Religion
Early engravers and print makers made devotional images for pilgrims and people who could not afford paintings or books. Many of these craftsmen turned their hand to manufacturing playing cards to earn extra income.
Anno Domini
Anno Domini biblical card game depicting New Testament history, published by John Jaques & Son, c.1875.
Anti-Religions
The Russians were no strangers to propaganda cards. Clubs represent the Russian Orthodox church, Hearts Roman Catholicism, Spades Confucianism and Diamonds represent Judaism.
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
Geistliche Karten
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by Simon Wintle
Geistliche Karten, Augsburg, 1718. Each card carries a text in Gothic typeface giving advice regarding what to do and think each day. Not quite oracle or divination cards, they are more like 'a motto for the day' collection. The method of using the cards is not known.
Grace Cards
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by Simon Wintle
My creativity proved useful in the Primary School classroom and children's clubs I run at Brooke Baptist Church in Norfolk...
Jacob’s Bible Cards
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by Matt Probert
Jacob’s Bible Cards published by Lion Playing Cards Factory Ltd, Tel Aviv, since mid-1950s.
Jewish Card Game
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by Simon Wintle
Judaism is the oldest of the great monotheist religions, parent of Christianity and Islam.
Naipes Cristianos
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by Simon Wintle
“Naipes Cristianos” catechetical playing cards with quotations from the four gospels, 2002.
Playing Cards and Religion
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by Simon Wintle
Early engravers and print makers made devotional images for pilgrims and people who could not afford paintings or books. Many of these craftsmen turned their hand to manufacturing playing cards to earn extra income.
Progress
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by Simon Wintle
The story of “Pilgrim’s Progress” by John Bunyan illustrated in a card game published by Castell Brothers Ltd (Pepys Games), 1938.
Round the World Families
Round the World Families published by the London Missionary Society, c.1945.
Snapshots
Snapshots, a Missionary Card Game depicting people from different cultural contexts engaged in their traditional ways of life...
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