The Rarest Playing Cards in the World Right Now
If you're searching for the rarest playing cards in the world and have fallen down the rabbit hole of collecting cards, you've already discovered something most people don't know that not all decks are created equal. Some are mass produced in the millions while others are printed in limited runs of 250 to 1000.
Needless to say these rare and limited editions sell out within hours and either disappear from the face of the earth for eternity or show up on eBay and other auctions.
These decks are the ones that modern day collectors obsess over and are the ones we're addressing today. Here are some of the rarest playing cards and their producers in the world right now and I will guide you as to where you can still find them and buy them before they reach the after market.
What Makes a Playing Card Deck "Rare"?
It's worth understanding what actually makes a deck rare and in our experience it comes down to three things:
Independent Card Designers: The rarest decks from our past sales have not been those that are made by big manufacturers but rather those that come from independent designers who have a loyal fan following such as Lotrek from Oath Playing Cards and Lorenzo from Stockholm 17. Almost every collector who owns one of their decks wants to get ALL of their past and present playing cards and cherish them for eternity!
For Pokemon fans reading this article its like saying they "gotta catch em all"
To make things even more interesting both designers create an exclusive deck reserved only for their Patrons who support them throughout the year on Patreon!
Limited print runs. It is understood that to be rare the number of copies in existence has to be small and in our industry and 2500 is the golden number for most decks produced. However to make the same decks more rare, producers make gilded variants with numbered seals making them "rare" because only 100 and 250 of them were made this way!
If you want to explore more shiny and gilded playing cards click here but if you want to continue reading here is a photo of what a Gilded deck of playing cards looks like.
Apart from gilding if the deck of cards involves a lot of craftsmanship it becomes harder and more expensive to produce which results in a lower number of copies made. If you know your playing cards Lotrek from OPCC is the one who specializes in making multi-foiled, hand pressed, luxurious and artistic deck of cards!
Case in point the Damask Blue Deck for the same reasons was limited to 120 pieces and is now the "blue whale" or "holy grail" for most card collectors. Last sales for this deck were north of $1500 USD!!
For those of you still scratching your heads admire the multiple layers of foil on each card!
To be fair as a store owner even I don't have this deck in my collection!
Collector demand. The last and probably the most important factor that makes anything rare is the demand for the product vs the supply. A deck truly becomes rare when almost everyone wants one therefore high demand can also lead to a high print number deck becoming rare! On top of my head the Azure Dragon Boxset by Ark Playing Cards or Pink Panther by Fontaine cards are highly sought after and hard to find despite their large production numbers!
While writing these three factors I thought of how I dearly miss custom decks printed by Cartamundi! The fact that they wont be printing any custom playing cards from their facility in Belgium makes all of their previously printed cards more rare in a way because they are now amongst a handful of designs "printed by Cartamundi".
One example of such rarity would be the House of Rising Spade V2 vs V3 where the HRS V2 was printed by Cartamundi and the HRS V3 by Wjpcc.
In a nutshell for collectors who wish to add rare playing cards to their collections I would advise them to focus on universal appeal of the design and the quality of production and then bank on limited runs making them rare!
I have seen many gimmicky limited print runs with seals stating these are 1 of 50 and yet no one ever bought them as the designs was average and the quality was low.
These brands according to Rareplayingcards.com and ebay sales history are likely to create something readily available today become rare eventually:
1. Stockholm17 Playing Cards — Elegant Limited Edition Releases
No surprise that my number one pick and most recommended brand for this category is Stockholm17! To address why Stockholm17 produces some of the rarest playing cards in the world you must first be introduced to the Lorenzo Gaggiotti!
Lorenzo Gaggiotti started Stockholm17 with a simple obsession which was to make beautifully designed playing cards and wished to add an element of elegance to boring and expressionless designs of existing playing cards.
With his creative talents and artistic lineage he single handedly has created some of the most unique playing cards that has resulted in a cult like following amongst collectors worldwide for his cards.
You wont believe it but some of his card designs were so perfect that multiple clients used them for tattoo designs!
When I personally saw the House of the Rising Spade deck I knew a new era of playing cards would emerge and till today its my favorite and most recommended deck of cards!!!
Lorenzo also does not shy away from pushing the boundaries of creating unique playing cards shape wise! The 17th Kingdom Avant Garde Playing Cards with its hourglass shape pictured below is one such example!
👉 Shop Stockholm17 at Rare Playing Cards
2. Ark Playing Cards — Premium Quality Tuck Boxes and Boxsets
Ark Playing Cards is one of the most respected names in the collector playing card world, and their playing cards Box Sets represent the pinnacle of what's possible with a deck of cards. These sets pair a beautifully illustrated deck with original artwork prints, collector packaging, and extras that turn a playing card deck into a genuine art object.
Print runs are extremely limited and once a Box Set sells out, it rarely returns. The Azure Dragon series is one of the most sought after releases in recent memory. With the Standard Box Set now selling for $350+ which once retailed for $100! A 250% increase over a period of 3 years is better than most stocks on the stock exchange!
My top recommendations of Ark Playing Cards to buy before they are sold are:
Ankh Artist Boxset 
With a collector fan base that snaps their cards immediately and presentable high quality tuck boxes Ark Playing Cards will definitely be amongst the creators of "rare" cards in the future as well.
👉 Shop Ark Playing Cards at Rare Playing Cards
3. Oath Playing Cards — Extreme Craftsmanship with Low Numbers
Based in Greece and created by Lotrek an individual obsessed with creating ART, Oath Playing Cards has and always will be the highlight of any collectors collection.
As the owner of this store and I can tell you my wishlist is filled with cards produced by Oath Playing Cards!
With meticulous attention to detail Lotrek continuously pushes the boundaries of how many multiple layers of foil can be applied on a single playing card while ensuring that the illustrations are as elegant and artistically luxurious as possible!
Why they're rare: Takes years to produce, limited print runs usually under 500, sold out almost instantly, HUGE collector fan base!
👉 Shop Oath Playing Cards at Rare Playing Cards
4. Kings Wild Project — Collector Editions
Jackson Robinson of Kings Wild Project is one of the most celebrated playing card designers alive. KWP decks reimagine the traditional court cards such as the Kings, Queens, and Jacks using original illustrations by Jackson that tell a story across the whole deck.
My personal favorite is the Arthurian Playing Cards which features one of the most unique tuck box design whereby you must pull the sword out just like King Arthur did to open the deck of cards!
The most rare decks in the King Wild Project line up are usually those created for subscribers and have limited numbered seals! Other famous collector editions from KWP include the Lord of the Rings Playing Cards series that feature illustrations with so much detail that fans must see it in person to be fully appreciated.
Why they're rare: Museum quality artwork combined with limited print runs makes Kings Wild Project one of the most collectible names in the hobby.
👉 Shop Kings Wild Project at Rare Playing Cards
5. Lotusinhand — Cardistry Playing Cards
Lotusinhand is arguably the best "hype" brand that exists today that carters to collectors and Cardists. With low print runs and premium quality finishes almost every drop or release from Lotusinhand sells out within hours if not minutes.
Commanding a high demand their decks do appreciate in value and usually are sold in the after market at double or triple the original retail price.
Being one of the pioneering cardistry brands Lotusinhand enjoys additional demand for their cards from cardists around the world aiming to create viral content related to the moves they create and perform.
Another reason why decks from Lotusinhand become popular is their desire to constantly innovate their cards with ground breaking designs and technology to make cardistry look cool! They once used photochromic ink on their playing cards to make the ink colors on the playing cards appear and disappear whenever exposed to light!
👉 Shop Lotusinhand Playing Cards at Rare Playing Cards
6. Theory 11 — Retired Collaborations
Theory11 is one of the biggest brand names in the playing cards industry and are known for creating premium licensed playing cards.
While majority of their licensed decks are produced in the millions they produce special celebratory decks that become rare over time. One such deck is the Monarch playing cards which first appeared in the hands of Morgan Freeman in the hit magic movie series called Now You See Me!
The Monarchs have thereafter appeared in special color editions to celebrate occasions like the Monarch Mandarin Edition which was released on the Chinese New Year or the Monarch Prestige Gold Playing cards that were released to celebrate the 18th Anniversary of Theory11! 
👉 Shop Theory11 at Rare Playing Cards
How to Buy Rare Playing Cards Before They Sell Out
If you want to get your hands on rare decks before they're sold out or selling for a fortune in the after market, here are some tips to follow:
Follow makers on social media. Ark, Stockholm17, and Kings Wild Project along with almost all other brands announce new releases on Instagram before anywhere else. Being aware of up coming decks and their release dates helps a lot!
Forecasting. Based on the tips I have provided above ask yourself if the "new release" has universal appeal and if it does is the production count below 2500. If so, you should buy the deck as soon as it is released because chances are it will sell out fast or be available on sale for a few months at max. This especially applies to newer brands who create out of the box designs or established. designers who create a super limited release.
Buy direct from specialist stores. General retailers like Amazon and Walmart rarely stock limited editions. Specialist stores like Rare Playing Cards carry limited releases at prices that you won't find elsewhere.
Sign up or Subscribe: As mentioned most designers are on Patreon or have subscriptions for their loyal fans. Being part of these groups gives you access to information and cards that are not available to the masses!
Don't wait. Last but not the least if a YOU really want is in stock, buy it now or else you will be part of the "You snooze You lose" group. Limited edition playing cards are one of the few collectibles where waiting can genuinely costs you.
Final Thoughts
The world of rare playing cards sits at the intersection of art, craft, and collecting. The decks on this list aren't just tools for card games but are objects made by passionate designers who care deeply about every detail, from the weight of the card stock to the colour of the foil on the tuck box.
Whether you're a seasoned collector or just getting started, these are the makers and decks worth paying attention to right now.
👉 Browse all rare and limited edition playing cards at Rare Playing Cards
This article is written based on my experience as a collector and store owner! If I have missed details or brands you may express your opinions by reaching out at contact@rareplayingcards.com
Rare Playing Cards Company has been selling playing cards to collectors all over the world and stocks 1000+ premium decks from the world's best makers. We offer worldwide shipping from $5 and custom solutions for all our clients!