The Earliest Playing Cards

What did the earliest European cards look like?

he first European references to playing cards date from the 1370s and come from Catalonia (Spain), Florence, France, Sienna, Viterbo (Italy), southern Germany, Switzerland and Brabant. Most of these refer to 'a recent introduction'.

No cards from this early survive, but the sources indicate that cards were being painted 'in gold and various colours' or 'painted and gilded' which suggests luxury packs.

The earliest surviving cards are from the fifteenth century. Some examples of these are shown on this page.

The Medieval mind delighted in the ornate and colourful, and the art of the miniature was much admired and practised. We should not make the mistake of assuming that people in the Middle Ages were less intelligent, less sophisticated or less appreciative of art and culture than we are today. Early cards reveal refinement and vivacity in their designs. Then a point of equilibrium was reached after which mannerism sets in and designs become more superficial, grotesque or mechanical.

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