Ellusionist's Pioneers Deck (vintage back design)

[george]

I'm more of a vintage/classic Bicycle collector, and am really excited to see this design.

https://ellusionist.com/products/pioneers

Both Red & Blue backs available at the same time, however they are only being sold as pairs, no single decks.

It looks like a pretty big departure from the Logo/Icon decks that had been the norm, and the re-printing re-working of the Rider back in various forms with Masters, Shadow Masters, etc I spot a custom back design, custom pips/numbers, vintage-inspired custom courts that look very similar to USPC.

It reminds me big time of the discontinued Bicycle New Fan Back design. I mocked it up next to the New Fan Back. I think it's clearly its own design however. My hat is off to Oban Jones for creating what appears to be period-accurate back that is very appealing (to me anyway).

Anyway, I bought a set and am excited to play around with them.

[vasta41]

These are awesome! Surprised that E didn't have any type of holiday sales this year. Hmm

I'll still probably pick these up.

[Reylek]

I dig these. As someone who loves the Bicycle New Fan Backs as well as marked decks, it's like they specifically had me in mind with this deck, lol.

Nice design, great-looking tucks, solid marking system (can be seen in the photo gallery), and a really nice price made these an easy grab for me.

[james001a]

These are very nice looking decks. I'm sure the price point will be reasonable on them too.

[hsbc]

Wow, a good deck from Ellusionist? What year is it?

[hsbc]

They say that good design is appealing... but has no story - When it does, we call it art.

That's exactly what Pioneers are. They're so much more than a vintage-inspired deck. They are art.

The tuck box is constructed of exquisite laid card, capturing the texture of period-accurate paper. Debossed in all the right places, to create a 4th dimension of quality.

On the back is a lady of liberty, with a phoenix at her feet. In her left hand is the flag of the United States - in her right is the lesser-known but equally poignant flag of Chicago.

The deck inside is printed on luxury-pressed E7 stock for that crushed but durable feel. This is the exact stock you've fallen in love with from our Cohort decks.

However, you won't notice any borrowed artwork here, Pioneers are fully custom, inside and out. From the distinctive deck seal to the impeccable pips. Every detail and line on the tuck, backs, aces, and jokers was painstakingly hand-drawn by renowned playing card artist Oban Jones.
The back design is a celebration of the 1893 World's Fair. A 600-acre spectacle that commemorated the 400th anniversary of Columbus' arrival to the new world.

The Pioneers deck looks like they've been plucked out of that gift shop in 1893, locked in a vault for over a century, and placed gently, into your awaiting hands.

Hidden in the design are 52 easily-readable markings, to use for either magic, mischief, or both.

Pioneers are a celebration of exploration, scientific discovery, and innocent curiosity from a bygone era.

[STLBluesNut]

no pics of the courts, we know what that means. not for me. the tuck looks really good though.

[rousselle]

Their site does include pics of the courts. They are standard, with an ugly color scheme. ie, they look authentic.

I'm picking these up. Sure, I'd have preferred a different approach to the courts, but they still fit in with the general theme, and the deck overall is really well done.

[Harvonsgard]

The approach of the tuck box and aces being not really authentic to the aimed for period kinda ruins this deck for me, without having even seen the courts.
Indeed a somewhat good deck from E! though. Back design is great even but that is a given seeing where the inspiration cones from.

[george]

The approach of the tuck box and aces being not really authentic to the aimed for period kinda ruins this deck for me

I get where you're coming from. Admittedly I'm not really up on what truly authentic decks looked like, like some other members here.

Authentic or not, I am fond of having 4 different elaborate aces like this deck does.

It always kinda was a letdown to have some gorgeous Ace of Spades and then a tiny single sad pip on the Hearts/Clubs/Diamonds.

[hsbc]

Pioneers, $3.49

[hsbc]