Bicycle Favole Playing Cards

[Don Boyer]

This deck appeared in this post on Collector's blog - I can't recommend it highly enough.
http://playingcardcollector.wordpress.com/2013/02/17/2013-week-8-upcoming-decks/

Bicycle Favole Playing Cards were inspired by Victoria Frances’ best selling book on Fantasy Art. After the success of her Tarot deck, a new one was redesigned to play and collect- Bicycle Favole Playing Cards. Just like the Bicycle Alchemy & Bicycle Anne Stokes decks, this deck features a different Fantasy Art drawing on each card. This deck will have all the features you have come to expect and love from a Bicycle Deck.

It's scheduled for a Fri 1 March release.

[Samurai007]

Wow, love that one!

[Don Boyer]

Wow, love that one!

Such an insightful and well thought-out reply!  (not) 

Seriously, what about it do you love?  Be descriptive.  My least-favorite posts are the ones where someone blurts out a tiny sentence that says little more than "Wow," "Cool," "It sucks," etc.  We'd much rather know the motivations behind the statement - "Wow, that art is really stunning," "Cool, it's got borders that really pop," "I think it sucks because I'm allergic to art decks" - you get the idea?  Anything less borders on spam.

Personally, I don't go for every art deck out there, particularly those with 54 artists - too many cooks spoil the broth, etc.  But this is more along the lines of an Anne Stokes deck, and I loved all of her decks I've seen to date - the art style is a bit different, but it's very attractive nonetheless.  Toss in the fact that the design is functional as well and I'm sold.

[BiggerDee]

Don, I hope that you are sitting down for what I'm about to say...

I'm just not a fan of this deck. While I do appreciate the art, adn the work involved in producing it, I'm not a fan of fantasy art. Love the aged look, love the frame around the art on each card, I'm just not a fan of the art itself. Perhaps if it were vintage antique-like scenes, I would be more interested. I keep looking at it and as much as I like the non-subject design elements, I just can't bring myself to like it. Of course, I don't fault anyone that deos and I'm positive that this deck will be very popular.

[lameomaster]

I actually rather like the art style, would make for some relaxing games, and the pips that blend into the artwork but are still greatly visible make this deck much more appealing to me than the anne stokes or alchemy decks. I might pick this up if the back design's done right.

Have there ever been any other bicycle decks with a smaller logo like this one? I can see how it would look pretty good in some other designs, but I think the deck would look better, to me, with a more centred image on the tuck box.

[Don Boyer]

Don, I hope that you are sitting down for what I'm about to say...

I'm just not a fan of this deck. While I do appreciate the art, adn the work involved in producing it, I'm not a fan of fantasy art. Love the aged look, love the frame around the art on each card, I'm just not a fan of the art itself. Perhaps if it were vintage antique-like scenes, I would be more interested. I keep looking at it and as much as I like the non-subject design elements, I just can't bring myself to like it. Of course, I don't fault anyone that deos and I'm positive that this deck will be very popular.

Art decks are not everyone's cuppa tea... 

I actually rather like the art style, would make for some relaxing games, and the pips that blend into the artwork but are still greatly visible make this deck much more appealing to me than the anne stokes or alchemy decks. I might pick this up if the back design's done right.

Have there ever been any other bicycle decks with a smaller logo like this one? I can see how it would look pretty good in some other designs, but I think the deck would look better, to me, with a more centred image on the tuck box.

I like the offset with the image - you're not looking at the same old portrait.

I understand and like the option for a small, fine deck title at the bottom.  This is a deck where the art is meant to show through - why cover it up or push it to the edges with a logo?

[John B.]

this might be the 1st deck I get just for the art and not to perform. I really like the artwork. Its beautiful. But I could not see myself doing magic with it.

[Shade]

I agree with Biggerdee's point, I actually like the vintage look and feel of the color and frame around the art almost as much as the art. I have Anne Stoke's decks and I believe looking at the art this will be worth getting as well.  But agree these kind of decks are not something you sit down and play Saturday night poker with.  I would really like to see the back design.

I am with Don I really like the Harlequin tuck box as is, I also like that they made the Bicycle logo smaller and less dominant. Hopefully USPCC allows them to keep it that way.

[modi]

I also like that they made the Bicycle logo smaller and less dominant. Hopefully USPCC allows them to keep it that way.

Unless I read this wrong, it's a USPCC house deck, so I think they might be OK with it

[Don Boyer]

I also like that they made the Bicycle logo smaller and less dominant. Hopefully USPCC allows them to keep it that way.

Unless I read this wrong, it's a USPCC house deck, so I think they might be OK with it

I was wondering that myself - Collector's post doesn't actual state one way or the other.  All we know is USPC is printing it; we know nothing about who designed it or who's paying for it.

[modi]

Ahh, with the way other decks where attributed to creators, I assumed that those marked USPCC where house decks... Just goes to prove the rule about assuming.

[Don Boyer]

Here's something new I learned - her Tarot deck was made by USPC subsidiary company Fournier in Vitoria, Spain.

http://www.nhfournier.es/en/productos/ver/tarot-favole

It's only a little new, since we knew the Bicycle deck was based on her Tarot deck already.

Speaking of which, this deck's ETA was 11 days ago - anyone hear anything new about it?

[Don Boyer]

This deck's now on sale at Meir Yedid: http://www.mymagic.com/cards.htm.  He's selling it as a two-deck set with Bicycle Club Tattoo.