My Journey as a Bicycle Playing Cards Ambassador: A Magical Experience
In March 2024, I embarked on an exciting new chapter in my creative journey by becoming an ambassador for Bicycle Playing Cards, one of the most iconic and trusted brands in the world of playing cards. Since then, my passion for photography and cardistry has blended seamlessly. I’ve had the pleasure of photographing a wide variety of Bicycle’s beautifully designed decks and sharing them across social media. From "Back to the Future" and “Disney-themed decks” to intricate designs like dragons and fantasy creatures, every deck has its unique personality, and showcasing them has been an incredible experience.
How It All Started
My ambassador journey began after I attended the Blackpool Magic Convention, the largest magicians' convention in the world. Bicycle were exhibiting there, and I spent time with the team getting to know them more and learning about their craftsmanship, history, and commitment to the art of playing cards. After connecting with them and falling in love with the diversity of their decks, I was honoured to join as an ambassador.
Since then, I’ve been using Bicycle Playing Cards at events all across the UK. Their unmatched quality makes them the ideal deck for performances, games, and photography. Bicycle cards handle beautifully in any situation, whether you're shuffling, fanning, or dealing.
That’s why I keep them by my side for both professional and personal use.
Who Are Bicycle?
Bicycle Playing Cards have been around for over 130 years, and they’ve become a beloved part of countless households and card collections around the globe. Their story is one of innovation and connection—Bicycle cards were even used to help POWs escape during World War II, with maps hidden inside decks. They’ve entertained presidents in the Oval Office, passed through the hands of famous magicians, and been the centrepiece of family game nights for generations.
They aim to bring people together for fun, connection, and shared experiences. Whether playing a casual game with friends or performing sleights of hand at a professional level, Bicycle cards are known for their durability, smooth handling, and timeless appeal.
Why I Love Being a Bicycle Ambassador
There’s something special about being able to creatively explore a brand that is so rich in history and cultural impact. The diversity of designs keeps me inspired, and the quality of the cards ensures that every time I shoot, the results are stunning. From limited edition collector’s decks to fun, themed decks for pop culture enthusiasts, there’s always something new to discover.
One of my highlights has been sharing this journey with my followers on social media. As someone passionate about photography, finding the right angles, lighting, and backgrounds to bring out the details in each deck has been a rewarding challenge. I’ve posted everything from epic fantasy shots. Every deck has a story, and I get to tell that story through the lens of my camera.
If you’re reading this, you’re probably eager to see the decks I’m talking about! I’ve captured a lot of amazing shots, and I’d love to share them with you. I recommend including the images alongside specific sections of this blog post to really bring the story to life. For example:
Revilo Twist's Top 5 Fun Facts About Playing Cards
As a fun addition, I’ve also done a little research to uncover some fascinating facts about playing cards. These are bound to surprise you:
1. The Meaning Behind the Suits: In traditional decks, the four suits (hearts, diamonds, clubs, and spades) are believed to represent the four classes of medieval society: hearts for the clergy, diamonds for merchants, clubs for peasants, and spades for nobility.
2. The Secret Map Decks: During World War II, special Bicycle decks were created for American POWs in German camps. These decks, when moistened, revealed hidden maps showing escape routes!
3. The 52-Week Connection: A standard deck of 52 cards corresponds to the 52 weeks in a year, and if you add up the face values of all the cards in a deck (with Aces counting as one), the sum is 364—just one shy of the number of days in a year.
4. Kings in a Deck: The four kings in a deck are said to represent famous rulers from history: King David (spades), Alexander the Great (clubs), Charlemagne (hearts), and Julius Caesar (diamonds).
5. The Joker’s Origin: The Joker was invented in the 1860s in the U.S. as a trump card for the game of Euchre. Today, it’s often seen as a wild card or a replacement card for various games.
Final Thoughts
Becoming an ambassador for Bicycle Playing Cards has been an incredibly rewarding experience. From photographing their amazing designs to using the cards at events across the UK, it’s been a creative adventure that has strengthened my love for both cardistry and photography. Bicycle has a deck for every occasion, and they’ve certainly made their mark on my creative journey.
If you’ve never picked up a deck before, now is the perfect time. Gather your friends, unplug from technology, and experience the joy of a classic game of cards. Trust me, once you shuffle your first deck, you’ll be hooked!
Feel free to check out my social media (Instagram) for more photos and updates on my ambassador journey. And if you’re as passionate about cards as I am, you might just find your new favourite deck waiting for you.