Theory11 Will Be Releasing The Monarch Mandarin Edition Today!

[Update] The Mandarin Monarchs are now on Theory11.com

Happy Lunar New Year! To celebrate the auspicious occasion, Theory11 has teased the release of a brand new Monarch! The Mandarin Edition Monarchs sports an orange colorway after the popular small citrus fruit.

A close-up view of the teaser image reveals the stunning gold embossing of the tuck box. Like all previous Monarchs, the court cards will have standard faces and meticulously detailed line work the card backs most likely in the orange colorway, consistent to the tuck box.

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新年快樂 Monarch Mandarin Edition. In celebration of Chinese New Year. This week only! Tomorrow at 3pm ET. #theory11

A post shared by theory11 (@theory11) on Jan 23, 2020 at 12:36pm PST

Printed at the United States Playing Card Company. The deck will be released on Friday, 24th January at 3PM ET. Available this week only. Due to the limited nature of this deck, we are pretty sure these will go fast!

[Update] The Mandarin Monarchs are now on Theory11.com

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News: Monarchs x Now You See Me 2 Special Edition Playing Cards Now Available from Theory11 for a Limited Time

Theory11 in collaboration with Now You See Me 2 have just released a Special Edition of Monarch Playing Cards featuring a deep black tuck box laced with silver foil.

Monarch Playing Cards are used throughout the film by the cast, and this special edition features the Now You See Me 2 title across the front in eye-catching silver foil.

Made using FSC-certified paper derived from sustainable forests, vegetable-based inks, and starch-based laminates, this special edition set of Monarch Playing Cards is available now for a LIMITED time for $9.95 at Theory11.com


Images from Theory11.com

News: Theory11 Releases Green Monarchs

Just in time for the holiday season, Theory11 released the Green Monarchs today. The latest edition of the popular luxury deck, the Green Monarchs feature brilliant gold foil on an embossed, forest green tuck case. Absolutely breathtaking! 

The Green Monarch tuck is uniquely composed of two layers - it is the most durable tuck case Theory11 has ever made. Monarch playing cards are made in the USA on FSC-certified paper derived from sustainable forests. The cards themselves are printed with vegetable-based inks. Now available on theory11.com! 


Images from theory11.com

Claim Your FREE Limited-Edition Monarch Deck from Theory11- Here’s How

The eye-catching Monarch Summer Edition 2024 has been sold out since last year. However, Theory11 has made it available again for a limited time.

You can receive it for FREE with orders of $75 or more (while supplies last) on Theory11.com

This is the first new addition to the Monarch line in over four years, and it’s worth the wait. Designed by Curtis Jinkins, the Summer Edition is wrapped in a rich purple foil and bursting with bright flamingo pink, the box features a textured, canvas-like finish that screams summer.

Discover more deals, coupon codes, and offer on tuckcase.com

Theory11 Releases Red Monarch Playing Cards

Theory11 released the original Monarchs in 2011 and it quickly became one of Theory11's best-selling deck. Then there is the Limited Edition White Monarchs, which overloaded the servers due to high demand.

This year, they're back; and this time... in red. According to the marketing material, the back design has been updated with a vibrant and a more dramatic shade of red.

The tuck case has been updated as well with the highest quality paper ever used on a deck of cards. This luxurious new paper gives the tuck a rich, matte finish — incredibly soft to the touch.

The cards are printed on Q1 quality paper, with ultra-thin borders, first introduced on our Animal Kingdom Playing Cards.

Available for $6.95/deck from Theory11.com

Wow! Monarch (Prestige Edition) Playing Cards

To celebrate Theory11's 18th Anniversary, they've reimagined one of the most iconic decks in their catalog and ELEVATED it to an entirely new level of luxury. 

The new Monarch Prestige Edition features a breathtaking full-foil back design, with the entire background rendered in radiant gold foil. Layered over it is a striking dark bronze foil, creating depth and contrast that catches the light from every angle.

This special edition is the result of nearly two decades of pursuing the impossible and refining the art of luxury playing cards. More than just a deck, it represents the culmination of years of dedication and craftsmanship.

The Monarch Prestige Edition will only be available in limited quantities, and once it’s gone... it’s gone. Available on Theory11 for $14.95.

Deck View: Monarch (Prestige Edition) Playing Cards

Opulent. Celebratory. Refined. 

Created to mark Theory11’s 18th anniversary, the Monarch Prestige Edition revisits one of the brand’s most recognizable designs and pushes it into true luxury territory. The card backs are fully foiled, with a radiant gold background overlaid by dark bronze foil, creating dramatic depth and a dynamic play of light from every angle.

This edition reflects nearly two decades of refinement in premium playing card design, transforming the familiar Monarch aesthetic into a statement piece that emphasizes craftsmanship, material richness, and visual impact rather than reinvention.

Only available through special promotions on Theory11.

News: Stunning Theory11 Rarebit Gold Playing Cards Releasing on Jan 27

Earlier this week, Theory11 teased a few images of the Rarebit Gold Playing Cards on their social media accounts. Inspired by a vintage, speakeasy restaurant called The Rarebit in Charleston, South Carolina, the original Rarebit Playing Cards became an instant collector's item back in 2013. The follow-up Rarebit Copper Edition was also a fan favorite.

Theory11's first release of the year, the Rarebit Gold will feature a stunning GOLD FOIL on the card backs! This will be similar to the VERY rare Gold Monarch Playing Cards. The deck utilizes a revolutionary process where real metal foil is applied directly to the back of the playing cards.

The Rarebit Gold will also feature gold metallic ink on the card faces and custom courts, and elegant, simple design by Jay Fletcher. Like its predecessors, the deck is likely to sell out fast! Releasing this Friday, 27 January at 11am ET on Theory11.com.

Deck View: White Gold Monarch Playing Cards

Luxury. Elegant. Royal.

During the initial release, the demand for the White Monarchs were so overwhelming that Theory11's servers crashed. The White Monarchs are a limited edition version of the regular Monarch Playing Cards. This deck is made with FSC-certiifed paper and embossed box with stunning gold foil.

They look like they belong in a palace.

Gold metallic foil surrounds the elegant white tuck, with a vintage, timeless aesthetic. Absolutely breathtaking! ... and oh, they do handle as good as they look.

The Monarch playing card decks are available at JP Games.

A NEW Member Of The Royal Family, The Purple Monarchs!

We are really excited about the release of Theory11's new Monarchs! A new member of the royal family is born, in a vibrant, regal, purple color palette.

Illustrated by Curtis Jinkins, the latest edition of the popular luxury deck, the Purple Monarchs feature brilliant gold foil on an embossed, deep purple tuck case. Stunning!

Monarch playing cards are made in the USA on FSC-certified paper derived from sustainable forests. The cards themselves are printed with vegetable-based inks. Now available for $9.95 on theory11.com! 

Images from theory11.com

Deck View: Monarch (Purple Edition) Playing Cards

Regal. Breathtaking. Timeless.

A new member of the royal family. In a vibrant, regal, purple color palette. When Theory11 announced the deck last year, we couldn't wait to get our hands on these! Illustrated by Curtis Jinkins, the latest edition of the popular luxury deck features brilliant gold foil on an embossed, deep purple tuck case.

The semi-custom deck features custom Ace of Spades, Jokers and Card Backs. The courts are standard with updated colorway, with a vintage, timeless aesthetic when combined with the custom artwork.

Monarch playing cards are made in the USA on FSC-certified paper derived from sustainable forests. The cards themselves are printed with vegetable-based inks.

Issue 33 of Kardify Magazine Now on Patreon

Issue #33 of Kardify Magazine is now on Patreon! Patrons who pledged $3 or more on will be able to download the latest issue from our Patreon page. Issue #33 compiles selected articles published from mid-January to mid-February. Deck images, articles and news to keep you informed and up-to-date with the latest playing card news, releases and previews. If you love playing cards, you will love Kardify Magazine! 

Also, don't forget to check out our other cool reward tiers on Patreon! The new tiers include monthly desktop and smartphone wallpapers, mystery deck shipped to you every 4 months of ongoing contribution, social media shout-outs, and multiple sponsorship tiers! Check it out!

Funds received from the magazine will help us keep the site running and growing, and bringing new quality content to you. Our aim is to support designers by backing on crowd-funded projects and supporting magic and playing cards retailers with their new releases. If you want to support us, please head over to our Patreon page. If you have an idea for an article you would like us to pursue, do get in contact with us. We hope you enjoy the read. In this issue:

+ Monarch Mandarin:  To celebrate the Lunar New Year, Theory11 has released a brand new limited edition Monarch! Find out more.

+ Sovereign: Jody Eklund’s latest deck reimagines the courts of a standard playing cards with gorgeous illustrations. Check it out....

+ Void: A new cardistry brand by Scott Black. VOID is the first offering and explores the illusion of depth throughout the decks’ entire design.

+ Two NEW Gatorbacks: Find out more about David Blaine’s new releases. The Gatorbacks are one of his most collectible deck series.

+ Top 12 Most Funded Decks on Kickstarter: Have a look at the 12 most funded decks on Kickstarter. List updated with three new entries all breaking the $140k mark.

+ Four New Kings Wild Decks: Jackson Robinson has just released four new decks to non-Kings Wild Short subscribers. Find out more!

+ Black Dot: The team at Anyone released the highly sought-after Black Dot Playing Cards... sold out in less than 3 hours.

+ Lucky:  The fully custom deck by Doc’s Playing Card Co. and design studio Native Tongue. Lucky Playing Cards is luxurious yet practical and functional.

… and more! 56 pages of articles and deck images. Enjoy!

Limited Edition Eleven Madison Park Playing Cards

In a unique fusion of culinary artistry and card mastery, Eleven Madison Park brings you a limited edition playing card set, marking 25 years of its Michelin-starred legacy in the heart of New York. Designed in collaboration with Theory11, these cards are not just decks… they are a culinary masterpiece.

This collaboration is a testament to a journey that began in 2012. The custom EMP Monarch playing cards introduced then added an innovative twist to the fine dining experience at EMP, swiftly becoming a collector’s item. Now, after eleven years in the making, the partnership unveils a new limited edition.

What sets these playing cards apart is the touch of culinary genius infused into their design. Each card, a canvas of plant-based illustrations, is hand-painted in watercolor by Chef Daniel Humm himself. This creative process is an extension of the restaurant’s commitment to innovation, echoed in its plant-based menu.

The packaging of these decks is no less a work of art. Crafted by hand in Minnesota, it employs tree-free hemp-fiber paper, echoing Eleven Madison Park’s dedication to sustainability and craftsmanship.

Immerse yourself in a world where culinary art meets the finesse of cardistry. Every card in this deck is not just a piece of a game; it’s a feast for the eyes, a tribute to the creativity and passion poured into each dish served at Eleven Madison Park.

Available NOW from theory11.com for $16.95.

Deck View: Monarchs (Mandarin Edition) Playing Cards

Tradition. Vibrant. Festivals. 

A special edition of the popular luxurious Monarch Playing Cards series by Theory11. The Mandarin Monarchs was released earlier this year to celebrate the Lunar New Year. Illustrated by Curtis Jinkins, the deck features vibrant, bright red and yellow colorway, a tribute to the stunning festivals, and beautiful traditions of the Lunar New Year.

 The semi-custom deck features custom Ace of Spades, Jokers, and Card Backs. The courts are standard with the updated colorway, with a vintage, timeless aesthetic when combined with the custom artwork. This Limited Edition deck was only available for one week and currently marked 'Sold Out' on Theory11's store.

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🎉 Issue 100 of Kardify Magazine is Now on Patreon!

Woot woot! 🎉 Issue 100 of Kardify Magazine is officially out on Patreon! When we first started, we never thought we’d make it all the way to 100 issues... but here we are, 8 years later. Huge thanks to ALL our amazing patrons for making this milestone possible and for your support and friendship along the way. 

Patrons who pledged $3 or more will be able to download the latest issue from our Patreon page. This issue compiles selected articles published from mid-August to mid-September. Deck images, articles, and news to keep you informed and up-to-date with the latest playing card news, releases, and previews. If you love playing cards, you will love Kardify Magazine!

Also, don’t forget to check out our other cool reward tiers on Patreon! The tiers include monthly desktop and smartphone wallpapers, a mystery deck shipped to you every 4 months of ongoing contributions, social media shout-outs, and multiple sponsorship tiers! Check it out!

Funds received from the magazine will help us keep the site running and growing, and bring new quality content to you. Our aim is to support designers by backing crowdfunded projects and supporting magic and playing cards retailers with their new releases. If you want to support us, please head over to our Patreon page. If you have an idea for an article you would like us to pursue, do get in contact with us. We hope you enjoy the read. In this issue:   

+ Nutcracker 2025 Edition: Kings Wild’s latest release features stunning design, enchanting characters, and theatrical artistry, transforming each card into a magical scene from the timeless story. Check it out!

+ Steeped: By Squiddle Ink, this dynamic deck celebrate Indian chai culture, blending maximalist design, vibrant neon hues, and elegant silverware-inspired details!

+ A.Haines (Year Two) Deck: Released as a Patreon reward deck for collectors who appreciate craftsmanship, history, and originality. 

+ Monarch Prestige: Theory11’s 18th Anniversary Monarch Prestige Edition dazzles with radiant gold and dark bronze foils, reimagining the iconic deck into a luxurious, light-catching masterpiece.

+ The Magician's Last Secret: By Anti-Faro, this deck series is a lavish tribute to the golden age of stage magic, inspired by legendary illusionists like Houdini. Find out more!

+ Lord of the Rings: National Parks: This Kings Wild deck reimagines the landscapes of Middle-earth in the bold, nostalgic style of Federal Works Program-era style National Park Poster. 

+ Love & Retribution: Set in 1800s England, this beautiful deck hand-illustrated A.Haines tells the forbidden love story of two people born worlds apart but brought together by fate. Check it out!

+ The Parlour Royale: A return to The Gentleman Wake’s first deck, reimagined by Stockholm17. Six years after the original release, this revival blends the elegance, and class that defined the series with new design elements.

… and more! 48-pages of articles and deck images. Enjoy!

Magic: Get Inspired By This Short Video Featuring Franco Pascali

Last week, this inspiring video featuring 19 years-old LA magician Franco Pascali (@francopascali), was selected as Vimeo Staff Pick. The well-produced video showcases Franco's incredible handling of a deck of playing cards and what drives him as a young magician. Here's what director Jacob Rosenberg has to say in the video description,

... magic and cardistry are intensely personal and individually orientated in terms of the endless practice that is required to master them. Tricks are performed with decks and each person embodies a style that is distinctly their own. That style is reflective of the influences they devoured when they were coming up and their intrinsic sensibility that they develop as they mature. As I spent time with Franco I immediately wanted to point my camera at him to capture the way he dressed, the way he talked, the breathtaking way he moved cards and the feeling I had in encountering such raw talent. 

Check it out...!

 

Deck featured on video: Monarch Playing Cards by Theory11.

Kickstarter: 7 Questions with Ade Suryana of Aquila Playing Cards

The Aquila Playing Cards is a collaboration between Three of Clubs and Kardify Projects. This meticulously designed playing cards is inspired by the Garuda Wisnu Kencana in Bali, Indonesia. This large mythical bird with eagle-like features has been featured in many cultural and religious mythologies, and has become a cultural symbol in Bali and Java.

This custom deck of playing cards is designed by Indonesian graphic artist Ade Suryana and will be printed by the Legends Playing Card Company (LPCC). In between preparing for our Kickstarter project, I had a quick chat with Ade about his design background, the inspiration behind Aquila, LPCC and his thoughts on Kickstarter.

Can you tell us about yourself, Three of Clubs and what is your design background?
My name is Ade Suryana. I was born in Tomohon, North Sulawesi of Indonesia. I love drawing and painting since the age of 5. I always get support from my parents and frequently attend the drawing competition (and of course I won some of them, haha). I was introduced into playing card by my uncle since I was 7 years old. We live in different town, he visit me once a week on Sunday and everytime he came, we always play a game with playing card. I remember when I was in elementary school, I love to make a small size of playing card and sell it to my friend at school. I use markers to draw the indices and pips and made the tuckcase from cardboard.

I moved to Yogyakarta, Central Java of Indonesia at 2004 when I attend to college to study IT. Talk about my design background, I have never attend formal college for design. I learned about graphic design from my brother. He is an illustrator and graphic designer and also my teacher in design. At the moment, I’m a freelance graphic designer for 4 years based in Yogyakarta, mostly designed logo for business and individuals. Back in 2013, I won a small contest of VJose Playing Cards at August 2013, later on September 2013 I collaborate with my friend Joao Pereira to submit my design and we won Bicycle Club 808 Contest Design-A-Deck-Rematch.

I’ve been collecting modern playing cards for 3 years and enjoyed the art of playing cards. Being in a playing cards community, I met two people this past year that have the same passion and vision, later we formed. Three of Clubs- myself as a designer, Akmal Luthfi (Magicican, Photographer, Video Editor) and Krisnapati Bayu (IT Professional, Content Creator , Deception Artist). We’re based in Indonesia. This is the first time we’ve been working together for a playing card project. We have one vision to spread our culture into playing cards and also create high quality playing card that could be accepted, enjoyed and used by playing cards enthusiast such as magicians, cardists and collectors.

What is your inspiration behind Aquila Playing Cards? How did you come up with the idea?
The idea of the deck itself came from Akmal Luthfi when we’re been talking about playing cards. Back in 2009 I visited Garuda Wisnu Kencana in Bali, so I think this will be a great idea to spread our culture into playing card. Later I start to build a concept design based on his idea. Garuda also described as a myth in our culture, so we create a concept of “The Myth” into a Marking System based on Krinapati Bayu idea which will be featured in The Standard Edition of AQUILA.

How much time did you spend working on the deck?
Couldn’t really say exactly how much time I spend on this deck. If I'm counting it's probably three months from the first line I drawed on this deck. I started the first rough design concept at January 2014, and spend 8-10 hours a day, most at night to designing and tweaking.

If funded, this will be the first Kickstarter project printed by Legends Playing Card Company. How did you come to this decision to use LPCC and were there any challenges when you approached them?
Legends Playing Card Company is known for their breakthroughs in quality and card handling. Legends #852 sold out the bulk of its inaugural print run of 11,000 decks in days, and are highly coveted among collectors, magicians, and poker players for the “glass-like” edges, durability, and printing precision. This was followed by a close partnership with The Expert Playing Card Company and CARC to create the Exquisite decks, and working together to innovate and create exciting new projects.

Well, after some research I found that LPCC could fulfill what we need for Aquila deck project, particularity in the areas of card stock, finishing and handling. The other thing that really impressed me is the consistency of the card borders, which are perfectly centered even with a thin border under 3mm.

As an artist, working with LPCC was extremely smooth and fast from the first time I submitted the artwork through to the final approval. The guidance from Lawrence Sullivan was really detailed and the communication was excellent. Being able to collaborate with Lawrence Sullivan from LPCC was such a great experience.

What are a few of your favorite reward levels and why?
I’ve to say my favorite reward level is the Limited Collector Set and Mixed Dual. As a collector for myself, mostly I would buy 2 decks, 1 to be opened and 1 for displayed. And the collector box is nice item for displayed.

Playing card projects on Kickstarter has grown exponentially over the past few years? What are yout thoughts?
Kickstarter has become a great platform for artists and other creators. I have seen a lot of playing cards projects on Kickstarter and I think it is mutually beneficial for both creators and backers to create and enjoy the art of playing cards. Although there are several funded projects that failed to delivered because they set goals that are too low and can not cover the cost of production and delivery. For me as a creator, "PLAN" is the most important thing and ensure the artwork has been approved by the manufacturer before launching a project. It will save your time in a production phase when the project is funded. I have seen a few projects of playing cards that have not been approved by the manufacturer when they launched a project, and ended up with a few design changes, even the worst there are a few projects that can not be manufactured by the same manufacturer that has been promised in the campaign.

With that being said, there are always the greatest, the good, the bad and the worst playing cards projects that I’ve seen on Kickstarter. Backers are more selective, and the decision to bring a worthed project is in the creators hand.

Finally, what are your three favorite playing cards?
+ Monarch from Theory11: I love the linework design and the tuckcase. Classy and elegant.
+ Exquisite by EPCC & LPCC: This deck of playing cards represent a breakthrough in quality and card handling. The consistency of the card borders which are perfectly centered really impressed me, aside from the top notch of the card stock and finishing.
+ Federal 52 Series by Jackson Robinson: The art detail that has been put on this deck are amazing. I would describe the deck with two words : Playing cART :)

Thanks Ade!

Aquila will be available in two editions: Standard and Limited Edition (LE). Both decks are completely unique and 100% customised. The LE deck is limited to 1,500 and features an embossed tuck, custom deal and gold foil. These beautiful deck will be printed by LPCC at the highest quality stock with Legends 'Diamond Finish'. Pledge starts from $12.

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