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.
Classic Card Games for Kids
A boxed set of playing cards, Happy Families and an alphabet pack with rules for 22 games.
Eves Playing Cards
A pack of cards with colour photos of Indian film stars from the era
Mercante in Fiera di Jacovitti
Traditional Italian card game with comic designs by Benito Jacovitti.
Bonaparte Bridge
Colourful international designs produced by Bonaparte, Plzeň, Czech Republic, c.2000.
A Gardener’s Labyrinth
Photographs of flowers, herbs and vegetables by leading photographer Tessa Traeger.
Copies of Wüst House pattern playing cards
both by Christian Heinrich Reuter of Nuremberg, Germany
Swadeshi Playing Cards
Named after the first National movement in India
Goodall 1915-1916 Sample Book
Complete contents of a sample book by Goodall & Sons
Jeu Gothique
‘Jeu Gothique’ illustrating the Gothic period in France, published by Editions Dusserre.
Bush League Allstars
Six different decks of “Bush League Allstars” political playing cards, United States, 2004.
Canadian heritage playing cards
Canadian Heritage Playing Cards designed by Gabriel de Beney, 1994.
70: Woodblock and stencil : the spade courts
This is a presentation in a more straightforward fashion of the work done by Paul Bostock and me in ...
66: Adverts and related material 1862-1900
Some further material relating to cards from nineteenth and twentieth century periodicals.
Whist writers and pseudonyms
Why did so many early writers about whist and other card games feel the need to write under a pseudo...
A New Look at the Evolution of Whist Markers and Gaming Counters
This article aims to illustrate the evolution of whist and gaming counters from the 18th century to ...
Hoyle and his Legacy
Edmond Hoyle (1672-1769) was an English writer who made his name by writing on whist and a selection...
B. Dondorf GmbH: Neue Klubkarte No.422
The designs are a meld between the standard international pattern and German-style French-suited car...
Vier-Erdteile c.1870
Dondorf's Luxus-Spielkarte “Vier-Erdteile” (“Four Continents”) was first published in c.1870 and has...
Hauptstadte Spiel
Each Ace shows views of two European capital cities.
A Royal Game
A Royal Game featuring Queen Victoria’s children and extended family, published by A. Collier, Londo...
Funny Snap
Funny Snap one penny game designed in England, printed in Bavaria, c.1920.
Air India
‘Air India’ playing cards, made in India.
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?
William Warter
William Warter's Proverbial Cards, which carry illustrations of old English proverbs, were first pub...
Navarra Pattern
Navarra Pattern produced for the Pamplona General Hospital Monopoly.
Cries of London
The cards were printed from copper plates, with the red suit symbols being applied later by stencil....
Moorish playing cards
These two uncoloured, uncut sheets of early Moorish playing cards were formerly preserved in the Ins...
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.
Cine Manual + Periquito
“Cine Manual” by Antonio Vercher Coll (1900-1934) and published by Reclamos Cimadevilla, Valencia, c...
Schwäbisch Hall
Schwäbisch Hall building society publicity deck designed by Alex Kardas, c.1975.
The President’s deck
The President’s deck, USA, 1972
Family Guy
Family Guy merchandise deck licensed and copyright by Fox 2010.
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►
New Palladini Tarot
“The New Palladini Tarot” by David Palladini published by U.S. Games Inc., in 1996.
Jean Noblet Tarot de Marseille
Jean Noblet: the oldest known ‘Tarot de Marseille’ deck, Paris, c.1650.
Karty Lyubvi
Karty lyubvi Slavyanskie (Slavonic love cards) and Karty lyubvi Starinnye (Ancient love cards).
Tarots Egipcios Kier
The “Tarots Egipcios” was first published by Editorial Kier S.A. in c.1971 with Spanish titles, with...
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 May 1993 Newsletter
40th anniversary of the Queen's Coronation • The Card & Dice Office • Evasion of Stomp Duty in the E...
Mother Goose’s Party, or Merry Game of Old Maid
Mother Goose’s Party, or Merry Game of Old Maid, McLoughlin Bros., Inc., USA, 1887.
Hello Kitty
Waddington’s “Hello Kitty” themed deck produced in 2009.
EPCS February 2000 Newsletter
Nursery Rhyme Games • Bobs Your Uncle: 54 Cards by John Waddington • Collecting Theme Packs: Non-Sta...
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
Contribute to the World of Playing Cards
We are searching for fresh voices to collaborate with and contribute to the growth of the World of Playing Cards.
If you have an interesting perspective, idea, theory, opinion, observation, or how-to guide related to playing cards that you’d like to share, then fill in the form below.
We are currently in search of:
- Reviews of card decks
- Reviews of literature related to playing cards
- Previews of upcoming playing card projects
- Interviews with designers
- Academic articles
- Research-based articles
Additionally, you can:
- Advertise a list of items for sale
- Promote a Kickstarter project
- Create your own playing card blog
- or just share your personal collection
It is important that the article you submit be entirely original content. Every article published will include an "About the Author" section with a link to your website, an avatar photo and a one-sentence bio.
How to Contribute?
Fill in the form below and we will get back to you.
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
We humbly ask for your help
We’re a team of two that depends on donations to ensure the site remains online and thriving.
We intentionally keep the site ad-free. Whilst revenue generated from advertisements could give us the resources to improve the website, on the other hand, advertising may be at odds with our mission and our aims to educate. By their very nature ads are biassed content intended to influence people.
The amount you donate is up to you and we are grateful that so many people find value in the World of Playing Cards and want to sustain its future.