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Playing Cards and Religion

Early engravers and print makers made devotional images for pilgrims and people who could not afford paintings or books. Many of these craftsmen turned their hand to manufacturing playing cards to earn extra income. Today playing cards are often produced to spread religious messages, teachings or for educational purposes.

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Anno Domini 1875

Anno Domini

Anno Domini biblical card game depicting New Testament history, published by John Jaques & Son, c.1875.

Anti-Religions 1934

Anti-Religions

Clubs represent the Russian Orthodox church, Hearts Roman Catholicism, Spades Confucianism and Diamonds represent Judaism.

Baraja del Camino de Santiago 2018

Baraja del Camino de Santiago

Designs by Guitián, published by Ideas Peregrinas, Santiago de Compostela, Spain, c2018.

Baraja Mística 1885

Baraja Mística

‘Baraja Mística’ satirical playing-cards featuring revelling clergy published by Litografía Fernández, Madrid.

Bible playing cards featuring the life of Jesus 2008

Bible playing cards featuring the life of Jesus

Bible playing cards featuring the life of Jesus, USA, 2008.

EPCS February 2002 Newsletter

EPCS February 2002 Newsletter Members Only

Richard Edward • Rorkes Drift - ZULU • Benno • Sir Gurney Benham • Nursery Rhyme & Travel Snap • The Studio Prize Competition • Cavalier Playing Cards • Pepys Quiz - Answers • Rummy Soccer • Spear's New Games 1894 • Big Box Card Games • Astra • Religious Cards • Game Scorers & Trump Indicators • Goodall & Willis January 1880 • Card Donation • L.G. Sloan & Universal • Frustrating Bridge Hand • Fables • Poets of the Card Table • Animal Snap - Revisited

EPCS May 1997 Newsletter

EPCS May 1997 Newsletter Members Only

Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria 1897 • Gambling at cards in Georgian Bath • Misfitz • Hokey-Pokey • Goodall Canada • Wei-Hei-Wei Regiment • Noah's Ark • 1938 Comic by Birds Custard • WWII • Edward Hall • Politics • Flowers of Britain • Garden Birds of Britain

Gambling and Vice in the Middle Ages 1500

Gambling and Vice in the Middle Ages

Gambling and Vice in the Hours of Charles V: card-playing in the local tavern

Geistliche Karten 1718

Geistliche Karten

Geistliche Karten, Augsburg, 1718. Each card carries a text in Gothic typeface giving advice regarding what to do and think each day. Not quite oracle or divination cards, they are more like 'a motto for the day' collection. The method of using the cards is not known.

Grace Cards

Grace Cards

My creativity proved useful in the Primary School classroom and children's clubs I run at Brooke Baptist Church in Norfolk...

Holy Trinity Church playing cards 2011

Holy Trinity Church playing cards

Holy Trinity Church commemoration playing cards, USA, 2011.

Jacob’s Bible Cards 1960

Jacob’s Bible Cards

Jacob’s Bible Cards published by Lion Playing Cards Factory Ltd, Tel Aviv, since mid-1950s.

Jewish Card Game 1950

Jewish Card Game

Judaism is the oldest of the great monotheist religions, parent of Christianity and Islam.

Les Chemins de Saint-Jacques 2000

Les Chemins de Saint-Jacques

Paintings, statues, monuments and maps associated with different routes to Compostela.

Les Saints Guérisseurs et Protecteurs 1995

Les Saints Guérisseurs et Protecteurs

Healing and patron saints portrayed in paintings, manuscripts, altarpieces and statuary.

Mongolian Mask Dancing

Mongolian Mask Dancing

Mongolian Religious Mask Dancing playing cards, c.2010

Naipes Cristianos 2002

Naipes Cristianos

“Naipes Cristianos” catechetical playing cards with quotations from the four gospels, 2002.

Pacific Northwest native Indian masks 1992

Pacific Northwest native Indian masks

Pacific Northwest native Indian masks with artwork by Margaret Parrott, USA, 1992.

Papst Quartett 2006

Papst Quartett

A quartet game featuring a selection of popes up to Benedict XVI.

Playing Cards and Religion

Playing Cards and Religion

Early engravers and print makers made devotional images for pilgrims and people who could not afford paintings or books. Many of these craftsmen turned their hand to manufacturing playing cards to earn extra income. Today playing cards are often produced to spread religious messages, teachings or for educational purposes.