Scans of each card can be seen at www.marytcusack.com/maryc/decks/html/Cards/Swordswomen.html

Paris, 1695: The men laughed; surely she couldn’t be serious? Unfazed she raised her sword: She would go on to duel all three men… and win.

Berlin, 1936: Ilona Elek stood proudly on the Olympic platform, a Gold Medalist in Women’s Foil Fencing. Though the next two Olympics were cancelled due to World War II, she would return when they finally resumed in 1948. Once again, in her 40’s, she would win the Gold.

Tianjing, 1860: Her twin swords glittered like ice as she directed the movements of her all-female army. As Queen she admonished the King to be more ruthless: You are far too kind: others may not return the favor.

And Many More… From the Ravenswood Academy comes an entirely new deck of Fine Playing Cards, based on the tales of Swordswomen.

Each King, Queen and Jack has been completely re-drawn and re-imagined to portray a female fencer from a different culture and time period, each with varying weapons and styles of swordplay.

Infused with luxurious art and rich historical detail, there will be plenty to ensure that you have new facets to discover with each glance.

The diamonds, hearts, spades and clubs were all hand-painted by an artist of the Academy, utilizing a marbled coloring and classic Renaissance-Era inspired shapes for a vintage feel and design.

Drafted in calming blue and complexly-shadowed white, the back design features an exquisite white peony supported underneath by four swords of finesse from both the East and West: two spada (Italian rapiers) and two 劍 (jian, Chinese straight swords). A mysterious woman looks solemnly on…

KickStarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1167684454/swordswomen-playing-cards-limited-edition