COTTA’s ALMANAC # 6 Playing Cards. The transformation deck series is complete

More than a year after launching the first deck, this series comes to an end with COTTA’S ALMANAC #6: KNIGTHLY ORDERS.

This is the sixth volume in this series of transformation decks produced by Will Roya (PlayingCardsDecks.com). A project that stems from painstaking research on transformation cards and their origins coupled with Will’s interest in rescuing cards from the past in high-quality restorations thanks to the meticulous work by Azure-Ox. This research aimed to find the first transformation deck and the investigations led to 1804, the year in which Johann Freidrich Cotta, owner of the JG Cotta publishing house in Tübingen (Germany), produced the first in a series of card almanacs that would continue to be printed in successive years up to a total of six between 1805 and 1811.

 

 

Each deck included 52 cards for each of the 52 weeks of the year (these cards were not intended for a game) and addressed a different theme. This sixth deck, Knightly Orders, seems to reflect on the orders and associations, some secret, spread all over the world, such as the Illuminati or the Freemasons. This inspiration comes, once again, from the works of playwright Friedrich Schiller, who also inspired earlier volumes in the series. This edition, published in 1811, includes members of different chivalric orders in the court cards. To identify these cards the words “Valet”, “Dame” and “Roi” are used, French terms for Jack, Queen and King. You can carefully read in the campaign the detailed information about the origin of the illustrations.

 

 

The numbered cards, with illustrations by Countess Jennison-Walworth, depict monochrome scenes of a romantic and spiritual nature that could be illustrative of the four seasons, that play with the pips on transformation cards.

 

 

For the series, very unique tuck cases have been designed. The creators have used a color scheme based on Goethe’s experimental theory of optics and color, much better known for his essential role in German literature of the time (and good friend of Schiller). This theory talks about the psychological impact of colors on human emotions, something that inspired other scientists, philosophers and artists. The tuck case will look like a book and the spines of all the decks in the series together form a panorama of Cotta’s hometown of Tübingen.

 

 

Since the original cards had blank backs, matching color backs have been designed with a classic symmetrical pattern. In this case, both backs and tuck case will be violet and use metallic ink.

 

 

The decks will be printed by the USPCC and will have a recreation of the 52 cards plus two jokers and two extra collectible cards.

 

 

Two limited editions will be printed. The numbered edition, with a print run of 1000 decks, and the Standard Edition, with the same seal (unnumbered) and a slight change in the tuck case with black ink.

 

 

In addition, in this campaign, a very special and mysterious reward will be unlocked as stretch goal, limited to 250 units. The perfect ending to this series.

This is a collection steeped in history and a high-quality restoration to bring life back to the first transformation decks ever. Do not hesitate, visit the project website and raise your pledge.

Good luck!