu Playing Cards

Lone Star Playing Cards takes us back to the times of the wild, wild West. Beautifully illustrated by Jonathan Schubert of Schubert Studios, Lone Star Playing Cards is Pure Imagination Projects' take on the classic Texan deck. With a rainbow pinwheel back design and an embossed, leather textured tuck case, Lone Star Playing Cards will be sure to catch your spectators' eyes from the moment they leave your pocket until the end of your performance.

Full deck scan here: https://cardscans.piwigo.com/index?/category/88-culturae_animalis

My name is Jack Brutus Penny and I’m a nonsense writer, illustrator and English teacher from England, living in Japan. Founder of the publication house JBPPublishing and writer of various works including The Riddle Me Collection and In Truth Stories, I find hoopla in the playful nature of words and whimsy in their imaginative illustrating.

I am pleased to introduce my latest project - Culturae Animalis.

Culturae Animalis (the cultural animal/animal culture) is a deck of highly detailed, hand-drawn, luxury art playing cards. It is a deck of stunning art playing cards with a beautiful message of cultural respect and environmental and animal protection. The illustration work alone took over six months, with every card, including pip cards, having its own unique design, and each set of suit court cards being one continuous panoramic scene.

Most of my written and illustrated work revolves around themes of nature, wildlife and identity, and this project is no different. Each suit depicts one animal type and one culture.

The Features:

A full deck of luxury art playing cards

52 Cards + 2 Jokers all with unique hand-drawn illustrations, most to the edge of the card

Poker Size (3.5" X 2.5")

Black core (highest quality card core) 330 gsm heavy paper with linen texture (to reduce surface contact for an easier shuffle) and with a gloss finish

Gold gilded edges

Environmentally friendly and wildlife friendly dedicated approach (see below) including special soy ink and use of 100% paper material (of which 85% is recycled)

Custom anti-scratch matte tuck case with hand-drawn artwork and spot gloss (spot UV) details

Reaching the initial funding goal will ensure a print run of 1000 decks

Through stretch goals to be announced as the project progresses, and through reward tiers, expect additional unique hand-drawn cards, an additional two piece luxury container box, and more

KickStarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jackbrutuspenny/culturae-animalis-art-playing-cards

Claude Weisbuch is a French artist born in 1927. The faces are reinterpreted with legendary character like Ceasar or Lancelot, suits are turned into statues while sitting on pedestals.

This is an artistic deck for the love of cards and the art from the bible, not for a gambling aid. Gambling is considered a sin among Christian and many religions, the concept of using the images of saints and biblical characters - and one could say double so of the family of Jesus and Abraham - in order to act out such a sin could be considered blasphemous and insulting to the religion. This was a significant consideration whilst building this deck, but my mind was settled when conducting my research; I found the Catholic Church of England & Wales themselves use the image of Jesus as the King of Hearts and using cards to help the youth to reflect on their relationships. Ethnicity was another consideration, and has been discussed in some length with religious and scholarly experts. I decided to stay in line with traditional western interpretations of the Bible characters as I have based my cards on my own experiences of the Bible. Some of the best art in the world is inspired by, or directly taken from the bible, and whilst this deck may not be up there with the masters, I hereby present you with my deck: Testament, a classic styled deck for the collector. For the love of cards and art of the bible. This is the very first Testament deck For the re-released deck in a game-friendly playing cards, go here: https://www.portfolio52.com/deck/11546/view Full Deck Scan: https://cardscans.piwigo.com/index?/category/475-testament_art_edition

Hologram reads both "Clever Creation Company" and "Medicom Toy Official", as well as the Medicom logo. Full Deck Scan: https://cardscans.piwigo.com/index?/category/787-bicycle_astronaut_snoopy

Created and printed by Peter Dunham and Linnea Gits (UUSI), and William Kalush (Expert Playing Card Company) exclusively for the 52 Plus Joker. This limited edition deck has design elements inspired by earth tones. Fully customized. UUSI style monotone faces and Guilloché style back design.

An Uusi exclusive commission for Baha Mar Casino, "Junkanoo" is a playing card deck that pays homage to the storied, folk festival of the same name held every year in the Bahama's by the local island residents. Casinos are central to the economy and identity of these Bahama residents whose imaginative reinventions on the playing card theme weave throughout the "Junkanoo" parade. Baha Mar is one of the largest casinos on the island and a thrilled supporter of the artistry that takes center stage in this exuberant, local festival. From the spirited patterns and colorful costumes of the Junkanoo dancers and musicians to the thrilling, larger- than-life floats, island pride comes together joyfully in this immersive, high-spirited celebration of local island community. This First Edition Junkanoo playing card deck was printed as a Limited Edition of 1000 decks for the High-rollers, friends and patrons of the Baha Mar casino. The casino has graciously shared 225 of these special decks with Uusi so we can make them available to our collectors, magicians, flourishers, poker players and all who enjoy the artistry and beauty of rare, custom playing card decks. "Junkanoo" playing cards reflect the beauty and creative abundance of this local community and truly embody the Baha Mar catchphrase, Life Spectacular. Enjoy!! Limited Edition of 1000 / only 225 available to the public 52 playing cards / 2 jokers all with original artwork by Uusi sculpted, embossed design on luxurious tuck box stock gold foil detail on tuck first edition custom seal premium playing card stock with linen finish printed by the Expert Playing Card Company in Taiwan

Our Pagan playing cards features the ancient Pagan symbol of “The Whisk of Laima” on the tuck box. Laima is the Baltic Pagan Goddess of luck and fate in addition to beauty and magic – the perfect symbol for games of chance and strategy!

First edition "Whisk of Lamia" Ivory / edition of 1000

52 playing cards / 2 jokers

custom seal on tuck box

premium playing cards stock with linen finish

tuck box has an embossed, gold foil design on premium, heavy paper stock

printed by the Expert Playing Card Company in Taiwan

2020 DOTY Award Nominee: 'Best Tuck', 'Best Rookie Deck'

Art of Play is proud to present a shuffled gallery of surrealist fantasy, unlike any other deck of playing cards the world has ever seen. Cabinetarium is a collection of 55 original works hand-drawn by award-winning illustrator Armando Veve.

Veve's fantastic creatures, absurd objects, and exotic fantasies combine to create a singular vision—a mythic assemblage of ideas that will stir the imagination and quicken the pulse. Browse through the illustrations and marvel at a mastery of craft that evokes echoes of Bosch, Escher, and Dali.

The cards of the Cabinetarium are housed in a marvelous conceptual cabinet of magnificent detail, intricately embossed and adorned with gold foil. Each deck is carefully packaged by hand. Full Deck Scan: https://cardscans.piwigo.com/index?/category/598-cabinetarium

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.

Designed by Lorenzo Gaggiotti, The House of the Rising Spade is a place built for imagination; an esoteric realm full of mysteries built for cartomancers, cardists, magicians, collectors, dreamers, and card enthusiasts. The tuck box was produced by Oath Playing Cards. The Faro variant gets closer to old poker decks from 1800's. No index at all, one-way design for all the cards. Play cards as they used to do in 1800's with a modern and esoteric touch. The deck was printed by the USPCC. The Faro variant features gold metallic ink on the back design, and a few graphic elements of the faces.

This is the second edition, and even if it looks the same as the first one, some changes have been made to the cards and the tuckbox.

This is a luxurious deck of cards with gold foil application on both sides of all the cards, custom illustrated court cards, 3 jokers and ace of spades surrounded by shiny gold. The cards handle fantastic and the light reflected on the gold foiled areas makes the cards pop and shine.

Cartomancer 2nd Edition:

Printed by Cartamundi

Paper stock: true linen B9 finish, slimline

56 cards poker size

Golden cold-foil on both sides of the cards

100% custom, with one-way court cards and spot cards.

Back design is also one-way

55th card: double backer

56th card: 3rd Joker, "The Fool" from Keymaster Tarot

Tuckbox printed by Oath Playing Cards with black foil, gold foil, inner graphics and embossing on black paper.

Cards are cello-wrapped

Tuckbox is cello-wrapped as well

No seal / No signature

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The differences:

Tuckbox:

size, slightly thinner

paper stock

MMXX instead of MMXVIII on the front

bottom flap design

top flap design

inner graphics

Cards:

new paper stock: B9 true linen slimline

Ace of Spades: date in roman numerals and some small details in the illustration

55th card: 3rd Joker

A collaboration between Kardify and Murphy's Magic, Six Strings is a fully custom deck of playing cards inspired by the most majestic and fascinating musical instrument—the guitar.

This limited edition deck is designed by Ade Suryana and features fully custom design, reimagined courts, and a beautifully crafted letter-pressed tuck case. Six Strings is as beautiful as it is functional – versatile for themed magic, game nights or to have in the collection.

View all cards here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/167981955@N07/albums/72157709490965377

Full Deck Scan: https://cardscans.piwigo.com/index?/category/45-six_strings