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The History of Playing Cards

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The History of Playing Cards

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...

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Agostino Bergallo

Agostino Bergallo

Agostino Bergallo Spanish pattern made for South American countries

Anonymous Spanish Suited pack, c.1760 1760

Anonymous Spanish Suited pack, c.1760

Anonymous archaic Spanish suited pack, c.1760.

Antique Swiss Playing Cards, c.1530 1530

Antique Swiss Playing Cards, c.1530

The Swiss national suit system of shields, acorns, hawkbells and flowers originated sometime during the fifteenth century.

Antoine de Logiriera

Antoine de Logiriera

Archaic Spanish-suited playing cards published in Toulouse by Antoine de Logiriera (1495-1518).

Archaeological find: old playing cards under the floorboards

Archaeological find: old playing cards under the floorboards

The municipal archaeological service in Dordrecht (Netherlands) recently found some antique playing cards under the floorboards inside an old public bar.

Argentina Tax Stamps on playing cards 1895-1968

Argentina Tax Stamps on playing cards 1895-1968

Argentina Tax Stamps on playing cards 1895-1968

Arms of English Peers 1686

Arms of English Peers

The Arms of English Peers playing cards were first published in 1686. Heraldry, or a knowledge of the arms and blazons of royalty was an important part of a respectable education.

Baraja Carlos IV by Félix Solesio, 1800 1800

Baraja Carlos IV by Félix Solesio, 1800

Baraja Carlos IV, Félix Solesio en la Real Fábrica de Macharaviaya, 1800.

Baraja Morisca — Early XV century playing cards 1420

Baraja Morisca — Early XV century playing cards

Primitive Latin suited pack, dated by paper analysis as early XV century, which makes this one of the earliest known surviving packs of playing cards.

Benoist Laius 1710

Benoist Laius

Spanish playing cards such as these were used in those parts of France where certain games were enjoyed, such as Aluette.

Bicycle Playing Cards, 1st edition 1885

Bicycle Playing Cards, 1st edition

1st edition of famous Bicycle Playing Cards printed by Russell & Morgan Printing Co., Cincinnati, 1885.

Bohemian Pattern 1970

Bohemian Pattern

The Bohemian Pattern, sometimes called the Prager Pattern, has roots in the 16th century.

Bubble Cards, 1720 1720

Bubble Cards, 1720

Bubble Cards - known as “All the Bubbles”, c.1720.

Canasta 1947

Canasta

Canasta is a card game of the Rummy family which originated in Uruguay probably about 1947

Carel de Wagenaer 1698

Carel de Wagenaer

Facsimile edition of cards first published by Carel de Wagenaer, Amsterdam in c.1698

Corner Indices 1864

Corner Indices

Corner Indices were a major innovation in playing card production.

Cotta Transformation playing cards 1804

Cotta Transformation playing cards

In 1804, J.G. Cotta, a publisher and bookseller in Tübingen, Germany, produced the first set of transformation cards that was published as an actual deck of playing cards.

Cribbage Board Collection part 2

Cribbage Board Collection part 2

A collection of antique and vintage Cribbage Boards by Tony Hall, part 2

Cries of London 1754

Cries of London

The cards were printed from copper plates, with the red suit symbols being applied later by stencil. The court cards contain interesting miniature versions of the standard full-length figures used on playing cards at the time

Das Kupferstichspiel des I.M.F. von 1617 1617

Das Kupferstichspiel des I.M.F. von 1617

Playing cards had been made as precious objects for wealthy clients since the late 14th century. They were made to look at, admire and to keep in curiosity cabinets, or perhaps to entertain ladies or educate children rather than to play with.