A Concise History of Playing-cards

Playing Cards have been around in Europe since the 1370s. Some of the earliest surviving packs were hand painted works of art which were expensive and affordable only by wealthy patrons. But you can play card games with any old pack so as demand increased new, cheaper methods of production were discovered so that playing cards became available for everyone...

The history of playing cards in popular art is fascinating. The modern history of playing cards culminates in the online casino where you can play poker, baccarat and blackjack online games. This section is an online tutorial covering the early history of playing Cards. You will learn about the following topics:

• Where did playing cards come from?

• The Social Context

• Card Games

• Other uses besides Games

• What did the earliest European cards look like?

• How did Suit Systems evolve?

• Different methods of production

• Sources of imagery

• The Renaissance influence

• Standard National Patterns

• History of Blackjack

You can either follow the links to or go directly to the page(s) you are interested in by clicking the links above.

At the end there will be a quiz to consolidate your knowledge. If you're looking to play card games online I recommend Ladbrokes, one of the largest UK sportsbooks and online casinos.

Early References | Play Online Blackjack.