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The Art & Design of Playing Cards

Playing Card Design

The 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.

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Otto Tragy Jugendstil Spielkarten 1898

Otto Tragy Jugendstil Spielkarten

Special Jugendstil playing cards designed by Otto Tragy and first published by Altenburger Spielkartenfabrik Schneider & Co. in c.1898.

Oude Kunst (Old Art) playing cards with Wüst courts 1930

Oude Kunst (Old Art) playing cards with Wüst courts

made for export to the Netherlands.

Owen Jones (1809-1874)

Owen Jones (1809-1874)

Owen Jones (1809-1874) was a Welsh architect and interior designer who designed the backs of playing cards for Thomas de la Rue.

Paco Lobo 1985

Paco Lobo

Highly original and striking designs by Paco Lobo for the fashion house of the same name.

Past-L-Eze Playing Cards 1935

Past-L-Eze Playing Cards

On “Past-L-Eze” playing cards Kings, Queens and Jacks are no longer stodgy and conventional but pleasingly reflect suspicion, flirtation and worry.

Pekelna Horugva 2012

Pekelna Horugva

“Pekelna Horugva” is the second deck designed by Ukrainian illustrator Vladislav Erko, manufactured by Nage Cards, Saint-Petersburg, 2012

Pendleton playing cards 2019

Pendleton playing cards

Pendleton playing cards inspired by indigenous American artwork, USA, 2019.

Peter and the Pirates 1955

Peter and the Pirates

Peter and the Pirates by Pepys Games, 1955.

Pinocchio 2003

Pinocchio

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

Pippoglyph 2004

Pippoglyph

Pippoglyph Playing Cards by Ben Crenshaw © 2004

Pirate Playing Cards 2011

Pirate Playing Cards

A recurring motif is the symbolism of life and death, playfully rendered in these marvellous cards, including plenty of sabres and skeletons!

Pirates et Corsaires 1984

Pirates et Corsaires

“Pirates et Corsaires” playing cards illustrated by Jean Bruneau, 1984.

Playing Card Design

Playing Card Design

The 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.

Playing Cards designed by Alvaros 2000

Playing Cards designed by Alvaros

Playing Cards designed by Alvaros, published by Eduardo Carrión, Montevideo, 2000

Playing cards in Russian life 2004

Playing cards in Russian life

Playing cards in Russian life - Karty v zhizni Rossii - published by Aleksandr Lutkovskii in 2004.

Première Croisade 1850

Première Croisade

‘Première Croisade’ with single-ended courts by Daveluy, Bruges, c.1850.