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A round, golden-yellow tortilla on a decorative blue and white plate with intricate patterns Since 1996, this collaborative project has grown to include 4,432 articles by 25 contributors, including researchers, collectors, artists and historians covering topics from Art Nouveau to Zoology. We move beyond simply cataloguing playing cards by date, manufacturer and place of origin, and adopt a dynamic, interactive and thematic approach, bridging the past with the present, telling stories, opening conceptual perspectives and the necessary reflectiveness to gain new insights and ways to appreciate their role in history.

Mountain Dream Tarot

Groundbreaking Tarot created by Bea Nettles, using photographs and photo montage.

Agatha Christie and card games

Agatha Christie uses card-play as a primary focus of a story, and as a way of creating plots and motives for characters.

Blake et Mortimer – La Marque Jaune

Blake and Mortimer comic strip characters created by Edgar P. Jacobs.

New Articles

Agatha Christie and card games
Agatha Christie and card games

Agatha Christie uses card-play as a primary focus of a story, and as a way of creating plots and motives for c...

Tony Hall • 1 day ago

Blake et Mortimer – La Marque Jaune
Blake et Mortimer – La Marque Jaune

Blake and Mortimer comic strip characters created by Edgar P. Jacobs.

Roddy Somerville • 3 days ago

Laurenzo Propagine
Laurenzo Propagine

Spanish-suited cards made in Italy by Laurenzo Propagine.

Simon Wintle • 4 days ago

Jeu de 7 familles Les Dynasties d’Artisans Basques
Jeu de 7 familles Les Dynasties d’Artisans Basques

Long-standing Basque businesses represented in a traditional card game with illustrations by Odile Artéon.

Roddy Somerville • 5 days ago

English Heritage
English Heritage

52 different colour photos of historic sites managed by English Heritage.

Roddy Somerville • 6 days ago

Clear Skies
Clear Skies

‘Clear Skies’ playing cards paying tribute to the Ukrainian people in the face of war.

Peter Burnett • Oct 30, 2024

Il Tarocco Mitologico
Il Tarocco Mitologico

Fully pictorial Tarot designed by Amerigo Folchi with figures mainly from Greek mythology.

Roddy Somerville • Oct 29, 2024

Archaic Franco-Spanish pattern
Archaic Franco-Spanish pattern

Archaic Franco-Spanish pattern by Guillaume & Jean Grossard (Bordeaux).

Simon Wintle • Oct 26, 2024

Junior Playing Cards
Junior Playing Cards

Child-friendly versions of standard English pattern cards designed by Louie Mantia, Jr.

Roddy Somerville • Oct 26, 2024

Santo Mexico playing cards
Santo Mexico playing cards

Santo Mexico playing cards designed by Cédric Volon with Mexico-associated symbols.

Peter Burnett • Oct 25, 2024

Ubo cards
Ubo cards

Traditional Ubo cards from the Philippines made from tree bark.

Roddy Somerville • Oct 23, 2024

Last Call Cats playing cards
Last Call Cats playing cards

Bar-crawling cats, designed by artists Arna Miller and Ravi Zupa.

Roddy Somerville • Oct 21, 2024

Pride playing cards
Pride playing cards

Pride playing cards designed by Phil Constantinesco

Peter Burnett • Oct 21, 2024

Trek Deck Malta Vol. 1
Trek Deck Malta Vol. 1

Innovative pack describing 52 different treks around Malta, Gozo and Comino.

Roddy Somerville • Oct 19, 2024

La Baraja del Mundial
La Baraja del Mundial

“La Baraja del Mundial” satirical football deck published by Fournier for ‘Interviú’ news magazine.

Simon Wintle • Oct 19, 2024

Warka playing cards
Warka playing cards

Advertising pack for the Polish brewery Warka, featuring footballers, coaches and supporters.

Roddy Somerville • Oct 17, 2024

The Malt Whiskies of Scotland
The Malt Whiskies of Scotland

Three packs featuring photographs by Duncan McEwan of malt whisky distilleries in Scotland.

Roddy Somerville • Oct 16, 2024

Portuguese pattern by Real Fábrica
Portuguese pattern by Real Fábrica

Later Portuguese pattern by Impressão Règia, Real Fábrica de Lisboa.

Simon Wintle • Oct 15, 2024

Art pack I
Art pack I

Art pack featuring Old Masters, including Bruegel, Vermeer, Titian, Raphael, Caravaggio, Canaletto, Velazquez ...

Peter Burnett • Oct 12, 2024

Gallia Belgica playing cards
Gallia Belgica playing cards

Gallia Belgica playing cards by Cédric Volon presenting a view of Belgian culture and folklore.

Peter Burnett • Oct 9, 2024

Typographic Playing Cards
Typographic Playing Cards

Typographic Playing Cards designed by Jim Sutherland, c.2010.

Simon Wintle • Oct 9, 2024

Damn! Fools by Moon
Damn! Fools by Moon

Damn! Fools playing cards designed by Leo Scherfig, 2022.

Peter Burnett • Oct 8, 2024

Current Highlights

Mamluk Playing Cards

Nã'ib, the game of lieutenants... these cards are amongst the earliest Arabic playing cards ext...

History of Court Cards

History of Court Cards

The court cards in English packs of playing cards derive from models produced by Pierre Marechal in ...

Early History of Playing Cards & Timeline

Out of an apparent void, a constellation of references in early literature emerge pointing to the su...

14: Back Designs

14: Back Designs

A few examples of the many interesting back designs.

Cartomancy, Oracle and Divination Cards

Cartomancy, Oracle and Divination Cards

Playing cards are used for fortune-telling, predicting the future or even as a psychological adjunct...

Chinese Playing Cards 中国纸牌

Chinese Playing Cards 中国纸牌

The Chinese took their cards with them wherever they travelled and traded in the East, and we find C...

Cartes Lenormand

“Cartes Lenormand” published by H. P. Gibson & Sons Ltd, London, printed in Germany by B. Dondorf, 1...

Donkey game from Malaysia

“Donkey” children's card game designed and created by Ooi Yan Hee, manufactured by Hee Trading Co., ...

The Joker Card

The 'Joker' is believed to have been invented by American Euchre players who, when modifying the rul...

Covered bridges playing cards

Historical covered bridges with photography by Bill Miller, 2006.


Explore

4,432 articles featuring content from 118 countries, 1,300 manufacturers and 1,077 designers; including 385 themes, 265 brands, 76 suits, 48 games and 29 licenses.

A decorative black and white line ornament with a circular design in the center and horizontal lines extending from both sides
History

Playing Cards have been around in Europe since the 1370s. Some early packs were hand painted works of art which were expensive and affordable only by the wealthy. But as demand increased cheaper methods of production were discovered so that playing cards became available for everyone... more

1495 Mamluk Playing Cards

Mamluk Playing Cards

By Simon Wintle

1864 Corner Indices

Corner Indices

By Simon Wintle

1947 Canasta

Canasta

By Simon Wintle


Joker

The 'Joker' is believed to have been invented by American Euchre players who, when modifying the rules sometime during the 1860s, decided that an extra trump card was required. more

1863 The Joker Card

The Joker Card

By Simon Wintle

Chinese Jokers

Chinese Jokers

By Matt Probert

2000 Jest Jokers

Jest Jokers

By Simon Wintle

1908 Baggy Clown Joker

Baggy Clown Joker

By Rex Pitts (1940-2021)


Advertising

Closely following the development of visual advertising in general, such as on labels, packaging, posters and TV commercials, advertising playing cards seek to find ways to associate products with our inner desires and longings, with our identity and who we want to be. Some packs are widely distributed as part of larger promotions, others are more exclusive. In some cases single cards are collected from inside the advertised product, thereby stimulating further sales to complete a full set.

1972 Smith-Corona Marchant

Smith-Corona Marchant

By Roddy Somerville

2004 Axe Deodorant

Axe Deodorant

By Simon Wintle

2000 Austria Ski Team playing cards

Austria Ski Team playing cards

By Roddy Somerville

2019 James Purdey Signature playing cards

Pop Culture

As the ‘culture of the people’, contemporary popular culture is a product of economically more developed countries and arises from a combination of advances in technology and increased leisure time. Popular culture is also informed by the mass media. Iconic brands aim to be sold to large numbers of people as a commodity. Certain currents of pop culture may originate from or diverge into a subculture. Many new cardistry and Kickstarter decks fall into this category.

2010 One Piece Hana Fuda

One Piece Hana Fuda

By Simon Wintle

2021 Disney Villains Tarot Deck

Disney Villains Tarot Deck

By Jinny Wintle

1993 X-Men Playing Cards

X-Men Playing Cards

By Adam Wintle


Nintendo

In 1889, Fusajirô Yamauchi began manufacturing “Hanafuda” or “flower cards” under the brand name Nintendo Koppai. Cards were hand crafted using the bark from mulberry and mitsu-mata trees. Around 1902 the firm began producing Western style playing cards.

Japanese Playing Cards

Japanese Playing Cards

By Simon Wintle

2008 Hanafuda Flower Cards

Hanafuda Flower Cards

By Simon Wintle

1969 Ethiopian Air Lines

Ethiopian Air Lines

By Rex Pitts (1940-2021)

Akahachi

Akahachi

By Anthony Lee


The Big Picture

Playing cards have a universal appeal and are a reflection of human culture.

A decorative black and white line ornament with a circular design in the center and horizontal lines extending from both sides
Simon & Adam Wintle

Above: Chinese money-suited cards. Some of the earliest cards have origins in the Far East.

Playing cards are a part of almost every culture and society around the world. These small, rectangular pieces of paper have been a source of entertainment for generations and are still enjoyed by people of all ages today. Whether it's a simple game of solitaire, a high-stakes game of poker, or a magic trick that delights, there's something about playing cards that captures the imagination and inspires creativity. As Delef Hoffmann once said "whether we consider cards as mere merchandise or as the bond which unites people with one another, just think of what we would be if we had no cards! How boring and unsociable our lives would be without this invention!"

Joker by Simon Wintle

Above: Dasavatara Ganjifa from India. Playing cards from India are often circular.

The origin of cards can be traced back to China, where they were first used as early as the 9th century. From there, the cards travelled across Asia and the Middle East, and finally found their way to Europe in the 14th century.

Since then, playing cards have been used for a wide range of purposes, including fortune-telling and even propaganda. But the most significant impact they have had on humanity is through their use in games, which have brought people together for centuries.

Above left: a set of Spanish playing cards from 1638 was discovered inside a prison wall during demolition, likely used for gambling by prisoners. Above center: Trump Presidential playing cards, playing cards are often used for political messages. Above right: the Magician from the popualr Rider-Waite tarot, which has become the template for modern tarot decks.

Above left: a set of Spanish playing cards from 1638 was discovered inside a prison wall during demolition, likely used for gambling by prisoners. Above center: Trump Presidential playing cards, playing cards are often used for political messages. Above right: the Magician from the popualr Rider-Waite tarot, which has become the template for modern tarot decks.

While playing cards have brought people together for fun and play, they have also been a source of disruption in the form of gambling. For many, gambling has become an addiction, leading to financial ruin and even anti-social problems.

The artistic value of cards cannot be overlooked, with their intricate details and unique designs of each card reflecting the creativity and ingenuity of artists. Playing cards are a reflection of our society, with each country and region having its unique designs and styles. As Sylvia Mann put it "there are fashions in cards, and these fashions very often reflect the history of the times". From the bold and colourful designs of India to the intricate and detailed patterns of Russia, playing cards are a testament to the creativity and diversity of the human experience.

Simon & Adam Wintle

Above left: Kashmir Playing Cards, above center: Ethiopian Air Lines playing cards produced by Nintendo, above right: striking playing cards designed by Masuo Ikeda.

Playing cards have a wide embrace, spanning across cultures and countries, with a scope of diverse subjects that reflect the values and beliefs of their respective societies.

Playing cards are an enduring symbol of human connection and creativity, transcending language, borders and cultures. Through the power of games, they have brought people together for centuries, creating shared experiences that have fostered friendships, learning and social bonds. While their role in gambling has been disruptive, their stunning artistic designs elevate them to works of art, worthy of appreciation and admiration. Playing cards are a testament to the power of human creativity and a reflection of the rich cultural tapestry of our world.

References

  • The Playing Card, Delef Hoffmann, 1972
  • Collecting Playing Cards, Sylvia Mann, 1966

About the World of Playing Cards

Our aim is to increase awareness and appreciation of the cultural and historical significance of playing cards.

A decorative black and white line ornament with a circular design in the center and horizontal lines extending from both sides

The World of Playing Cards was established in 1996 as a place where you can learn about playing cards, their history, design and manufacture, and see cards from around the world.

Simon & Adam Wintle

Simon Wintle (right) with Adam Wintle (left) visiting Ayutthaya in Thailand, 2016.

They reflect the traditions of many countries. They vary widely in size, style, shape, artistry, usage and many other purposes in education, marketing or even for fortune telling. There is a fascination in playing card design: the neat symmetries and quirky symbols. The composition of the pack - court cards, suits, pips - provides endless scope of play.

Joker by Simon Wintle

They are recognised everywhere around the world - we rarely question their origins.

Since their invention, cards have lost none of their popularity. Playing cards have a long history and it's in the art that the richness of playing cards is to be discovered.

Simon & Adam