Large-format cards only - overrun copies. The Mythical Creatures - gilded and water-coloured.

This set consists of the large-format cards and the little white booklet in the embroidered foldover pouch. Please note that this is not a numbered limited edition deck. However, it has the same format, cardstock and print quality.

The reason we have them is that our printers always have to over-run when printing - the number of over-runs varies a lot and is unpredictable. We have decided to make these available as they make good working decks rather than collectibles. We have tried to price them at a good discount but without devaluing the numbered LE decks for those who already have them.

Please note that having an item in your cart does not reserve it, as other people may be trying to purchase at the same time.

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The deck has been in process since - wait for it! - August 2005 -  so we want it to be an exceptional piece and this meant that we had to print it twice, to get the quality we wanted, so it was delayed from January until April.

The images are painstakingly drawn in pen and ink by the brilliantly-talented Russian artist, Lena Kozachuk, with a great deal of input and image editing by Alex Ukolov. It's been a real partnership, with both enhancing the skills of the other. Karen Mahony designed the concept and structure of the deck. The water-colouring was done by Irish artist Geraldine Woessner, working in close co-operation with Karen and Alex.

For clarity, please note that the original drawings have been water-coloured, and then we have printed from these originals - i.e. we have not hand painted every deck! (we know you know this, but best to be very clear).

The deck is based on a variety of magical and fascinating creatures from world mythology, ranging from the familiar, such as the unicorn and the giant, to the less known, like the Irish Amadán and the strange, conjoined alchemical Rebus.

• 78 very large format fully illustrated cards, 165 * 100 mm (about 6.5 * 4 inches) plus a title card (79 cards in all). The title card will be signed but will not have a number.
• One extra card - a scenic and beautiful Three of Cups. This is our gift because of the original delay in printing the deck. It can be used for display or perhaps as a bookmark.
  
• Majors and Courts each have an illustration of a mythical creature. Minors ("pips") have highly decorative illustrations and show the suit symbols.
• Cold-stamped. This is an underlaid ink but gives the impression of a metallic overlay. It is NOT actually metal though, so there are no metal-allergy issues. 
• Printed in Europe under our careful supervision.
• Printed on 330 gram European playing-card stock.
• Varnished with semi-matte varnish so that the varnish is not too shiny.
• A detailed booklet is included. This will have less information than the companion book, but is comprehensive enough to allow you to knowledgeably use the deck.
  
• Supplied with a beautiful hand-made and embroidered foldover pouch in gilded linen (a gorgeous fabric made in Czech Republic). The embroidery is done by us in our studio and is of very high quality and based on our own designs. The bag is sewn by our wonderful seamstress, Romana, in Czech Republic. All linings are high quality 100% pure silk.