Thirdway Industries

Adamas Uncut Sheet

An authentic uncut sheet of Damokles playing cards pulled straight off the USPCC factory press prior to being cut and boxed. Printed by the United States Playing Card Company Printed on both sides (backs on one side, faces on the other) Sold without frame Awesome metallic inks

Adamas Uncut Sheet - Main image
$50.25 $75 In stock

Category: Damokles

Damokles, explained

The 12 court cards of Damokles represent the Kings and Queens of the World, blessed with the Crown, but also exposed to the threat of the Sword. Each suit represents a different threat:

  • ♥️ Hearts are threats caused by human emotions (K is “Sacrifice”, Q is “Vengeance” J is “Defiance”)
  • ♦️ Diamonds are threats caused by human hunger (K is “Greed”, Q is “Dominance”, J is “Indolence”)
  • ♣️ Clubs are threats caused by the material environment around us (K is “World”, Q is “Nature”,  J is “Health”)
  • ♠️ Spades are threats caused by spiritual or immaterial things (K is “Time”, Q is “Magic”,  J is “Chaos”)

The red cards (Hearts, Diamonds) bring the threat on themselves with their actions; in contrast, the black cards (Clubs, Spades) suffer the threat passively, often trying to prevent it.

The Jokers are the incarnation of the four threats: Time/Death (Spades), World/Conquest (Clubs), Strength/War (Hearts) and Desire/Famine (Diamonds). These are obviously inspired by the four Horsemen.

In Adamas/Opulentia the blade is silvery and shiny, to represent a time when nature is young and unspoiled, and the Word enjoys a fragile peace. There is plenty of everything – although not everyone receives of the bounty. The danger is there, but the thread that holds the Sword is new and strong.

In Cuprum/Ruinae the blade is old and rusty, the World has been conquered, revealing the true face of war. Insatiable hunger consumes almost everything, and the Reaper is sharpening his scythe. How much longer can the old thread keep the Sword from falling?

In a way, these decks represent “past” (Adamas/Opulentia) and “future” (Cuprum/Ruinae) – however, I see the World as a cycle, so there is no reason to assume that the blade will not turn shiny again, even after having been rusty for a long time.

An authentic uncut sheet of Damokles playing cards pulled straight off the USPCC factory press prior to being cut and boxed.

  • Printed by the United States Playing Card Company
  • Printed on both sides (backs on one side, faces on the other)
  • Sold without frame
  • Awesome metallic inks

Customer Reviews (4.6 / 5 · 5 reviews)

Ella Y. ★★★★★

The print quality on the 12 court cards really surprised me, every detail of the Kings and Queens holds up close. Hung it above my desk and the crown-versus-sword tension in the artwork is exactly the kind of thing I wanted to stare at daily.

William H. ★★★★★

The card stock on this uncut sheet is heavier than I expected, which is exactly what you want when it's going on a wall. The twelve court cards each carrying their own crown and sword detail make it worth staring at longer than a normal poster.

Hazel ★★★★★

Finally got around to framing this uncut sheet and the 12 court cards look even better in person, the gold foil catching the light from across the room. The way each suit ties into the crown-and-sword theme keeps drawing my eye to different details every time I walk past.