History
Playing Cards have been around in Europe since the 1370s. Some early packs were hand painted works of art which were expensive and affordable only by the wealthy. But as demand increased cheaper methods of production were discovered so that playing cards became available for everyone...
The History of Playing Cards
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by Simon Wintle
Playing Cards have been around in Europe since the 1370s. Some early packs were hand painted works of art which were expensive and affordable only by the wealthy. But as demand increased cheaper methods of production were discovered so that playing cards became available for everyone...
Royal Cards Reign of Queen Anne
“Royal Cards Reign of Queen Anne” cover historical events, both honourable and treacherous, during the period 1702 to 1704.
72: The Ace of Spades
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by Ken Lodge
In standard English packs the Ace of Spades is associated with decorative designs. This is a historical survey of why this should be.
A. Camoin & Cie
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by Simon Wintle
This deck was inherited from ancestors, it has has a family history surrounding it. Details of the lives of previous owners make it all so fascinating.
History of Playing Cards explained in 5 Minutes
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by Adam Wintle
Video by Art of Impossible. In this video you will get a short overview of the most important historical facts about playing cards and their history.
Gambling and Vice in the Middle Ages
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by Simon Wintle
Gambling and Vice in the Hours of Charles V: card-playing in the local tavern
“Deck with French suits”
A facsimile of an early 19th century French-suited deck from the collection of F.X. Schmid.
Heraldic playing cards
Reproduction of Richard Blome’s Heraldic playing cards, 1684, presented to lady guests at WCMPC Summer Meeting in 1888.
Baraja Carlos IV by Félix Solesio, 1800
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by Simon Wintle
Baraja Carlos IV, Félix Solesio en la Real Fábrica de Macharaviaya, 1800.
71: Woodblock and stencil: the hearts
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by Ken Lodge
A presentation of the main characteristics of the wood-block courts of the heart suit.
70: Woodblock and stencil : the spade courts
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by Ken Lodge
This is a presentation in a more straightforward fashion of the work done by Paul Bostock and me in our book of the same name.
66: Adverts and related material 1862-1900
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by Ken Lodge
Some further material relating to cards from nineteenth and twentieth century periodicals.
Tyrolean Playing Cards
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by Matt Probert
Facsimile of patriotic 1878 Tyrolean playing cards published by Piatnik in 1992.
65: Adverts and related documents 1684-1877
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by Ken Lodge
Here are a few early advertisements relating to cards from newspapers 1684-1759 and a number of later 19th century documents of interest.
Prisoners of War
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by Simon Wintle
Hand-made playing cards by French prisoners of war in Porchester Castle, Hampshire, c.1796.
64: The descendants of the French regional patterns: 2
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by Ken Lodge
A continuation of the development of the off-spring of the Paris patterns and a few examples of how the French regional figures have inspired modern designers.
63: The descendants of the French regional patterns: 1
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by Ken Lodge
A great many regional patterns were exported from France and subsequently copied elsewhere. Some of them became local standards in their own right.
62: French regional patterns: the queens and jacks
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by Ken Lodge
Continuing our look at the figures from the regional patterns of France.
61: French regional patterns: the kings
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by Ken Lodge
On page 11 I illustrated several examples of the regional French patterns from Sylvia Mann's collection; this is a more in-depth look at the figures of these patterns ("portraits" in French).
Iohann Christoph Hes Tarot c.1750
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by Simon Wintle
Facsimile of Tarot de Marseille by Iohann Christoph Hes, Augsburg, c.1750.
Notgeld - Emergen¢y Money
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by Simon Wintle
Notgeld - Emergency Money - was in rare cases issued on playing cards.
60: Some less common Goodall packs, 1875-95
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by Ken Lodge
There are some interesting packs from Goodall in the last quarter of the 19th century.
Bicycle Playing Cards, 1st edition
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by Rod Starling
1st edition of famous Bicycle Playing Cards printed by Russell & Morgan Printing Co., Cincinnati, 1885.
Johannes Müller c.1840
Facsimile edition of Swiss suited deck first published by Johannes Müller in c.1840.
Pedro Varangot, 1786
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by Simon Wintle
Archaic Navarra pattern produced for the Pamplona General Hospital Monopoly by Pedro Varangot in 1786.
Navarra Pattern, 1682
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by Simon Wintle
Navarra pattern produced for the Pamplona General Hospital Monopoly in 1682.
Illustrated Playing Cards, c.1740
Illustrated playing cards featuring comical engravings and rhymes about saints, c.1740.
Navarra Pattern, 1793
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by Simon Wintle
Navarra pattern by an unknown cardmaker with initials I. I., 1793.
Geographical Playing Cards, c.1682
Geographical playing cards sold by Henry Brome, second edition, c.1682.
Jeu de la Géographie
“Jeu de Géographie” educational playing cards etched by Stefano Della Bella (1610-1664) and published by Henry le Gras, c.1644.
Forrest Cards, c.1750s
Hand-coloured Forrest Cards produced for “Young Gentlemen & Ladys who are Lovers of Ingenuity”, c.1750s.
Fortune Telling playing cards
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by Simon Wintle
English Fortune Telling cards probably published c.1770.
Delightful Cards, c.1723
Delightful Cards, containing variety of entertainment for young Ladies and Gentlemen c.1723.
Dames de France
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by Matt Probert
“Dames de France” published by J-M Simon based on originals by Armand Gustave Houbigant, Paris, c.1817
Progressive Whist Cards
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by Tony Hall
There are references to “progressive whist” or “whist drives” during the 19th and early years of the 20th century but this form of the game came into its own during the 1920s and 30s.
Perspectives on Tarot
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by Simon Wintle
Tarot, originally a 15th century card game, has evolved into a form of personal mysticism and spirituality.
Georg Kapfler
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by Simon Wintle
Antique deck of old Bohemian playing cards of the German type manufactured by Georg Kapfler and dated 1611.
Master of the Playing Cards
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by Simon Wintle
Animal suited playing cards engraved by the Master of the Playing Cards, Germany, c.1455
