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Playing cards have been with us since the 14th century, when they first entered popular culture. Over the centuries packs of cards, in all shapes and sizes, have been used for games, gambling, education, conjuring, advertising, fortune telling, political messages or the portrayal of national or ethnic identity. All over the world, whatever language is spoken, their significance is universal. Their popularity is also due to the imaginative artwork and graphic design which is sometimes overlooked, and the “then & now” of how things have changed.

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historic

10 Articles

1893 Worshipful Company Pack

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

1893 Worshipful Company Pack

Goodall’s “Historic” Playing Cards

Goodall’s “Historic” Playing Cards depict royal costumes of four periods in English history, 1893.

Goodall’s “Historic” Playing Cards

Irish Historic

Irish Historic Playing Cards celebrating history and art, 1920.

Irish Historic

Historical playing cards, 1897

Russian “Historical” playing cards with designs by Nikolay Karazin, 1897

Historical playing cards, 1897

Noord Braband

“Historical Playing Cards” originally commissioned by Northern Brabant Insurance Society and manufactured by Speelkaartenfabriek Nederland in 1943

Noord Braband

Russian “Historical”

Russian “Historical extra fine No.204” Playing Cards depicting Ancient Dynasties, 1920s.

Russian “Historical”

Jeu de Costumes Historiques

These cards are from neatly etched plates, and are carefully coloured. The court cards present full-length figures in character costumes.

Jeu de Costumes Historiques

Istorinės

Istorinės Historical Deck from Lithuania manufactured by Spindulys Playing Card Manufactory, Kaunas, c.1930s

Istorinės

Seminole Wars deck by James Y. Humphreys, Philadelphia, c.1819

Court cards from the Seminole Wars deck by J. Y. Humphreys, Philadelphia, c.1819. Ace of Spades from Jazaniah Ford's Decatur deck, 1815. Jazaniah Ford was born in Milton (Massachusetts) in 1757

Seminole Wars deck by James Y. Humphreys, Philadelphia, c.1819

Estonian Historic Playing Cards

The court cards and indices on Estonian playing cards are Södur, Emand, Kuninga.

Estonian Historic Playing Cards