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Playing cards combine many aspects of our history including paper-making, printing technologies, innovation, symbolism, graphic design and how these have changed over the years. Whatever your interest in cards, you'll find something interesting here.

Storia del Fascismo
Published by Il Meneghello, this pack provides a visual history of Fascism in Italy between 1919 and 1945.
Roddy Somerville • 25 November 2023, 11:22
Romeo and Juliet playing cards
Romeo and Juliet playing cards illustrated by Belgian artist Virginie Carquin 2016.
Peter Burnett • 24 November 2023, 20:51
Jeu de cartes Armelle
Advertising pack designed by James Hodges for a company specialising in regional cakes and biscuits.
Roddy Somerville • 24 November 2023, 11:17
Mechanical Decks – Part 1
This article examines the long-short principle in mechanical decks used in magic, detailing various types such as the Svengali, Mirage, and Stripper Decks. It explores their history and usage without ...
Roy J Hopwood • 23 November 2023, 08:24
Morgan-Greer Tarot
Based on the knowledge, wisdom and interpretation of Paul Foster Case and Arthur Edward Waite.
Adam West-Watson • 22 November 2023, 11:27
Banjo playing cards
Banjo playing cards featuring the collection of Akira Tsumura, Japan, c. 1978.
Peter Burnett • 23 November 2023, 12:40Playing Cards from Around the World
Queen High Equality Deck
A women’s liberation deck described as “A New Deck For A New Deal”.
Pictures of Riga
Playing cards with colour photos of buildings and monuments in and around Riga.
Banco Borges & Irmão
Commemorating the centenary of a Portuguese bank, depicting historical figures.
Dondorf Patience playing cards No.26
Patience playing cards with children in historical costumes
Four Continents playing cards
made by Fulladosa y Comp of Barcelona
Miniature French fashion playing cards
Tiny 19th.century ‘Cartes Mignonnes’ playing cards depicting the fashions of the period
Kashmir Playing Cards
Kashmir playing cards designed by Lev Liberman and printed by Printissa, Saint Petersburg, 2005.
Moscow Poker
“Moscow” - from the Soviet series produced by Sprint, Ivanovo, 2013.

Treasures of the Russian Museum
Treasures of the Russian Museum / Russkii Muzei : suvenirnye igral’nye karty.

16: European Standard Playing Cards
A brief survey of the different types of standard cards to be found in Continental Europe.

39: Mixed Packs
A number of mixed packs appear for sale from time to time, but it's important to sort out what is me...

62: French regional patterns: the queens and jacks
Continuing our look at the figures from the regional patterns of France.
Imperial Royal Pack
Imperial Royal Playing Cards published by S. & J. Fuller, London, 1828. The court cards show portrai...
Deakin’s 1st edition
Deakin & Co., 45 Eastcheap, London EC published a political pack in 1886 with caricatures of politic...
Le Florentin
Éditions Philibert published playing cards in Paris from 1954 to 1960 including Le Florentin in Rena...

Anonymous Dutch deck, 1940s
Anonymous Dutch deck, 1940s
Ainu culture
A terrific deck of cards made by Nintendo c.1979 with original designs on every card showing the Ain...

Abbatt Animal Families
Abbatt Toys Animal Families, c.1970.
Morgan-Greer Tarot
Based on the knowledge, wisdom and interpretation of Paul Foster Case and Arthur Edward Waite.
New Palladini Tarot
“The New Palladini Tarot” by David Palladini published by U.S. Games Inc., in 1996.
The Aquarian Tarot Deck
The Aquarian Tarot Deck illustrated by David Palladini, published by Morgan Press, Inc., 1970.
Jack-O’-Lantern Tarot
Giuliano Costa's Jack-O’-Lantern tarot blends Rider-Waite symbolism with the rich and atmospheric th...
Tarot of the Unknown
Inspired by the Halloween Cartoon “Over the Garden Wall”.
Back to the 80s Lenormand
History meets pop culture in a 36-card set that pays tribute to Lenormand's legacy and the colourful...
French Cartomancy cards, c.1830
French Cartomancy cards published by J. Gaudais; printed by Mansion, Paris, c.1830.

Âs Nas
Âs Nas type playing cards from Persia.
Hand-painted and Silk-inlaid playing cards
Complete pack of 36 hand-painted and silk-inlaid playing cards with French suits made in Germany.
The History of Playing Cards

Playing cards arrived in Europe the late 14th century and rapidly became a part of popular culture. Antique playing cards are like a visit to the local museum and evoke images of past eras and ways of life and also demonstrate archaic technology or production methods. So what do the oldest surviving playing cards look like?

History of Blackjack
Over the years the origin of Blackjack, like many other games, has eluded researchers for a long tim...

Bicycle Playing Cards, 1st edition
1st edition of famous Bicycle Playing Cards printed by Russell & Morgan Printing Co., Cincinnati, 18...

Arms of English Peers
The Arms of English Peers playing cards were first published in 1686. Heraldry, or a knowledge of th...

Antoine de Logiriera
Archaic Spanish-suited playing cards published in Toulouse by Antoine de Logiriera (1495-1518).
Art & Design
Design Caricatures Abstract Cartoon Celtic Deco Jugendstil Renaissance Rococo Surrealism
The playing card calls for artistic treatment and although the constrained size imposes some limitations there is an almost bewildering wealth and variety of designs in playing cards and their tuck boxes. The serious player requires design to be unobtrusive so that aesthetic considerations remain in the background. However, with modern manufacturing technology more eye-catching designs are becoming popular as gifts, collectibles and for their attractive appearance.

Käpt’n Blaubär
Käpt’n Blaubär quartett for Deutsche Postbank AG, 2010.

Production Methods for Small Scale Editions
Some alternative approaches to producing small, hand-made editions of playing cards

The Game of Four Queens
In 1988 the Danish School of Design set the examination project to design a pack of playing cards. T...

Egbert Moehsnang
The suit signs and indices are clear and easily recognisable, and each suit has a different predomin...
Oracle, Divination & Tarot
More recently, Cartomancy and modern esoteric tarot packs have been produced in a wide variety of conceptions and involve use of imagination and intuition to assess one’s thoughts and feelings from the view point of the symbolic images and numbers.
It is possible for an object to be construed as a game in one context, and as something other than a game in a different context.
Tarot, originally a 15th century card game, has evolved into a popular system of personal mysticism, self-exploration and spirituality Learn more about tarot►

La Sibylle des Salons
La Sibylle des Salons facsimile of 19th century deck published by J M Simon, 1979.

EPCS February 1989 Newsletter
Reynolds & Sons Fortune Telling • Superfine Playing Cards • Collecting Theme: GAS • Joseph Reynolds ...

Venetian Tarot
Scenes from the history of Venice on a set of the major arcana.

Conjuring and Magic
The art of mystifying people is very old indeed. The first conjurers were priests who obtained power...

The games we play mirror the world we live in, like popular art. There was a time when friends and family played indoor games by the fireside and enjoyed countless hours of pleasure and amusement. Children don’t play card games so much because they prefer computer games, the ultimate excitement. Antique and vintage card games offer documentary evidence, as well as nostalgic memories, of the social interaction, fashions and stereotypes of bygone days and are a study in social anthropology.
French card games are mostly Jeux des Sept Familles. German games are often pleasing on the eye, and they seem to favour quartet games. USA love quartets of world worthies like authors, painters, composers. Games are not simply an escape from the real world, they are also educational and provide a place to process what it all means.

District Messenger
District Messengers were uniformed young men wearing little pill-box hats and mounted on bicycles wh...

Spear’s Old Maid
Spear’s “The Jolly Game of Old Maid” was introduced around 1900. The cards contain some interesting ...

Carousel Playing Cards
Carousel Playing Cards commissioned by Tesco stores, 2019.

Fairy Tales
the Game of Fairy Tales published by Multum in Parvo Co,, from 1896
The Big Picture
Playing cards have a universal appeal and are a reflection of human culture.


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!”

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.
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.

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
Contribute to the World of Playing Cards
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If you have an interesting perspective, idea, theory, opinion, observation, or how-to guide related to playing cards that you’d like to share, then fill in the form below.
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About the World of Playing Cards
Our aim is to increase awareness and appreciation of the cultural and historical significance of playing cards.

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 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.

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
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The amount you donate is up to you and we are grateful that so many people find value in the World of Playing Cards and want to sustain its future.