Playing cards have been with us since the 14th century, when they first entered popular culture. 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.
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Jeu de Memoire
• September 05, 2020 at 09:15pmJeu de Memoire card game promoting Véritable Chaumes cheese from the village of St Antoines in south west France. Read more →
Lever Brothers miniatures
• September 03, 2020 at 05:14pmTwo miniature card games promoting Vim Scouring Powder and Sunshine Soap, 1930s. Read more →
Middle Ages
• September 02, 2020 at 07:46pmMiddle Ages by Germano & Cª, (Litografia Maia), Read more →
Deutsche Nutzpflanzen
• August 29, 2020 at 02:43pmDeutsche Nutzpflanzen - Quartett game promoting Kali brand crop fertilizer, 1938. Read more →
Märchen-Quartett
• August 26, 2020 at 10:22amMärchen-Quartett (Fairy Tales) illustrated by J. P. Werth and published by J. W. Spear & Söhne, c.1915. Read more →
Heraldic playing cards
• August 22, 2020 at 02:07pmReproduction of Richard Blome’s Heraldic playing cards, 1684, presented to lady guests at WCMPC Summer Meeting in 1888. Read more →
Tell Wilmoś
• August 22, 2020 at 10:03amFacsimile of ‘Wilhelm Tell’ Hungarian deck by Salamon Antal, Keczkemét, 1860. Read more →
Tonalamatl
• August 14, 2020 at 07:23pmBaraja Tonalamatl Mexican Aztec playing cards based on the prehispanic Codex Borgia manuscript. 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 →
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