UnitedCardists.com - The forum for Cardistry, Magic, Custom Decks and All Things Playing Cards.

Full Deck Scans:
Bauta - https://www.flickr.com/photos/167981955 ... 2242561342" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Volto - https://www.flickr.com/photos/167981955 ... 2243987353" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Dang those decks look awesome. I really wish though that Nicolai would use Cartimundi for printing. That aside. Wow those are stunning.

Bradius wrote:Dang those decks look awesome. I really wish though that Nicolai would use Cartimundi for printing. That aside. Wow those are stunning.

If you can grab a pack, would recommend. The tuck and back on Vittoria Bauta are some of the best I have in my collection. Also, the jokers from each deck for a diptych.

Expected to see these n my box today. Alas and alack.

I happened to check out Nicolai's website, www.isolatedthunderstorm.com awhile back and noticed that he has some alternative color versions of the Vittoria Volto deck for sale. I think there were like 8 at most of each printed. I think it was red, white and blue, with the white variant being the rarest. The only one with any left was the blue variant, which is shown below. The information on these variants has been removed, so I don't have the number printed. If anyone has more information on the color variants, I would be interested in it.
I know the photo looks more purple, but that is the bad lighting and camera. It is a medium blue color.

Here's the cached version from Google. https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/ ... clnk&gl=us

2-5 of each variant in total. He considers them prototypes apparently. Identical cards inside - just the different seal-less tuck cases.

(Looks like there were 5 each of the red and blue. So assuming that means just 2 of the white tucks.)

Here are the three. I am not at home where my cards are, so I can't post a better picture right now. I would agree with Kingfisher in saying there are probably only 2 or 3 white ones.

I have all 6 alternative prototype decks ( blue, red and white Volto, and blue, red and white Bauta).
I purchased them the very first days they were lanched. I do confirm they were 5 copies each, except a deck was only 2 copies (don't remember wich one sorry)

Went to the Isolated Thunderstorm site to grab a few decks and came across a Fiore di Ferro version of Vittoria. Has this particular version been out for a while? Because I don't recall seeing anything about this one before. Either way, just discovered Nicolai's decks so I'm definitely grabbing me one.

https://isolatedthunderstorm.com/index. ... -di-ferro/

Oh those are elegant. Look at the embossing on that tuck. Thanks for pointing it out! Just grabbed one. Still waiting on my Witches and Circus decks. They are taking forever!

Seems like there's another version with upgraded tuck box just now released.


Vittoria Di Viritas, https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ni ... ject_share

I wonder why this wasn't hyped up more ahead of the release. I had heard rumors from a collector friend but saw no indication of this campaign arriving. It was why I didn't back the knock-off "Bal Masque" knowing they buy vector art rather than creating art of their own like Nicolai would.

So are these cards the same as the previous version with just new tucks? I am in for a pair right now, but not sure if I want to go crazy if it is just a tuck swap. Although the tucks do look nice. The description says "retouched artwork". Typically, that means minimal changes, but not sure in this case.

Hey all, it's been a while as I needed a break from collector burnout. I love the tuck and for that alone I will buy it! I'm not sure if the photo is a mock up, but if it has any of the depth in embossing that it appears to have, I think we will have a great looking deck.

Bradius wrote: ↑Mon Jan 22, 2024 5:30 pm So are these cards the same as the previous version with just new tucks? I am in for a pair right now, but not sure if I want to go crazy if it is just a tuck swap. Although the tucks do look nice. The description says "retouched artwork". Typically, that means minimal changes, but not sure in this case.

Cards are different-ish. More color on the orginals, courts are the same design, but the backgound color and design are different. One of the decks is one-way this time too.

Bradius wrote: ↑Mon Jan 22, 2024 5:30 pm So are these cards the same as the previous version with just new tucks? I am in for a pair right now, but not sure if I want to go crazy if it is just a tuck swap. Although the tucks do look nice. The description says "retouched artwork". Typically, that means minimal changes, but not sure in this case.

As per usual, they're not saying much on the Kickstarter. They have some "ideas" to add cold foil, gilding, etc but knowing their work it's a slim chance it happens. Best bet is the cards will be slightly re-colored but the artwork itself won't change.

Interesting cards, but good heavens at the normal isolatedthunderstorm prices for the old card add ons.

Wish they were using someone other than MPC too.

I jumped into Isolated's offerings when I was first hooked and would give my non-drawing arm to have Nicolai's talent but nowadays I prefer my decks to resemble 'playing' cards more than artworks

Evilgamer wrote: ↑Mon Jan 22, 2024 6:17 pm Interesting cards, but good heavens at the normal isolatedthunderstorm prices for the old card add ons.

Wish they were using someone other than MPC too.

Like maybe go back to NPCC?
Me, I'm just glad he's trying another printer after years of almost everyone here wishing he would move on from NPCC. He's going for MPC's M31 stock with Beta finish, which is their casino stock with cardistry finish.

Will be cool to see his art with MPC. Also interesting to see how his tuck design turns out if he uses MPC's raised high gloss embossed tech (1st used on their Impressions series).

MPC has some really good stock and varnish options, M31 w/ Beta being one of them. I bought their sample pack to see for myself and can confirm. It'll be less scratchy compared to NPCC I imagine.

if i think about it when i am at home i will have to get out the original decks to compare. what in the world happened to the QoH and KoD in the duplice edition? what is that awful merge on the court halves? definitely not something i expect from nicolai.

also disappointing are the tuck seals. nicolai has been one of the few using the bottom tuck seals consistently. this deck has the regular top flap seals.

the mixed pair price is great but this may end up being a pass even though nicolai is one of my favorites.

I don't have any NPCC cards, I do have the recent circus KS cards on order, and the pictures of the stock doesnt really instill confidence.

I do have a few MPC decks and they could be better.

kevork wrote: ↑Mon Jan 22, 2024 3:46 pm ... buy vector art rather than creating art of their own like Nicolai would.

I'm not as vigilant/interested in Nicolai's work so correct me if I'm wrong but didn't Nicolai do exactly this (buy art) for a project? Something with "infinitum" or alike??

Harvonsgard wrote: ↑Tue Jan 23, 2024 9:15 pm

kevork wrote: ↑Mon Jan 22, 2024 3:46 pm ... buy vector art rather than creating art of their own like Nicolai would.

I'm not as vigilant/interested in Nicolai's work so correct me if I'm wrong but didn't Nicolai do exactly this (buy art) for a project? Something with "infinitum" or alike??

Perhaps you're right that he's done that before, but I had always thought the projects he brought forth were designed either by him or Marianne Larsen under the Isolated Thunderstorm brand, barring solo projects.

With his Culminus project, I found this on the KS page, where he did co-illustrate with someone:

I have never worked as much on a deck project as I have with Culminus. My earliest sketches were formed 14 months ago, and the designs have changed much since then. The courts are co-illustrated with a world champion in creative painting, and I already paid him in full for his involvement in the process.

Just got these. The tucks don't look nearly as nice as they do on the KS page. They used MPC M31 linen finish for this though instead of their normal NPCC, so the cards look and handle FAAAAAR better than anything I've ever gotten from them.