Mr Deuceace and Mr Dawkins sitting at a round table playing cards Since 1996, this collaborative project has grown into a living archive of 4,607 articles by over 30 contributors, including researchers, collectors, artists and historians, unravelling the rich tapestry of playing cards across cultures and centuries. More than catalogues of dates and makers, these cards are silent witnesses to human creativity: artifacts of art, science and social exchange. They’ve been tools for games of chance and skill, canvases for folklore or political satire, and instruments of divination. Here, we explore their stories as reflections of the people who held them and the societies that shaped them, sparking curiosity and wonder.

The Molassine Company and its link to Whist and Bridge

A savvy marketing strategy blending Victorian decorative design with Edwardian practicality.

Prague Heraldic Poker Cards

Heraldic souvenir playing cards infused with Czech national and historical symbolism.

OH Cards

A Series of Metaphoric Cards to unlock your story, conceived and designed by Ely Raman

New Articles

Prague Heraldic Poker Cards
Prague Heraldic Poker Cards

Heraldic souvenir playing cards infused with Czech national and historical symbolism.

Konrad Hämmerle • 2 days ago
OH Cards
OH Cards

A Series of Metaphoric Cards to unlock your story, conceived and designed by Ely Raman

Simon Wintle • 6 days ago
Waddington’s faux books
Waddington’s faux books

Waddington’s faux book set containing four packs of playing cards and bridge markers.

Tony Hall • Jun 11, 2025
Patience by Joseph Glanz
Patience by Joseph Glanz

A refined and distinctly European Patience pack by Joseph Glanz from Austria.

Marek Brejcha • Jun 10, 2025
Aónikenk playing cards
Aónikenk playing cards

Ethnographic playing cards made by members of the Aónikenk culture from Patagonia.

Simon Wintle • Jun 4, 2025
Queen of Hearts card game
Queen of Hearts card game

Alice in Wonderland card game featuring Disney characters on king-size cards.

Roddy Somerville • May 31, 2025
Kvitlech cards
Kvitlech cards

An Attempt to Revive a Central European Historical Game.

Marek Brejcha • May 30, 2025
Double Dummy Bridge
Double Dummy Bridge

In the early 20th century several firms began to promote whist or bridge as a game for two.

Tony Hall • May 29, 2025
Ogdens Beauties & Military cigarette cards
Ogdens Beauties & Military cigarette cards

Cigarette cards featuring beauties and military uniforms with playing-card insets.

Roddy Somerville • May 25, 2025
VEB Kombinat Kali
VEB Kombinat Kali

Advertising pack depicting old means of salt production, with designs by Hannelore Heise.

Roddy Somerville • May 25, 2025
National Gallery of Art
National Gallery of Art

Fifty-three masterpieces from the collections of the National Gallery of Art, Washington.

Roddy Somerville • May 24, 2025

Current Trends

Iraqi Most Wanted Playing Cards 2003

Playing cards used to help troops identify the most-wanted members of Saddam Hussein's government. 2003.

In standard English packs the Ace of Spades is associated with decorative designs. This is a historical survey of why this should be.

Corner Indices 1864

Corner Indices were a major innovation in playing card production.

Canasta 1947

Canasta is a card game of the Rummy family which originated in Uruguay probably about 1947.

Rider Waite Tarot early editions

With the advancement of the Internet, it is now possible to play baccarat in online casinos.

Cartes Lenormand 1920

“Cartes Lenormand” published by H. P. Gibson & Sons Ltd, London, printed in Germany by B. Dondorf, 1920s.

Jaques’ Happy Families 1861

In 1851 the games manufacturer John Jaques of London (founded in 1795) commissioned a set of drawings from John Tenniel, later Sir John, the chief cartoonist of Punch, for their new game of Happy Fami...

Playing cards are used for fortune-telling, predicting the future or even as a psychological adjunct to folk medicine and therapy. Turning another card illumines the moment and new clarity emerges.

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.

De La Rue 1832

De La Rue introduced letter-press printing into playing card production and his patent was granted in 1831. He produced his first playing cards in 1832.

Early History of Playing Cards & Timeline 1370

Out of an apparent void, a constellation of references in early literature emerge pointing to the sudden arrival of playing cards, principally in Belgium, Germany, Spain and Italy around 1370-1380. Di...


Explore

4,607 articles featuring content from 119 countries, 1,366 manufacturers and 1,145 designers; including 388 themes, 266 brands, 77 suits, 54 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

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.
1925 Copechat Paramount Sorting System
2000 AKA M5 Motorway

AKA M5 Motorway

By Jon Randall


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...
1794 Jeu Révolutionnaire

Jeu Révolutionnaire

By Simon Wintle

1903 Zürcher Festspiel 1903

Zürcher Festspiel 1903

By Roddy Somerville

1679 Knavery of the Rump, 1679

Knavery of the Rump, 1679

By Simon Wintle

2015 Trump Presidential playing cards

Transformation
The best-known fantasies with playing cards are the ‘Transformation’ cards. Hand-drawing ‘transformations’ onto a pack of ordinary playing cards, with the suit symbols forming part of the overall composition, became a popular pastime 200 years ago and a test of skill in drawing. A great deal of ingenuity is required in their design. The earliest printed sets were published at the start of the 19th century, often published in the form of an almanac or sometimes known as ‘metastasis’, and these became a fashionable and entertaining novelty.

In the strict sense of the word ‘Transformation’ the pips should be in their standard positions and form part of, or fit into, the overll image portrayed on the card. more
2020 Bosch Puzzle Playing Cards

Bosch Puzzle Playing Cards

By Simon Wintle

1470 Master of the Banderoles

Master of the Banderoles

By Simon Wintle

1895 Vanity Fair

Vanity Fair

By Simon Wintle


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
1947 Canasta

Canasta

By Simon Wintle

Italian Playing Cards

Italian Playing Cards

By Simon Wintle


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.

2022 Dungeons and Dragons Tarot
2021 Cyberpunk 2077 Tarot Cards
2019 Tarot of the Unknown

Tarot of the Unknown

By Adam Wintle

1993 X-Men Playing Cards

X-Men Playing Cards

By Adam 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