Cards from a XV or early XVI century Mamluk pack, hand-drawn and hand-painted. The underlying design is very simple but the surface has been ornamented. The suits are coins, cups, swords and polo-sticks. The ranks of the court cards (below) are given in the lower inscriptions. In European packs the court cards were represented pictorially.

The accepted view is that the early history of cards in Europe was related to the invasion of North Africa, Spain and Sicily by Islamic forces during the Mamluk Sultanate of Egypt which ended in 1517. Spain was the point of contact with the Arab world, growing in importance with the advance of the Reconquista.

See also: Moorish playing Cards.   Download article about Early Introduction of Playing Cards into Europe. (400Kb PDF)

Cards from facsimile edition by Aurelia Books.