Art & Design
The design of a pack of playing cards involves a balance between utilitarian constraints and artistic possibilities.
Playing Card Design
The design of a pack of playing cards involves a balance between utilitarian constraints and artistic possibilities.

Müller: Richelieu
This deck is named after Armand Jean du Plessis de Richelieu, Cardinal-Duc de Richelieu (1585-1642), a French Roman Catholic Clergyman and statesman, Chief Adviser to King Louis XIII, noted for the authoritarian measures he employed to maintain power.

Schweizer Trachten
Schweizer Trachten No.174 (Costumes Suisses) by Dondorf.

Transformation Cards for Christmas
Hand-drawn Transformation cards, c.1870.

Alice
Alice with artwork by Jesús Blasco, published by Lo Scarabeo, 2003.

Liberty
Liberty playing cards designed by Antonella Castelli, published by Lo Scarabeo, 2003.

Baracca & Burattini
Baracca & Burattini puppetry deck printed by Dal Negro, 1998.

Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes deck with caricatures by Jeff Decker published by Gemaco Playing Card Co. 1989

Martin Mystère
Martin Mystère based on the comic book by Alfredo Castelli. The cards were designed by Giancarlo Alessandrini.

Seefahrers II
‘Seefahrers’ maritime deck designed by Klaus Ensikat for Deutsche Seereederei Rostock, GDR.

Sanyo Ukiyo-E
Ukiyo-E deck by Nintendo for Sanyo Enterprise Co.

Year of the Child
Year of the Child commemorative deck designed by Jhan Paulussen, 1979.

Maya Deck
The Maya Deck produced by Stancraft for Hoyle, 1976.

Einhorn
‘Einhorn’ designed by Richard König, c.1986.

Bicycle Steampunk
Bicycle Steampunk playing cards with Gothic artwork by Anne Stokes, 2015.

New Figures by A. I. Charlemagne, 1862
“Renaissance” playing card designs by A I Charlemagne, 1862.

Bicycle Knights
Bicycle Knights playing cards designed by Sam Hayles in 2018.

Friendly Felines
‘Friendly Felines’ playing cards designed by Azured Ox, 2017.

Gods of Egypt
Gods of Egypt playing cards dedicated to the culture of Ancient Egypt.

Bicycle 808 Bourbon
Bicycle 808 Bourbon themed deck by US Playing Card Company 2017.

Alice in Wonderland
Alice in Wonderland playing cards designed by Sasha Dounaevski, 2018.

Kaiserkarte
“Kaiserkarte” first published by Schneider & Co in 1895-1897 for the Imperial Court.

Age of Dragons
Age of Dragons by Anne Stokes, 2017.

Anne Stokes Collection
Anne Stokes Collection playing cards, 2010.

The Deck of Cards
The Deck of Cards by Andrew Jones Art, 1979.

68: Playing cards in glass
My wife and I have recently commissioned a unique pair of stained glass windows for our home.

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

Ken McCarthy
An unknown deck by Ken McCarthy, c.2018.

Les Grandes Figures de L’Histoire Bretonne
Les Grandes Figures de L’Histoire Bretonne

Kalevala
Kalevala playing cards by Sunish Chabba and Ishan Trivedi inspired by ancient Finnish mythology.

Hearts of London
Hearts of London for British Heart Foundation 2009.

1893 Worshipful Company Pack
Worshipful Company Pack manufactured by Chas Goodall & Son, 1893.

Roman Empire
Roman Empire playing cards designed by G. Wyatt for Green Board Game Co Ltd., 2011.

Virginie Houdet
Virginie Houdet “Cartes à Jouer” limited edition, 2017.

Bharata Playing Cards
Bharata Playing Cards - Series 2, based on Indian folk art, published by Sunish Chabba, 2018.

Salon-Karte No.66
Salon-Karte No.66 designed by Walter Krauss, c.1970

Leipzig Exhibition Skat, 1897
“Leipziger Skat-Karte” depicting scenes from the Leipzig Industry and Trade Exhibition designed by Arthur Lewin, 1897.

Neue Deutsche Spielkarte
Neue Deutsche Spielkarte (Reformkarte) conceived by Dr. Timon Schroeter, 1883.

Pinocchio
Pinocchio fairy tale playing cards illustrated by Iassen Ghiuselev for Lo Scarabeo, 2003.

Erlenmeyer City Sights
Erlenmeyer City Sights hand-illustrated playing cards by Stephanie Gray, 2015.

Cosmopolitan № 2121 playing cards
“Cosmopolitan” № 2121 playing cards designed by Russian artist Valeri Mishin, 1996

Estate Playing Cards
Estate Playing Cards with five suits designed by Keith Wilson

59: Owen Jones (1809-74) and De La Rue
A selection of examples of Owen Jones's work printed by De La Rue.

Fashion Face Off
“Fashion Face Off” card game illustrated by Erin Petson for Laurence King Publishing, c.2011.

Intecta Interior Design
Intecta playing cards designed by Paul Reissmüller, 1982.

Hannelore Heise: “Essay” & “Gracia”
Two charming designs by Hannelore Heise from Germany.

Berliner Originale
“Berliner Originale” designed by Manfred Bofinger, 1986.

Vizaĝo playing cards
Vizaĝo playing cards created by Annette Abolins, 2017.

Boulogne-sur-Mer Chamber of Commerce
Boulogne-sur-Mer Chamber of Commerce & Industry playing cards illustrated by James Hodges, c.1974.

Karl Gerich No.22: “Rouennais”
Karl Gerich’s hand-made design No.22: “Rouennais”, Victoria P.C.C, Bath (UK), 1990.

Loewe
Deck designed by J. L. Picardo for Loewe, 1959.

Alcatel
Alcatel playing cards published by Éditions Dusserre, c.1970s
