The playing cards for cardists, collectors, magicians, card players, artists, enthusiasts and everyone in between.

For three years, at Joker and the Thief, we have reviewed and handled hundreds of custom designer playing cards from around the world. We have seen absolute gems and absolute rubbish, innovation and repetition, various design trends, decks that handle spectacularly and decks that handle poorly. What we have observed is a vast plethora of combinations, leading to either quality products or poor ones. We believe that a certain balance needs to be achieved in order to create a great deck of cards. Now we are delighted to introduce to you, a collaborative project with Pedro Oyarbide, 6 months in the making - Joker and the Thief Playing Cards.

Dive deep with Seafarer: Submariner playing cards - the second edition of the definitive nautical deck series. Designed in collaboration with artist Gustavo Magalhaes.

Seafarers took 6 months to design and was illustrated completely by hand, featuring a back design writhing with symbolism, an iconic ace of spades, as well a set of original court cards that tell an enchanting tale.

The court cards are all completely custom, with distinct characteristics. Each suit tells its own story, with each jack, queen and king symbolically linked.

Featuring a luxury custom tuck box. Proudly printed in the U.S.A on our Crushed Performance Stock and Linen Glide Finish for superior handling and durability.

The Limited Edition of the EMPIRE decks are numbered of 800. These are remaining stock from the March 2022 Vintage Reimagined Series. Printed by the United States Playing Card Co.

What happens when you cross one of the Greatest American Playing Card Empires with the themes and imagery of the Great Roman Empire? All roads lead to Empire No. 97 playing cards by Andrew Dougherty.

Dougherty had a long and successful career manufacturing playing cards in New York, and some of the most iconic brands began within the walls of his Manhattan facilities. Tally-Ho No. 9, No. 0 Steamboats, No. 50 Indicator and Triplicates No.18, just to name a few.

In 1895, with his health failing, Andrew Dougherty retired from the business and turned the company over to his three sons, Andrew Jr, Edward J. and William Henry. These men had been meticulously groomed for the job since childhood, and together, they carried their dad's legacy into the future. They did this by not only continuing the business but also creating new decks that would honour the family's heritage in the card-making industry. One of the first brands they created on their own was genuinely iconic. Empire No. 97 Playing Cards not only symbolized the Roman Empire but also very much the Dougherty Legacy.

By Jose Morales & James Howells

The iconic Kings Wild Tigers that first debuted on Kickstarter in 2018 now make a grand return with the Kings Wild Tigers 2nd Edition featuring new colors and new designs, but that same perfectly executed vintage matchbox look and feel. This Gilded Edition features a blue, prism gilding on the decks.

"I have always been interested and also inspired by printing methods and aesthetics of the late 1800s & early 1900s, especially the wide range of matchbook ephemera produced all over the world. I find it so interesting that so much beauty and variety can be found in material that, at the time, was produced to be "throw away". The Kings Wild Tigers are an artistic study and creation, in the form of playing cards, that pays homage to the beautiful world of matchbook printing of the late 1800s & early 1900s." - Jackson Robinson, Designer, CEO

Wayfarers has all the features that you could ever possibly want or need in a deck of playing cards!

• 100% Custom Design - Illustrated from Scratch!
• Designed in Spain - Produced in Australia
• Made in America!
• Featuring Crush Paper Stock and Finish
• Incredible Handling and Outstanding Durability - Designed to Handle like a Dream!
• Thin Borders
• Speciality Tuck Case - Masterfully crafted utilising Heidelberg machines at our letterpress studio in Southern California!
• Foil. Embossing. Letterpress on both the Interior and Exterior of the Tuck
• Premium Quality Imported Dyed Paper for Tuck Case
• Perforated Custom Shaped Seal

Full Deck Scan by Cardtograher MacStrat

Full Deck Scan by Cardtograher MacStrat

A World of Color THE OUTER PACKAGING The box packaging is printed using antique letterpress machines dating back to the 1960’s - with six layers of vibrant color, embossed for a unique tactile sensation. The front face features the Skull & Roses at center, with custom composition surrounding.

The Back Design AND THE ACES Featuring the unmistakable Steal Your Face logo in the middle, the back design encapsulates iconic imagery that Dead Heads have come to know and love over many decades. The terrapins play their tune, and the dancing bears swing to every note. The aces also feature stunning full-art design, complete with logos and mascots that are cemented in the band’s history.

A Court of Colors JACKS, QUEENS AND KINGS The court cards are simply jaw-dropping. Continuing the use of iconic logos and mascots - bears, terrapins, and skeletons are prominently featured in vibrant detail. Every inch of the deck is fully custom, including the font style and design of each individual suit.

Every aspect of the cards is 100% made in America, using FSC-certified paper infused with hemp fibers on the tuck case packaging. The cards are safely sealed within, with an ivory matte sticker seal featuring the Stealie skull.

Full Deck Scan by Cardtograher MacStrat

Full Deck Scan by Cardtograher MacStrat