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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 4,414 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.

Portuguese pattern by Real Fábrica

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

Art pack I

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

Gallia Belgica playing cards

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

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Art pack I
Art pack I

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

Peter Burnett • 3 days ago

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 • 6 days ago

Typographic Playing Cards
Typographic Playing Cards

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

Simon Wintle • 6 days ago

Damn! Fools by Moon
Damn! Fools by Moon

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

Peter Burnett • Oct 8, 2024

76: Transitions: Hunt & Sons
76: Transitions: Hunt & Sons

Styles change and technology develops. This means that it's possible to see transition periods in the producti...

Ken Lodge • Oct 4, 2024

Neapolitan pattern by Luigi Pignalosa, Naples
Neapolitan pattern by Luigi Pignalosa, Naples

Two versions of the Neapolitan pattern from the British Museum by Luigi Pignalosa, Naples, 1875 & 1882.

Simon Wintle • Oct 3, 2024

The Millenium Tarot: Tarot of the Four Worlds
The Millenium Tarot: Tarot of the Four Worlds

First Australian Tarot, designed by Mary Susan Chamberlain, with artwork by Ziba Vilmanis-Westenberg.

Roddy Somerville • Sep 23, 2024

Gibson’s History of England
Gibson’s History of England

History without tears for young and old, 1920s.

Tony Hall • Sep 20, 2024

Simpson (Piccadilly) playing cards
Simpson (Piccadilly) playing cards

Innovative advertising pack for Simpsons of Piccadilly designed by André François.

Roddy Somerville • Sep 20, 2024

Scruffy Mutts
Scruffy Mutts

‘Scruffy Mutts’ dog-themed playing cards, United Kingdom, c.1998.

Peter Burnett • Sep 20, 2024

Historical Characters
Historical Characters

Double-ended deck with historical characters and jacks as jesters by Daveluy, c.1850.

Simon Wintle • Sep 19, 2024

Les Jeux de Pastor
Les Jeux de Pastor

Striking designs by Edouard Pastor focusing on the heads of figures from the medieval period.

Roddy Somerville • Sep 18, 2024

Mademoiselle Lenormand
Mademoiselle Lenormand

XIX century ‘Mlle Lenormand’ cartomancy deck by Daveluy, Bruges.

Simon Wintle • Sep 17, 2024

Karl Korab
Karl Korab

Austrian artist Karl Korab’s first pack, displaying his use of different techniques.

Roddy Somerville • Sep 14, 2024

Le Jeu des Personnages de l’Antiquité et du Moyen-Age
Le Jeu des Personnages de l’Antiquité et du Moyen-Age

Edouard Pastor’s designs in black and gold inspired by Antiquity and the Middle Ages.

Roddy Somerville • Sep 12, 2024

Covered bridges playing cards
Covered bridges playing cards

Historical covered bridges with photography by Bill Miller, 2006.

Peter Burnett • Sep 7, 2024

Motherpeace Round Tarot
Motherpeace Round Tarot

An original and imaginative feminist tarot based on Goddess energy.

Simon Wintle • Sep 4, 2024

Victorian playing cards
Victorian playing cards

54 different card designs including people, animals, flowers, costumes and ornaments popular during the ninete...

Peter Burnett • Sep 2, 2024

Transformation
Transformation

Good day everyone, I’ve come across an antique deck with uniq...

Luts Verkauf Aug 30, 2024 • 1 Comments

Rouen Pattern  - Portrait Rouennais
Rouen Pattern - Portrait Rouennais

An attractive XV century French-suited design from Rouen became the standard English & Anglo-American pattern....

Simon Wintle • Aug 27, 2024

Iroha Karuta for Hino City
Iroha Karuta for Hino City

Special version of Iroha Karuta, a traditional Japanese matching game, made for Hino City, Tokyo.

Roddy Somerville • Aug 23, 2024

Current Highlights

The Joker Card

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

14: Back Designs

14: Back Designs

A few examples of the many interesting back designs.

Early History of Playing Cards & Timeline

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

Rider Waite Tarot early editions

Rider Waite Tarot early editions

Rider Waite Tarot early editions

Crown Hill playing cards

Crown Hill playing cards with illustrations by Corrine Guiney, USA,

Archaic Spanish proof sheets

2 x uncoloured proof sheets of archaic Spanish-suited playing cards produced for “New Spain”, possib...

Iroha Karuta for Hino City

Special version of Iroha Karuta, a traditional Japanese matching game, made for Hino City, Tokyo.

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 ...

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...

Dungeons and Dragons Tarot

This 78-card officially licensed Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) tarot deck offers a visually appealing var...


Explore

4,414 articles featuring content from 118 countries, 1,293 manufacturers and 1,065 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
United States Playing Card Co.

Over the years the pressures of competition and other market forces have led to many smaller manufacturers being taken over by larger ones. The outcome is that the U.S.P.C.C. is now the largest manufacturer in the United States. more

1885 Bicycle No.808

Bicycle No.808

By Simon Wintle

1993 X-Men Playing Cards

X-Men Playing Cards

By Adam Wintle

1881 Army & Navy No.303

Army & Navy No.303

By Rod Starling (1936-2023)


Political

Political playing cards were introduced in the 17th century providing entertainment by satirising or deriding current events and leaders. Propaganda cards, Imperial decks, war cards and even educational card games all carry a message which relates to the politics of memory, the means by which events are remembered and recorded, the way history is written and passed on. Historical memory can be used to arouse emotional reactions...

2015 Trump Presidential playing cards
2007 House of Commons Playing Cards
1898 Kaiser Jubiläum

Kaiser Jubiläum

By Simon Wintle

2000 CCCP playing cards

CCCP playing cards

By Roddy Somerville


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

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)


Myths & Legends

The great struggle between Light and Darkness, between the Titans and the Gods, often reframed as The Evil Empire, dystopia/utopia or irreconcilable political opponents. These themes are frequently chosen by playing card designers to create imaginative and visually striking playing card or tarot card designs.

2017 Arthurian by Kings Wild Project
1973 Carte Romane

Carte Romane

By Rex Pitts (1940-2021)


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

Kabufuda

Kabufuda

By Anthony Lee

1979 Ainu culture

Ainu culture

By Rex Pitts (1940-2021)


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