Winners of the 52 Plus Joker Diamond Award 2025 Announced!

The prestigious 52 Plus Joker Diamond Awards were revealed last weekend at the 2025 52 Plus Joker Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Artist of the Year went to Jack Brutus Penny. Jack created Nazo Nazo, Culturae Animalis, Sensu, Tales of Mischief and most recently, Castle In The Sky. 

DripDrop Sounds’ & ShuffleCut52’S UNITY took home the Deck of the Year award.  The deck is a  fusion of music and playing card artistry, envisioned by Dexter Amistad and his wife as a tribute to connection and creativity. This unique project unites the work of 28 renowned designers from around the globe, each contributing a distinct piece of the puzzle, harmonizing into one remarkable deck.

Congratulations to Jack, Dexter and all the nominees for their incredible work!

Moonbound: The 2025 Club Deck for 52 Plus Joker

The 52 Plus Joker club just has revealed its official 2025 deck, Moonbound, a striking collaboration that unites the creative vision of Giovanni Meroni with the craftsmanship of Boschiero & Newton and Legends Playing Card Company. 

Produced exclusively for club members, the release is limited to just 1,000 decks, making it one of the most anticipated collector’s editions of the year.

At first glance, Moonbound is unmistakably Giovanni. The design is symmetrical, steeped in symbolism, and infused with the distinct storytelling language of Thirdway Industries. Inspired by French traditions yet modern in execution, the deck feels both timeless and avant-garde.

Inside, players and collectors will find gold cold foiling on both the faces and backs, creating a luminous shimmer that highlights the intricate illustrations. The deck includes the 52 custom cards along with two Jokers, each rendered with the same meticulous artistry that defines the whole project.

The presentation is as ambitious as the design itself. Each deck comes housed in a custom die-cut outer sleeve textured and foiled.  A numbered 52 Plus Joker seal completes the package, giving each deck its own unique place in the limited run.

Printed by Legends Playing Card Company on Classic Finish paper stock. ONLY limited to three per member, Moonbound is more than a playing card deck, it’s a collectible artifact that captures the essence of the club’s legacy and the artistry of modern card design. 

Available for 52 Plus Joker members for $35 on the club website.

52 Plus Joker Diamond Award 2024 Winners Announced!

The prestigious 52 Plus Joker Diamond Awards were revealed last weekend at the 2024 52 Plus Joker Convention in Niagara Falls, NY. For the THIRD consecutive year, Artist of the Year went to Lorenzo Gaggiotti of Stockholm17, solidifying his place as a powerhouse in the world of playing card design.

Marianne Larsen’s Cirque Luciole deck took home the Deck of the Year award. The deck dazzled collectors with its intricate design, paying homage to the magic and mystery of the circus world. 

The competition for Deck of the Year included other notable designs like Forged Playing Cards by Chris Hage & Jody Eklund, La Mouche Playing Cards by Elettra Deganello, Nazo Nazo by Jack Brutus Penny & Portfolio 52, ShanHai Playing Cards by ARK and Space Suits by Russ Gray & Meadowlark.

Congratulations to Lorenzo, Marianne Larsen and all the nominees for their incredible work!

Have a Look at the 2024 52 Plus Joker Club Deck

The 2024 52 Plus Joker club deck, designed by Elettra Deganello, is a tribute to the original work of Andrew Dougherty, one of the most iconic playing card makers in history. The 2024 club deck masterfully updates Dougherty’s classic designs with a contemporary touch, offering a mix of tradition and modernity.

Unveiled at the 52 Plus Joker convention held at Sheraton Niagara Falls, this limited-edition deck celebrates the art of playing cards in a truly unique way. The 52 Plus Joker Club features reimagined custom court cards with motifs that reflect Dougherty’s timeless influence.

The deck’s luxurious foil-backed classic borderless cards are visually stunning. The face cards are equally remarkable.

The courts inspired by Dougherty’s first court cards, are adorned with intricate foil accents, giving them a luxurious touch that elevates their aesthetic appeal. 

Housed in a unique wrapper-made tuck box, the 2024 Club Deck features textured & foiled by Boschiero & Newton. The custom seal bearing the 52 Plus Joker logo completes the package.

Printed by the Legends Playing Card Co. Available exclusively to members (with a limit of three decks per member) at 52 Plus Joker website.

Have a Look at the 52 Plus Joker 2023 Club Deck

This year’s 52 Plus Joker club deck is a collab between the talented Brendan Hong and Will Kalush of the Expert Playing Card Company. The 2023 Club Deck has been masterfully crafted and is a true embodiment of the world’s greatest playing card collector’s association.

This is no ordinary deck; it’s a piece of art with features that will delight any card enthusiast. It includes a full deck of 52 cards, accompanied by two Jokers. The deck showcases fully custom court cards, each infused with timeless motifs.

Also, each deck bears a unique sequential numbering on the Ace of Spades, making them even more exceptional.

The cards’ backs feature stunning foil accents, adding a touch of luxury to your card games. If you look closely, you’ll find several “Easter eggs” hidden within the deck, adding an element of surprise and delight.

The tuck box is a work of art itself, adorned with spot UV embossing and two different kinds of hot foil. Both the interior and exterior of the deck’s foil-stamped sleeve feature impressive embossing, elevating its aesthetics. Each tuck is sealed with a custom 52 Plus Joker numbered seal.

Printed by the Expert Playing Card Company in China on Classic Finish stock with a print run of 1000 numbered decks. Available to members (limit of 3 decks) on 52plusjoker.org for $35.

Who Won the 2023 52 Plus Joker’s Diamond Awards?

The 52 Plus Joker Diamond Award winners have been announced at this weekend’s 52 Plus Joker convention in Cleveland, Ohio. For the second year running, both ‘Artist of the Year’ and ‘Deck of the Year’ Awards went to Lorenzo Gaggiotti of Stockholm17. 

Lorenzo’s 17th Kingdom playing cards won ‘Deck of the Year’, a remarkable deck that defies convention with its captivating glass-hour shape. This is Lorenzo’s THIRD double category since winning both categories in 2019.

Other decks in the category were RX Almanac by Elettra Deganello, Under the Moon by Jocu PLaying Cards, Eye of Kukulkan by Herman Ong and Ethereal Dreams by Digital Desires.

Congratulations Lorenzo! 😀

The 52 Plus Joker’s Diamond Awards 2022 Winner Announced!

The 52 Plus Joker Diamond Award winners have been announced at this weekend’s 52 Plus Joker convention in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Both ‘Artist of the Year’ and ‘Deck of the Year’ Awards went to Lorenzo Gaggiotti of Stockholm17.

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Lorenzo’s stunning Eye of the Ocean playing cards won ‘Deck of the Year’. Lorenzo had an incredible year with the release of memorable decks such as the 52 Plus Joker 2021 Club Deck, Eye of the Ocean, Odd Fellows, and the Notorious Gambling Frog. This is Lorenzo’s second double category after winning both categories in 2019.

Other decks in the category were Hummingbird Feathers by Marvelous Decks and Azure Dragon & Time Machine by TCC.

Congratulations Lorenzo! 😀

52 Plus Joker 2022 Club Deck Revealed!

The Joker Plus 52 2022 club deck was revealed yesterday by William Kalush of Expert Playing Card Company on the first day of the 52 Plus Joker Convention 2022 held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The elegant deck is created by Jody Eklund exclusively for 52 Plus Joker. This limited edition deck is a superb deck that embodies the world’s greatest playing card collector’s club.

Inside, the deck features a borderless card back design, fully customized regal and refined courts, and jokers.

Stunning full flood foil has been used on both sides of the cards, making them look incredibly stunning.

The deck is kept secured in a tuck box made of soft-touch stock that has pillow-like embossing. You will notice a special laser-cut, custom-shaped band wrapper with gold foil around the tuck box.

Printed by the Expert Playing Card Company and available to members (limit of 2 decks) on 52plusjoker.org for $30.

Find Out Who Won the 2021 52 Plus Joker’s Diamond Awards

The 2021 52 Plus Joker Diamond Award winners have been announced on this weekend’s virtual event by 52 Plus Joker. The ‘Artist of the Year’ award went to Alex Chin for NPCCD Hindsight Edition, which had five main decks – two ungilded (Destruction & Disease) and three gilded decks (Dissent, Disaster and Death) – and one bonus deck only available with the purchase of the limited-edition “6 Spirit” set (Hope).

As with Alex’s past designs, there are some interesting innovations he devised, pushing the envelope of playing card design and packaging. One stand-out feature is the box; not a traditional tuck box, but a box that unfolds from the face to open, revealing an interior and exterior design meant to evoke a Greek temple.

Circus playing cards by Marianne Larsen and Martin Helgren won the ‘Deck of the Year’ award. Circus, comes in two versions, Deluxa and Black Mosquito. The Deluxe edition employs two-headed court cards while the Black Mosquito edition has one-way, head and torso portraits, both performed in a dark, Victorianesque style.  The details include a unique deck seal, individually serial-numbered and printed to look like a ticket to the show, metallic inks on the cards, and embossing on the tuck boxes. 

Congratulations to both Alex and Marianne. 😀

All 4 Decks Announced During the 2021 52 Plus Joker Club Deck Virtual Launch

Yesterday, 52 Plus Joker revealed and released the anticipated 2021 Club Deck by Stockholm17 in an online virtual event. Along with the reveal were 4 brand new decks:

Cardista

EPCC’s latest addition to the Superior brand! This 4 deck series is ultra-luxurious and very well priced so that they can be used as EDC decks. Features include, full hot foil backs, Cardista thin stock, synthetic tuck box, numbered seals, and at an incredible price of just $9.96 a deck. And for that performer who wants a bit more bling, you can even get the deck with Gilded Edge for only $11.95 per deck! WOW! 

Exquisite 8teen



Another deck was announced by EPCC. After years of searching and trying, EPCC has finally managed to print an 18 color deck! With an astonishing and unique printing, press Expert can now print 9 PMS colors per side and the tuck is also printed 9 PMS outside and 9 PMS inside! :O Only limited to 500 decks and each is numbered on its seal.


Oaknut



The most limited set of cards created by Penguin Magic to date. Acorns have been included as design elements in historical decks of cards, and even appear on the cover of one of the most famed books on sleight-of-hand: The Expert at the Card Table. This special set marks the debut of UltraLux Finish. Designed by Anna Lukavska, the faces of Oaknut have been customized with new designs and deep, rich color tones that still maintain playability. The eye-catching card backs have a classically styled design with a modern flair. The tuck box is crafted from luxurious chocolate-brown paper that has the design stamped in gold foil. The sticker seal is also numbered to match the standard deck. Only 250 sets were produced! 

Simon Says Think for Yourself 

A new deck of playing cards by magician Michael Feldman and designed by Edo Huang that captures the conundrum of magic: “Simon Says Think For Yourself". The deck comes with custom artwork on the backs, Aces of Spades, and Jokers.

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52 Plus Joker 2021 Club Deck by Stockholm17 Revealed!

Update : The Joker Plus 52 2021 club deck sold out in 2 hours!

The Joker Plus 52 2021 club deck has been revealed tonight and they are absolutely stunning! Created and printed by Stockholm17 (Lorenzo Gaggiotti) and William Kalush (Expert Playing Card Company) this deck is sold exclusively to members of 52 Plus Joker. This limited edition deck is a fantastic representation of the world’s greatest playing card collector’s club.

 
The deck features a meticulously crafted tuck with two-piece tuck construction. You will notice special Spade die-cut on the front of the tuck. Gold hot foil on the tuck and a numbered custom-shaped label make this deck look incredible!

 
Inside, the deck comes with Stockholm17 fully customized courts and jokers. Stunning gold cold foil have been used on both sides of the cards, making them look incredible stunning.

 
Limited print run of only 999 decks on 52plusjoker.org for $30.

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Here Are The Winners of the 2020 52 Plus Joker's Diamond Awards

The 2020 52 Plus Joker Diamond Award winners have been announced at this year's virtual convention. The 'Artist of the Year' award went to Jackson Robinson for his numerous releases this year including the Kings Wild Shorts, and table players subscription decks. This is Jackson's first win after being nominated for four consecutive years.

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Absolutely thrilled to announce winning this year's @52plusjoker Diamond Award for 'Deck of the Year' for the submission of the 2019 NPCCD series! . If you have one of these guys in your collection you now have a piece of history in your hands! If you missed out on last year's don't blink because this year's NPCCD deck series drops in 3...2...1 ITS LIVE! Go, go go... to the link in our bio 🤣. Hope to see you there!

A post shared by SEASONS Playing Cards (@seasonsplayingcards) on Oct 17, 2020 at 6:00pm PDT

Also, Alex Chin's NPCCD 2019 Playing Cards won the 'Deck of the Year' award for a beautiful deck series inspired by the beauty of Morocco, commonly known for its mesmerizing architecture and its labyrinth-esque marketplaces. Other decks in the category were Ascension by Steve Minty, Iron Spades by Roxley Games, Luminosity by Blackink Playing Cards, UC19 by Montenzi, and Vivaldi by Passione Playing Cards.

Congratulations to both Jackson and Alex. :D

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The Four Decks Announced at the 52 Plus Joker Virtual Convention

For the first time, playing cards collectors, designers, magicians, producers, and cardists can participate in 52 Plus Joker's 2020 convention virtually. The event started on October 14th and will conclude on October 17th, 2020. Head to 52 Plus Joker's Instagram (@52plusjoker) for daily updates on the schedule and details to join the virtual convention.

Yesterday, FOUR incredible decks were announced:

Screams at Midnight (Penguin Magic)

Designed by Phill Smith from a concept by Kevin Reylek, these horror-themed cards have a fiendish secret built-in, allowing you to know the identity of each card without ever seeing the face. This brand-new Occlusion Marking System lets you perform absolutely brain-busting magic with no sleight of hand! The deck comes with standard recolored faces, bold custom Ace of Spades and Jokers. Also, the deck comes with 3D glasses. Available now for $14.95 on penguinmagic.com

Jerry's Nugget Double Deck Set (Expert Playing Card Co)

Bill Kallush announced the double deck set of these stunning new Jerry's Nugget. What makes these deck set so special? They are printed with Expert's new double foil process! That means double hot stamp foil (red and blue) are applied on the embossed tuck and card backs... no ink. The face cards are standard and only 500 sets will be produced. The deck set is scheduled to be released on Black Friday.

NPCCD 2020 Hindsight (Seasons Playing Cards)

Another STUNNING deck to the NPCCD collection announced by Alex Chin. This time, the theme is about the choices we make and the consequences that follow set in ancient Greece. Like previous NPCCD releases, the 2020 edition sports a unique tuck box with greek sculpture artwork in breathtaking gold foil. Inside, the court cards artwork features characters from ancient Greek mythology with artwork as if found in a lost greek temple. This will be a 6 deck set each with a different story. Pre-order starts on Oct17 and will be priced $235 for the first 48 hours on nationalcardcollectionday.com. Check out the epic trailer above.

52 Plus Joker Club Deck (UUSI)

One of the most highly anticipated deck this year! This year's club deck was revealed by UUSI's Peter Dunham. The deck is fully custom features original hand-drawn artwork by Peter using just 2 colors, black and red. The deck comes with a bold Ace of Spades, custom jokers, old-style suit symbols, and traditional courts inspired from full figure courts popular before the 1900s. The deck does have a vintage look and feel but with a modern simplistic touch.

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The 52 Plus Joker Club Deck- The Entertainer

The fifth 52 Plus Joker Club deck was presented at the 52 Plus Joker Annual Convention by none other than Lotrek! This year, the 2-time 52 Plus Joker Diamond Award winner has designed a stunning deck- The Entertainer.

The Club Deck is being offered to attendees of this years 52 Plus Joker Convention held in Charlotte, North Carolina at the Hilton Charlotte University Place. The convention draws a huge following from all corners of the globe and you would be hard pressed to find a larger collection of vintage playing cards and related items under one roof.

The eye-catching deck features an embossed tuck case with gold and silver foil accents. The cards are just as spectacular, with the same gold and silver foil used on the intricate card backs and face cards. On the inspiration, Lotrek said,

Because of the time period, I found the perfect wrapping for everything was my love for American typography and graphic design of the late 19th - early 20th century. More specifically, as typography appeared in sheet music covers. This artistic guideline gave me the freedom to use a lot of text all over the deck yet in a way that hopefully people will like and appreciate.

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A post shared by Encarded Inc. (@encarded) on Oct 11, 2019 at 5:25am PDT

The suits are custom and showcase the intricate design work within the symbols. Silver foil is used to decorate the black suit, while gold foil is used on the red suit. According to Lotrek, this deck feautues and "industry first",

Imagine combining both cold and hot foil printing. Yes, both foils shine. But they have different characteristics and limitations. This was purely experimental. But from my experience, I find the result to be beautiful. At the very least, hopefully you’ll find it interesting. In any case, to my knowledge, this has never been done before.

The deck also features a custom Ace of Spades, beautifully rich standard court cards and two custom Jokers depicting the 52 Plus Joker Logo.

For the courts, I trusted the long-loved standard scheme with some degree of customization. Initially, I thought to use my own take on the standard courts as a base. After some time in designing the deck though, I realized they should feel more unique and related to the era of the deck. So, I transformed them and made them look engraved to give a 19th century vibe.

Like all 52 Plus Joker club decks are available to club members only. To join 52 Plus Joker and be eligible to purchase one or more of these find decks, head to 52plusjoker.org.

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