Ethnic & Indigenous

Playing cards have long pictured peoples and traditions from around the world. This theme gathers ethnographic rawhide or bark packs, educational and souvenir issues, casino and charity publications, and artist-led interpretations that show dress, masks, languages and daily life. Many reflect the values and vantage points of their time, from colonial-era curiosities to contemporary collaborations with communities; notes on provenance help readers evaluate intent, accuracy and respect. Together these articles trace how culture is represented on small paper objects used for play, collecting and publicity, and consider both celebration and misrepresentation in the record.