The designs of these fortune-telling cards are largely taken from nineteenth century Austrian "Rural Scenes" Tarock cards.
“Jeu de cartes comiques” transformation cards designed by Louis Atthalin (1784-1856) and published in 1817
“Cartes Lenormand” published by H. P. Gibson & Sons Ltd, London, printed in Germany by B. Dondorf, 1920s.
A “Questions & Answers” family game from France produced by Imagerie Pellerin.
Cartes Recréatives is a set of Transformed playing cards designed by Armand-Gustave Houbigant (1790-1863) and first published by Terquem et May, Metz, in 1819
Double advertising pack made by Cartográfica Industrial for Refrigeração Parana S.A. The extra card contains an insignia with the legend 'CARTAL'.
Playing cards are used for fortune-telling, predicting the future or even as a psychological adjunct to folk medicine and therapy.
“Castles” Quartet Illustrated by Vladimir Kovářík
Two collectable sets of cards featuring Cats and Dogs as Royalty through the ages.
Celtic Myth playing cards are the third and final set of cards in a series based around the themes of Celtic mythology and society.
This “Jeu de Familles” from the 1960s designed by Jean Bachès promotes Chambord glassware.
“Characters from Charles Dickens” card game published by Jaques & Son, c.1880.
Elaborate court cards on a deck by Charles Bartlet, Philadelphia, (who was in fact Samuel Hart) c.1845-60. The pip cards are double-ended. The date may be somewhere between c.1845-65.
Cheery Families card game designed by Richard Doyle and printed by De La Rue & Co., Ltd, c.1893
Hand-made ‘Chief Cities Quartettes’ card game, c.1910.
Christmas Playing Cards published by Novelty Playing Cards, Syracuse, New York, 1986
Churchill ‘Walking with Destiny’ playing cards published by the Imperial War Museum
“Cine Manual” by Antonio Vercher Coll (1900-1934) and published by Reclamos Cimadevilla, Valencia, c.1927
Circular playing cards in a round tin titled: Sutherland's Circular Coon Cards published by Hartley Bros Pty Ltd, Australia, late 19th century.
A deck of cards inspired by the American Civil War, featuring leaders, army generals, President Abraham Lincoln and other characters from this historical period.
“Clans & Tartans of Scotland” deck of cards designed and illustrated by Romilly Squire, 1997
“Convoy” WW2 card game published by Tree Brand c.1940, based on wartime naval convoys
“Cosmopolitan” № 2121 playing cards designed by Russian artist Valeri Mishin, 1996
In 1804, J.C. Cotta, a publisher and bookseller in Tübingen, Germany, produced the first set of transformation cards that was published as an actual deck of playing cards.
The Cow and Gate Happy Family game was issued around 1928 to promote nutrition products
The Creative Clash card game, by the Infantree, is a fast-paced card game where you become the Principal of a creative agency and battle with your friends for the biggest Ego around.
CROMY card games Argentina - AIRWOLF
A full custom deck of playing cards, inspired by the different cultures of the world; including China, Italy, USA and the Netherlands.
Czech Insurance Company cartoon pack
Patience size playing cards published by Obchodni Tiskarny of Prague, under the brand “Casino”, with cartoon courts in the style of wood engravings.
Dartex, the Thrilling New Card Game of Skill (1938) based on the traditional pub game where darts are thrown at a circular target. The card game version contains a total of 52 cards (38 showing a dart board + 14 special cards) which act as the throws and, just as in the real game, good mental arithmetic is required.
“Das Lustige Familien Quartett” published by Eugen Schmidt K.G., Dresden, c.1930s
Stylish playing cards featuring the glamorous, superpowered female stars of the alternate reality world of DC Comics, published by 'Forbidden Planet', 2015
Connie Lim has created a beautifully illustrated set of fashion inspired playing cards which she is funding through a Kickstarter campaign.
Delta playing cards are a modern art concept deck invented by Professor M. R. Ali, an artist operating under the company name of “Artology International”.
Paul Janzen and Troy Sullivan also know as Hurlyburly Games have created a uniquue pack to showcase the multicultural flavour of the world through playing cards.
Guipuzcoa’s best athletes of the twentieth century, playing cards sponsored by El Diario Vasco and Euskaltel, manufactured by Heraclio Fournier, 1999
Lattmann's 'Die Spielkarte Der Feinen Welt' published in 1923.
Dondorf’s “Die Vogel-Welt” No. 351 quartet game, c.1905
Instead of the usual ace of spades, or a seven of diamonds, this pack has a "spade of aces" and a "diamond of sevens"; meaning that the spade is made up of aces using a typographic and illustrative style. Each card has been individually designed, containing hidden symbols and interesting typographical flourishes.
Disney Club card game by Cromy, 1990.
The Game of “Doctor Busby” published by Parker Brothers, Salem, Massachusetts, USA, c.1890.
‘Dogs’ playing cards showcases 52 canine portraits in four suits as authors, artists, musicians and film stars, illustrated by Chet Phillips, 2016
A gorgeous deck of cards featuring the dragon art of Kerem Beyit and printed by the United States Playing Card Company
Walt Disney’s Dumbo card game published by Pepys, 1939.
Jessica Feinberg, mostly known for her unique mythic paintings of nature, dragons, is a creator the Earth Dragons and Other Rare Creatures playing cards.
A Kickstarter campaign for a fine deck of playing cards inspired by the works of Edgar Allan Poe
Editorial Gráfica Flores S.A. were manufacturers of playing cards and card games around c.1970-90.
The Eglantine Table, Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire, elaborately inlaid with marquetry depicting musical instruments, playing-cards, games and heraldic references.
“El Oráculo de la Bruja” fortune-telling cards, 2003.
