Editor’s Picks
Playing cards have enormous educational value, with a long history and many diverse types and graphical styles from around the world... View More →
Carte per Signora
“Carte per Signora” patience sized pack was produced by Fratelli Armanino, Genova, in c.1897
Dondorf's “Stuart Period”
Another of Dondorf's beautiful period costume decks, this example is subtitled “Stuart period”.
Latest Articles
Cine Manual + Periquito
“Cine Manual” by an unknown artist published by Reclamos Cimadevilla, Valencia, c.1927.
Read more →
Naipes “El Castillo”
Hand-drawn designs by Inmaculada Gabaldón with suits based on traditional Spanish ones, published by Naipes de la Cigüeña, 1991
Baraja Literaria
“Baraja Literaria” Spanish style pack with cartoons by Serafín, limited edition. Published by Asescoin and manufactured by Naipes Comas, 2002
Online Shop
A variety of classic, vintage and antique collectible playing cards from around the world View More →
Bodegas Trapiche
£ 18.00
Playing Cards promoting wine produced for Bodegas Trapiche, Argentina, 1998
Naipe Extra ‘Las Dos Torres’
£ 12.00
Naipe Extra ‘Las Dos Torres’ manufactured by Pasatiempos Gallo S.A. de C.V., Mexico, c.2002
KNIGHT'S 'Royal Primrose' CASTILE soap
£ 12.00
KNIGHT'S 'Royal Primrose' CASTILE soap advertising playing cards manufactured by De la Rue & Co., c.1930
Sponsorship
Playing cards are the foundation of modern casino games. Try one today at TitanPoker.
paypalpoker.org and paypalcasino.net offer the best poker sites and casinos for European players.
Advertising & Promotional
Usually featuring advertising messages and images promoting breweries, cigarettes, chocolate, banks, insurance, sea or air travel and other consumables, advertising playing cards are used in pubs and cafés and are a popular publicity item. Some packs are widely distributed, others are more exclusive. In some cases single cards are collected from inside the advertised product to complete a full set. View More →
Anheuser-Busch, 1899
An early advertising war deck printed by Gray Lithograph Co., New York, featuring patriotic themes connected with the Spanish-American War.
Art & Design
The 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. View More →
Hycrest Modern Royalty
Spectacular court cards designed in Art Deco style with bright colours, elegant indices and a lovely Joker.
Russian “Slavonic”
Originally published as “Slavonic Cards No.501” by The Colour Printing Plant, St. Petersburg, in the 1920s
Russian “Historical” Playing Cards
Russian “Historical extra fine No.204” Playing Cards depicting Ancient Dynasties.
Reviews
Evaluation of new playing cards provides a summary and brief discussion of the artistic and technical features, as well as contact details to the seller's website. View More →
4 Elementos
“4 Elementos” playing cards designed by Marcos Neila Muro celebrating environmental sustainability and ecology, 2014
Manx Playing Card Stamps
Isle of Man stamp issue based upon the history of Manx themed playing cards, featuring six fascinating, full colour stamps.
Children’s Card Games
The games we play mirror the world we live in. Children don’t play card games any more because they prefer computer games, which are the ultimate excitement. Antique and vintage children’s card games offer nostalgic memories of the fashions and social stereotypes of past eras. View More →
Spanish Regional Costumes
Spanish regional costumes and coats-of-arms; cute illustrations on each card, 1986.
J. W. Spear and Sons
Jacob Wolfe Spear founded his company manufacturing fancy goods in 1879 near Nuremberg in Bavaria, Germany
Shakespearian Misfitz, 1907
Faulkner’s “Shakespearian Misfitz”, designed by George Lambert, published around 1907/08.
Ethnic
The portrayal of national or ethnic identity on playing cards reflects the different cultural backgrounds, native communities and language groups which co-exist in the world today, celebrating their accomplishments, art and histories. View More →
Historical playing cards, 1897
Russian “Historical” playing cards with designs by Nikolay Karazin, 1897
Chitrashala Press
Chitrashala Press produced some charming children's pictorial alphabet cards for early learning purposes in the 1940s.
Manufacturing Processes
Innovations in printing technologies have impacted the appearance of playing cards. Until the year 1832 playing cards manufactured in Europe were laboriously and expensively stencilled by hand. Then the process of typographical printing of playing cards was invented by Thomas de la Rue. View More →
Woodblock playing cards
Woodblock and Stencil Pack of standard English playing cards by Simon Wintle
Goodall modernised courts, c.1845-60
Goodall’s earliest cards were traditional in appearance but in around 1845 ‘modernised’ courts were designed.
