Mortalis Machina playing cards is where mortals meet machine (no, it’s not a sci-fi flick). This deck is a beautifully unique concept, featuring a delicately designed collection of premium playing cards with some seriously refined details. But wait, there’s more! It comes in a world’s first real mechanical box, complete with a dynamic open and close gear function, and it’s made entirely out of paper. And yes, it’s no bigger than your standard deck of cards—because who doesn’t love a bit of irony?
Conceived and crafted over three years by the geniuses at The Paper Gear Company, we reckon the Mortalis Machina playing cards will earn a spot in your collection (if you’re lucky enough to snag one). We're only producing 999 of these beauties, so act fast—like, really fast.
THE DESIGN
Think of Mortalis Machina playing cards as a love child between mortals and machines. The theme is heavily influenced by steampunk, and you’ll find intricate Victorian details mingling with Baroque and Gothic elements. We’ve tossed in a dash of fantasy and a sprinkle of witchcraft for good measure. And let’s not forget the cogs and gears—because what’s a mechanical box without a bit of machinery flair?
Each court card and the two Jokers went through thoughtful design rounds (we’re talking many, many rounds) to get just right. Here’s a taste of the inspiration:
Jacks (Death Messengers)
- Spades - Hellbound
- Hearts - Black Cat
- Clubs - Horse (Apocalypse)
- Diamonds - Raven
Queens (Gods)
- Spades - Santa Muerte/Catrina
- Hearts - Koli
- Clubs - Mengpo
- Diamonds - Valkyrie, Hel
Kings (Reapers)
- Spades - Reaper
- Hearts - Anubis
- Clubs - Hades
- Diamonds - Yama
JokersAs for the Jokers, one’s all about love (heart in hand) and the other’s waving coins/jewels (because money can’t buy you happiness, but it sure can buy misery). They’re rocking Harlequin attire because, well, tradition.
GEAR BOX
Now, let’s chat about the "gear box"—a brainchild of our Paper Gear Company crew. This isn’t just any old box; it’s a first of its kind! After a few prototypes (none of which had the gear action), we realised we were onto something. We’ve pulled off a mechanical wonder that’s just the right size for a standard deck. The mechanics work like a dream, and let’s face it, we’ve put in serious elbow grease to ensure it’s sturdy enough for all your opening and closing antics.
It had to feel right, too. After some serious tinkering, we’ve got the size down to that of a standard tuck box. Plus, it’s made entirely of paper—because we like to keep things eco-friendly (and who doesn’t love a good tree hug?).
999 COPIES
The Mortalis Machina Playing Cards is an ultra-limited-edition deck with only 999 copies up for grabs. Why so few? Well, constructing this gear box is a manual, fiddly affair that takes time. We’ve also thrown in a luxury gift box with a silver foil certificate hot-stamped to remind you that you own one of the precious few.
PRODUCTION
We’ve lined up a top-notch manufacturer for our mechanical gear box, and they’ve proven their chops during the prototyping phase. The box is printed inside and out, crafted from multiple sheets of paper and finished off with a glossy sheen that’s nothing short of stunning. The cards are set to be printed by one of the world’s most reputable manufacturers, like USPCC or TWPCC. So you know it’s going to be good.
