Latin Quarter

The Latin Quarter Playing Cards is a beautiful deck currently funding on Kickstarter. This project represents a collaborative effort between designer Jamie Stark  and Mike McClure of Doc’s Play Card Company. The intricate design combined with filigree embellishments and gold metallic inks on the cards makes this deck as stunning as they are elegant. Vintage in style with a hint of modern. The Latin Quarter is an interpretation of playing cards that might have been used at the famous underground casino, The Latin Quarter, in Lexington, Kentucky, many years ago. The deeply intricate tuck design pays homage to historic styles. The tuck is emblazoned with the Latin phrase “ALEA IACTA EST” which translates as “The die is cast.” This phrase was chosen because of its relevance to gamblers and game players of all stripes and is also a subtle nod to the magicians and cardists and their uncanny abilities to control outcomes. Because they would have been used by a casino, mostly traditional court designs were chosen with a few twists including filigree embellishments and gold metallic inks. Gamblers, magicians, cardists, and collectors of all stripes can appreciate this fine creation. The tuck design draws its inspiration from the historic context of the name "The Latin Quarter" which was the home of the large university in medieval Paris. It was called the "Latin Quarter" because the Latin language was spoken by the scholars and students who resided there. The typography of the name is a blackletter style font which is what would have been used by scribes creating illuminated manuscripts in that Latin Quarter.