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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.
Les Saints Guérisseurs et Protecteurs
Healing and patron saints portrayed in paintings, manuscripts, altarpieces and statuary.
Tennis de Table 52e Championnats de France
Table tennis players in action published by La Ducale, an imprint of Grimaud, France, 1979.
Alternative Happy Families
An updated, 1980s-style “Alternative Happy Families” game.
Isle of Man playing cards made by Glénisson of Turnhout
Two souvenir packs with different court cards made by Glénisson for the Isle of Man, c.1880.
Wüst playing cards with International scenic aces
A rarely seen pack of cards
Dutch costume playing cards from an unknown maker
Another pack of Dutch costume playing cards c.1880.
Jeanne l’Hachette
Jeanne l’Hachette reprint of 19th century transformation deck, Denmark, 1976.
Matryoshka playing cards
The first nested doll set was carved in 1890.
Politicards 1971
Politicards 1971 for the presidential election in which Richard Nixon won a landslide victory.
Cribbage Board Collection part 2
A collection of antique and vintage Cribbage Boards by Tony Hall, part 2
Word Making and Word Taking
How crossword and spelling games became popular.
Miniature Card Dominoes
A miniature set of Goodall domino cards (5.9 x 3.5 cms) still in perfect condition.
Bongoût
One of the outstanding and most popular packs made by the Turnhout cardmakers was the Bongoût type. ...
No.10 - Four Corners
Karl Gerich was a great admirer of playing cards produced by B. Dondorf and his tenth pack was inspi...
Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
One of a series of sumptuous Venice Simplon-Orient-Express playing cards produced by B.P. Grimaud fo...
Speelkaartenfabriek Nederland Maritime Deck
Dutch Maritime pack designed by J.Verhoeven and printed by Speelkaartenfabriek Nederland c1938
Verkehrsmittel Einst und Jetzt
“Verkehrsmittel Einst und Jetzt” transport quartet game by Bielefelder Spielkarten Fabrik GmbH, 1949...
Indian Ganjifa Playing Cards
‘Ganjifa’ playing cards made in Sheopor in the North of Madhya Pradesh province in Central India. Th...
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?
Phelippe Ayet, c.1574
Archaic, late medieval Spanish-suited playing cards printed by Phelippe Ayet, c.1574.
Paris Pattern
The Paris pattern was established as such around the middle of the seventeenth century (based, perha...
Russian Playing Card History - From the Beginnings to 1917
An in-depth review of the history of card-playing, gambling, legislation, manufacture and taxation o...
Tensho Mekuri - Japan
Tensho Mekuri cards hand-made by Patricia Kirk, 2003.
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.
Soldaty Udachi
“Soldaty Udachi” (Soldiers of Fortune) Army and Police humour playing cards, Russia, 2001.
Monsters
A collective of artists known as Monster Illustration produced a deck entitled “Monsters” in 2004.
Panorama playing cards
Panorama playing cards included with a weekly news magazine published in Milan, Italy, c. 1979.
Rokoko
Rokoko (Rococo) reflecting the dress and culture of the first half of the 18th century.
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►
Fortune Telling Deck, c.1818
Fortune Telling Deck by Industrie Comptoir, Leipzig c.1818.
Pixel Tarot
This tarot deck pays tribute to the golden age of pixelated video games, drawing inspiration from th...
Mitelli Tarocchini
The title refers to “a new form of Tarocchini”. Mitelli's designs are to a high standard of artistic...
Significado de los Naipes Españoles
Cartomantic meanings of Spanish playing cards by Benita the Witch (XVI century), published by Chocol...
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 March 1985 Newsletter
Bendigo Easter Fair • Beautiful Britain (part three) • The Popish Plot (part one) • The Worshipful C...
EPCS August 1994 Newsletter
Jack & Jill • Merry Matches • Prince of Wales • Smiths Potato Crisps • El-Al Airlines • Isle of Man ...
Fairy Snap
Fairy Snap by Norvic Mill, c.1920s.
EPCS November 1999 Newsletter
City Imperial Volunteers: Boer War • Hand Decorated Transformation Pack • Story Behind the Card: Bon...
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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