Deck View: Pioneers (Red Edition) Playing Cards

Discovery. Liberty. Curiosity.

Following the success of the OG Blue Edition, Pioneers Red Edition Playing Cards brings a bold new colorway to Ellusionist's vintage-inspired series. Designed by Oban Jones, the deck remains fully custom, with every detail... from the tuck box and card backs to the pips, aces, and jokers, painstakingly hand-drawn.

The card back retains its intricate artwork featuring Lady Liberty, a phoenix, and references to the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, while concealing a fully marked system for magicians. The striking red colour palette gives the deck a fresh look while preserving the original's period-inspired aesthetic.

Housed in a tuck designed to resemble vintage paper stock, the Red Edition is printed by Cartamundi, delivering smooth handling and durability for collectors, magicians, and everyday play.

Issue 110 of Kardify Magazine NOW on Patreon!

We have just released Issue 110 of Kardify Magazine on Patreon! 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-June to mid-July. 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:   

+ Imported (Burgundy Edition): This rich wine-red by A.Haines, a love letter to the golden age of playing cards and features strong heritage-led design throughout.. Have a look!

+ Kingdom of Eden: A new fine art playing card series featuring fully custom artwork centered around the rise and corruption of the fictional Kingdom of Eden.

+ Virtuoso Paths: This Virtuoso deck takes a different approach from precious decks, focusing less on flashy visuals and more philosophy behind cardistry.

+ El Reino: A hand-illustrated custom deck set within a dark medieval kingdom where royalty has fallen under the influence of a mysterious “gold fever.” Check it out!

+ Ultraman Tiga (Special Edition): From Room One Cards, an eye-catching collector’s deck created for dedicated fans of the legendary Ultra Hero. This enhanced release introduces holographic gilded edges and an innovative illuminated tuck box that transforms the deck into both a playable set and a display centerpiece.

+ Bicycle Machine56: A fully customized cyberpunk-themed deck produced by RunIt Decks in collaboration with Indonesian design label Machine56. Find out more!

+ Bicycle Sea King: Take a look the underwater-inspired twist to the classic Bicycle formula featuring richly detailed card backs in shades of turquoise, deep blue, and gold, centered around a regal Sea King motif.

… and more! 40-pages of articles and deck images. Enjoy!

Bloom Playing Cards Unveils The Door Gods Playing Cards

Bloom Playing Cards has released The Door Gods Playing Cards on Kickstarter, a new collection inspired by the traditional Menshen (Door Gods) of Chinese folklore. The release is the latest entry in Room One's Collection System and celebrates the guardian deities believed to protect homes from evil spirits.

The series consists of four editions representing the changing seasons: Spring and Summer Standard Editions, alongside Autumn and Winter Special Editions. The Special Editions feature metallic cold-foil card faces and gilded edges, while all four decks showcase fully custom artwork inspired by traditional Chinese architecture, porcelain, and ornamental roof tiles.

Court cards depict legendary Door Gods, including Shenshu, Yulü, and other historic guardian figures, while the number cards combine to form panoramic seasonal garden scenes when displayed in sequence or as uncut sheets. 

Each edition also features a custom lattice window-inspired back design reflecting its seasonal color palette.

Collectors can also choose from themed box sets, a matching collector's coin, stickers, posters, and uncut sheets, offering multiple ways to display the artwork beyond the decks themselves.

With its blend of East Asian cultural heritage, intricate illustration, and premium finishes, The Door Gods Playing Cards continues Bloom Playing Cards' focus on folklore-inspired collector decks. Pledge starts at $16 on Kickstarter.

Royales Rivieras Playing Cards Capture the Glamour of the French Riviera

Royales Rivieras is the latest luxury playing card collection from Kings & Crooks, expanding the vintage casino-inspired Royales series with a new theme celebrating the elegance of the French Riviera and Monte Carlo.

Designed by Lee McKenzie, the collection draws inspiration from sun-soaked Mediterranean coastlines, classic Riviera style, and the timeless glamour of Monte Carlo casinos. The series launches with three distinct editions, each representing a different moment of a Riviera day.

The Azur Classic Edition features turquoise-inspired artwork with metallic gold inks, while the Rosé Classic Edition reflects warm late-afternoon hues accented by gold detailing. Completing the trio is the Dusk Players Limited Edition, a casino-inspired deck featuring a full-bleed back design, enhanced indexes, metallic gold accents, and an individually numbered collector's seal.

All editions include fully custom artwork and premium tuck boxes finished with gold foil, deep embossing, soft-touch matte lamination, interior foil detailing, and custom seals. The Dusk Players edition adds a wraparound numbered seal, emphasizing its limited-edition status.

Printed by WJPC on their imported, thinner (300gsm) black core stock with the butter varnish cardistry finish. Pledge starts at $16 on Kickstarter.