I need your help

Beauties, you may have noticed I stopped posting about the Dondorf deck in the past few days. It all happened because of an issue that got solved today. Let me explain to you what happened.

As a huge playing card enthusiast, I'm very fascinated about vintage playing cards. A few years ago I came across the playing card company from Bernhard Dondorf. I was immediately hooked by the whole history and all these astonishing and almost forgotten art pieces from a past century. I found myself clicking through the internet, researching more and more for hours. I was surprised by my own fascination. As a designer, I saw the possibility to bring back the German legacy of playing cards to the modern highest standards of the magic and playing cards community.

Through my research I found out that the B. Dondorf brand was bought by Ass Altenburger. (I know, "Ass" Altenburger sounds funny... :D ) With that in mind I precisely contacted Cartamundi in 2018. I didn’t want to infringe any copyrights and for me it was no question to print with the company who basically is B. Dondorf now. Anything else would have been out of question for me. I wrote a few times back and forth with Cartamundi about all the possibilities.

Through private circumstances and other projects, I needed a while longer to came to the point  where I had the feeling that I created an honorable tribute. As you know, during 2018 until today I worked with USPCC on several decks. Over the years I got very used to their premium thin crushed paper stock. With the acquisition of USPCC by Cartamundi I’ve seen the possibility to print the Dondorf Playing Cards with USPCC and my favorite card stock.

A few weeks ago I've sent all files to USPCC. You have already seen the digital proofs and they even already sent me the printed proofs. On Thursday evening I've received the email that my deck got flagged and that USPCC removed everything. I wouldn't have the rights to print this deck. Thursday - 4:45pm. I tried to contact Ass Altenburger via phone but nobody was there anymore and I knew this is a problem that can't be solved on the phone in 15 minutes. But the bigger problem - on Fridays the company is closed.

So many things in my head right now at this moment. I basically spent a month's salary for the Dondorf prototypes and now I can't send them out anymore because "Manufactured by USPCC" is printed on the tuck? I already started to promote them and now I need to cancel everything? And if I still can print them with Cartamundi, I probably need a new fulfillment service in Europe etc.

But Jirs from Cartamundi still wrote back on the same day at 9pm. He said it probably wouldn't be a problem. I simply should have asked the German team first. It makes absolutely sense to wait for an approval from the German team. Something I simply wasn't aware of as an outsider who isn't familiar with the company structures. I’ve contacted USPCC, knowing that both companies are one big family now. Never thought of and never would do something behind anyone’s back and infringe any IP rules.

I had to write a statement where I explained that it wasn't my intention to "steal" anything and fortunately they gave me the go today. Out of respect it was no question for me to avoid posting anything. But these few days where I didn't post anything also throw us back a bit.

The most important part of the promotion is that enough people see and hear about the deck before the campaign launches. It's all about the amount of followers on the pre-launch page: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/danielschneider/dondorf-playing-cards 

The prototypes will probably still go out to you this week. I'll tell Murphy's to send them out. There is no reason to wait any longer. But even without the prototypes I would be more than happy if you share one of the images of the Dondorf deck in your Instagram story or on facebook etc. I posted a lot on Instagram but it feels like I'm also just posting stuff in my own bubble for the same people over and over again.l If you share one of the images, a lot more people will see and follow the campaign.

I've created a Dropbox folder with some images. Everything in there was thrown together really quick :D I'll probably bring more structure into it in the next few days but definitely works for now.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/defsd55zjv5mr7v/AAAe8sgt6cCmBj7QZ6mnClpWa?dl=0

I would be more than thankful if you are able to share something on your social media. Doesn't matter how many people are following you. 400 followers on the pre-launch page is the next big goal.

Thank you

Daniel