Shakespeare Playing Cards

Above: the front of the Shakespeare Playing Card box, designed by Maksym Lebedyk.

Above: the tuck box seal, features the comedy and tragedy masks of theatre which pays homage to Shakespeare's iconic plays.

Shakespeare Playing Cards, produced by Noir Arts and Trient Playing Cards, is a recreation of the Shakespearean pack first illustrated by Colin Tilney and produced by Swan Sonnenschein & Co Ltd. in 1902, with subsequent editions by Waddingtons and Faulkner. This new edition was made possible through a Kickstarter campaign, which gained support from 237 backers who pledged $18,004. The cards were designed by Ukrainian artist Maksym Lebedyk and are part of a three-deck collection that also includes the Classic Black and Antique editions.

Above Top: the King of Diamonds featuring King Claudius from Shakespeare's tragedy Hamlet; Above Bottom: shows Friar Laurce on the Jack of Hearts from Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet, with the Maksym Lebedyk version on the left and Colin Tilney version on the right.

The Royal Burgundy edition (reviewed here) stands out from the Classic Black and Antique Edition with its rich burgundy colour scheme. The card face designs are digitally created and similar to those of the original editions. The tuck box, made from premium matte soft-touch cardstock, showcases intricate embossed elements and incorporates metallic golden ink typical of a luxury collectable deck.

This new edition stays true to its Shakespearean roots, with each suit representing different aspects of the playwright's works. The court cards are organised into suits based on their thematic associations with gentler emotions (Hearts), wealth or greed (Diamonds), aggressiveness and strife (Clubs), and the tragic methods of schemers (Spades).

The Kickstarter campaign for these decks provided stretch goals such as a custom seal (shown above) and interior foil for all tuck boxes. The Royal Burgundy edition features gold and silver foils, high-quality German cardstock, and a premium linen finish provided by Noir Arts Card Company (NPCC).

The pack contains 52 playing cards and three jokers, two featuring the character Touchstone the jester and one of Hamlet.

Above: the front of the Shakespeare Playing Card box, designed by Maksym Lebedyk.

Above: the tuck box seal, features the comedy and tragedy masks of theatre which pays homage to Shakespeare's iconic plays.