Romeo and Juliet playing cards

Produced by Bryan Sloan of LUX Playing Cards, and published via Kickstarter in 2016, this two-pack project is devoted to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. The new and original portraits on the court cards were created by the Belgian artist Virginie Carquin.

The King of Hearts (typically known as the "Suicide King") portrays Romeo, while Juliet is shown as the Queen. Shakespeare is the Jack of Hearts. Both are portrayed moments before their tragic end. Juliet has the dagger, while Romeo has the poison bought from the Apothecary. The Ace of Hearts shows Romeo and Juliet together. The Capulets (Lord and Lady Capulet, and Tybalt) are represented on the Clubs, and the Montagues (Lord and Lady Montague, and Mercutio) on the Diamond suit. The Spades portray other characters from the play: the Apothecary, the nurse to the Capulets, and Friar Lawrence. The Ace shows Shakespeare vignette.

Above: Romeo and Juliet playing cards produced by Bryan Sloan of LUX Playing Cards, and published via Kickstarter in 2016.

Both packs have a guide card to the characters, and a gaff card, and are identical except for the Jokers. One shows Romeo entering the tomb of the Capulet family where Juliet rests, the other shows Juliet herself. The boxes are different too. One pack has been produced in a Bicycle branded tuck box (illustrated by card artist Nam Tibon), while the second tuck box is not Bicycle branded.