First Look: The NEW Virtuoso Playing Cards

Have a look at the new deck! This new Virtuoso (still unnamed at the time of writing) deck marks a philosophical shift for the Virtuoso series, moving away from outward spectacle and focusing instead on the quieter, more personal side of cardistry. According to the email newsletter by Huron Low, the new deck is inspired by the idea that meaningful creativity emerges through exploration, repetition, and curiosity rather than performance, the deck celebrates the journey behind every breakthrough.

Unlike previous Virtuoso releases, the design is intentionally understated. Rather than revealing itself immediately through fans and spreads, many visual elements remain hidden until discovered through use, reflecting the concept of gradual exploration that inspired the project. Individual cards offer only fragments of the larger design, with the full picture emerging over time.

The deck embodies the belief that cardistry’s most memorable creations are rarely the result of chasing recognition or viral success. Instead, they arise from countless small steps, experiments, and moments of intentional wandering. Through its subtle design language and thoughtful symbolism, this new Virtuoso  deck serves as a tribute not to the destination, but to the process that leads there.

Cryptids Playing Cards: Black Shuck & Mothman

Launching on Tuesday 17th February at 4pm UK time (11am EST/8am PST)- the latest campaign from A. Haines Playing Cards: Cryptids Playing Cards: Black Shuck & Mothman.

Combining a long-held love of fantastic creatures with their love of hand-drawn vintage playing cards, the new project from AHPC pays homage to two mythical monsters: from England, the phantom hound Black Shuck, and from the USA, the infamous Mothman, each character being honoured with their own deck of playing cards in a collectable two-deck set, using a colour palette of deep red and black set against aged paper. 

The legend of Black Shuck goes all the way back to the year 1577 when the beast was reported to appear as a terrible form at a village church during a large electrical storm. Reports of the ghostly dog endure up  until the current day, with some witnesses reporting Shuck to be as large as a horse and with burning red or orange eyes, he is often encountered by lone walkers out at night, deep in the countryside of rural Suffolk and Norfolk on the East coast of the UK. 

Mothman first appeared in a graveyard in West Virginia in 1966 and haunted the area around the town of Point Pleasant for a year until the collapse of the Silver Bridge, when he vanished just as abruptly as he had appeared. The legend of Mothman lived on however, and in recent times he has been sighted all across the Great Lakes areas, and is even known to frequent Chicago on a dark, rainy night.  

The courts are original and adapted from a one-way British design, hundreds of years old, here transformed into symmetrical two-way cards for optimum functionality. The entire project is hand-drawn and uses no stock elements or A.I. 

Both decks are housed in matte tuckboxes and printed on premium classic finish by Legends PCC - and available in standard and gilded editions, with Shuck's edges being a matte black and Mothman's being a smooth red. 

Have a look at the pre-launch Kickstarter page here! Early Bird deals will be available during the first 24 hrs of the campaign -  and there will even be one or two extras to look out for on launch day!

Shuffled Stories Vol. 2: Arcane Playing Cards

Shuffled Stories Vol. 2: Arcane playing cards by Jack Brutus Penny is a thoughtfully designed playing card deck that draws visual inspiration from Tarot while remaining fully suited for shuffling, dealing, and traditional card play. Rather than functioning as a tarot deck, Arcane celebrates the shared history between tarot and playing cards, blending symbolic artwork with a structure that feels familiar in the hand.

Playing cards first arrived in Europe in the late 1300s, traveling from Asia through the Islamic world before evolving into the four-suited decks we recognize today. Tarot emerged later, in 15th-century northern Italy, as an expanded form of playing cards created for a game that introduced illustrated trump cards. Arcane is rooted in this overlap, reimagining tarot-inspired symbolism through the language of standard playing cards, honoring their long journey across cultures and centuries.

The deck features fully custom courts and pips, designed to function clearly for gameplay while carrying deeper visual meaning. The court cards are two-way, with mirrored compositions that subtly explore themes of light and shadow, duality, and balance—adding character without disrupting usability. Each suit maintains strong readability, making the deck suitable for card games, magic, and cardistry.

What sets Arcane apart is its narrative pip design. Rather than simple suit symbols, the pips are integrated into symbolic scenes, allowing each number card to suggest a story or interpretation. These layered visuals add depth for those who enjoy reflective or fortune-style readings, while still preserving the structure and clarity required of a playing card deck.

Shuffled Stories Vol. 2: Arcane will be released in two editions: Standard Edition, featuring the complete Arcane design with premium printing and finished. 

Signature Edition, which elevates the deck with experimental antique gold foiling and a hand-painted style gold gilding, continuing techniques first explored in Volume 1.

The Shuffled Stories Vol. 2: Arcane Playing Cards is scheduled to launch on Wednesday 11th 10pm Japan Standard Time on Kickstarter. 

First Look: Patina Solids Deck

A new LotusinHand release is on the horizon! This drop introduces one of the most unusual and interactive card-back concepts ever attempted by the brand.

Each card is produced using a scratch-off printing process, in which a layer of metallic foil is stamped over the back design to hide a vibrant orange surface beneath. 

With every shuffle, cut, and flourish, the foil naturally begins to wear away, allowing you to leave a unique mark on every card through use. 

Whether intentionally scratched or gradually revealed through handling, each deck becomes a one-of-a-kind piece shaped by the way you play.

Collectors ordering 10 decks or more will receive a custom brick box, which doubles as a scratch-card surprise. Every brick includes a chance to win special prizes, including one of three Lotus #00 decks and the Patina Solid Uncut NFT.

As with past releases, NFT holders gain early access, opening 24 hours before the public sale (13th December 2025) on LotusinHand store.

First Look: Triton 42 Club Restoration Playing Cards

Coming to Kickstarter on Tuesday 28th October 4pm UK time  (11am  Eastern/8am Pacific), Triton 42 Club Playing Cards Antique Restoration by A. Haines Playing Cards.

First printed around 1890 by the fabled New York Consolidated Card Company, Triton No. 42 Club Playing Cards represented the quintessential premium player's deck designed for high-end enjoyment at gaming tables, and was printed in several different versions over the years, with the most beautiful being the back designation No. 133, here painstakingly reproduced by hand in vintage green and red colourways for collectors and gamers of the modern era.

Named after the Greek merman god, Triton was a messenger of the seas and had dominion over all marine life. He is often pictured with his conch shell trumpet, which he used to control the waves and currents of the ocean.  

This two-deck set features intricate and faithfully restored illustration throughout, all drawn by hand, and offers the modern collector a rare chance to add this classic and much-loved deck of playing cards to their collection. It will be presented in an antique-inspired tobacco tin with laser-cut foam inserts and available to backers as part of a set, or as individual decks. 

These will be printed by WJPC on their premium 300gsm linen paper stock with butter varnishing, for perfect fans, cuts and shuffles every time, and each deck features a closely-observed tax stamp sticker seal on the tuckbox. 

Early bird deals will be available to all backers for the first 24 hours - pre-launch notifications can be signed up to here.

The Virts Unveils Virtuoso P1 SG Deck

The Virts has announced the launch of the Virtuoso P1 SG, a special edition deck created to honor Singapore’s 60th anniversary. Co-founder Huron Low revealed the design to the brand’s launch list, highlighting both its symbolic meaning and unique cardistry features.

The back design of the deck draws inspiration from Singapore’s transformation from a small “Little Red Dot” into a city of skyscrapers. At its center sits a bold crimson circle, surrounded by a striking PRISM pattern. Unlike previous Virtuoso releases, the PRISM extends all the way to... and even beyond the edges of the card, symbolizing how the nation expanded beyond its limitations through unity and resilience.

The design flows seamlessly from back to face, forming tapered red bands that frame circular arrays. When the cards are spun, the lines animate like fan blades, while spreads reveal blooming patterns reminiscent of traditional Chinese fans. 

The most striking feature, however, comes when the deck is spread with its special portrait Flag Card: together, the cards transform into the Singapore flag. A step-by-step video tutorial has been produced so that even newcomers can easily achieve the effect.

Each deck comes with four Art Cards that deepen the storytelling experience. Inspired by classic digital watch displays, they form the number “SG60” to commemorate the nationwide celebration. On their reverse sides, collectors will find a Cover Card, a Story Card detailing the deck’s inspiration, a Flag Card for multiple flag transformations, and a Color-Block Card for simplified displays of the national symbol.

Because official permission to use the Singapore flag expires at the end of September 2025, the Virtuoso P1 SG will only be available during the anniversary celebrations. After a decade of waiting, the original SG50 version was cancelled in 2015 due to lack of approval, Virtuoso finally realized its long-held vision.

The deck will be available for $18 for a limited time on 25 September, 10am (EDT).

First Look: Skulls & Roses Playing Cards

Skulls of death, roses of life... together they embody transformation, rebirth, and the eternal cycle. Created by Bruce Di Quinzio of Kardgic Playing Cards, Skulls & Roses is more than a deck, it is a meditation on life, death, and what lies beyond. Designed during the stillness of the pandemic by Joe Feldpausch, this project reflects on change, beauty, and the unseen realms that connect us.

The tuck case blends vintage cathedral-inspired ornamentation with modern geometric symmetry. Faceted skulls mirror each other across the design, softened by delicate rose flourishes, while earthy tones and intricate pinstripes lend a timeless, architectural elegance.

Inside, the cards continue the theme of duality. Each suit is reimagined with geometric prisms that form dimensional pips, fractured pinstripe borders, and rich tonal palettes, from the deep greys of Spades and Clubs to the maroon elegance of Hearts and Diamonds. 

The custom courts reimagine Kings, Queens, and Jacks as regal, faceted skulls crowned in gothic grandeur, while the Jokers contrast serenity and passion, linked by mirrored roses.

The Ace of Spades, centerpiece of the deck, features a bold geometrical skull within its spade, entwined by organic vine-like details, a striking symbol of transformation and renewal.

Now on Kickstarter.

First Look: AVTones Teases 2050 Playing Cards

The story of 2049 Playing Cards continues. From the mind of AVTones, 2050 Playing Cards takes us into a future ruled by mega-corporations, where Renaissance Corporation pushes humankind further than ever before. 

This time, their creation goes beyond machines—it’s something that could alter humanity forever.

Renaissance has tapped into a new source of power, something hidden, something alive. What began as fragments of design have become the foundation of a force that can no longer be contained.

This is not just a continuation. It’s a new beginning. A journey into 2050—where machines and souls can merge, and the future of humanity is decided.

The first glimpse of this vision begins today. Teaser trailer below:

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Sign-up HERE to be notified when 2050 Playing Cards launches on Kickstarter.

First Look: The Castle in the Sky Playing Cards

The Castle in the Sky playing cards launches tomorrow! Jack Brutus Penny has adapted and expanded over ten years of work into a really unique puzzle to reveal a whimsical race to the sky. Here are some cool images of the deck:

The campaign includes a unique set display case that creates an effect of a floating castle between the decks - with only 125 available each!  Also, those who become a backer in the first 15 minutes is entered for a chance to win a rare prototype (1 of 30)!

And as always, Jack's work supports various animal welfare and other causes. His last main project helped build a cattery in Japan for rescued cats. Head to the pre-launch Kickstarter page to be notified of the launch.

First Look at Osprey & Goshawk Vintage Two Deck Collectors Set

The Osprey & Goshawk two-deck vintage playing cards collectors set will launch on Kickstarter on July 24th. It includes a red deck and a blue deck, both stored in a custom tobacco tin designed to resemble an antique. 

This two-deck set is drawn from scratch, by hand, by the lead artist at A. Haines Playing Cards, and features classic motifs and design cues taken from a bygone age of playing card design. 

The blue deck, Osprey No. 2, is named after the majestic bird of the same name and features original artwork throughout: boasting a luxury thick matte tuck printed inside and out.

The red deck, Goshawk No. 3, is the perfect companion to the Osprey and features a unique tuck, Aces, Jokers and back but identical Courts and face cards. These decks complement each-other perfectly. 

The Courts are drawn by hand in an antique style, at once familiar yet distinctive, using a vintage colour palette, and follow a standard theme. 

The Aces are all custom and feature more unique artwork, with strong classic motifs on the Aces of Spades, all drawn from scratch using no stock elements. Each deck features two unique Jokers and an extra card. 

Printed to the highest standards using pre-crushed stock and Classic Finish by Legends Playing Card Co.

The campaign pre-launch is now live, and you can sign up for notifications on the Kickstarter landing page here! Also, you can find out more about A. Haines Playing Cards by visiting their website where you will find links to their Social Media and more of their work at ahplayingcards.com

First Look: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

The much-anticipated Volume 3 of The Lord of the Rings™ luxury playing cards series, The Return of the King™ by Kings Wild Project is scheduled to launch on Kickstarter on June 4th. This final installment in the epic trilogy brings to life J.R.R. Tolkien’s iconic characters through beautifully illustrated court cards.

The Return of the King™ deck features intricately designed court cards that depict key characters from the saga. Characters such as Aragorn and Arwen, Sam carrying Frodo, The King of the Dead, Denethor, Sauron, and many others are vividly illustrated, capturing their essence and significance in the story. Each card serves as a piece of art, designed to transport players into the legendary world of Middle-earth.

The Kickstarter campaign offers both foiled and non-foiled versions, catering to different collector preferences. Following the success of the previous releases, The Fellowship of the Ring™ and The Two Towers™, this final deck completes the narrative journey of The One Ring.

To celebrate the conclusion of The Lord of the Rings™ series, Kings Wild will release The Lord of the Rings Triple Set. This special set includes all three volumes, each deck redesigned with a clean foiled texture treatment on crisp white backgrounds.

The set presents a classic style that is perfect for collectors and card enthusiasts. The card backs feature a simple ring encircled with Black Speech, and the new tucks showcase a simplified ring design.

For ultimate collectors, the Legacy Edition offers a black walnut case with a unique foiled and gilded deck inside. This edition features a solid nickel-silver “Aragorn™, Coronated King Elessar Telcontar” coin, embedded in royal blue wax. The exclusive black tuck case with gold foiling accents is available only in this Legacy Edition.

Experience the epic conclusion of the quest to destroy the One Ring with The Return of the King™ luxury playing cards. This campaign represents the pinnacle of Kings Wild Project’s craftsmanship and dedication to faithfully honoring Tolkien’s world.

The Kickstarter is scheduled to launch on June 4th. Don’t forget to sign-up on the Kickstarter pre-launch page to be notified.