[felicityk] Alternate suits, standard patterns, and vintage decks

[Honeybee]

No I was talking about these - I am not a fan of foil

[felicityk]

No I was talking about these - I am not a fan of foil

In person, the colors are a little better realized on the Patrons White deck. There is more subtlety to the shading. But if I could have the test print with even some foil accents on the back, that would satisfy me. The unadorned backs just leave a bit to be desired.

[Honeybee]

Interesting, my problem with the white is the breaking of the borders - it totally fails IMO

[felicityk]

Having just received my rewards for the Wishers campaign, I wanted to share some of Rick Davidson's previous work.

Origins: Rouen 1567

[felicityk]

From the same Kickstarter campaign as above.

Origins: Shadows of History

[felicityk]

Wishers fits nicely into this lineage.

Wishers Professional Blue

[felicityk]

The De Novo campaign was a neat concept. I hope Rick's new company is conducive to further experiments like this.

De Novo — meaning 'starting anew’ — conceptualizes playing cards from a distant future with an elegant yet futuristic accent....Inspired by today's standard design, each suit imagines characters from influential groups.

De Novo: Viridi

[felicityk]

Fresh from Kickstarter: Qing Tong by GamiPockie, inspired by ancient Chinese bronzeware

[felicityk]

Although the above isn't a Chinese Zodiac deck, it inspired me to share a couple of decks on that theme.

Four Seasons (Paper Cut), ARK Playing Card Co, 2023

[felicityk]

This one is subtitled "Chinese Zodiac Edition", but there does not appear to be any other edition.

Porcelain, Shann Larsson, Legends Playing Cards, 2017

[GandalfPC]

I love that Porcelain deck - picked it up an eon ago when I first discovered Legends site

Spot UV on the tuck and backs make for nice effect

[felicityk]

After what feels like a long break, here's an addition to my vintage collection. I've noticed this deck over the years, liked the art, but didn't feel I needed to go out of my way to obtain it. Then I found one for cheap on eBay and thought, why not?

Comedia, Stig Lindberg, J. O. Öberg & Son, 1958

[felicityk]

Room One is the new champion of fulfilling campaigns much sooner than expected. Here is The Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

[Honeybee]

It is funny how one can perceive simplicity. In the above deck I give the actual face of the QoS a C- and yet I give all the simple Comedia faces an A

[felicityk]

Here is the Aurora colorway, Qubba Edition, featuring one-way courts without foil or gilding. The diptych Joker called for a slightly different layout than usual.

I picked up the Signature Edition of 1001 Nights Aurora as an add-on to the Hanging Gardens campaign. Here it is, with a unique Joker.

[felicityk]

In addition to the well-known A.M. Cassandre deck, the Hermès label has released at least three more decks with unique courts. One I find somewhat attractive (top two photos), the second not so much. I will share my newly-acquired third deck in the next post.

[felicityk]

This charming Hermès deck is called Les 4 Mondes. The original deck might have been oversized; this is a bridge-sized reprint with silver gilding. I don't know the original date or artist.

[GandalfPC]

Nice - I don’t have any Hermes - might have to do something about that at this point - what else have they been hiding from me?

[felicityk]

I found one more Hermès deck at Two For His Heels.

[atzenhofer]

Very nice designs! Though the second one is indeed a little extra.

I don't know the original date or artist.

According to a few auction sites the original design is from 2010 and by Pierre Marie, a designer that works together regularly with Hermes since 2009.

[Honeybee]

I found one more Hermès deck at Two For His Heels.

I like the courts of that one but luckily not the number cards as it is 3x's my self imposed limit!

[felicityk]

I nabbed a Lotrek Mystery III deck (now officially known as Rubaiyat), but scans of heavily foiled decks come out too dark. In these cases, I photograph my standard 6-card layout for Pinterest to the best of my ability. Here it is, for the curious.

[felicityk]

Here are a couple of recent additions that were also too shiny to scan. From TWI, Obsession Rapture (Kickstarter) and Fiamma Rossa (Patreon).

[felicityk]

Here's a fun deck I saw advertised on Instagram, of all places. It's available through Amazon in the US. There is a unique bird on every card, and while I like the courts, I actually enjoy the pips more. I've selected some of the birds I know personally.

Bird in the Hand, 2025, Underdog Games, Erikas Chesonis

[Honeybee]

I saw that one too Felicity, I like to collect bird decks and I like pattern backs but this back turned me off the deck.
The AoS reminds me of a favourite

[felicityk]

I'm lucky to be able to share my latest KS reward. Like so many countries, Poland suspended shipping to the US while Artur Rajch was in the middle of fulfilling his Camelot campaign. Mine was one of the packages that made it through.

Sir Galahad is close to the original version I did in 2018. There are the first pips and fonts, and an earlier design of all the aces. I have reduced the color scheme of the court cards here to better distinguish them by color.

Camelot: Sir Galahad, Artur Rajch Design, 2025, WJPC

[felicityk]

Sir Lancelot is the definitive version, there is more Art Nouveau style design combined with modern illustration and medieval ornamentation. 

Camelot: Sir Lancelot, Artur Rajch Design, 2025, WJPC

[felicityk]

I'll keep the theme going. Magdalena Kaczan designed the art for one of several campaigns Natalia Silva never fulfilled, Avalon. Years later, Magdalena redesigned her illustrations for a campaign from Tim Olinger/Kingdoms of Erden.

Camelot, Magdalena Kaczan, 2024

[felicityk]

Here's one more take on the legend. Riffle Shuffle were once very prolific with similar decks from the likes of Srdjan Vidakovic, Pedro Oyarbide, Dhamas Adhitya, and others. There were usually two standard colorways plus a third foiled edition, which you see here. Their output seems to have trickled off and doesn't appeal to me any more.

King Arthur: Golden Knight, Studio Muti, Riffle Shuffle, 2020

[felicityk]

I forgot I still had this version of Arthurian from the original Kickstarter campaign. The Holy Grail foiled edition is gorgeous, but scans too dark. Overall, it's one of my very favorite KWP decks, along with Robin Hood.

Arthurian: Camelot, Jackson Robinson, Kings Wild Project, 2017