Collections: Carat Card Cases

Something a little different this week in Collections, we spend so much of our time building our collections, but what do we do with all these wonderful decks once we have them? Do you store them in a box never to be seen again? I've been a collector a very long time and while displaying your passion can become difficult, especially if you have a larger collection, it's still nice to be able to showcase a few here and there.

I only have a few "Rules" when it comes to my collection, and one of them is to display as many as I can. If your like me, scouring and hunting those new additions, you should have those reminders around to show the fruits of your labor and the passion behind your collection.

Last year, Sherman Tsao came across an image of a single acrylic display case while scouring the internet for affordable playing card display cases and began to wonder if he could have them made for a reasonable price...

"I really only started out to make some boxes for myself  to use with my collection because everything that was on the market was quite expensive and with the number of decks that I wanted to display (and protect), it would have been financially unfeasible.  After deciding what I wanted, I found an acrylic manufacturer to make samples for me, which turned out great."

- Sherman

(Version 1 Pictured)

So as with anything, cost goes down with quantities, so after placing his initial order he began posting the cases in forums to see if anyone was interested in the case for their own collections. Well, let's say there was a lot of interest.

With the demand of the original Carat Card Case, Sherman has made some minor changes to the new cases for this year, along with expanding the product line. This year you'll find not only the single deck case, the Carat X1, but the addition of 2, 3 and 4 deck cases, the Carat X2, Carat X3 and Carat X4.

The changes made are subtle, but really do "finish" the cases wonderfully, the edges have been beveled moving away from the hard edge of the original and some nice branding has been added as well.

These cases are amazing, there is no two ways about it. If you're looking for an eye catching way to show your prized possession and protect them at the same time, look no further. The cases are constructed using 5mm Acrylic sheets and utilize Neodymium magnets, 10x stronger than your average magnet. The Carat X1 uses 4 magnets, one in each corner while the larger multi-deck Carat X4 has 8 for a better seal. Additionally, each case now comes with a set of 4 rubber "feet" that can be used as you see fit, preventing the ultra clear acrylic from resting directly on a surface. Multi deck cases also include a set of acrylic spacers to place in between decks. This not only centers the decks in the case, but also secures them in place with a nice snug fit.

Carat X1

Carat X2

The quality of the cases is second to none, the acrylic is super clear and the fit is perfect. While you may not want to house your entire collection in Carat cases, there is no doubt there are more than a few that would look stunning in one of them. I couldn't recommend these cases any higher, they present an affordable solution to a collectors problem, even non-collectors, magicians and enthusiasts should appreciate these cases, instead of tossing that signed deck by your favorite magician or cardist in a drawer or just on a shelf exposed to the elements, protect that personal memento and display it as it should be.

Carat X3

If you would like more details on the cases themselves please visit the Official Website. You'll find all the details on the construction and dimensions there. If your interested in picking up a few Carat cases, they are available through a few distributors at the moment, you can reach out to any of them for pricing on the cases as well as shipping information.

Jetsetter Playing Cards      JP Playing Cards      United Cardists

Carat X4

We want to thank Sherman for the opportunity to showcase these beautiful cases. Collections are meant to be seen and enjoyed, bring some of those special decks out of the drawers and brick boxes with a few Carat Card Cases and enjoy the talent and work that went into them. 

The Collection segment is produced by Anthony Ingrassia of Kardify. No part of this article, images or video can be reproduced without written permission from the author and Kardify.com.

Kickstarter: 7 Questions with Costa Pantazis of Primordial Playing Cards

Primordial playing cards are designed by Charles Adi (Blackout Brother) and produced by Costa Pantazis. It is conceptualized based on the idea that the primordial deities are the first gods and goddesses born from the void of Chaos who formed the very fabric of the universe. Currently seeking funds on Kickstarter with a goal of £20,000, the project is only 56% funded with 27 days to go.

Three decks are on offer during the campaign, the Aether, Chaos and Pantheon Edition. The Aether and Chaos edition is limited to 1,500 print run each and features detailed artwork, metallic inks (gold for Aether and red for Chloe) and foil embossed tuck-boxes. The Pantheon edition is the limited edition and only 200 will be printed. The rare deck comes in its own unique Gold Carat X1 Case with a black laser-engraved lid and gold foil printed outer sleeve.

With this being Costa's first venture into the custom playing card arena on Kickstarter, we were happy to have a chance to talk to him about his maiden voyage and concept behind Primordial Playing Cards.

For those of us who don’t know, can you give us a summary of Primordial Playing Cards?
Primordial playing cards by Costa Pantazis and designed by Charles Adi (Blackout Brother) are based on this idea. The primordial deities are the first gods and goddesses born from the void of Chaos who formed the very fabric of the universe, were known as the Protogenoi (protos meaning "first," and genos "born").

Can you describe Primordial Playing Cards and why you are passionate about it?
The Primordial cards are based around Greek Mythology. While several card campaigns in the past have covered this theme I chose to focus on the primordial characters as to me they were more interesting and something to memory that hadn't been done before. Depending on the performance of the first campaign I will defiantly look to explore other areas under this subject and have plenty already drafted out and ready to go.

Talk to us a bit about going from the first draft to the final version. How did you get to this finished product?
It actually turned out to easier then thought, the advantage of covering this particular theme in the cards presented me with an even spread of characters to use on the courts, 8 male (kings and jacks) and 4 female (queens) so thankfully this came together very quickly and planning in advance went very quickly and smoothly. I enlisted the services of Blackout Brother for the design process after seeing his past work on successive campaigns for in house projects by Gambler's Warehouse such as the 12 Labours Of Hercules, Bicycle Spirit and Imperium playing cards series which most will be familiar with. Also as he had already designed Greek Mythology based playing cards was an added bonus so I knew he was a safe pair of hands to oversee the design aspect of this particular deck.

What was your most brilliant breakthrough when designing the deck?
Again, it was the incorporating the actual theme into the deck and how it just worked from the start for various reasons. It just came together on its own really. I'd say my biggest breakthrough is actually getting this first project actually moving and launched really, it's taken a good six months from start to finish. The first one is always the hardest, there have been a few hurdles along the way through but I got there in the end. I would say the most challenging part has been contacting and getting everything ready regarding different manufacturers to oversee the creation and eventual and fulfillment. Researching and finding the best people for this and thankfully all have been very responsive and assisted me leading up the campaign; Gambler's Warehouse, Custom Carat Cases, USPCC and CoinsForAnything among the few.

From the Primordial Kickstarter project page, what are a few of your favorite reward levels and why? 
I would definitely say the Carat Case editions of the decks. I contacted Sherman from Custom Carat Cases to propose designing a limited series of cases for the project, limited to roughly 100 of each size variation. The difference with these cases is they are available in different colours to match the decks and there is a wide selection to choose from. White to match the standard deck, Red to match the darker decks which come in different sizes to carry either 1, 2 or 4 decks and there is also a limited 200 special edition deck (gold gilded) which comes with it's own Gold carat case, all have black laser engraved lids and foiled sleeves which match the deck designs on top. These carat case editions will only be available during the Kickstarter campaign and will be strictly limited in number and will not be available afterwards.

What’s next? Can we expect more deck designs in the future?
Subject to the first campaign performance being successful I'm already planning to expand further on the theme covered in this deck as there is plenty in the subject which I can cover, I already have plenty of draft ideas down and ready to go. As I'm new to the playing cards market I have no plans to start multiple projects on a regular basis like most other established designers and creators and will wait until fulfillment on this series has begun before launching any new projects to ensure everything runs smoothly and all items are delivered to the backers.

Given this is first run on a playing card project the earliest I would consider launching a follow up will be once fulfillment has begun on this project. Leading up to the first campaign's fulfillment I will have a few new projects ready to launch and will asses the right time to bring them forward and over time hopefully I can build up to doing more products and campaigns on a regular basis like most others. I can't tell you too much about them as that would be revealing too much but there are a few good ideas on paper for possible designs which from what I can see haven't been done yet, some single decks projects and others which could become a series run over time.

Finally, what are your favorite playing card decks?
There's been several to be honest I really couldn't point it down to a few. Stockholm17, Thirdway Industries projects along with Vanda's recent planets series were favorites of mine. Giovanni at Thirdway has offered great advise on my campaign and I can't thank him enough as it's been great to have someone so experienced in the playing card industry being there to help or answer any questions or concerns I've had during my campaign's initial process.

Thank you for your time Costa! At the time of writing, the project is already 56% funded with than 27 days to go. If you want to support Primordial Playing Cards, you can find it on Kickstarter here! Pledge starts from €9 (USD$10) and the deck will be printed by the USPCC.

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In the Carat Case: Bicycle Draw Like a Boss Playing Cards

Each month, we highlight some of the coolest and rarest deck of playing cards kept secured using the Carat Card Case. We love seeing the diversity of decks being featured on Kardify. Thanks to Sherman Tsao, founder of Carat Case Creations for sharing some of his most prized deck in his collection.

The highly sought after and extremely rare Bicycle Draw Like a Boss Playing Cards are designed by Ashley Edge and Elinor Rooks. Printed by the United States Playing Card Company and displayed in a Carat X1, the Boss Deck was actually a companion product for a successful 2013 Kickstarter campaign. The main goal was to produce a drawing course for beginners and advanced artists in a PDF book and film format. The deck is fully custom and only 2,500 were produced.

First Look: Marquis Playing Cards by Brendan Hong

[Update] Marquis Playing Cards are now LIVE on Kickstarter!

Launching tomorrow March 25th at 12pm EST on Kickstarter the latest project from Brendan Hong, Marquis. Brendan has his own unmistakable style and look. Beautiful court cards and amazing line work are a common element of all his work. The project will be printed by The Expert Playing Card Co. and will be presented in 3 versions, Noble, Royal and Imperial Editions. The project will feature some beautiful elements such as gold foil on the card backs of the Royal and Imperial Editions.

Hard at work bringing the final touches of this project together, Brendan was nice enough to take a break from the Marquis project to give us a little insight into the inspiration and development of his new playing cards.

Speaking on the inspiration, Brendan had this to say,

Marquis Playing Cards is inspired by my love of classical designs of playing cards. One of my favorite joys whenever I get a deck is seeing the court cards. I've loved all those wonderful designs and variations that designers had created in the past. They had to create something that is very recognizable, but yet they wanted to put their own spin and creative flair in that. Some of my favorite modern decks have been seeing different designers takes on this challenge and the wonders they have created. This was the challenge I attempted for myself with the Noble edition of Marquis Playing Cards.

As for the back design,

I wanted it to feel timeless. I spent a lot of time researching and looking at Victorian and Baroque artworks and prints to learn the language of their design. I think I could spend a lifetime trying to learn to do all the amazing and wonderful things that those designers were able to do, but I feel I was able to capture that feel within this design.

For the Royal edition, Brendan wanted to do more,

One of my favorite modern decks has been Uusi's Blue Blood deck. It was a very well done deck, but I love where Uusi just went beyond and created a whole narrative story behind all the courts. That is what has pulled me towards illustration, the idea that pictures tell all these wonderful stories. In creating the court cards for the Royal edition, I created this story and back history to the cards and how they relate to each other. The campaign also features a beautifully etched Carat Case encased Imperial Edition, complete with custom wax seals.

Brendan continued,

I had the pleasure and luck to work with Sherman to design a custom Carat Card Case for the project. It was something I wanted to do and I thought it'd be wonderful to do something special for Marquis. We've worked together to create a fully engraved Carat Card Case on all six panels. The Imperial Edition of Marquis, which features the same artwork as for the Royal edition, is housed in its own sealed Carat Card Case.

[Update] Marquis Playing Cards are now LIVE on Kickstarter!

To see more on this amazing project mark your calendar for tomorrow's launch and help bring another stunning deck to fruition. Multiple tiers will be available from single decks to bundled tiers featuring limited edition prints. We want to thank Brendan for his time and wish him the very best on his new project.

Exclusive: First Look at the New Products from Carat Card Cases

The Carat Card Case line-up has been one of my favorites since they first showed up in the market not that long ago. Sherman Tsao, continues to improve and create new and exciting ways to display your collection.

We had the opportunity to get a first look at some of the prototypes of some of the new products coming soon to the Carat line. All the new products continue to shine in the quality and craftsmanship that we've come to expect and the innovation and functionality continue to flourish.

Earlier this year Sherman introduced the first Carat Brick Box, debuting exclusively on the Jetsetter Playing Cards: Premier Edition campaign. Coming soon to the Carat line will be an all new half brick box. The same beautiful crystal clear acrylic with a magnetized lid and included rubber feet. (Pictured above)



Earlier this year also brought the V2 (version two) deck cases featuring the new rounded corners. In the not so distant future, you'll see the addition of a Coin lid single and double deck case. The lid will be able to hold a 2" coin and seal seamlessly, just as the standard cases. The coin compartment is on the inner face of the lid leaving the clean lines of the case undisturbed.

The other deck display coming this year is the custom fitted Legacy display, made to display the Limited Edition Legacy line from Kings Wild Projects and Jackson Robinson. An excellent touch to an already stunning display.

I've always been one to try and display as much of my collection as I can, the Carat product line continues to give collectors the ability to showcase part of their collections in a clean design that can be placed in any setting. 

We have no release dates or price points as of yet, but be assured once we have any information we'll be sure to share it with our readers. Please keep in mind these are prototypes still undergoing tweaks and updates, but I'm sure the final versions will be just as appealing as these early incarnations. There are a few more unique products coming from Carat that we're not at liberty to discuss just yet, but when the time comes, we'll be bringing those to you first hand as well. 

We want to thank Sherman for giving Kardify the opportunity to bring this exciting first look at his new products and as always to our readers.  

On Kickstarter, Diamon Playing Cards Nº22

The Dutch Card House Company has launched Diamon Playing Cards Nº22 on Kickstarter to celebrate the 5th anniversary of the series! The Nº22 deck is the 8th edition in the Diamon Playing Cards series and it all started with the N°2 back in 2017.

With its dynamic diamond shape pattern on the card backs, the vivid deck is specially made for Cardistry and playing card collectors. No matter how you move the cards, the bright colors will make any fan, flourish and shuffle outstanding!

This edition comes with GOLD FOIL on the tuck and back of the cards. Much of what you know and love about the Diamon series has remained the same. Nº22 features the same small border-bleeding diamond that folds over the edge of the back design and face cards, allowing for awesome spreads and fans!

The pips are consistent with the Diamond pattern found on the back to create a harmonious deck of cards. Once again, Nº22 is fully custom, complete with custom-designed power aces and court cards.

Also, for this special occasion, The Dutch Card House Company will offer a KICKSTARTER EXCLUSIVE custom-designed snug fit X1 carat case, produced by Carat Case Creations. The X1 case comes with a lid laser engraving with the Diamon pattern complementary to the theme and will have a magnetic lid. It fits all 8 editions!

The deck will be printed the first time by Legends on crushed Viper stock. Pledge starts at $15 on Kickstarter.

Just Launched! Golden Eagle No. 7 Vintage Playing Cards

Just launched on Kickstarter, the latest deck from A Haines Playing Cards- Golden Eagle No. 7 Vintage Playing Cards. This beautifully crafted deck is illustrated entirely by hand, and shares the same vintage DNA as the Osprey & Goshawk decks which were successfully funded on Kickstarter in 2024, featuring a new deep British Racing Green colourway and all new artwork on the gold foiled tuck, Ace of Spades & Jokers. 

This deck is inspired by A Haines Playing Card's love of British Birds of Prey, combined with their love of classic decks of playing cards. 

The deck features Standard & Gilded Editions, and each deck is finished with an individually numbered sticker seal. 

The first 100 decks come in a special Collectors Set, signed on the back by the artist, and housed in a custom AHPC X1 Carat Case by Carat Case Creations. A collectable coin will also be available. 

Printed by Legends on their pre-crushed stock and Classic Finish, for superb all-around handling, shuffling and snap. Pledge starts at $18 on Kickstarter.

Easy Playing Cards Mock Up by Unique

The team at Unique Playing Cards is back on Kickstarter with a fascinating project for design enthusiasts and playing card collectors. This time, they are offering a digital bundle of mockups, a deck protection case, and a limited edition Unique Emblem #3 IDD pin to celebrate International Design Day (IDD). Also, the exclusive IDD package contains various products related to playing cards and their design. 

Firstly, the Unique Emblem #3 IDD pin represents the love for design, creativity, and turning ideas into something tangible. The pin is the third addition to the Unique Emblem Collection System and is exclusive, rare, and high-quality.

Secondly, the single-deck acrylic display case by Unique Playing Cards is designed in collaboration with Carat Case Creations and comes engraved with the Unique logo. 

Thirdly, Unique Playing Cards is offering a digital bundle of mockups that includes various layouts. These versatile and affordable mockups will help bring your deck ideas to life with ease. 

The mockups are based on real photos to achieve intentionally imperfectly realistic results, and the package is designed to be used commercially, either to promote your own deck or to sell and showcase your design services to clients.

Finally, the digital booklet “Cards in Your Favor” offers a step-by-step guide for anyone interested in creating a unique and compelling deck of playing cards. The guide takes you through the entire process from ideation to marketing, offering valuable insights and practical tips to ensure your success.

The IDD package is available for $58 and the mock-up bundle for $40 on Kickstarter.

Consolidate and Display Your Playing Cards Collection- Carat Cases

I've had a few questions lately about how I display my deck collection. So, here's what I use... Carat Cases. Acrylic deck displays aren't a new concept, but these Carat cases are a simple and elegant way to display your decks.

Carat cases ingeniously incorporate little magnets to keep your decks secured in the display case and comes in various sizes and shapes.

That makes a ton of sense for decks you want to change decks in the display without dedicating too much time removing and replacing them. Also, it is a great way to display the deck on your desk or cupboard without dedicating precious desk real estate to other chunky displays.

They come in various sizes and dimensions to meet the needs of your collection. Check it out at caratcardcases.com. For the coming months, we will be showcasing some incredible decks stored in Carat Cases on our new monthly Carat Collections feature. Stay tuned!

Card Flash: Cyclopeans Experimental LTD1111 Playing Cards

Stockholm17's Cyclopeans Experimental LTD1111 is a bold and visionary reinterpretation of the classic playing card deck. Forged in the mythical spirit of the Cyclopean realm, this limited edition release designed by Lorenzo Gaggiotti defies convention with its striking diamond-shaped design, transforming the familiar into something entirely new.

Each of the 1111 decks produced features fully custom face cards, including fully original court cards, jokers, and a uniquely designed ace of spades. 

The cards are poker-sized but rotated into a diamond layout, creating an eye-catching and unconventional aesthetic. The edges are printed in a deep matte red, enhancing the deck’s dark, experimental tone.

Housed in a premium tuck box crafted in Italy by Boschiero & Newton, the packaging includes a signature diamond-shaped cutout that echoes the deck’s distinctive form. 

Each deck comes with a custom-shaped acrylic display case from Carat Case Creations, a metal stand for elegant presentation, and is wrapped in protective plastic inside a branded outer box.

Hand-signed and numbered, the Cyclopeans Experimental LTD1111 is more than a deck—it’s a statement piece. A rare and one-of-a-kind collectible that fuses myth, design, and innovation into a singular creation. Available now on Stockholm17 for $70.