Nimbus playing cards

Where does one begin to describe this pack? There is so much going on! First and foremost, the pack is about the weather: every card features the name of a different wind system from around the world – Europe (C), the Americas (S), Asia (H), Africa and Australasia (D). In the background of each set of English-style court cards is a different type of cloud. The Jokers are based on two real tropical cyclones and were designed for card spinning. The ‘cloudy’ backs, moving from white to blue and with a clever small set of rainbow colours top middle, can be used for fanning

As if all this weren’t enough, each suit is printed in a different colour but with very subtle shade differences or gradations across each suit: violet to crimson (H), green to turquoise (C), tan to olive (D), and blue to purple (S).

Above: Nimbus playing cards designed by Mike Steer, prototype made by Cartamundi, Turnhout, Belgium, for Brick Factory, Barnsley, UK, 2021. 52 cards + 2 Jokers + 2 extra cards in tuck box. Size: 63 x 88 mm. This pack is in the collection of the WCMPC.

Of the two extra cards, one (“The Rain King”) is a gaff card for magicians, while the other contains the rules for a version of Solitaire called “Four Winds”.

The designer, Mike Steer from Barnsley, launched his ideas as a Kickstarter project but unfortunately the target was not reached. Only 40 prototype packs were printed by Cartamundi, with each pack being numbered and signed by the artist on the bottom flap • see the box

More information

Kickstarter : Nimbus Playing Cards►