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 →
Norwood #85
Reckoned by some to be the most beautiful deck ever manufactured by the United States Playing Card Co., this is certainly a rarity!
Kunigaiksciai, Lithuania
Kunigaiksciai ('Dukes') playing cards published by Spindulys Printing Co., Kaunas, Lithuania during the period c.1920-1940.
Manx Playing Card Stamps
Isle of Man stamp issue based upon the history of Manx themed playing cards, featuring six fascinating, full colour stamps showing antique playing cards.
History
Antique playing cards reflect past eras and ways of life. So what do the oldest surviving playing cards look like? View More →
Rowley & Co., c.1775
In around 1775 Rowley & Co attempted to reform the traditional court cards to portraits of the kings and queens of England, France, Spain and Russia.
Peter Flötner, c.1545
Satirical Playing Cards by Peter Flötner, c.1545. The suit symbols are acorns, leaves, bells and hearts.
Phelippe Ayet, c.1574
Archaic, late medieval Spanish-suited playing cards printed by Phelippe Ayet, c.1574
Manufacturing Processes
Innovations in printing technologies have impacted the appearance of playing cards. View More →
Stencilling
Printing of Playing Cards ::: Stencilling can usually be detected by observing the outlines of the coloured areas which are often irregular with brush strokes discernible in the coloured areas.
Letterpress Printing
Printing of Playing Cards :: Letterpress printing :: Some notes on the manufacture of playing cards taken from Thomas De la Rue's patent, 1831
Home-made Playing cards
Production Methods for Small Scale Editions of Playing Cards: some alternative approaches to producing small editions of playing cards
Political
Propaganda cards, war cards and even educational cards all carry a political message... View More →
Knavery of the Rump, 1679
The Knavery of the Rump playing cards are a satirical portrayal of Cromwell's Government during the period 1648-53
Baralla Galega, 1983
'Baralla Galega' designed by X. Cobas and published by Imprenta Comercial Imprent S.A., La Coruña (Spain) in 1983
Soldaten Tarock, 1918
In 1918 Ferd. Piatnik & Söhne published a propaganda tarock deck intending to emulate Germany’s success in World War l titled “Soldaten Tarock”
Visconti Tarot, c.1445
Did luxury hand-painted cards have any effect on the plainer cards enjoyed by ordinary folks?
Souvenir
A treasury of miniature art, graphic design and self-expression from different periods and locations around the world. View More →
Prague 1908 Jubilee
This special pack of playing cards, published in 1908, was available at the Jubilee Exhibition held in Prague.
Swiss Regional Costumes
Swiss Regional Costumes Playing Cards, c.1890, which subsequently developed into the modern souvenir pack.
