Playing cards have been with us since the 14th century, when they first became a part of popular culture, perhaps seen as a miniature model of the universe. Over the centuries packs of cards, in all shapes and sizes, have been used for games, gambling, education, conjuring, advertising, fortune telling, political messages or the portrayal of national or ethnic identity. Their popularity is undoubtedy due to the imaginative artwork and graphic design which is sometimes overlooked, and the “then & now” of how things have changed.
Latest Articles
Mary Queen of Scots
• July 05, 2018 at 07:20pmMary Queen of Scots and other Tudor period dignitaries, published by Piatnik, 1990. Read more →
Bharata Playing Cards Blog Post
• July 04, 2018 at 09:05pmBharata Playing Cards - Series 2, based on Indian folk art, published by Sunish Chabba, 2018 Read more →
Shuffled Symphonies
• June 29, 2018 at 11:43amShuffled Symphonies published by Pepys Games in association with Walt Disney, 1939. Read more →
Salon-Karte No.66
• June 26, 2018 at 08:26pmSalon-Karte No.66 designed by Walter Krauss, c.1970 Read more →
Naipes Parliament por Caloi
• June 24, 2018 at 02:22amCarlos Loiseau, better known as ‘Caloi’, was a cartoonist whose designs for Parliament Cigarettes were first published in the early 1970s. Read more →
World Leaders Snap
• June 22, 2018 at 12:09pmWorld Leaders Snap published around WW2, c.1940. Read more →
Chief Cities Quartettes
• June 19, 2018 at 11:38amHand-made ‘Chief Cities Quartettes’ card game, c.1910. Read more →
Burj Al Arab Jumeirah
• June 16, 2018 at 12:38pmGold plated souvenir playing cards from the Burj Al Arab Jumeirah hotel in Dubai. Read more →
Monty Gum ‘Stars Play’
• May 21, 2018 at 08:34pm‘Stars Play’ card set published by Monty Gum, Leiden, 1988. Read more →
Editor’s Picks
Playing cards have enormous educational value, with a long history and many diverse types and graphical styles from around the world... View More →
Sections
Playing cards are the foundation of modern casino games. Try one today at TitanPoker.