Playing cards combine many aspects of our history including paper-making, printing technologies, innovation, symbolism, graphic design and how these have changed over the years. Whatever your interest in cards, you'll find something interesting here.
Miniature spanish-suited playing cards
Pack of 48 miniature spanish playing-cards published by C R.
Uncut Sheet by Johann Jobst Forster
A proof sheet containing twelve court cards of conventional French type.
Lend Me Five Shillings
or “Her Majesty’s Privy Purse” - a merry round-the-table game published by D. Ogilvy.
Poker Lusso
Richly costumed courts on a luxury poker pack from Masenghini.
Music playing cards
Portraits of 13 classical music composers.
Eves Playing Cards
A pack of cards with colour photos of Indian film stars from the era
The Age of Dinosaurs playing cards
Dinosaurs from different ages and locations, with artwork by Virginijus Poshkus.
Schweden Spielkarten
54 different souvenir views of famous people and places in Sweden.
English (or Rigel) Tarot Cards
‘Authentic English fortune telling’ Tarot cards said to be based on a 15th century original found in...
Goodall’s modernised Wüst House pattern playing cards
A remodelled version of the first Wüst house pattern.
Reo Rex Luxus bild
Celluloid playing cards made in Vienna
Art Nouveau playing cards from Italy
from the Armanino factory in Genoa
The Deck of Cards
‘The Deck of Cards ’ by Ben Yates, United Kingdom, 2011.
Politipack ’88 playing cards
Politipack ’88 produced by Robert Billingsley, USA, 1988.
Banjo playing cards
Banjo playing cards featuring the collection of Akira Tsumura, Japan, c. 1978.
44: Australia
Two early makers, Thomas and Sands & McDougall, used courts copied from those of the New York Consol...
45: New Zealand
There are three main New Zealand makers that I'm aware of: A.D. Willis, John Dickinson, and Strong &...
A New Look at the Evolution of Whist Markers and Gaming Counters
This article aims to illustrate the evolution of whist and gaming counters from the 18th century to ...
Cribbage Board Collection part 4
A collection of antique and vintage Cribbage Boards by Tony Hall, part 4.
Pinochle
I have always been intrigued by the game Pinochle.
Einar Nerman Patience
Einar Nerman (1888–1983) was a talented Swedish artist born in Norrköping who designed playing cards...
J.L. & J. Turnbull
An ‘Old Frizzle’ Ace of Spades was assigned to them in 1833. In 1853 James L. & J. Turnbull were lis...
Cancan
Lightly risqué luxury playing cards published by Éditions Philibert of Paris in 1956.
Music Manuscripts
Artwork featuring playing cards in Music Manuscripts
Hard-a-Port
Tobacco insert cards were a very successful marketing innovation which started in the nineteenth cen...
Bass & Bass Jeu des Familles
Bass & Bass ‘Jeu des Familles’ made by Franz-Josef Holler, Münich, 1989.
Morgan-Greer Tarot
Based on the knowledge, wisdom and interpretation of Paul Foster Case and Arthur Edward Waite.
New Palladini Tarot
“The New Palladini Tarot” by David Palladini published by U.S. Games Inc., in 1996.
The Aquarian Tarot Deck
The Aquarian Tarot Deck illustrated by David Palladini, published by Morgan Press, Inc., 1970.
The Tarot Strikes Back
Roy Huteson Stewart's The Tarot Strikes Back combines Star Wars with Rider-Waite tarot imagery.
House of Tudor
Randy Butterfield's House of Tudor playing cards feature detailed art in a high-quality collectible ...
Jack-O’-Lantern Tarot
Giuliano Costa's Jack-O’-Lantern tarot blends Rider-Waite symbolism with the rich and atmospheric th...
Miniature spanish-suited playing cards
Pack of 48 miniature spanish playing-cards published by C R.
Uncut Sheet by Johann Jobst Forster
A proof sheet containing twelve court cards of conventional French type.
Lend Me Five Shillings
or “Her Majesty’s Privy Purse” - a merry round-the-table game published by D. Ogilvy.
The History of Playing Cards
Playing cards arrived in Europe the late 14th century and rapidly became a part of popular culture. Antique playing cards are like a visit to the local museum and evoke images of past eras and ways of life and also demonstrate archaic technology or production methods. So what do the oldest surviving playing cards look like?
Early Anglo-French Cards
Cards produced in Rouen during the sixteenth century. It was cards like these which were imported to...
Delightful Cards, c.1723
Delightful Cards, containing variety of entertainment for young Ladies and Gentlemen c.1723.
Prisoners of War
Hand-made playing cards by French prisoners of war in Porchester Castle, Hampshire, c.1796.
Triplicate No.18
Dougherty first secured a patent for “Triplicates” in 1876, a novel type of indices with a miniature...
Art & Design
Design Caricatures Abstract Cartoon Celtic Deco Jugendstil Renaissance Rococo SurrealismThe playing card calls for artistic treatment and although the constrained size imposes some limitations there is an almost bewildering wealth and variety of designs in playing cards and their tuck boxes. The serious player requires design to be unobtrusive so that aesthetic considerations remain in the background. However, with modern manufacturing technology more eye-catching designs are becoming popular as gifts, collectibles and for their attractive appearance.
Hooray for Hollywood
‘Hooray for Hollywood’ movie star playing cards produced by Parody Productions, USA, 2006.
Lidia Schöffer art-deco playing cards
A prize winning design from The Netherlands
Carl Arnold Transformation
Transformation playing cards designed by Carl Johann Arnold (1829-1916), the court artist for King F...
Jugendstil Tarock
‘Jugendstil Tarock’ was designed by Ditha Moser and first published by Albert Berger and Josef Glanz...
Oracle, Divination & Tarot
The art of interpreting divine omens - augury or reading karma - has since ancient times been integral to political, civic and religious life.
More recently, Cartomancy and modern esoteric tarot packs have been produced in a wide variety of conceptions and involve use of imagination and intuition to assess one’s thoughts and feelings from the view point of the symbolic images and numbers.
It is possible for an object to be construed as a game in one context, and as something other than a game in a different context.
Tarot, originally a 15th century card game, has evolved into a popular system of personal mysticism, self-exploration and spirituality Learn more about tarot►
Britney Spears Oracle
Britney Spears Oracle: A Deck and Guidebook to Be Stronger Than Yesterday — a card set for Britney f...
Branded Tarot Decks and Modern Mystic Lifestyle
Taking a closer look at the rise of media tie-in branded tarot deck and esoteric lifestyle of younge...
Oriental Scenes tarock
Trumps have oriental scenes on one end of the card, and mermaids, mermen, assorted sea serpents and ...
Jeu de Tarot Pocket Fantasy/Science-Fiction
Tarot game pack with fantasy sci-fi artwork on the trumps published by Pocket SF, France.
The games we play mirror the world we live in, like popular art. There was a time when friends and family played indoor games by the fireside and enjoyed countless hours of pleasure and amusement. Children don’t play card games so much because they prefer computer games, the ultimate excitement. Antique and vintage card games offer documentary evidence, as well as nostalgic memories, of the social interaction, fashions and stereotypes of bygone days and are a study in social anthropology.
French card games are mostly Jeux des Sept Familles. German games are often pleasing on the eye, and they seem to favour quartet games. USA love quartets of world worthies like authors, painters, composers. Games are not simply an escape from the real world, they are also educational and provide a place to process what it all means.
EPCS November 1999 Newsletter
City Imperial Volunteers: Boer War • Hand Decorated Transformation Pack • Story Behind the Card: Bon...
Shearing the Sheep
Shearing the Sheep published by J. Jaques & Son, c.1875.
Children's Card Games
Children's games are distinct from ordinary playing cards, the most obvious difference being the lac...
Pierre l’Ebouriffé
Heinrich Hoffmann (1809-1894) wrote the Struwwelpeter stories in 1847 for his son Carl. The stories ...
The Big Picture
Playing cards have a universal appeal and are a reflection of human culture.
Playing cards are a part of almost every culture and society around the world. These small, rectangular pieces of paper have been a source of entertainment for generations and are still enjoyed by people of all ages today. Whether it’s a simple game of solitaire, a high-stakes game of poker, or a magic trick that delights, there’s something about playing cards that captures the imagination and inspires creativity. As Delef Hoffmann once said “whether we consider cards as mere merchandise or as the bond which unites people with one another, just think of what we would be if we had no cards! How boring and unsociable our lives would be without this invention!”
The origin of cards can be traced back to China, where they were first used as early as the 9th century. From there, the cards travelled across Asia and the Middle East, and finally found their way to Europe in the 14th century.
Since then, playing cards have been used for a wide range of purposes, including fortune-telling and even propaganda. But the most significant impact they have had on humanity is through their use in games, which have brought people together for centuries.
While playing cards have brought people together for fun and play, they have also been a source of disruption in the form of gambling. For many, gambling has become an addiction, leading to financial ruin and even anti-social problems.
The artistic value of cards cannot be overlooked, with their intricate details and unique designs of each card reflecting the creativity and ingenuity of artists. Playing cards are a reflection of our society, with each country and region having its unique designs and styles. As Sylvia Mann put it “there are fashions in cards, and these fashions very often reflect the history of the times”. From the bold and colourful designs of India to the intricate and detailed patterns of Russia, playing cards are a testament to the creativity and diversity of the human experience.
Playing cards are an enduring symbol of human connection and creativity, transcending language, borders and cultures. Through the power of games, they have brought people together for centuries, creating shared experiences that have fostered friendships, learning and social bonds. While their role in gambling has been disruptive, their stunning artistic designs elevate them to works of art, worthy of appreciation and admiration. Playing cards are a testament to the power of human creativity and a reflection of the rich cultural tapestry of our world.
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About the World of Playing Cards
Our aim is to increase awareness and appreciation of the cultural and historical significance of playing cards.
The World of Playing Cards was established in 1996 as a place where you can learn about playing cards, their history, design and manufacture, and see cards from around the world.
They reflect the traditions of many countries. They vary widely in size, style, shape, artistry, usage and many other purposes in education, marketing or even for fortune telling. There is a fascination in playing card design: the neat symmetries and quirky symbols. The composition of the pack - court cards, suits, pips - provides endless scope of play.
They are recognised everywhere around the world - we rarely question their origins.
Since their invention, cards have lost none of their popularity. Playing cards have a long history and it's in the art that the richness of playing cards is to be discovered.
Simon & Adam
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