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.
Miniature spanish-suited playing cards
Pack of 48 miniature spanish playing-cards published by C R.
Uncut Sheet by Johann Jobst Forster
A proof sheet containing twelve court cards of conventional French type.
Lend Me Five Shillings
or “Her Majesty’s Privy Purse” - a merry round-the-table game published by D. Ogilvy.
Poker Lusso
Richly costumed courts on a luxury poker pack from Masenghini.
Music playing cards
Portraits of 13 classical music composers.
Eves Playing Cards
A pack of cards with colour photos of Indian film stars from the era
Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Edinburgh Festival Fringe programme covers from 1956 to 2016 published by Winning Moves UK Ltd.
La Compagnie de 1602
Characters from the annual festival held to commemorate the failed attempt to storm Geneva in 1602. ...
Charlie Brown Plays Baseball card game
Peanuts comic strip characters on cards for regular play or a special game based on baseball.
Miniature Theatre playing cards
Miniature playing cards, possibly for children, with a romantic theatrical theme. C.L. Wüst c.1890. ...
Art Deco playing cards
by Flemming-Wiskott A.G.of Glogau, Germany.
The British Royal visit to India playing cards
printed in Spain for British India in 1911.
Sailor Jerry Playing Cards
“Sailor Jerry” tattoo flash playing cards, USA.
Collectors pack of Antiques
Collectors pack of Antiques playing cards published by Collectors Cards, Abertillery, South Wales, c...
Peterhof souvenir playing cards
Peterhof souvenir playing cards (Petergof suvenirnye igral’nye karty) published by Mednyi Vsadnik (B...
61: French regional patterns: the kings
On page 11 I illustrated several examples of the regional French patterns from Sylvia Mann's collect...
Dr Ken Lodge
I'm Ken Lodge and have been collecting playing cards since I was about eighteen months old (1945). ...
Progressive Whist Cards - page 2
Wireless Whist itself, in many forms...
Piquet: the game and its artifacts
Piquet may be the oldest card game which is still played today with origins going back to early 16th...
Progressive Whist Cards
There are references to “progressive whist” or “whist drives” during the 19th and early years of the...
Club Karte
There have been many variations in the design of “Club Karte” including the introduction of borders,...
Hauptstadte Spiel
Each Ace shows views of two European capital cities.
Karl Gerich No.28
Double-ended courts based on standard English pattern but with variant colours; double-ended Joker p...
Speed 1st edition
The first edition of Speed by Pepys Games was published in 1938.
Löjliga Spel Kort
Facsimile edition of “Löjliga Spel Kort” (1825) illustrated playing cards from Sweden, showing scene...
Weights and Measures
“Weights and Measures” card game by John Jaques & Son, Ltd., c.1910, a reminder of some of our more ...
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.
The Tarot Strikes Back
Roy Huteson Stewart's The Tarot Strikes Back combines Star Wars with Rider-Waite tarot imagery.
House of Tudor
Randy Butterfield's House of Tudor playing cards feature detailed art in a high-quality collectible ...
Jack-O’-Lantern Tarot
Giuliano Costa's Jack-O’-Lantern tarot blends Rider-Waite symbolism with the rich and atmospheric th...
Miniature spanish-suited playing cards
Pack of 48 miniature spanish playing-cards published by C R.
Uncut Sheet by Johann Jobst Forster
A proof sheet containing twelve court cards of conventional French type.
Lend Me Five Shillings
or “Her Majesty’s Privy Purse” - a merry round-the-table game published by D. Ogilvy.
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?
Antoine de Logiriera
Archaic Spanish-suited playing cards published in Toulouse by Antoine de Logiriera (1495-1518).
William Warter
William Warter's Proverbial Cards, which carry illustrations of old English proverbs, were first pub...
Mapuche Indian Playing Cards
Spanish-suited playing cards made on rawhide and said to have been used by Chilean Mapuche Indians, ...
XV Century Catalan playing cards
XV Century Catalan Playing Cards, featuring four female Sotas, four Aces and four cards from the sui...
Art & Design
Design Caricatures Abstract Cartoon Celtic Deco Jugendstil Renaissance Rococo SurrealismThe 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.
EPCS February 2005 Newsletter
Plucking the Goose • Lake District • Blanche Handler • Moods And Faces • Nelson Bicentenary - Worshi...
Poker Lusso
Richly costumed courts on a luxury poker pack from Masenghini.
Ian Roth’s Unique playing cards
Ian Roth’s Unique playing cards
Baraja “Neoclásica”, Madrid, 1810
Baraja “Neoclásica” engraved by José Martínez de Castro, first published by Clemente Roxas, Madrid, ...
Oracle, Divination & Tarot
The art of interpreting divine omens - augury or reading karma - has since ancient times been integral to political, civic and religious life.
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►
EPCS February 1989 Newsletter
Reynolds & Sons Fortune Telling • Superfine Playing Cards • Collecting Theme: GAS • Joseph Reynolds ...
Tarot des Sapeurs-Pompiers de Paris
Tarot des Sapeurs-Pompiers de Paris, a French Fire Brigade tarot deck published by Éditions Dusserre...
Art Deco Gypsy Oracle
Art Deco fortune telling deck published by Piatnik, 1936.
Michael Scot's rebus figure of "Juppiter" as prototype for the tarot pack's "Magus”/”Bateleur”
A precursor for the 'Bateleur'/'Magus' included in the major arcana of our tarot pack.
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.
EPCS February 2000 Newsletter
Nursery Rhyme Games • Bobs Your Uncle: 54 Cards by John Waddington • Collecting Theme Packs: Non-Sta...
Waddy Productions
Waddy Productions Ltd was a member of the giant Amalgamated Press group and only published card game...
Salakuljettaja Smugglaren
Salakuljettaja Smugglaren is the Scandinavian version of Pepys’ “Contraband” published by Förlag Bil...
Lexicon
The summer of 1932 saw the introduction of Lexicon, when a small edition was produced and sold to te...
The Big Picture
Playing cards have a universal appeal and are a reflection of human culture.
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!”
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.
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 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
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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.
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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