The World of Playing Cards Logo
Published July 03, 1996 Updated July 15, 2022

Standard and Non-standard Playing Cards

Standard playing cards are based upon traditional designs and are used for card games.

Collecting Patterns and Suit Types Standard Pattern Add to Collection

Queen of Clubs c.1700

Above: standard playing card, 1700

Queen of Clubs c.1875

Above: standard playing card, 1865

Queen of Clubs c.1935

Above: standard playing card, 1935

Queen of Clubs c.1965

Above: standard playing card, 1965

Standard Playing Cards

Standard playing cards are those in which the court card figures are based upon traditional designs whose features do not change much over time. Players recognise the cards immediately and expect to use these for everyday card games. The number cards are arranged clearly and logically. Standard packs are made by most manufacturers, although there may be different standard patterns in different regions within a country. There are also several different national suit-systems, alternative court card hierarchies as well as the number of cards in a pack.

The illustrations (right) show how English playing card designs have evolved from full length figures, with square corners and no indices, to double-ended ones, with the addition of indices, although the same basic designs are always discernible.

During the 19th century the court cards were often flipped horizontally so that the pip sign and index lie at the top left-hand corner, to make fanning the cards more convenient.

By around 1880, rounded corners had become the accepted norm in England. The Printer and Stationer of January 1880 reported that "… it appears that most of our card manufacturers make round cornered cards now - their convenience being undeniable." However, square cornered cards were still produced until around the turn of the century.


Jack of clubs' attribute Goodall/Willis imps

"Life is a pack of cards.
Childhood's best cards are hearts;
youth is captured with diamonds;
middle age is conquered by a club,
while old age is raked in by the insatiable spade."


One standard pattern in particular enjoyed great success and was widely imitated - the Paris pattern. Derivatives of several other French regional patterns also became new patterns in many European countries  more

the Paris pattern, c.1810

Above: the Paris pattern gave rise to many local variants in other European countries.

Non-Standard Playing Cards

Non-standard playing cards are those in which the court cards, pip cards, aces and/or jokers have deviated from the traditional, 'standard' pattern and have been stylised, decorated or re-designed. For example, fantasy historical court cards, humorous cartoons, decorative aces, and so on. Sometimes the court cards are representations of political personalities. A pack of cards may be produced to honour a royal commemoration, a new tourist attraction or the next millennium. Sometimes the shape of the cards is different. These types of card are a distraction to serious card players, but often sought by collectors.

King of Hearts published by Charles Hodges, c.1827 Queen of Hearts by Goodall, c.1899 Queen of Hearts published by Arpak, c.1928 Eight of Shamrocks, EPCS, 1999

Above: non-standard English playing cards, c.1820-1999. Not so easy to recognise at first glance.

Advertising Playing Cards

Advertising playing cards display advertising messages, either on the reverse of the cards, or else on the pip cards, court cards, aces, jokers or even the box. They may be given away freely, but not always easy to get. Some of the more popular collector's advertising themes include breweries, shipping lines, and household products. The style of advertising on playing cards changes over the decades, due to changing technologies, fashions and taste.

Sanderson Bros and Newbould Ltd, Sheffield, c.1905 I must have left it behind c.1910 Household advertising, 1920s Manchester Evening News, 1927 3M Company Brickwoods, Portsmouth c.1960 Special Joker, c.1960 Billing Systems, 1998 Rivington Corporate Print Limited, 1998 Advertising on box, c.1989 Clements coal merchants (Portsmouth) c.1930

With the covergence of digital technologies towards the end of the 20th century, the cost of producing custom playing cards, i.e.non-standard, fell whilst old-fashioned technologies became obsolete. Small custom print runs became feasible with photoshopped artwork inserted easily into the printing. Thus from this point onwards non-standard cards have become cheaper to produce and are now more prevalent than standard ones.

Card Games

Card games are a part of our cultural and social history. They reflect the story of our life since our childhood. The style and design of card games from the nursery to adult drinking games encompasses a wide range of different material, much of which stimulates debate and differences of opinion. For example, whilst "Snap", "Happy Families" and "Old Maid" are familiar titles, other games such as currency, travel or war-time card games are less common, and they all provide something new to learn.


Children’s Card Games with Advertising

Sales incentives - from the collection of Rex Pitts

Ephemera

Some collectors enjoy items connected with playing cards, such as score cards, markers, ash trays, glasses, erasers, key rings, post cards, advertisements, brochures, stickers etc. Whatever you may decide to collect, it will lead to new discoveries, hours of 'hunting' and much pleasure.

avatar
1,433 Articles

By Simon Wintle

Member since February 01, 1996

Founder and editor of the World of Playing Cards since 1996. He is a former committee member of the IPCS and was graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal for many years. He has lived at various times in Chile, England and Wales and is currently living in Extremadura, Spain. Simon's first limited edition pack of playing cards was a replica of a seventeenth century traditional English pack, which he produced from woodblocks and stencils.


Related Articles

Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Hearts

Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Hearts

A limited edition art print of the Jack of Hearts 1984 woodblock joker.

Woodblock and Stencil Joker

Woodblock and Stencil Joker

A limited edition art print of the 1984 woodblock joker.

Woodblock and Stencil King of Diamonds

Woodblock and Stencil King of Diamonds

A limited edition art print of the King of Diamonds 1984 woodblock joker.

Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Clubs

Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Clubs

A limited edition art print of the Jack of Clubs 1984 woodblock joker.

1450 Early German playing cards

Early German playing cards

Some early examples of popular German playing cards from the XV and XVI centuries.

1980 Collectors pack of Antiques

Collectors pack of Antiques

Collectors pack of Antiques playing cards published by Collectors Cards, Abertillery, South Wales, c...

1950 Standard Swiss-German pattern (single-ended)

Standard Swiss-German pattern (single-ended)

20th century version of a single-ended Swiss-German pattern pack for the game of Jass.

1970 English pattern from Nigeria

English pattern from Nigeria

A standard pack from the most populous country in Africa.

1915 Goodall’s modernised Wüst House pattern playing cards

Goodall’s modernised Wüst House pattern playing cards

A remodelled version of the first Wüst house pattern.

1966 English pattern by Bielefelder Spielkarten

English pattern by Bielefelder Spielkarten

Standard designs by Bielefelder Spielkarten GmbH, Bielefeld, Germany, c1966.

1960 English pattern from Portugal

English pattern from Portugal

English pattern by Litografia Maia, Porto, Portugal, c.1960.

2000 Bohemian pattern by Bonaparte

Bohemian pattern by Bonaparte

Standard Bohemian pattern designs by Bonaparte, Plzeň, Czech Republic, c.2000.

1930 Waddington’s “Silkette” Playing Cards

Waddington’s “Silkette” Playing Cards

Cards made by John Waddington Ltd. for the Madras Club, Chennai (formerly Madras), India, c.1930.

Jeu de 54 cartes

Jeu de 54 cartes

Jeu de 54 cartes, completely anonymous, designed to resemble locally produced French packs.

1960 London Bridge NR.18

London Bridge NR.18

A brand name used in Norway over a number of years.

1970 Naipe de Bridge

Naipe de Bridge

Standard English pattern pack made in Ecuador, c.1970.

2001 Rare Stamps of the World

Rare Stamps of the World

Fifty-five rare stamps of the world in full colour, published jointly by David Feldman SA of Switzer...

Luxury Collectable Playing Cards

Luxury Collectable Playing Cards

Luxury packs of cards have been produced since the 15th century, a trend that is very popular among ...

A. Camoin & Cie

A. Camoin & Cie

This deck was inherited from ancestors, it has has a family history surrounding it. Details of the l...

Kaffeehaus-Pikett

Kaffeehaus-Pikett

Kaffeehaus-Pikett featuring the old Viennese Large Crown pattern, made by ASS.

Epokha vozrozhdeniya (Age of Enlightenment)

Epokha vozrozhdeniya (Age of Enlightenment)

Epokha vozrozhdeniya (Age of Enlightenment): this pack has effectively become the Russian standard. ...

Why do we Collect?  My 20 Favourite Items

Why do we Collect? My 20 Favourite Items

I suppose people collect for different reasons, rarity, quality, ingenuity of design, sentimental va...

A Case Study

A Case Study

Case Study: using detective work to identify and date a pack discovered in charity shop.

Patience Cards and their Boxes

Patience Cards and their Boxes

Patience Cards and their Boxes by Tony Hall.

Collecting Playing Cards with Jan Walls

Collecting Playing Cards with Jan Walls

I collected playing cards when I was in primary school, by Jan Walls.

69: My Collection

69: My Collection

This is an archive list of my collection. I hope it will be of use and interest to others.

Is Card Collecting an Investment?

Is Card Collecting an Investment?

“Is Card Collecting an Investment?” - an article by Rod Starling.

Chinese Jokers

Chinese Jokers

Chinese playing card makers have probably produced the widest variety of jokers of any single part o...

64: The descendants of the French regional patterns: 2

64: The descendants of the French regional patterns: 2

A continuation of the development of the off-spring of the Paris patterns and a few examples of how ...

63: The descendants of the French regional patterns: 1

63: The descendants of the French regional patterns: 1

A great many regional patterns were exported from France and subsequently copied elsewhere. Some of ...

A Look Back with Hope for the Future

A Look Back with Hope for the Future

“A Look Back with Hope for the Future” by Rod Starling

Modern English Court

Modern English Court

Modern English court style by Games & Print Services Limited, c.1997.

Dal Negro Bridge set

Dal Negro Bridge set

Dal Negro Bridge set featuring old Vienna pattern courts.

1973 Carte Romane

Carte Romane

“Carte Romane” designed by Giorgio Pessione, 1973, celebrating the history of Rome.

1975 Sarde Pattern

Sarde Pattern

Sarde pattern published by Modiano, c.1975, based on early XIX century Spanish model.

Triestine Pattern

Triestine Pattern

The Triestine pattern is derived from the Venetian (Trevisane) pattern but with its own characterist...

Trentine Pattern

Trentine Pattern

Trentine Pattern

Primiera Bolognese

Primiera Bolognese

Primiera Bolognese by Modiano, c.1975

Bergamasche Pattern

Bergamasche Pattern

Bergamasche Pattern by Modiano, 1970s.

Jonas Fouquet Navarra Pattern

Jonas Fouquet Navarra Pattern

Navarra Pattern by Jonas Fouquet, c.1720 and c.1820.

1682 Navarra Pattern, 1682

Navarra Pattern, 1682

Navarra pattern produced for the Pamplona General Hospital Monopoly in 1682.

Navarra Pattern

Navarra Pattern

Navarra Pattern produced for the Pamplona General Hospital Monopoly.

Hermanos Solesio

Hermanos Solesio

“Money Bag” pattern by Hermanos Solesi, late 18th c.