Final Week on Kickstarter, The Dapper Menagerie Playing Cards

Jack Brutus Penny returns with The Dapper Menagerie, a whimsical deck of playing cards that blends cultural storytelling, handcrafted artistry, and imagination. Building on his earlier project Culturae Animalis, this new release transforms his fantastical animal characters into a fully playable deck.

Inspired by four vibrant cultural legacies... medieval England, Edo-period Japan, nomadic and native communities such as the Ainu and Maasai, and the grandeur of the Arabic and Ottoman empires. Each card features hand-illustrated characters wrapped in historical charm. 

Personal storytelling weaves through the design. The jokers represent Jack’s own sons—a robin for Robin and a T. rex for King Arthur—while the ad cards combine into a diptych revealing the Dapper Menagerie emblem.

The back design, developed with input from fans on his Patreon page, subtly integrates the animal suits and reflects the structure of the Union flag, a nod to Jack’s English heritage.

Two editions are available. the Standard version features fully custom card faces, suits embedded with fur and feathers, and a beautifully designed tuck box with painted-effect gold foiling.

For collectors, the Signature Series elevates the experience with rose gold gilded edges, matching tuck foiling, and a refined aesthetic across every card.

The deck is printed in limited editions by King Star, with thoughtful production choices aimed at delivering a balance of elegance and whimsy. Pledge starts at $20 on Kickstarter.