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! 😀