This is The Parlour with a blue back, a deck from the Swedish studio Stockholm17. The idea is to offer a traditional-looking deck, the kind that would be used in a gaming parlour, but with care taken over every detail: indices, court cards, jokers and the colour of the faces.

• PublisherStockholm17
• DesignStockholm17 (Sweden)
• PrinterCartamundi; tuck box by Oath Playing Cards
• FinishB9 True Linen on crushed stock
• Colourblue back
• Contents52 cards + jokers + gaff card + ad card; arranged in Mnemonica order

Design

The back is a classic mirrored design with a spade-shaped monogram, rhinoceros beetles and a damask background. The faces use an ivory tone instead of white, which gives an aged feel, and the bold, hand-drawn indices are designed to be read effortlessly. The court cards have been redrawn without losing their recognisable look, the Ace of Spades is unique to the deck and the jokers are two illustrated characters, Sir Fox and Shakespeare the Cat.

Manufacturing

It is printed by Cartamundi, the Belgian printer, on crushed stock (crushed, a treatment that compresses the paper so the cards are more flexible) with its own B9 True Linen finish (a linen texture that reduces friction between cards). The tuck box is the work of Oath Playing Cards.