The World of Playing Cards Logo

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.

The World of Playing Cards Logo The World of Playing Cards
Browsing keyword:

quartet

77 Articles

Andere Zeiten - Andere Kleider

‘History of fashion’ cultural quartet game designed by Erika Werner-Nestler, 1954.

Andere Zeiten - Andere Kleider

Netherlands Kostuum Kwartet

Dutch costumes quartet game designed by Gerard Huijg, 1983.

Netherlands Kostuum Kwartet

Nederlands Stedenkwartet

Nederlands Stedenkwartet with heraldic needlepoint patterns by Permin, c.1970.

Nederlands Stedenkwartet

Österreichisches Trachten-quartett

Österreichisches Trachten-quartett Nr.282 published by Ferd Piatnik & Söhne.

Österreichisches Trachten-quartett

Geschichte des Buchgewerbes

Geschichte des Buchgewerbes illustrated by Ludwig Winkler, published by Verlag für Lehrmittel Pößneck.

Geschichte des Buchgewerbes

So Fängt Es An

“So Fängt Es An” beautifully illustrated by M. Neugebauer, published by Helingsche Verlagsanstalt, c.1950.

So Fängt Es An

Verkehrsmittel Einst und Jetzt

“Verkehrsmittel Einst und Jetzt” transport quartet game by Bielefelder Spielkarten Fabrik GmbH, 1958.

Verkehrsmittel Einst und Jetzt

Asterix Abenteuer

Asterix Adventure quartet game by ASS, 1989.

Asterix Abenteuer

French for Fun

French for Fun instructive card game published by John Jaques & Son Ltd., c.1930s

French for Fun

Tout Est Bien Qui Finit Bien

‘Tout Est Bien Qui Finit Bien’ family card game by Dondorf.

Tout Est Bien Qui Finit Bien

Jeu de Quaternes ‘Rizá’

Jeu de Quaternes ‘Rizá’

Jeu de Quaternes ‘Rizá’

Zwanenberg’s Kwartetspel

Zwanenberg’s Kwartetspel printed by Speelkaartenfabriek Nederland, 1938.

Zwanenberg’s Kwartetspel

Havermout Kwartetspel

“H-O Kwartetspel” children’s card game promoting quick cooking oatmeal (instant porridge), 1930s.

Havermout Kwartetspel

Asperge Kwartet

Asperge Kwartet published by Knorr.

Asperge Kwartet

Geschichte des Motorrades

History of Motorcycles quartet published by Verlag für Lehrmittel Pößneck, 1989.

Geschichte des Motorrades

Musikinstrumente

Musikinstrumente quartet game published by Verlag für Lehrmittel, Pössneck, 1984.

Musikinstrumente

Stationskwartetspel

Railway Stations quartet game illustrated by Wim Dolk and published by Servex BV, Utrecht, 1975.

Stationskwartetspel

Natuurkwartet

Nature Quartet game published by Staatsbosbeheer, printed by Roem Speelkaarten, Kampen.

Natuurkwartet

Sprookjes Kwartet

Fairy Tales quartet published by Heinrich Schwarz + Co for Dutch market, c.1970.

Sprookjes Kwartet

Botany Quartetts

Botany card game published by Houlston and Wright & Henry Greenwood, c.1860.

Botany Quartetts

Neerlands Glorie

Neerlands Glorie Kwartetspel published by Hausemann & Hötte N.V, Amsterdam, 1945.

Neerlands Glorie

Verkeers Kwartet

Verkeers Kwartet by Nederlandse Spellenfabriek BV, Amsterdam, 1965.

Verkeers Kwartet

Authors

Authors quartet game published by Whitman Publishing Co., 1951.

Authors

Deutsche Nutzpflanzen

Deutsche Nutzpflanzen - Quartett game promoting Kali brand crop fertilizer, 1938.

Deutsche Nutzpflanzen

Märchen-Quartett

Märchen-Quartett (Fairy Tales) illustrated by J. P. Werth and published by J. W. Spear & Söhne, c.1915.

Märchen-Quartett

Märchenquartett

Fairy Tales quartet designed by Annemarie Gramberg, published by Vereinigte Altenburger und Stralsunder Spielkarten-Fabriken AG, 1955.

Märchenquartett

Boekenkwartet

Boekenkwartet featuring illustrations from children's books, 1970s.

Boekenkwartet

Deutsche Geschichte

German History Quartet published by Otto Maier Verlag Ravensburg, c.1930-35.

Deutsche Geschichte

Jip en Janneke

Jip en Janneke quartet game published by Hema, a Dutch department store, c.1960.

Jip en Janneke

Hearts of London

Hearts of London for British Heart Foundation 2009.

Hearts of London

Papita Sport Kwartet

Papita Sport Kwartet by Nederlandse Spellenfabriek, c.1975.

Papita Sport Kwartet

Die 4 Jahreszeiten

Die 4 Jahreszeiten Quartett-Spiel illustrated by Anneliese Tesdorpf, published by F X Schmid, 1950.

Die 4 Jahreszeiten

Chief Cities Quartettes

Hand-made ‘Chief Cities Quartettes’ card game, c.1910.

Chief Cities Quartettes

BMW Promo Top Trumps

BMW Promo Top Trumps produced as a promotion for the London 2012 Olympic Games.

BMW Promo Top Trumps

Kleine Tierwelt

“Kleine Tierwelt” wildlife quartet game designed by Heinz Osthoff, published by Bielefelder Spielkarten GmbH, 1963.

Kleine Tierwelt

Les Sports

Les Sports quartet game designed by Paul Ordner, c.1960.

Les Sports

Donald Duck Groente & Fruit Pretkwartet

Donald Duck Vegetables & Fruit Quartet exclusive from Jumbo supermarkets, © Disney 2016.

Donald Duck Groente & Fruit Pretkwartet

Schlager Film Revue

Schlager Film Revue “Hot and Sweet” Quartett für Teenager, 1964.

Schlager Film Revue

Toby’s Family Playing Cards

“Toby’s Family Playing Cards” published by G. Heath Robinson & J. Birch Ltd, London, 1920s.

Toby’s Family Playing Cards

Beesten Kwartet

Beesten Kwartet designed by Peter Vos. Published by Thomas Rap of Amsterdam, 1995.

Beesten Kwartet

Filmstar-Parade

Filmstar-Parade Quartet card game published by F X Schmid, Munich, c.1958.

Filmstar-Parade

Strange People

“Strange People” card game produced by the Fireside Game Co., Cincinnati, 1895.

Strange People

Ship Sails

“Ship Sails” card game c.1885.

Ship Sails

Die Vogel-Welt No. 351

Dondorf’s “Die Vogel-Welt” No. 351 quartet game, c.1905

Die Vogel-Welt No. 351

Doctor Busby

The Game of “Doctor Busby” published by Parker Brothers, Salem, Massachusetts, USA, c.1890.

Doctor Busby

John Bull

“John Bull”, the Capital English Game published by W. Cremer, c.1865.

John Bull

Funny Families

“Funny Families” card game manufactured by Woolley & Co, 1890s.

Funny Families

J. W. Spear and Sons: ‘Zoology’

Quartet games with scientific illustrations became popular during the Victorian and Edwardian eras. J. W. Spear and Sons Zoology quartet game is a lesson in natural history.

J. W. Spear and Sons: ‘Zoology’

In Castle Land

The Game of ‘In Castle Land’ (No.1113) published by The Fireside Game Co., Cincinnati, 1896.

In Castle Land

Bible Game

“Fireside Bible Game” (No.1124) published by The Fireside Game Co., Cincinnati, USA, 1899.

Bible Game

Population

The game of Population was first published by the Fireside Game Co., Cincinnati, USA (a division of United States Playing Card Co), in c.1896

Population