Passione Playing Cards to Close. Releases One Last Deck!

We just heard the news: After 6 years, Italy-based Passione Playing Cards Ltd. will close at the end of this year after finishing pending projects. According to founder Riccardo Conturbia,

There are many reasons behind my decision, nothing grave, do not worry, I'm in good health and everything is fine, but among the reasons, probably the most important is that Passione never really caught on, but the appreciation was limited to a niche within playing cards lovers.

Of course I want to reassure everyone: Florentia will be completed and fulfilled, only after that I will close the company.

Since this is the last year for Passione, Riccardo would like to do something special, a special little project to bid farewell to the community, Inferno Acheronte 2020 (pictured above)! 

The deck will not be crowdfunded but will be offered to Passione's mailing list. The new edition of the original Acheronte double-box tuck case (now out of stock) and will be delivered before the end of this year. Riccardo continued,

The original edition was our first in a series of double-box tuck cases we specifically designed to be opened like a book. Collodi's Pinocchio, Vivaldi Concerto and Florentia Aeterna are all evolutions of Acheronte and we believe that old and new supporters could like this "remastered" edition.

Inferno Acheronte 2020 includes the cards from Inferno Dite and Inferno Cocito in the most luxurious double-deck tuck case you can think of: printed in Italy by Archivio Tipogrfico on leather-like paper and adorned with red and black foil. 

How can you get this awesome double-deck? 

It's simple: Email Riccardo on with the email address on the form. You will receive a PayPal invoice for the decks and the shipping. Inferno Acheronte 2020 will have an MSRP of $50, but you can buy them at $40 each plus shipping with this pre-sale. 

Click Here! for the form to reserve your Inferno Acheronte 2020 double decks!

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Passione Releases New Reward Tier For Florentia Antica Players Edition

Florentia Playing Cards by Passione Playing Cards is on the final week of the Kickstarter campaign. Already funded with over 200%, the team wants to hit all the stretched goal to ensure that the base decks, Nova, Antica and Aeterna to look as gorgeous and lavish as possible.

According to the latest campaign post update,

We want to increase the number of people interested by printing a more traditional deck, which can appeal to a larger audience: the Florentia Player's Edition.

The Florentia Player's Edition is a deck that you can use in your game nights, with a sleek and classic design. The courts are standard Passione Courts, reworked to suit the color scheme and the theme.

The cards of the Player's Edition have a distinct look but are fully playable designed by Elettra Deganello. The deck comes in a deep red colorway with elements of each of the Florentia decks meticulously combined to make this eye-catching deck.

The Player edition has been added as a new reward tier (from $10) for new backers and as add-on for existing backers on Kickstarter.

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Celebrating Beauty, Art and the City of Florence with Florentia Playing Cards

Florentia Playing Cards is a gorgeous deck designed by Elettra Deganello and produced by Passione Playing Cards, currently funding on Kickstarter. The custom deck celebrates the birthplace of the Renaissance- Florence.

Florentia Playing Cards has two main “souls”: Florentia Antica ("antica" means 'ancient' in Italian) and Florentia Nova ("nova" translates to 'new'). Antica and Nova represent two different visions on the same concept: to overwhelm collectors and playing cards lovers with a notable abundance of breathtaking art, history, and beauty... just like the city of Florence does with its visitors. Elettra explains,

Florentia Antica represents a classic and balanced vision of beauty, in which architecture and rationality play a predominant role.

The main element of the back design is the stylized rose window of Florence Cathedral, S.M. Del Fiore. Tangled decorations balance the rationality of the geometric shapes and stylized architectural elements complete the composition. Elettra continued,

Florentia Nova instead was born as a free and dynamic artistic expression, without constraints or fear of the contrasts between ancient (or classical) and modern.

The back design combines a clean geometric basis with dynamic elements. Its beating heart is the coat of arms of the Medici family, which is supported by two cherubs and surrounded both by a dancing ribbon and laurel leaves frame.

The court cards of Florentia Antica and Florentia Nova are all different... and definitely full of surprises. The courts represent some of the most iconic sculptures and monuments that one will remember after visiting the Italian city. The artwork inspired by sculptures are gorgeous and incredibly detailed.

The Jokers of Florentia Antica are Giotto, one of the most famous Italian painters and architects and the "Marzocco", the heraldic lion and symbol of the city of Florence.

The deck is kept secure in a beautiful tuck box. Florentia Antica features purple foil on the box with gold metallic ink touches inside. While Florentia Nova showcases a beautiful holographic foil on the tuck with yellow neon ink within.

It has become a tradition for Passione Playing Cards to produce a luxury double-deck tuck case, shaped like a book, which is a work of art on its own. Florentia Aeterna will hold both Florentia Antica and Florentia Nova cards together in a limited, hand-numbered edition. Florentia Aeterna will be printed on cotton paper with gold foil and hot impression. The limited-edition tuck box will be hand-made in Italy by letterpress experts.

Pledge starts at $16 for a single deck on Kickstarter. Printed by WJPC or USPCC according to stretch-goals progression.

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Vivaldi Playing Cards Now on Kickstarter!

Vivaldi Playing Cards have just launched on Kickstarter! The team at Passione Playing Cards is hoping to raise $15k and aims to bring the baroque vibe and the music of the Italian composer and violinist Antonio Vivaldi to life with a set of masterfully illustrated decks. The deck is currently 59% within the first 24 hours of the launch.

Designed by Sofia Bolognesi, the Vivaldi ensemble is composed of two main decks: Vivaldi Allegro and Vivaldi Largo, plus Vivaldi Concerto: a special, limited and numbered book-like edition holding the playing cards of both variations. Only 250 Vivaldi Concerto will be produced. More images on our First Look here!

Vivaldi Playing Cards will be printed by USPCC on Air-Cushion finish. Stretch goals will be revealed during the campaign. Pledge starts at $16 on Kickstarter.

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First Look at Vivaldi Playing Cards

Vivaldi Playing Cards are launching on Kickstarter 23rd September. I had the honor to have a sneak peak of the deck more than a year ago and am truly excited that the decks will finally launch on the crowdfunding platform. The team at Passione Playing Cards is hoping to raise $15k and aims to bring the baroque vibe and the music of the Italian composer and violinist Antonio Vivaldi to life with a set of masterfully illustrated decks.

Designed by Sofia Bolognesi, the Vivaldi ensemble is composed of two main decks: Vivaldi Allegro and Vivaldi Largo, plus Vivaldi Concerto: a special, limited and numbered book-like edition holding the playing cards of both variations.

The Vivaldi Allegro features beautifully hand-illustrated custom courts with a (bowed) string instrument, while Vivaldi Largo is represented by courts with a different type of string instrument: lutes. The cards have been illustrated in a baroque style and the spirit of the music of that time.

The color palette of each suit on both decks matches the mood of a season, a homage to The Four Season- one of the most famous masterpieces composed by Antonio Vivaldi. They will be metallic accents on the face cards of each deck, Vivaldi Allegro- silver and Vivaldi Largo- gold.

The book-like edition tuck case of Vivaldi Concerto has been designed with collectors in mind. Like previous Passione Playing Cards projects, the book-like double tuck-case holds the Largo and Allegro decks in lavish luxury that feels and looks like velvet fabric. Only 250 Vivaldi Concerto will be produced.

The Vivaldi Playing Cards project will be printed by USPCC on Air-Cushion finish. Stretch goals will be revealed during the campaign. Follow the campaign page and mark your calendars for 23rd September. Don't miss out!



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'Equality and Justice' Relaunched on Kickstarter with New Printer

Equality and Justice playing cards have been relaunched on Kickstarter with a reduced funding goal than previously due to a change of printer to Wang Jing Printing Co. (WJPC).  Designed by Korean designer John Cho and the team at Passione Playing Cards headed by Riccardo Conturbia, the decks are based on the concepts of Equality and Justice, crafted for players, magicians and cardists in mind.

Similar to the first campaign, two decks are on offer during the campaign- Equality, and Justice. The team wanted to emphasize both aspects, that's the reason why the "Lady of Justice" in Equality and Justice holds higher, respectively, the scale and the sword. According to John on the project page,

In Korea, on the Supreme Court's palace, three words are engraved on the wall: Liberty Equality and Justice. I wanted to create a playing cards project revolving around those concepts. My idea is that you can't have real freedom without Equality and Justice.

The decks have been designed to be fresh yet classic, stylish at the same time, usable in every occasion. The deck is fully custom with beautiful clean Passione standard courts, eye-catching pips, bold Ace of Spades and custom Jokers represented by the Lady of Justice.

The card backs are meticulously crafted- striking a good balance between beautiful design and functionality. The intricate back design prominently showcases the Lady of Justice/Equality and the ambigram of the two words in the center. The Equality edition is marked.

The project is already funded with less than 18 days to go. If you want to support Equality and Justice Playing Cards, head over to Kickstarter here! Pledge starts at $13.

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Equality and Justice Playing Cards Kickstarter Ends Soon

Currently seeking funds on Kickstarter, a playing cards project based on the concepts of Equality and Justice, crafted for players, magicians and cardists in mind. Equality and Justice playing cards are designed by Korean designer John Cho and the team at Passione Playing Cards headed by Riccardo Conturbia.

Two decks are on offer during the campaign- Equality and Justice. The team wanted to emphasize on both aspects, that's the reason why the "Lady of Justice" in Equality and Justice holds higher, respectively, the scale and the sword. According to John on the project page,

In Korea, on the Supreme Court's palace, three words are engraved on the wall: Liberty Equality and Justice. I wanted to create a playing cards project revolving around those concepts. My idea is that you can't have real freedom without Equality and Justice.

The decks have been designed to be fresh yet classic, stylish at the same time, usable in every occasion. The deck is fully custom with beautiful clean Passione standard courts, eye-catching pips, bold Ace of Spades and custom Jokers represented by the Lady of Justice.

The card backs are meticulously crafted- striking a good balance between beautiful design and functionality. The intricate back design prominently showcases the Lady of Justice/Equality and the ambigram of the two words in the center. The Equality edition is marked.

Equality and Justice Playing Cards will be printed by USPCC on Bicycle stock with Air-Cushion finish. The project is only 62% funded with less than 5 days to go. If you want to support Equality and Justice Playing Cards, head over to Kickstarter here! Pledge starts at $14.

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