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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.
Sweetnotes playing cards
Heart-shaped cards with sweet notes on all the backs.
France, Champions du Monde 2018
Colour photographs of the World Cup-winning French football squad of 2018.
Algarve playing cards
Kings and Queens of Portugal between 1185 - 1279. by V. de J.J. Nunes , Lisbon, Portugal, 1977.
Dondorf related ephemera
A few items used for advertising or displaying Dondorf playing card products.
Playing cards for the Bombay Market
An interesting pack of playing cards with illustrated Indian aces made "Specially for the Bombay Mar...
Wüst Costumes Suisses No.93
Two version of a Swiss souvenir pack by C.L.Wúst
Singapore Trump
“Singapore Trump” playing cards designed by Yasuko Senshu.
Aces Playing Cards (2nd edition)
‘Aces Playing Cards’ collaborative art deck published by Zeixs, Cologne (2nd edition).
Russian Cities Coats-of-Arms
Rossiia / Municipal Coats-of-Arms of Russian Federation.
52: The Isle of Man
The Isle of Man has always been a tax haven within the British Isles and it has also had some intere...
58: Woolley & Co.
The firm of Thomas Woolley lasted for many years from 1836-1904 in several different guises.
T. Drayton & Son
Bezique and Whist boxed sets by T. Drayton & Son, London, c.1875.
Progressive Whist Cards
There are references to “progressive whist” or “whist drives” during the 19th and early years of the...
Cribbage Board Collection part 2
A collection of antique and vintage Cribbage Boards by Tony Hall, part 2
Karl Gerich No.16: “Patience Indien”
Karl Gerich's “Patience Indien No.16”, published in 1991, is adapted from Grimaud's “Whist Indienne”...
No.6 Austrian
This early Gerich work is an adaptation of the English pattern with continental stylisation. The dou...
Cashmere
Bernhard Altmann is from the “The House of Cashmere” and these playing cards honour their best known...
The ‘Rinker’ Snap
The ‘Rinker’ highly amusing snap game, c.1910.
Touring
Touring Automobile card game published by Wallie Dorr Company, NY, in c.1920.
Picture Proverbs
Picture Proverbs was a Victorian card game illustrating popular proverbs which were seen as words of...
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...
Burgundy pattern
The old Burgundy (or Burgundian) pattern by Nicolas Chenevet, Dijon.
Jeu Quatre Empereurs
Brazilian scenic aces with emperors of Brazil, Austria and France and other dignitaries on the court...
Kings and Queens of Brazil & Portugal
Historical playing cards by C. L. Wüst depicting monarchs of Brazil and Portugal.
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?
Toledo, 1584
Archaic Spanish-suited deck with 48 cards made in Toledo in 1584.
German Saxon Pattern
The German Saxon Pattern or “Schwerdter Karte”.
Pedro Varangot, 1786
Archaic Navarra pattern produced for the Pamplona General Hospital Monopoly by Pedro Varangot in 178...
Early English Playing Cards
Early examples of traditional, standard English playing cards of which the best known are those of H...
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.
Jacob’s Bible Cards
Jacob’s Bible Cards published by Lion Playing Cards Factory Ltd, Tel Aviv, since mid-1950s.
Mickey Mouse y Amigos
“Mickey Mouse y Amigos” Spanish-suited pack mimicking Fournier’s Castilian pattern, 2001
Monsters
A collective of artists known as Monster Illustration produced a deck entitled “Monsters” in 2004.
Baraja Asescoin 1998
Asescoin 1998 member’s pack designed by Josep Soriano.
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►
Russell Grant tarot
Russell Grant astro-tarot with optimistic and motivational illustrations by Kay Smith.
Thoth Tarot – Aleister Crowley Tarot
Aleister Crowley Tarot – the sombre luminary – Crowley and Lady Freda Harris worked on the illustrat...
Conjuring and Magic
The art of mystifying people is very old indeed. The first conjurers were priests who obtained power...
Il Vostro Destino
Italian fortune-telling pack produced by Viassone and later by Masenghini.
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.
Farmyard Snap
“Farmyard Snap” designed by A. E. Kennedy and published by C. W. Faulkner & Co., c.1930
Paw Patrol
Paw Patrol Jumbo Playing Cards by Cardinal 2016.
Happy Families
Happy Families is probably one of the most popular card games ever invented, with educational benefi...
Vacuation
“Vacuation” published by Pepys games, based on the evacuation of children to Reception Areas in the ...
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.
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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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