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.
Classic Card Games for Kids
A boxed set of playing cards, Happy Families and an alphabet pack with rules for 22 games.
Eves Playing Cards
A pack of cards with colour photos of Indian film stars from the era
Le carte di Tex
Characters from the famous Italian comic book series, Tex, created by Gian Luigi Bonelli and Aurelio...
Shrek the Third playing cards
Characters from the 2007 film Shrek the Third, a DreamWorks Animation production.
Baraja del Camino de Santiago
Designs by Guitián, published by Ideas Peregrinas, Santiago de Compostela, Spain, c2018.
Vues et Caractères Suisses No.228
A Swiss souvenir pack by Dondorf
Goodall 1915-1916 Sample Book
Complete contents of a sample book by Goodall & Sons
Een Kaartspel
Minimalist playing cards from The Netherlands
America’s Most Wanted
“America’s Most Wanted” playing cards based on the anti-crime reality TV show. 2003.
Zamki Polski
Zamki Polski souvenir playing cards with 54 drawings of Polish castles.
World of the New Russians
‘World of the New Russians’ (Mir novykh russkikh) satirical playing cards, 2002.
4: Some Card Games
Yet another strand of the playing card world is that of card games, packs of cards usually designed ...
19: 19th Century Breaks With Tradition - Unusual Versions of the Standard English Pattern
The centuries-long tradition of English court cards was subject to misinterpretation and in some cas...
The Evolution of Bezique boxed sets, 1869 to 1990
The first company to register Bezique materials with Stationers’ Hall was Josh Reynolds & Son in Sep...
De La Rue Pocket Guides
The 19th Century saw the production, by all of the major companies, of pocket guides or “mini-books”...
Cribbage Board Collection part 6
A collection of antique and vintage Cribbage Boards by Tony Hall, part 6
Dondorf Tarot Aces
The four suits are associated with four countries: Clubs = Germany, Diamonds = UK, Spades = Russia a...
Graciela Rodo Boulanger
Boulanger's paintings and graphic art works are easily recognized. The Latin American influence is a...
Saks-Werbespiel
Promotional playing cards printed by Dondorf for Saks & Company, New York, late 1920s.
Wartime Snap
Wartime edition of Snap game by an anonymous publisher.
Battle of Grunwald
Medieval style playing cards commemorating the Battle of Grunwald (1410), designed and published by ...
Doctor Busby
“Game of Doctor Busby“- anonymous manufacturer, c.1850.
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?
Hidden meanings in painting by Jheronimus Bosch
Medieval View of Gambling in the ‘Garden of Earthly Delights’ by Jheronimus Bosch
19: 19th Century Breaks With Tradition - Unusual Versions of the Standard English Pattern
The centuries-long tradition of English court cards was subject to misinterpretation and in some cas...
Origins Playing Cards
Rick Davidson's “Origins” playing cards is an inspired, present-day re-design of the standard Anglo-...
Joan Barbot
Joan Barbot, San Sebastian c.1765-1810.
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.
Rococo Playing Cards
Piatnik’s Rococo style playing cards issued as “Rococo Patience”, “Luxus-Patience”, “Empire Patience...
Le Jeu d’Issy
Bold designs by Jacques Auriac representing people and enterprises for which the town of Issy-les-Mo...
Prof. Franciszek Bunsch
Prof. Franciszek Bunsch, Polish playing-card designer.
Jeu de Familles Les Pierrafeu®
Quartet game featuring The Flintstones and friends.
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►
EPCS June 2001 Newsletter
Rare Universal Joker • Great Exhibition 50th Anniversary • Queen Victoria Death • Another Animal Sna...
Jean Noblet Tarot de Marseille
Jean Noblet: the oldest known ‘Tarot de Marseille’ deck, Paris, c.1650.
The Playing Card Oracles
The Picture Book of Ana Cortez is an original work of art designed to facilitate Divination.
EPCS November 2005 Newsletter
Top Trumps • Clifford Toys / Tricklico • Blackpool Souvenir • Squiggles • Esquire • Alberto Vargas •...
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.
Animal Misfitz
Animal Misfitz designed by George Lambert for Faulkner Games, c.1900.
EPCS May 1985 Newsletter
A Georgian Game • Beautiful Britain (part four) • The Popish Plot (part two) • The Worshipful Compan...
EPCS May 1986 Newsletter
Memories by Robert Burrow • Waddington & De la Rue patience packs • De la Rue LOBO: Tooting Broadway...
EPCS November 1993 Newsletter
150th Anniversary of Nelson's Column • Fortune Telling • RAF 75th Anniversary • C-Operative Wholesal...
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.
References
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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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