Illusorium is a surrealist deck released in 2021 under the Bicycle licence, as part of Elite Playing Cards’ Signature collection, following the Evolve and Royale decks. Its concept is an alternative universe without rules, where nothing is explained and shapes warp at will.

• PublisherElite Playing Cards, licensed by Bicycle
• PrinterUnited States Playing Card Company
• Finishthinner crushed Bicycle Classic stock, Magic finish, Q1 printing
• Print runstandard edition announced at 3,500 decks

Design

Every card was drawn from scratch and modelled in 3D, from the court cards to the suit symbols. The result is distorted shapes, textures and highlights that give a sense of volume. The aces reinterpret the spades, hearts, diamonds and clubs symbols in an abstract way, and the court cards play with proportions in a light-hearted way. The back is symmetrical, with an image of great depth.

Manufacturing

It is printed by the United States Playing Card Company in Q1 quality, the highest printing category the company uses. The stock is Bicycle Classic, crushed to make it thinner (what is known as crushed stock), which makes it flexible from the very first use without any breaking in, and it has a Magic finish, a treatment that helps the cards glide and last longer.