Pre-Order The Goldsmith Playing Cards by Kevin Cantrell X TGW NOW!

The Gentleman Wake‘s (TGW) previous crowd-funded project, The Successor Playing Cards, received positive feedback from the playing card community. The brilliance of Kevin Cantrell’s work never ceased to impress.

After the success with the third series in TGW’s lineup, Kevin invited TGW to establish his own luxury playing cards series – called “Cantrell A Priori” (shortened as CAP). It will be a four-deck series line-up, with each coming with a thematic theme and two different color variants. Kevin will design these decks, while TGW will produce them. To start the CAP series, here is the first one- to pay homage to the father of modern printing, Johannes Gutenberg. Introducing The Goldsmith Playing Cards.

The Goldsmith Playing Cards come in two main colors: black and white. The tuck box features premium matte stock with fully detailed artwork done in metallic foiling and embossing. The front side of the box features an illustration of Gutenberg with his assistant using the printing press at nighttime complete with a beautiful intricate border and a scroll presenting the title of the deck. The left side of the box is made to look like a book’s leather-bound cover. The back side of the box mirrors the card back design.

The top side of the box features a small shelf filled with books and an open book. The flap features an icon of the printing press, the machine which Gutenberg invented that revolutionized the world of printing. The box will have an interior pattern made of gold foil. The tuck box is printed with Studio Pression

The card back design features a two-way illustration of a side profile of Gutenberg embedded into the beautiful luxurious border filled with leaves and flowers. There is a ribbon banner with Latin text. The background color is based on the respective edition: black/white.

All of the Aces have fully illustrated power pip, all are made in reference to the life achievement of Gutenberg. The number cards feature customized pips based on the illustrations of the Aces complete with small symbols on the small spaces between the arrangement of the pips. The court cards are illustrated as two-way figures in illustrious clothes in the style of the era.

The Jokers feature two illustrations of a scene painting with a small bookshelf: one features the Pilgrim’s Mirror, and the other features the Black Plague. All of the painstaking details of the card artwork will have gold cold foil – to create the luxurious aspects of the decks. To add more, the cards will be gilded with gold foil. 

The decks will come inside a custom-made deck case made with walnut wood. It has an acrylic cover to keep the decks closed in it, complete with neodymium magnets to keep it tight. The case is complete with a custom-made coin, which it is slotted on the centre of the cover. The coin for the series features the same look as the card back design artwork – it will be made with 24k Gold. This display format will be applied for the next three deck series in CAP.

The cards will be printed with Cartamundi. The set is priced at $100 – there are only 1000 sets made, with each person having a limit to get 3 sets. The Pre-Order is live on TGW’s site NOW!

Tavern on the Green Playing Cards by Theory11

Theory11's latest deck is an elegant, intricate, limited edition deck of playing cards produced in collaboration with Tavern on the Green, an iconic landmark restaurant. A Central Park staple, the historic Tavern on the Green has been capturing the spirit of New York City since 1934.

Originally designed by Calvert Vaux, Tavern on the Green was built as a sheepfold in the 1880s to house 700 Southdown sheep. The building was transformed into a restaurant in 1934 as part of a park renovation by Robert Moses. Reopened in 2014, the restaurant paid homage to their roots with inviting décor and wood paneling reminiscent of the original sheepfold.

The Tavern on the Green Playing Cards pays homage to this storied history. On the outside, the embossed tuck is shielded in stunning green and gold foil, and feature the most intricate details on a tuck case Theory11's ever produced - inside and out. Exquisite!

Inside, the fully custom deck showcase the breathtaking artwork of Kevin Cantrell, from the gorgeous card backs, intricate aces, jokers, and court cards. Kevin's line work is incredible and the level of detail is very impressive, to say the least.

Available NOW from Theory11 for $9.95.

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Theory11's Lord of the Rings Playing Cards in GOLD!

Theory11‘s Lord of the Rings playing cards now comes in GOLD. The tuck box features a gold colorway that reflects the luscious landscape of The Shire. Inside, the custom cards showcase the artwork of Kevin Cantrell from its unique pips to the recognizable court cards and Ace of Spades. Easter eggs like the Light of Eärendil, Lurtz, and Minas Morgul are littered throughout the GOLD FOIL card backs and tuck box.

Also available is the special edition premium box set. This premium box set includes four decks: two standard editions and two special gold foil edition Lord of the Rings Playing Cards. The box set is secured with a magnetic enclosure – and a map of Middle Earth inside!

Available NOW on theory11.

We Just Released Issue 22 of Kardify Magazine

The latest issue of Kardify Magazine is now on Patreon for our Patrons who pledge $3 or more on our Patreon page. Issue #22 compiles selected articles we’ve published from mid-February to mid-March. The goal is to help you stay on top of the latest playing card news, releases and previews.

Funds received from the magazine will help us keep the site running and growing, and bringing new quality content to you. Our aim is to support designers by backing on crowd-funded projects and supporting magic and playing cards retailers with their new releases. If you want to support us, please head over to our Patreon page. If you have an idea for an article you would like us to pursue, do get in contact with us. We hope you enjoy the read. In this issue:

+ Betrayers: Find out what we think about Thirdway Industries' vibrant new deck series.

+ Invocation: Check out Jackson Robinson's exquisite, hand-illustrated deck successfully funded on Kickstarter.

+ Fontaine Carrots V2: The second Anwar Carrots x Fontaine deck with a little surprise from Zach Mueller.

+ Tavern on the Green: Check out the stunning new collaborative deck by Theory11 with breathtaking artwork by Kevin Cantrell.

+ Pack of Dogs: You may have probably seen this deck on your social feeds back in 2017. Have a look at the deck that went viral on Reddit.

+ Six Strings: A collaboration between Kardify and Murphy’s Magic inspired by the most majestic and fascinating musical instrument- the guitar.

+ Unlock! Squeek & Sausage: Our first ever card game review looking at a co-operative card game inspired by escape rooms.

… and more! 43 pages of articles and deck images. Enjoy!

Deck View: Tom's Town Playing Cards

Elegant. Luxurious. Heritage.

An elegany deck by Art of Play is a collaboration with Tom's Town Distilling Co. (Instagram: @toms_town). This luxurious deck is meticulously illustrated by Kevin Cantrell (Instagram: @kevincantrellstudio) and crafted with the same high standards and attention to detail put into Tom's Town line of spirits.

The fully custom deck features a beautiful deco-style design commemorating the heritage of Tom's Town while providing a luxurious experience at the card table. Incredible line work and superb use of colors. Hand-assembled inside a beautiful tuck box featuring the slogan "the people are thirsty" embossed in stunning gold foil. 

Printed by The United States Playing Card Co. on proprietary crushed-stock preferred by professionals. Available from jpgameltd.co.uk.

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Standards (Flag Edition) Playing Cards

Elegance. Ornate. Detailed.

Standards fourth edition is part of a six-deck collection inspired by nineteenth-century British opulence. The stunning deck is designed by Kevin Cantrell Studio and crafted with meticulous attention to detail. The fully custom deck features an intricate card back, bold Ace of Spades, elegant court cards, and enhanced pips. The cards are printed in metallic ink to complement the luxurious tuck box. 

The tuck box showcase the intricate card back design on the front with the word Standards prominent featured and the eye-catching bold Ace of Spades on the back. The tuck is embossed and adorned with striking gold foil. Combined with the colors of the British flag, this deck is truly eye-catching! 

Standards are printed by The United States Playing Card Co. on Dan and Dave’s proprietary crushed-stock preferred by professionals.

Deck View: Standards (Black Edition) Playing Cards

Elegance. Ornate. Detailed.

Produced by Art of Play in collaboration with Kevin Cantrell Studio, Standards playing cards are crafted with meticulous attention to detail. The deck is inspired by nineteenth-century British opulence, an era of elegance unsurpassed.

The elusive black edition deck was the first two decks in the series and was made available during the first drop which includes the red edition deck. The back edition Standard comes with fully custom artwork from the bold Ace of Spades, intricate card backs, to gorgeous courts, and ornate jokers.

News: Theory11 Releases Stunning New Deck, Citizens Playing Cards

Theory11 has just released a stunning new deck, Citizens Playing Cards. Meticulously illustrated by Kevin Cantrell, Citizens are the most intricate, breathtaking playing cards produced by Theory11 to-date.

The eye-catching tuck combines gold foil, hot stamping and bronze foil, resulting in an elegant and sophisticated design. Also, the tuck interior features a breathtaking, intricate guilloche pattern.

The custom Joker and back design bear the Latin phrase “Audentes Fortuna Iuvat.” Fortune favors the brave. The Ace of Spades features an iconic Citizen “C” emblem.

Citizen Playing Cards are Made in the USA using FSC-certified paper derived from sustainable forests. Available now from theory11.com for $9.95.


Images from theory11.com

The Successor Playing Cards Smashes its Kickstarter Funding Goal in 5 Minutes

We’ve seen no shortage of Kickstarter success stories over the past weeks, but it’s always amazing to hear about playing cards that are somehow able to meet their funding goals in short periods of time, and the Successor playing cards by The Gentleman Wake (TGW) is no exception.

The Kickstarter project went live yesterday, and within just five minutes, it met its funding goal of $99,750. Not only that, but it also completely smashed that goal and is sitting at $243,000+ worth of pledges at the time of writing.

Designed in collaboration with Kevin Cantrell, The Successor Playing Cards evokes art from the 15th-century cathedrals, canvases, and manuscripts. All of the aspects from the pips to the courts are customized, featuring artworks that combine ancient historical illustration with the classical design of a deck of playing cards.

All of the Aces featured massive pips with ornate designs. The numbered cards featured pips with golden details within, arranged with smaller icons in-between spaces. The court cards are illustrated close to the classical courts yet based on historical references to the medieval times.

Both Jokers featured well-done illustrations of historical figures in a royal kingdom: The Annoiter, the priest who will coronate the royal, and the Anointed, the royal who will be crowned on the throne. The series tells a story of a tale of trials and betrayal of royal succession.

There are a total of 6 editions in the series: 2 standard editions and 4 exclusive limited editions. There are two different card back designs within the series: one featured an hourglass on the center (the first four editions), while the other featured an ambigram of “Successor” on the center (the last two editions). The center element is surrounded by an intricate framework decorated with royal crowns, filigrees, and most importantly, TGW’s mascot the rhinoceros beetle.

The standard editions are “Regal Red” and “Royal Blue”, featuring red and blue main colors with Pantone metallic ink on the details. The first two exclusive editions are “Imperial Black” and “White Monarch”, featuring black and white main color with gold cold foiling on the details – the cards for “White Monarch” will be gilded with gold foil.

The last two exclusive editions are “Dynastinae Rex” and “Dynastinae Prism”, featuring green and purple main colors with gold and holographic cold foiling on the details respectively – the cards for “Rex” will be gilded with gold foil, while cards for “Prism” will be gilded with holographic foil. The cards will be produced by Cartamundi on B9 Slimline stock with a linen finish.

The tuck box for the decks in the series is heavily customized with intricate artworks with many levels of finishes. They are done with premium quality matte stock with 5 layers of metallic foiling complete with 3D strategic embossing. The tuck box for “Rex” featured gold and black holographic foiling while the tuck box for “Prism” featured purple and holographic foiling. For both “White Monarch” and “Dynastinae Prism”, the tuck box has a sleeve made of matte stock with a zinc-alloy metal cast sculpture attached to it – gold sculpture for “White Monarch” and silver sculpture for “Dynastinae Prism”. All of the tuck boxes are done by Studio Pression from France.

To sum up the collection, the series is completed with a custom-made storage box to contain all of the available editions. This box is made of piano-black lacquered wood with laser-etched gold foil inlays along with a gold-plated zinc-alloy metallic sculpture lid. The box is fashioned to look like the king’s royal sarcophagus.

Pledge starts from $19 for a single deck of standard edition to up to $400 to get a complete set on Kickstarter. Funding ends on June 24, 2022.

Standards (Flag Edition) Playing Cards by Art of Play

Almost forgot about this striking deck! 2019 saw the release of three editions of Standards Playing Cards, and the fourth edition was released by Art of Play last month. The fourth edition to part of a six-deck collection inspired by nineteenth-century British opulence. The deck is designed by Kevin Cantrell Studio and crafted with meticulous attention to detail.



The fully custom deck features intricate card back, bold Ace of Spades, elegant court cards, and enhanced pips. The cards are printed in metallic ink to complement the luxurious tuck box.



The tuck box showcase the intricate card back design on the front with the word Standards prominent featured and the eye-catching bold Ace of Spades on the back. The tuck is embossed and adorned with striking gold foil. Combined with the colors of the British flag, this deck is truly eye-catching!



Standards are printed by The United States Playing Card Co. on Dan and Dave's proprietary crushed-stock preferred by professionals. Hand-assembled in San Diego, CA. Available now from artofplay.com for $15.

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Theory11's Lord of the Rings Playing Cards

Available on Theory11 for pre-order the Lord of the Rings playing cards feature beloved characters from Frodo and the rest of the Fellowship of the Ring to Gollum, Saruman, and the Dark Lord Sauron.

Unlike Kings Wild’s LOTR deck which is based on the books, Theory11 is based on New Line’s The Lord of the Rings movie trilogy.

The dazzling tuck box features an emerald green/gold colorway that reflects the luscious landscape of The Shire.

Inside, the custom cards showcase the artwork of Kevin Cantrell from its unique pips to the recognizable court cards and Ace of Spades. Easter eggs like the Light of Eärendil, Lurtz, and Minas Morgul are littered throughout the card backs and tuck box.

Made in the USA and printed on FSC-certified paper derived. Available for $12.95 on theory11.

Oscars Playing Cards by Theory11

When it comes to filmmaking, the Oscars are the ultimate recognition of excellence. And now, you can bring a little bit of that glamour into your own hands with the Oscar Playing Cards, produced by Theory11 in collaboration with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Designed by Kevin Cantrell Studio, these cards are a true celebration of the Oscars, and will make you feel like a winner every time you hold them in your hands.

From the embossing and gold foil on the tuck box, to the luxurious gold foil on the card backs, every detail has been carefully crafted to resemble a hand-sculpted Oscar.

Inside, each face card showcases a different category up for nomination, from Best Actor and Best Actress to Best Picture and Best Director, a tribute to the many talented individuals who have helped make the Oscars the most prestigious award in filmmaking.

Bring a touch of Hollywood glamour to your next card game, available now on theory11.com for $16.95.

Deck View: Citizens Playing Cards

Intricate. Stunning. Elegant.

Theory11 released the stunning Citizens Playing Cards early last year. The deck was meticulously illustrated by Kevin Cantrell is one of the most intricate playing cards produced by Theory11 to-date. The eye-catching tuck combines gold foil, hot stamping and bronze foil, resulting in an elegant and sophisticated design. Also, the tuck interior features a breathtaking, intricate guilloche pattern.

The face cards features custom Joker and back design, which bear the Latin phrase Audentes Fortuna Iuvat- Fortune favors the brave. Also, the Ace of Spades features an iconic Citizen “C” emblem. The courts are standard with a touch of gold to give it a touch of elegance. Citizen Playing Cards are Made in the USA using FSC-certified paper derived from sustainable forests.

For other cool playing cards, check out JP Playing Cards.

Kardify Magazine Issue #61 Released on Patreon

Kardify Magazine issue 61 is now on Patreon! Patrons who pledged $3 or more will be able to download the latest issue from our Patreon page. This issue compiles selected articles published from mid-May to mid-June. Deck images, articles, and news to keep you informed and up-to-date with the latest playing card news, releases, and previews. If you love playing cards, you will love Kardify Magazine!

Also, don’t forget to check out our other cool reward tiers on Patreon! The tiers include monthly desktop and smartphone wallpapers, a mystery deck shipped to you every 4 months of ongoing contribution, social media shout-outs, and multiple sponsorship tiers! Check it out!

Funds received from the magazine will help us keep the site running and growing, and bring new quality content to you. Our aim is to support designers by backing crowdfunded projects and supporting magic and playing cards retailers with their new releases. If you want to support us, please head over to our Patreon page. If you have an idea for an article you would like us to pursue, do get in contact with us. We hope you enjoy the read. In this issue:   

+ The Successor: Designed in collaboration with Kevin Cantrell, the decks evoke art from the 15th-century cathedrals, canvases, and manuscripts. Check it out… 

+ Illusionist & After Sound: Half a year in the making, these incredible-looking playing cards set by ARK are hand-illustrated with meticulous and intricate details.

+ Waves: Check out the latest deck by 52Kards designed by Edo Huang featuring a mesmerizing and trippy illusion design!

+ Dune: Have a look at Theory11’s latest collab deck designed by Mattson Creative and features completely custom artwork.

+ The Illiad: Kings Wild Project continues the literature playing cards series with this beautifully crafted deck. The Iliad is an ancient Greek epic poem attributed to Homer. 

+ Thor: In anticipation of the upcoming Thor movie, Card Mafia has released the officially licensed Thor playing cards featuring a striking red and navy colorway with silver foil accents and embossing throughout the innovative tuck case.

+ Stratosphere Meteorite: From Legends Playing Card CO, this deck continues Legends’ tradition of constant experimentation and innovation, Stratosphere Meteorite features an all-new holographic full foil that reflects and shimmers from any angle. Wow!

+ Mono-HeXa: The fourth deck in the Mono collection by Luke Wadey. HeXa sports a vibrant neon purple color scheme teamed with the unmistakable pattern work of the Mono decks creating a hexagonal theme. Find out more!

… and more! 56 pages of articles and deck images. Enjoy!

Now on Patreon, Kardify Magazine Issue 92

Kardify Magazine Issue 92 is now on Patreon! Patrons who pledged $3 or more will be able to download the latest issue from our Patreon page. This issue compiles selected articles published from mid-December to mid-January. Deck images, articles, and news to keep you informed and up-to-date with the latest playing card news, releases, and previews. If you love playing cards, you will love Kardify Magazine!

Also, don’t forget to check out our other cool reward tiers on Patreon! The tiers include monthly desktop and smartphone wallpapers, a mystery deck shipped to you every 4 months of ongoing contributions, social media shout-outs, and multiple sponsorship tiers! Check it out!

Funds received from the magazine will help us keep the site running and growing, and bring new quality content to you. Our aim is to support designers by backing crowdfunded projects and supporting magic and playing cards retailers with their new releases. If you want to support us, please head over to our Patreon page. If you have an idea for an article you would like us to pursue, do get in contact with us. We hope you enjoy the read. In this issue:   

+ Tavern on the Green Red Edition: This fully custom limited Red Edition of Tavern on the Green designed by Kevin Cantrell features a rich red back adorned with regal gold foil. Find out more!

+ Deck of the Year 2024: Another exciting year in the playing cards industry! We’ve wrapped up our annual review, find out who won our biggest recognition ‘Deck of the Year’ award. 

+ Sleep Walk: This vintage-inspired deck showcase the artistry of Lunzi, blending elegant hand-drawn illustrations meticulously crafted with dip pen illustrations.

+ No Borders 2nd Edition: Joker and the Thief celebrates 10 years of innovation with a collection of 6 playing cards inspired by decks from their back catalog. 

+ Star Wars: Year of the Dark Side: Theory11’s latest Star Wars deck is designed for those ready to embrace their inner Sith. This fully custom deck bring legendary Dark Side characters to life with stunning, custom artwork. 

+ Detective Conan 25th Anniversary: These commemorative cards by TCC are a heartfelt tribute to the series, bringing its beloved characters and unforgettable scenes to life in exquisite detail. Check it out!

+ Lance Mountain Skating Skeletons: Have a look at Fulton’s latest deck featuring hand-drawn illustrations by skateboarding legend and artist Lance Mountain. 

… and more! 40 pages of articles and deck images. Enjoy!

News: We Just Released Issue #23 of Kardify Magazine

We just dropped the latest issue of Kardify Magazine on Patreon for our Patrons who pledge $3 or more on our Patreon page. Issue #23 compiles selected articles we’ve published from mid-March to mid-April. The goal is to help you stay on top of the latest playing card news, releases and previews.

Also, don't forget to check out our new reward tiers on Patreon! The new tiers include monthly desktop and smartphone wallpapers, mystery deck shipped to you every 4 months of ongoing contribution, social media shout-outs, and multiple sponsorship tiers! Check it out!

Funds received from the magazine will help us keep the site running and growing, and bringing new quality content to you. Our aim is to support designers by backing on crowd-funded projects and supporting magic and playing cards retailers with their new releases. If you want to support us, please head over to our Patreon page. If you have an idea for an article you would like us to pursue, do get in contact with us. We hope you enjoy the read. In this issue:

+ Standards: The stunning new collab deck by Art of Play & Kevin Cantrell inspired by 19th-century British opulence.

+ Equinox II: Designed by Jackson Robinson, have a look at the striking fully custom deck in teal colorway.

+ Odyssey NOVA: Have a look at the evolution of the popular series by Sergio Roca from First Edition to NOVA.

+ The Parlour: Find out more about the latest deck by Stockhom17 in collaboration with the Gentleman Wake currently 300% funded on Kickstarter.

+ Butterfly Prototypes: 3 new prototype decks printed by Cartamundi in stunning gold and silver foil. Check it out!

+ AXIAL: The first deck by Paris-based NOT A_ Company. The art deck features many unique design elements that will open up ideas for aspiring deck designers.

+ Peelers v2: Check out the follow-up to the surprise hit of 2018. This time, in eye-catching read colorway!

+ Silk Blue Edition: The follow-up to the spectacular and luxurious Red Silk Playing Cards with fully custom foil cards!

… and more! 45 pages of articles and deck images. Enjoy!