Mr Deuceace and Mr Dawkins sitting at a round table playing cards Since 1996, this collaborative project has grown to include 4,559 articles by 28 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.

The Decadent Deck

Studies in the eroticism of the female body by Inge Clayton.

Historic Shakespeare

“Historic Shakespeare” playing cards featuring Shakespearean characters by Chas Goodall & Son.

CARD-AB Miltenberg

Illustrations by Rita Stern depicting notable landmarks and scenes from the town of Miltenberg in Germany.

New Articles

Historic Shakespeare
Historic Shakespeare

“Historic Shakespeare” playing cards featuring Shakespearean characters by Chas Goodall & Son.

Jon Randall • 1 day ago
CARD-AB Miltenberg
CARD-AB Miltenberg

Illustrations by Rita Stern depicting notable landmarks and scenes from the town of Miltenberg in Germany.

Konrad Hämmerle • 3 days ago
Czech National Patterns by S.D. Modiano
Czech National Patterns by S.D. Modiano

Modiano produced cards with the Prague and Trappola patterns in the early 20th century.

Marek Brejcha • 3 days ago
Japanese Beauties
Japanese Beauties

An elegant fusion of Western and Japanese traditions modelled after ukiyo-e.

Jon Randall • 4 days ago
Sunday Night / Nichiyoubi no Yoru
Sunday Night / Nichiyoubi no Yoru

An irreverent, avant-garde deck unofficially titled "Nichiyoubi no Yoru" (Sunday Night), designed by Teruhiko ...

Jon Randall • 5 days ago
Copechat Paramount Sorting System
Copechat Paramount Sorting System

Preserving the past: a specimen deck showcasing edge-notched cards and their ingenious sorting system.

Jon Randall • 5 days ago
Heartsette by Herbert Fitch & Co, 1893
Heartsette by Herbert Fitch & Co, 1893

A glimpse into a busy print and design office in late Victorian London.

Jon Randall • 6 days ago
Intersigma
Intersigma

A Czech advertising deck for a company dealing with pump technology.

Jon Randall • Apr 11, 2025
Angel 52 Secrets
Angel 52 Secrets

Vintage “52 Secret” art deco-inspired playing cards from Japan.

Jon Randall • Apr 11, 2025
New Altenburg Skat cards – German DDR Pattern
New Altenburg Skat cards – German DDR Pattern

Authentic Altenburger Skat cards with German suits (Acorns, Hearts, Leaves, Bells).

Konrad Hämmerle • Apr 10, 2025
Emilio Tadini playing cards
Emilio Tadini playing cards

Beautiful dreamlike playing card designs by Emilio Tadini.

Jon Randall • Apr 10, 2025

Current Trends

Tarot de Valverde de la Vera 1980

A series of 24 surrealist engravings by Mexican artist Claudio Favier in which archetypal Tarot allegories are re-imagined as a mirror of the contradictory forces within us.

Darling 1955

Darling pin-up playing cards designed by Heinz Villiger.

The King of Hearts, holding a sword behind his head, is sometimes nicknamed the “Suicide King”. He can be seen to derive from a late medieval design showing a King wielding a battle axe.

Rider-Waite Tarot 1909

The Rider Waite Tarot was created at the beginning of the 20th century by Arthur Edward Waite and Pamela Colman Smith.

Playing Cards in Tunisia. Chkobba is one of the most popular card games in Tunisia, mainly played by men in coffee shops but also played at home by men and women alike.

Dondorf 1833

The luxury playing card factory founded in Frankfurt am Main by Bernhard Dondorf in 1833 existed for 100 years.

The Chinese took their cards with them wherever they travelled and traded in the East, and we find Chinese cards in use not only in the mainland but also in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan, Sin...

Mamluk Playing Cards 1495

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

Perspectives on the History of Tarot 1435

Tarot, originally a 15th century card game from Italy, has evolved into a form of personal mysticism and spiritual exploration, offering new visions of expanding awareness.

The Joker Card 1863

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.

The court cards in English packs of playing cards derive from models produced by Pierre Marechal in Rouen around 1565. A pack of such cards is preserved in the museum at Rouen.

The Visconti-Sforza Tarot, c.1460 1460

This pack of tarot cards appears to have have been made in the Bembo workshop in Cremona for Bianca Maria Visconti, c.1460.


Explore

4,559 articles featuring content from 119 countries, 1,350 manufacturers and 1,130 designers; including 386 themes, 266 brands, 76 suits, 52 games and 31 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

History of Court Cards

History of Court Cards

By Simon Wintle


Facsimiles & Replicas

Facsimiles, Replicas & Recreations of playing cards offer a unique glimpse into the evolution of card design. This list includes various reproductions, some based on historical designs from as far back as the 1600s. Each article provides detailed information about the origins and inspirations behind the recreations.

1545 Peter Flötner, c.1545

Peter Flötner, c.1545

By Simon Wintle

1440 The Princely Hunting pack, c.1440
1868 Le Destin Antique

Le Destin Antique

By Rex Pitts (1940-2021)

1880 Serravalle-Sesia Tarot

Serravalle-Sesia Tarot

By Simon Wintle


Ganjifa

This term refers to a family of card games that originated in Persia and spread to India during the Moghul period. The traditional Ganjifa deck consists of 96 cards divided into eight suits. The cards are typically round and hand-painted with intricate designs. The games played with this pack often involve trick-taking mechanics, and the rules can vary significantly depending on the region and specific variant of the game being played.

1950 Dasavatara Ganjifa from India
Indian Ganjifa Playing Cards

Indian Ganjifa Playing Cards

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

1970 Akadama Honey Wine by Nintendo

Akadama Honey Wine by Nintendo

By Rex Pitts (1940-2021)

Japanese Kurofuda 黑札

Japanese Kurofuda 黑札

By Anthony Lee


Bicycle
The famous Bicycle playing cards were first introduced by Russell & Morgan Printing Co in 1885. More recently the brand has been open to private designers since the early 2000s. more
1885 Bicycle Playing Cards, 1st edition

Bicycle Playing Cards, 1st edition

By Rod Starling (1936-2023)

1881 Russell, Morgan & Co

Russell, Morgan & Co

By Rod Starling (1936-2023)

2017 Bicycle Civil War Deck

Bicycle Civil War Deck

By Matt Probert

1885 Bicycle No.808 - page 2

Bicycle No.808 - page 2

By Simon Wintle


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!"

Dasavatara Ganjifa from India

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.

Playing cards from different cultures

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