In brief
- The record auction price for a deck is £99,000 (about $143,104), paid at Sotheby’s in 1983.
- That hand-painted deck dates from about 1470 to 1485 and belongs to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
- David Blaine’s Create Magic deck is the priciest modern deck, with sealed copies reported at $800 to $1,000.
- Collector deck prices are resale estimates and depend on condition and an intact seal.
As of October 2026, the most expensive deck of playing cards ever sold at auction is a hand-painted set from about 1470 to 1485, which Sotheby’s sold for £99,000 (about $143,104) in 1983. Among modern collector decks, David Blaine’s Create Magic deck leads, with sealed copies reported at $800 to $1,000.
Most decks cost $15 to $20 in a shop. Limited print runs, gold foil, famous designers and sealed condition push some modern decks into the hundreds of dollars on the resale market. The figures below are reported resale values, and they move with demand.
| Rank | Deck | Maker or designer | Reported price | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cloisters Playing Cards | Unknown, South Netherlands | $143,104 (£99,000) | c. 1470 to 1485 |
| 2 | David Blaine Create Magic | Expert Playing Card Co. | $800 to $1,000 | 2014 |
| 3 | White Centurions | Theory11 | $600 to $800 | 2008 |
| 4 | Scarlett Tally-Ho Legacy Edition | Kings Wild Project | $650 | 2015 |
| 5 | Red Fontaine | Zach Mueller | $600 | 2013 |
| 6 | Venexiana Gold | Lotrek, Half Moon Playing Cards | $425 | 2014 |
| 7 | Smoke and Mirrors Gold Private Reserve | Dan and Dave | $350 | 2010s |
| 8 | Fontaine Futures 500 Edition | Fontaine Cards | $250 to $350 | 2019 |
| 9 | Unbranded Black Reserve Note | Kings Wild Project | $250 to $300 | 2013 |
| 10 | Zenith | Paul Carpenter, Encarded | $240 | 2014 |
1. Cloisters Playing Cards: $143,104
The record price for a deck of playing cards belongs to a hand-painted set made in the southern Netherlands in about 1470 to 1485. Guinness World Records describes it as the oldest known complete hand-painted set of playing cards.
Also readLuxury Gifts for Men 2026: 12 Premium Picks Worth BuyingSotheby’s in London sold the deck on 6 December 1983 for £99,000, about $143,104. The buyer was the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, which keeps it at The Cloisters. The suits are hunting themes such as hound collars and game nooses rather than the hearts and spades used today.
2. David Blaine Create Magic: $800 to $1,000
The Create Magic deck, often called the Microsoft deck, was made for magician David Blaine and printed by the Expert Playing Card Company. It was given to guests at the Microsoft Intern Signature Event in 2014, where Blaine performed, along with a branded Xbox One.
The box is marked as a limited edition of 2015. Tech site Thurrott reported a price of about $800 for a sealed copy in 2021, and Money Inc listed it at up to $1,000 in 2022. Blaine has since said more copies exist than the label suggests.
3. White Centurions: $600 to $800
White Centurions are a limited white version of the Bicycle Centurion deck by Theory11, released in 2008. Around 1,100 decks were made.
Money Inc reported resale prices of $600 to $800. The deck is linked to magician Chris Kenner, which adds to its appeal for magic collectors.
4. Scarlett Tally-Ho Legacy Edition: $650
Designed by Jackson Robinson of Kings Wild Project, the Scarlett Tally-Ho Legacy Edition was released through Kickstarter in 2015. Only 50 decks of this edition were made, which makes it one of the smallest runs on this list.
Its value of about $650 comes from online auction results, as reported by Money Inc. The wider Scarlett Tally-Ho line has a crimson tuck box with gold foil.
5. Red Fontaine: $600
The Red Fontaine deck was designed by Zach Mueller in 2013 and started the Fontaine brand, which became one of the best known names in cardistry. Its design draws on older casino cards, including those of Jerry’s Nugget and Wynn.
About 2,500 decks were printed. Strong demand from collectors pushed resale prices to around $600, according to Money Inc.
6. Venexiana Gold: $425
Venexiana Gold was designed by the artist Lotrek and released by his company, Half Moon Playing Cards, in 2014. Only 212 decks were made, and 100 of them were offered through Kickstarter.
It was the first deck with hot-stamped gold foil on the card backs, produced in an almost handmade process. Collectors have paid about $425 for a sealed deck.
7. Smoke and Mirrors Gold Private Reserve: $350
This deck comes from the Smoke and Mirrors series by magicians Dan and Dave Buck, made by The D&D Playing Card Co. and printed by the United States Playing Card Company. The artwork is by designer Si Scott.
The Gold Private Reserve edition replaces standard colours with gold touches. About 2,500 decks were made, and resale prices have reached around $350.
8. Fontaine Futures 500 Edition: $250 to $350
Fontaine Cards released its Futures collection in 2019 as six designs with a total of 10,500 decks. The 500 Edition is the rarest part of the set, with only 500 decks printed.
Money Inc reported resale values of $250 to $350. Fontaine decks are often bought sealed and kept as collector items rather than used.
9. Unbranded Black Reserve Note: $250 to $300
The Unbranded Black Reserve Note is the rarest deck in the Federal 52 Part 2 collection by Jackson Robinson of Kings Wild Project. Its design is based on US banknotes.
Only 1,000 decks were made in 2013, and they sold out through Kickstarter. Sealed decks have since sold for $250 to $300.
10. Zenith: $240
Zenith was designed by Paul Carpenter and released in 2014 as the first deck in the Encarded Signature Series. It was printed by the Expert Playing Card Company.
The deck first sold for about $20. Collectors have since paid around $240 for a sealed copy, more than ten times its launch price.
How we ranked these decks
The top spot uses the auction record verified by Guinness World Records. The modern decks are ranked by reported resale values from Money Inc and Thurrott, using the higher end of each range. These are not fixed prices: actual sales depend on condition, whether the seal is intact and demand at the time.
Prices for collector decks change quickly, so check recent sold listings before buying or selling. For other collectibles, see the most expensive Yu-Gi-Oh! cards and the most expensive Pokémon cards ever sold.
Sources: Guinness World Records, Most expensive playing cards sold at auction, Money Inc, The 10 most expensive decks of playing cards ever (2022), Thurrott, Microsoft’s magical $800 deck of playing cards (2021), The Met, The Cloisters Playing Cards, Max Playing Cards, Venexiana Gold (2014).
Frequently asked questions
What is the most expensive deck of playing cards ever sold?
A hand-painted deck made in about 1470 to 1485 holds the record. Sotheby’s in London sold it on 6 December 1983 for £99,000, about $143,104, to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, according to Guinness World Records.
What is the most expensive modern deck of cards?
David Blaine’s Create Magic deck, made for a 2014 Microsoft intern event, is the most valuable modern deck on our list. Sealed copies have been reported at about $800 by Thurrott and up to $1,000 by Money Inc.
Why are some playing card decks so valuable?
Small print runs, gold foil, well known designers and links to famous magicians raise value. Sealed decks are worth far more than opened ones, and decks that sold out quickly on Kickstarter often trade at many times their launch price.
How much does a normal deck of playing cards cost?
A standard deck usually costs about $5 to $20, depending on the brand and card stock. Custom and limited decks from makers such as Theory11, Fontaine and Kings Wild Project often launch at $15 to $25 before any resale premium.
Where is the oldest complete deck of playing cards kept?
The oldest known complete hand-painted deck, made in the southern Netherlands in the late 15th century, is held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. It is kept at The Cloisters and uses hunting-themed suits.
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