Moorish Playing Cards
![A Moorish Sheet of Playing Cards A Moorish Sheet of Playing Cards](http://www.wopc.co.uk/core/cache/wopc/thumbs/countries/spain/moorish/MoorishSheet_1.4ca6d00c.jpg)
A Moorish Sheet of Playing Cards
This article was originally published in “The Playing-Card”, the Journal of the International Playing-Card Society (London), Volume XV, No.4, May 1987.
![Baraja Morisca — Early XV century playing cards Baraja Morisca — Early XV century playing cards](http://www.wopc.co.uk/core/cache/wopc/thumbs/var/www/wopc.co.uk/htdocs/images/countries/spain/morisca.150b5519.jpg)
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.
![Early History of Playing Cards & Timeline Early History of Playing Cards & Timeline](http://www.wopc.co.uk/core/cache/wopc/thumbs/boxes/bibliography-3.4d3365b0.jpg)
Early History of Playing Cards & Timeline
Out of an apparent void, a constellation of references in early literature emerge pointing to the sudden arrival of playing cards, principally in Belgium, Germany, Spain and Italy around 1370-1380. Discover the early history of playing cards in our timeline from 50AD to the 15th century.
![Juego de Naipes Andalusí Juego de Naipes Andalusí](http://www.wopc.co.uk/core/cache/wopc/thumbs/countries/spain/naipes-andalusi-0.93015fbe.jpg)
Juego de Naipes Andalusí
Andalusian playing cards designed by Marifé Montoya Carrillo with booklet by Jorge Lirola Delgado, 2012.
![Mamluk Playing Cards Mamluk Playing Cards](http://www.wopc.co.uk/core/cache/wopc/thumbs/var/www/wopc.co.uk/htdocs/images/countries/egypt/mamluk-600.1f5fb5c3.jpg)
Mamluk Playing Cards
Nã'ib, the game of lieutenants... these cards are amongst the earliest Arabic playing cards extant.
![Moorish Deck Moorish Deck](http://www.wopc.co.uk/core/cache/wopc/thumbs/countries/spain/moorish/trzes-cover.bca3f260.jpg)
Moorish Deck
Review of “Trzes’ Moorish Deck” facsimile published by Ulrich Kaltenborn, Berlin, 2023.
![Moorish playing cards Moorish playing cards](http://www.wopc.co.uk/core/cache/wopc/thumbs/var/www/wopc.co.uk/htdocs/images/countries/spain/moorish/moorish.150b5519.jpg)
Moorish playing cards
These two uncoloured, uncut sheets of early Moorish playing cards were formerly preserved in the Instituto Municipal de Historia in Barcelona.
![Spanish Playing Cards Spanish Playing Cards](http://www.wopc.co.uk/core/cache/wopc/thumbs/countries/spain/spain.f60ba2ba.jpg)
Spanish Playing Cards
Spain has played a pivotal role in the history of playing cards in Europe and Latin America.
![The Combination of Images and Text on early playing cards The Combination of Images and Text on early playing cards](http://www.wopc.co.uk/core/cache/wopc/thumbs/var/www/wopc.co.uk/htdocs/images/countries/spain/spanish-suited-with-inscriptions.80dc2b33.jpg)
The Combination of Images and Text on early playing cards
When playing cards have titles or legends these reference a written/literary tradition of some form. It connects the image to a wider cultural sphere, extending the visual impact.
![The History of Playing Cards The History of Playing Cards](http://www.wopc.co.uk/core/cache/wopc/thumbs/general/mediterranean-map-small.e5a12cf3.jpg)
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...