Kickstarter Card Deck Campaign Features Kings of India
I don’t know where the fascination of unique card decks on Kickstarter comes from, but I could look at those projects all day. One that caught my eye is the “Kings of India” deck from Montreal-based studio Humble Raja. Sadly, my knowledge of India and designs from that country is limited to eating at some amazing Indian restaurants and being inspired to travel to that country after seeing Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. So, I’m no expert. However, the artwork that is featured on this particular card deck is detailed and beautiful, further piquing my interest in a trip to this “Jewel in the Crown.”
Partners Bhavesh and Reena Mistry set out to create a deck of cards that not only was practical, but also exquisite and informative. Each suit’s face cards represent one of the Indian dynasties: Maurya, Gupta, Chola and Mughal. While the King and Queen cards each represent a deserving monarch, the Jack cards feature a successor to the featured king. The designers were keen to retain playing features, such as one-eyed Jacks and the Suicide Kings, all while incorporating artifacts, fashion, and inventions of each particular dynasty into the designs. The Aces are each individually designed—as everything in the deck has been illustrated from scratch—and two custom jokers round out the face cards. In addition, the deck, in its desire to showcase Indian culture and art, contains two cards with Indian history facts. Indic-inspired numbers and suit pips grace all four corners of each playing card.
The Kickstarter campaign, which is only a few days old, hopes to raise the needed $21,000 CAD with such incentives as screen prints of the intricate card deck backs, limited editions of uncut sheets, and wooden drink coasters featuring the same screen pattern as the card backs and box. The funding will also make it possible to have the deck printing by the USPCC—makers of the Bicycle brand—to ensure the cards aren’t just mini works of art and history, but practical for playing with as well.