Andersen’s Fairy Tales Playing Cards

Andersen’s Fairy Tales Playing Cards bring the timeless stories of Hans Christian Andersen to life through a fully customized deck created by Room One Cards. Rather than a single deck, Andersen’s Fairy Tales is presented as four distinct editions on Kickstarter, thoughtfully curated to explore different facets of Andersen’s storytelling.

Garnet and Sapphire colorways represent two complementary halves of the author’s creative spirit... one inward and introspective, the other outward and transformative. Each colorway is available in both Standard and Signature editions.

At the heart of the design is the hourglass, a symbol of storytime and fleeting moments. This motif appears prominently on the card backs as an animated flipbook sequence: when the deck is fanned, grains of sand cascade through an ornate hourglass, echoing Andersen’s recurring themes of time, change, and consequence.

The Signature Editions feature selective foil detailing that highlights crowns, wings, armor, and symbolic elements within the artwork, adding a subtle, luminous magic. 

These editions are housed in Room One Cards’ proprietary 3D Accordion Tuck Box, which unfolds into a sculptural, gallery-like presentation. Metallic foil gilded edges further elevate the tactile experience.

The Standard Editions showcase the same complete watercolor illustrations without foil, emphasizing painterly detail and narrative clarity, and are packaged in a classic storybook-style tuck box with an interactive pull-tab design.

Every card in the deck is fully customized. The number cards feature fantastical pips and a bespoke ornate font inspired by fairy-tale lanterns and gilded book edges. Rather than acting as simple symbols, the pips are integrated into miniature narrative scenes, allowing the story world to flow seamlessly through gameplay.

The court cards serve as illustrated storybook portraits. Each edition draws from a curated selection of Andersen’s tales. Garnet editions include characters such as The Snow Queen, The Sandman, The Phoenix, and The Shepherdess and the Chimney Sweep. Sapphire editions feature iconic figures like The Ugly Duckling, The Little Mermaid, The Nightingale, and The Steadfast Tin Soldier.

Rendered in soft, atmospheric watercolor, the courts feel less like traditional royalty and more like moments frozen from a fairy tale. In the Signature Editions, foil accents add depth and visual drama; in the Standard Editions, the artwork shines in its purest form.

Printed by Room One Cards and pledge starts at $17 on Kickstarter.