Crown (Royal Purple Edition) Playing Cards

Crown (Royal Purple Edition) Playing Cards continue the refined design language of Joker and the Thief with a deck that balances everyday practicality and elevated aesthetics. Expanding on the brand’s ongoing exploration of life, death, and stoic philosophy, Crown presents a quieter, more contemplative luxury, one rooted in restraint rather than excess.

Hand-illustrated by Pedro Oyarbide, the Royal Purple Edition bridges tradition and modern design with minimalist court cards created in-house. The clean visuals keep gameplay, magic, and handling front and center, allowing the cards to perform without distraction while still carrying a strong visual identity. 

The deck’s stoic inspiration, shaped during founder James Milaras' travels through Greece, subtly informs its symbolism and tone, giving the cards narrative depth beyond their surface elegance.

They are housed in a richly detailed tuck box featuring heavy embossing and sealed with Joker and the Thief’s signature foil manufacturer seal. Printed on premium paper stock with a smooth, effortless finish, the cards are built for consistent handling and durability.

Available now on Joker and the Thief for $15.

Gunslingers Playing Cards by Joker and the Thief

Now on Kickstarter, Joker and the Thief rides back into the frontier with Gunslingers Playing Cards, a deck steeped in the folklore of the Old West. Inspired by outlaws, ghost stories, and desert myths, the deck reimagines the brand’s iconic Joker and Thief as two elusive riders whose calling card... the Ace of Spades appears wherever they strike. 

The back design illustrated by Pedro Oyarbide draws from late-19th-century American decks, merging classic symmetry with frontier grit. Two editions are offered during the Kickstarter campaign: a Standard version in deep reds and greens, and the Outlaw Edition with gold metallic ink that catches the light like treasure.

Each suit reflects a different face of frontier life: Diamonds embody ambition and its cost; Spades represent lawmen obsessed with justice and revenge; Hearts honour the land’s original warriors and seers; Clubs portray drifters and desperadoes who haunt saloons and shadows.

The deck’s Jokers bring the myth to life one living, one spectral... riding beneath a blood-red sunset.

The tuck boxes continue Joker and the Thief’s reputation for premium presentation: the Standard uses rugged letter-pressed textures, while the Outlaw Edition elevates the design with black stock, foil stamping, and embossing.

Printed by King Star, Gunslingers Playing Cards blends atmosphere, craftsmanship, and myth into a deck made for handling, displaying, and collecting. Pledge starts at $24 on Kickstarter.

J&T Celebrates 10th Anniversary with No Borders (2nd Edition) Playing Cards

Joker and the Thief celebrates 10 years of innovation with No Borders: Series 2, a collection of playing cards inspired by decks from their back catalog. This series showcases fresh designs while honoring the brand's rich history, blending creative artistry with practical functionality.

Each deck draws inspiration from the intricate interior patterns of past releases:

• Joker and the Thief Back: A tribute to the original deck, featuring the interior pattern from its debut tuck box, paired with the elegant colorway of the Edition 5 release.

• Maidens Back: Featuring the floral interior design of the Maidens tuck box, originally illustrated by Kentaro Yoshida, it pays homage to this 2018 cult classic.

• Dystopia Back: Inspired by the gritty post-apocalyptic "Dystopia: Interceptor Edition," it showcases a bold skull-and-bones motif.

• Victory Back: This deck celebrates Joker and the Thief's first borderless design, honoring the limited-edition Victory Playing Cards.

• Crown Back: A tribute to the stoic simplicity of the Crown Playing Cards, featuring the iconic three-headed snake design, available in both red and blue variants.

All six decks shave the same Ace of Spades, and hand-illustrated court cards by Pedro Oyarbide that combine elegance and clarity.

The tuck boxes are crafted from matte black paper stock- feature blind embossing, intricate letterpress detailing, and a unique die-cut window revealing each deck's back design. Gold foil accents and perforated seals add functionality and sophistication, ensuring ease of use without sacrificing elegance.

With its striking designs and luxurious craftsmanship, this collection stands as a testament to Joker and the Thief’s decade-long commitment to artistry and quality. Pledge starts at $15 on Kickstarter.

Joker and the Thie Crown Edition 2 Playing Cards

Joker and the Thief has launched the latest addition to the Crown series of playing cards on Kickstarter. The luxurious Crown Edition Playing Cards embodies the perfect fusion of practicality and aesthetic appeal, drawing inspiration from life, death, and the profound philosophy of stoicism.

Meticulously hand-illustrated by renowned artist Pedro Oyarbide, the inception of the Crown Edition Playing Cards took place against the backdrop of the ancient city of Athens, Greece, where J&T founder, James Milaras, was immersed in the rich history and philosophical teachings of the region. Influenced by the majestic views of the Parthenon and ancient schools of thought, James envisioned a deck that would not only captivate the senses but also provoke introspection and contemplation.

Now available in a stunning GREEN, and brilliant metallic GOLD, the Crown Edition features a captivating array of imagery that reflects the stoic ethos. The Ace of Spades, traditionally associated with death, serves as a poignant reminder to embrace the present moment and live life to the fullest. The scales symbolize balance, while the thorny vines and circle of bones convey the entrapment and impermanence of life.

The court cards, designed in-house with practicality in mind, embody the minimalist aesthetic synonymous with Joker and the Thief. The court cards strike a delicate balance between elegance and functionality, making them ideal for card games and magic tricks alike.

The Crown 2 Edition features exquisite tuck boxes adorned with intricate letterpress, embossing, and custom seals. The standard versions boast beautiful ink printing on premium paper stock, while the Luxury Edition exudes opulence with premium black paper stock, satin gold foil, and interior foil stamping.

For collectors and connoisseurs seeking the ultimate prize, the Limited Luxury Edition of Crown Playing Cards is limited to just 500 decks. Each Luxury Edition deck is individually numbered and features hot-stamped foil on the back of the cards, gold gilding on the edges, and a foiled and embossed tuck box.

In addition, collectors can enhance their collection with the exclusive Holographic Gilded Edge Crown Decks, available as add-ons. Available now on Kickstarter from $17.

Check Out J&T's No Borders Playing Cards Series!

Now on Kickstarter, the captivating No Borders Playing Cards series is a collaborative creation by Joker and the Thief in partnership with the talented Pedro Oyarbide. This extraordinary collection comprises SIX distinct editions, each meticulously crafted to offer a unique blend of functionality and aesthetic appeal.

As the name suggests, the No Borders series offers a borderless experience that merges practicality with style. With each deck featuring a different back design, ranging from classic to abstract, this series celebrates the limitless potential of a deck of cards as a canvas for artistic expression.

From the sleek elegance of the Sovereign edition to the dynamic energy of Thunderbolt, each deck in the series embodies a distinct theme.

Grand-Prix is a tribute to the timeless allure of racing, with a checkered pattern that speaks to both classic racing flags and a modern aesthetic.

Cutback is an exuberant homage to the carefree surfer’s lifestyle, its design rich with the warm hues and rhythmic patterns reminiscent of the rolling waves and vibrant beach-scapes from Bali to Bondi. This

Thunderbolt is a dynamic evolution of the classic border design seen on the original Joker and the Thief decks, reimagined into a striking, borderless pattern!

The Honeycomb exudes a timeless elegance with its geometric precision, offering a sleek, classic aesthetic for the modern card enthusiast. 

The Crazy Back is a visual representation of the unpredictable and dynamic essence of the Joker and the Thief, key archetypes of our brand.

Sovereign pays homage to the storied history of playing cards with a pattern that captures the fluidity and elegance of vintage designs from the early 20th century in the United States.

All decks feature meticulously illustrated Court Cards and iconic Joker and Thief characters, adding depth and intrigue to the collection, and weaving a captivating narrative.

True to the Joker and the Thief brand, the No Borders series features luxurious tuck boxes crafted with meticulous attention to detail. Made from premium matte black paper stock and adorned with blind embossing elements, these tuck boxes exude sophistication and elegance.

The innovative die-cut window on the back of the box allows players to glimpse the back design of the cards. At the same time, the perforated Joker and the Thief seal ensure easy access to the deck without leaving any residue.

Pledge starts at $16 on Kickstarter. Don’t miss out!

Joker and the Thief: Reserve Edition Luxury Playing Cards

Joker and the Thief presents the Reserve Edition—a special 5-deck collection of playing cards masterfully illustrated by Pedro Oyarbide. These decks signify stories and memories, connecting individuals through shared experiences.

J&T founder, James Milaras shares his passion for collecting cards, emphasizing the allure of exclusive and signature editions in the cardistry world. The Reserve Edition aims to honor this sentiment and create decks that are both artworks and practical tools. Each deck is enriched by brilliant cold foil stamping, and seamlessly merges with Pedro’s iconic artwork, ensuring coherence and beauty.

The Ace of Spades, enhanced with cold foil elements and the signature of James Milaras, stands out as a symbol of luxury and design innovation. Additionally, the court cards from the original Joker and the Thief decks add continuity and brand identity to the Reserve Edition.

The Jokers pay tribute to the bond between James and Pedro, representing their close friendship and collaboration. Known for their luxurious tuck boxes featuring custom seals, foil applications, and embossing, Joker and the Thief aims to maintain this distinct quality with the Private Reserve Editions.

Pledge starts at $26 on Kickstarter.

Joker and the Thief: Crown Edition Playing Cards on Kickstarter

The team at Joker and the Thief (J&T) continues to captivate with the release of the new J&T Crown Edition playing cards. Only a few more days on Kickstarter, this new deck series is a perfect blend of practicality and artistry designed by Pedro Oyarbide.

The design of the J&T Crown card backs draws inspiration from the wisdom of ancient philosophies, with a special focus on stoicism – a belief in embracing resilience, finding tranquility, and exploring the profound connection between life and mortality.

The back design features one of our favorite quotes from Roman Emperor, Marcus Aurelius, “Death smiles at us all, and all a man can do is smile back.” This is the ultimate stoic quote – representing strength and impartiality in the face of the guarantee of death. 

The Crown courtcards are a masterstroke! Embracing a minimalist design, they elevate legibility and focus, perfect for card games and mesmerizing magic tricks. This minimalist approach aligns perfectly with stoic philosophy, emphasizing the essence and shedding the superfluous.

The Ace of Spades sports the iconic Joker and the Thief motif and it serves as a potent reminder to cherish life’s precious moments and live in the present. Encircled by thorny vines and crowned with scales, this powerful symbol signifies the balance needed to lead a purposeful and fulfilled existence. And that’s not all – it challenges the traditional symbolism of the Ace of Spades, urging us to embrace life rather than fear death. A true representation of stoicism’s wisdom in a single card!

Three main versions are made available during the campaign, red, blue and luxury. The red and blue versions of the Crown deck will sport packaging that will feature beautiful ink printing on premium paper stock and comes with embossing where you will be able to feel the texture of the art work. 

The Limited Luxury Edition of Crown Playing Cards is a rare gem you won’t want to miss. The premium black paper stock, satin gold foil, and elaborate embossing evoke the highest order of sophistication. And with only 500 decks available, each adorned with a unique numbered seal.

Pledge starts at $17 on Kickstarter. Don’t miss out!

Deck View: Happy Sad Playing Cards

Happy. Sad. Contemporary.

The contemporary and fun Happy Sad playing cards are part of Joker and the Thief‘s line of Cardistry decks! This deck picks up Joker and the Thief’s themes of duality and runs with it with a fresh, minimal approach.

The fully custom design is created by Pedro Oyarbide featuring a tessellating pattern back design. The court cards are modelled on classics and have been completely re-illustrated by hand to create the distressed vibe associated with the brand. This rough around the edges approach continues onto the rest of the face cards and Ace of Spades.

The tuck box is manufactured to the same premium standards as the rest of the Joker and the Thief line, with premium matte paper and interior printing. Printed on Premium Crushed Stock and Finish by the United States Playing Card Company. Available NOW from jokerandthethief.com for just $5. GREAT VALUE!

12 Playing Cards Perfect for Halloween 2022

It’s that time of the year! We have painstakingly compiled the best playing cards for All Hallows’ Eve just for you… the 2022’s Kardify Top 12: Decks for Halloween! This year with enough glow-in-the-dark monsters, bones, skulls, quirky characters, and steampunk pirates to keep your spine tingling through the night. If you have one that we haven’t discovered, feel free to share your favorite spine-tinging deck in the comment section below.

Note that the selection expressed in this top 12 are solely those of the author and the list is in no particular order.

Black Requiem Counterspell

From Stockholm17, the fully custom Black Requiem Counterspell features darkness and pain as a theme. The face cards come with gold and silver foil application and gold foil on the back design. As the illustrations for the Courts, Jokers, and Aces are very dark, the Black Requiem casts a counterspell using Magick sigils on those cards depicting the feeling. 

Play Dead V2

The stylish Play Dead V2 from Riffle Shuffle features mixes of bold line and shape patterns with the 3D forms, but this time with a teal-green colorway. Designed by Steven Harrison, the Skull theme pops with complementary colors and lines. 

Fulton’s October UV Glow

The fourth edition of Fulton’s October is a frightfully fun and whimsical deck featuring the illustrated artwork of Steven Noble. This edition comes with UV glow-inks that come to light up when exposed to a black light. These look absolutely unreal!

Psychonauts

From Joker and the Thief, Psychonauts Playing Cards explore reality beyond the perception of the five senses! This unique deck features custom art in reference to real-world influential spiritual figures hand illustrated by Pedro Oyarbide.

Bicycle Circus

A fully custom Bicycle-branded playing cards by PlayingCardDecks inspired by childhood memories of attending the circus! The custom court cards represent circus characters, from the ringmaster, juggler, and acrobats to the strongman and tightrope walker. The retro feel of the deck adds to the charm!

Arcane Tales

Arcane Tales by the Italian designer Giovanni Meroni is the second deck of the Tales series inspired by Fairy Tales, Fables, and Fantasy Books. The decks offer a vast array of characters of the most popular fairy tales, from witches, elves, to giants and orcs. Definitely a fun deck for Halloween!

666

Produced by Riffle Shuffle the deck is inspired by mysterious occult practices. The overall design looks deceptively simplistic at first glance. However, hold the tuck box to the light to reveal intricate details that were hiding in the shadows. Fully custom artwork insides with stunning metallic inks.

Shamanic Journey

The unique Shamanic Journey playing cards by 3rd Dominion features unique tuck boxes with ornaments that are filled with hidden abstract images of lizards and birds, as well as invisible, UV-glow images of wolf, shamans, and skeletons. Inside, the deck is fully custom with hand-illustrated court cards, jokers, bold Ace of Spades, and detailed card backs.

Campy Creatures

The Campy Creature Deadluxe Playing Cards are designed by Keymaster Games featuring twelve unique hand illustrations of notorious B-movie horror monsters including The Blob, The Invisible Man, The Man-Eating Plant, The Swamp Creature, and many more.

Beowulf

Beowulf playing cards inspired by the longest epic poem with the characters represented on the face cards in unique carving-styled artwork by Jackson Robinson. The deck is kept in a tuck case designed to resemble an ancient book, including life-like features to resemble canvas and leather design-work, and finished with realistic wear-n-tear details. 

Vengeance of Witches

By Nicolai Aaroe, Vengeance of Witches is a 17th-century witchcraft playing cards, manufactured with deluxe features in two limited editions. The artwork on the full bleed card backs features intricate artwork printed with metallic copper inks and blood red accents in Pantone. The face cards are hand-illustrated and feature archetypes inspired by the 17th-century witch-hunts.

Noctober

Two years in the making, House of Playing Cards, Noctober deck features a cut-out Jack-O-Lantern tuck design and an eye-catching neon orange colorway with black borders to bring that Halloween vibe to the deck. The coolest feature of using neon colors in playing cards is the magnificent glow when shined under a black light!

The selection expressed in this top12 is solely those of the author. 

Victory Playing Cards by Joker and the Thief

Joker and the Thief’s Victory playing cards are crafted for those who seek Victory, in any endeavor. For founder James Millaras, the deck is an homage to his family. 

According to the product page, 

The name Victory is a direct tribute to the efforts of James’ grandparents, who were Greek immigrants and owned and operated a fish and chips shop in Far North Queensland, Australia in the 80s through to the late 90s. The name of the shop was Victory and became an institution in the small port town of Cairns – known for quality food and customer service. Victory playing cards pays tribute in name to their immigrant spirit of hard work, of which we as a family are grateful to be inspired by and benefit from.

The stunning deck comes with a stunning embossed tuck box with letterpress inks and foil both interior and exterior. The borderless card back comes with a repeated JT logo design with metallic inks.

The face cards are pretty much standard with the unmistakable art style of Pedro Oyarbide. The court cards are modeled in classics to create a distressed vibe associated with the brand.

Limited to 1,000 decks and are available now from jokerandthethief.com for $20.

Holiday Gift Guide: Playing Cards for Card Enthusiasts, Magicians and Cardists

Looking for the perfect and reasonable priced holiday gift idea for the card enthusiasts, magicians or cardists in your life? We are here to help! Find their interest and we will recommend a deck of playing cards. Check out the list below:


For The Adventurer: Brown Drifters [Link]

The deck from Dan and Dave features fully custom courts, jokers, beautifully illustrated aces, and a gorgeous back with incredible line work. Every shuffle and cut of the cards is a reminder to never settle, to chase a life of freedom. The cards are housed in an eye-catching custom letter-pressed tuck case featuring intricate detail and incredible line work.


For the Cardist: Happy Sad [Link]

Contemporary and fun, this deck picks up Joker and the Thief's themes of duality and runs with a fresh, minimal approach. The fully custom design is created by Pedro Oyarbide featuring a contemporary tessellating pattern back design The face cards are modeled on classics and have been completely re-illustrated by hand to create the distressed vibe associated with the brand.


For the Magician: Butterfly [Link]

The beautiful Butterfly (Autumn Edition) Playing Cards features a beautiful card back in aesthetically pleasing seasonal colors. The colors of the design elements pop against the black-bordered backs and mirrored butterfly logo. Simple yet effective! The colors are reminiscent of the colorful wings of butterflies. This gorgeous deck comes with standard faces as it is intended mainly for magicians who prefer standard faces as they are familiar and easily recognizable by the audience.

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For the Reader: Robin Hood [Link]

Meticulously designed by Jackson Robinson, the unique artistic style achieved with the Robin Hood playing cards took heavy inspiration from the Bayeux Tapestry - a French tapestry from around 1066. Every stitch is hand-drawn to create this incredible display. The beautifully crafted court cards feature characters from the legend. The deck is kept in a striking tuck case designed to resemble an ancient book, including life-like features to resemble canvas and leather design-work, a book spine, frayed paper edges, and finished with realistic wear-n-tear details.


For the Nature Lover: Bicycle Caterpillar [Link]

Caterpillar Playing Cards is the fifth deck in the charming insect series by PlayingCardDecks. The fully custom Bicycle-branded deck once again showcases the artwork by Artur Rajch and prominently features a striking green colorway. The artwork and theme for this deck in particular are certainly eyecatching due to the use of the color pallette. Also, the custom deck is truly functional! A delightful deck for your collection and a great gift for the Caterpillar lover in your life, or anyone who appreciates great design. 

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For Her: Love You [Link]

Instead of flowers, give your loved one something they can use again and again! Love You playing cards feature 54 unique hand drawn illustrations showing why you love them in a whimsically cute style that everyone will love. Playful and thoughtfully detailed, the Love You boxes are instantly recognizable. The fully custom designs feature different reasons why we love. From dating couples, to married parents and even grandparents; these cards playfully bring that love to life with delightful designs which will bring a smile every time!


For the Collector: Kingdom Box Set [Link]

Two years in the making, Ark Playing Card's KINGDOM and KINGHOOD decks are based on the royal theme of the Middle Ages and its illustrations are drawn from the luxurious style of the Renaissance period. The deck is fully custom, from the Aces, Jokers and the Court Cards. The illustrations are drawn using the classic Sgraffito painted technique. Each illustration was first drawn and colored carefully on the paper and then using high-precision scanning transferring into digital images, the whole process over 3 months to complete. The decks are packaged in an equally luxurious tuck box crafted with process 8 processes of production procedures, the combination of embossing, foiled lines, and illustrations!


For the Designer: Eye of the Ocean [Link]

An epic archaeo-fantasy adventure deck from the age of sails by Lorenzo Gaggiotti of Stockholm17  The meticulouslt crafted deck consists of 3 (+1 ultra limited Quartermaster Edition) stunning editions- Solis, Astra Polaris, and Lunæ. All 3 editions share the same back design but in a different colorway and feature foil application. The fully custom faces are the same for all 3 decks but come with some minor differences. The court cards are hand-illustrated, The custom aces feature islands and the map portion is visible on the background on the face cards.


For the Musician: Six Strings [Link]

Six Strings is a collaboration between Kardify and Murphy's Magic inspired by the most majestic and fascinating musical instrument- the guitar. This limited edition deck is designed by Ade Suryana. You will love the fully custom design featuring gorgeous reimagined courts, visually appealing pips and suits, bold Ace of Spades, and an intricate card back design. All packaged in a beautifully crafted letter-pressed tuck case by Clove St Press.

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For the Sci-Fi Fan: Galaxia [Link]

Galaxia is a series of playing cards by Thirdway Industries, inspired by dystopian Sci-Fi novels of the 1950s and 60s. Designed by the Italian designer Giovanni Meroni, the decks offer a vast array of characters and stories to tell as they embark on a space journey to an Eden in another galaxy. 


For the Poker Player: Royales [Link]

From Kings & Crooks comes A fully custom-designed deck of cards inspired by an unforgettable night of glitz, glamour, and fortune at an iconic, fictional casino. The deck is set in vintage-era Monte Carlo. They're an artistic invitation to escape into a thrilling and prestigious world of chance that exists behind doors off-limits to most. Meticulously crafted with undeniable character and flair! Elegantly playful but ultra-sophisticated, the Royales celebrate a fine line between modern-minimal and old-world-classic style.



For Secret Santa: Bicycle 1900s [Link]

From Ellusionist, the artwork and design of the Bicycle 1900 Playing Cards have been meticulously crafted to make it look weathered and abused, exposed to the elements, left to experience every second for over a hundred years. The tuck features the same distressed look as each of the cards in the deck. 

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For the Minimalist: NOC Pro [Link]

Alex Pandrea presents his latest NOC variation for the professional worker decks. The NOC Pros will come in 4 stunning color variations. Burgundy Red, Navy Blue, Jet Black and Greystone. These colors convey an upscale professional vibe that is ideal for magic performances and magicians of all kinds. The famous minimal back design has been upgraded with an added inner border that brings an elegant vibe to an already simplistic deck. The tuck case has been redesigned and printed on color-infused embossed linen and vellum papers with a matte finish.


For the Movie Buff: Harry Potter [Link]

The stunning Harry Potter playing cards by Theory11 showcase all of your favorite Harry Potter characters with completely custom artwork in every aspect of the design. From the Aces, Jokers, box design, and court cards, they are inspired directly by fan-favorite characters and events in the Wizarding World. The tuck boxes are incredibly eye-catching with striking gold foil and house-colored foil accents. A perfect tribute to the Wizarding World and will sure to excite any Harry Potter fans! 


For that Card Collector Who Has Everything: Carat Card Cases [Link]

You can't go wrong with these stylish display cases. Carat cases come with a variety of sizes and will keep your decks completely visible, dust-free, and away from curious hands. While the case keeps your decks securely enclosed, it will open and close with the utmost ease. Choose from a single deck to 3 decks and even 6 deck displays! Every collector loves to show off their prized collection. What better way to do it than these affordable and luxurious displays.

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