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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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Legends & Mythology

25 Articles

Gods of Egypt

Gods of Egypt playing cards dedicated to the culture of Ancient Egypt.

Gods of Egypt

Age of Dragons

Age of Dragons by Anne Stokes, 2017.

Age of Dragons

Pantheon or Heathen Mythology

Pantheon or Heathen Mythology cards for instruction of youth, c.1770.

Pantheon or Heathen Mythology

Les Grandes Figures de L’Histoire Bretonne

Les Grandes Figures de L’Histoire Bretonne

Les Grandes Figures de L’Histoire Bretonne

Kalevala

Kalevala playing cards by Sunish Chabba and Ishan Trivedi inspired by ancient Finnish mythology.

Kalevala

Carte Romane

“Carte Romane” designed by Giorgio Pessione, 1973, celebrating the history of Rome.

Carte Romane

Greek Mythology

Greek Mythology playing cards published by Michalis Toubis S.A., 1995.

Greek Mythology

Baraja Mitológica

“Baraja Mitológica” was first published in Madrid in c.1815 by Josef Monjardín from engravings by José Martínez de Castro.

Baraja Mitológica

Antike Götter

“Antike Götter” - facsimile of antique playing cards originally manufactured by C. A. Müller, Berlin, 1830.

Antike Götter

Classic

“Classic” playing cards designed by Paul Mathison inspired by classical mythology, 1959.

Classic

Divine Art Playing Cards - Relaunch

Divine Art Playing Cards by Sunish Chabba & Guru Playing Card Company, 2016.

Divine Art Playing Cards - Relaunch

Iceland Mythology

Iceland Mythological Playing Cards designed by Sigurlinna Pétursson, 1958

Iceland Mythology

Kuningas Artturin Ritarit

“Kuningas Artturin Ritarit” (King Arthur’s Knights) playing cards designed by Mauri Kunnas

Kuningas Artturin Ritarit

Greek Heroes

Playing Cards manufactured by Aspioti Elka A.E., 1960, with ancient greek-style courts.

Greek Heroes

Cultúrlán

Celtic myth playing cards inspired by the rich Celtic pantheon of mythological Gods, Goddesses, and heroes

Cultúrlán

East Slavonic Mythology

East Slavonic Mythology designed by Aleksey Orleansky (1994) featuring creatures from the watery underworld.

East Slavonic Mythology

Cyprus Souvenir

Cyprus souvenir playing cards showing scenes alluding to ancient history and myths.

Cyprus Souvenir

Grand Jeu Lenormand

A pack of 54 playing-cards for fortune-telling each card containing a number of zodiacal, classical and modern images with a miniature card of the conventional type at top left and a letter of the alphabet at top right.

Grand Jeu Lenormand

Hodges’ Constellations

Hodges’ pack dealing with astronomy had numeral cards carrying diagrams of constellations and their pictorial representations.

Hodges’ Constellations

Suicide King

The King of Hearts, holding a sword behind his head, is sometimes nicknamed the “Suicide King”. He can be seen to derive from a late medieval design showing a King wielding a battle axe.

Suicide King

Charles Hodges

Charles Hodges produced engraved geographical and astronomical decks, London, c.1827-30.

Charles Hodges

Zodiac Bridge

Zodiac Bridge was designed by René Marcel Rivière and printed by AGM Müller in c.1975. A different sign of the zodiac appears on the clothing of each court card figure.

Zodiac Bridge

Carnival Playing Cards, 1925

The Carnival Playing Card deck designed by Harry D. Wallace (1892-1977) and first published in 1925.

Carnival Playing Cards, 1925

Celtic Journey

Celtic Journey playing cards - where art and culture meet - designed by Carmen G. Carballeira, 2011

Celtic Journey

Mayan Cards

Mayan Playing Cards from Guatemala / Baraja Maya / containing illustrations of archaeology, art, folklore, history and mythology of the Mayans.

Mayan Cards