Playing Card Suits
Playing cards suits have evolved from the earliest Chinese money-based cards into the suit symbols we find around the world today, including the various European suit-systems (Italian and Spanish, Germanic and Swiss, French and English). There have also been variant, non-standard or experimental suit systems. Articles also include information on different suits used in modern decks, such as those with five suits and variants of traditional designs.
Nintendo deck with Medieval theme
Courts in medieval costume holding both French and Italian/Spanish suit-signs.
Pentacards
A five-suited set of playing cards published by Fleet and Case Games Ltd., Rainham, Kent, UK, c.1980.
Postak – Las Postas
‘Postak - Las Postas’ playing cards commemorating the history of the Basque postal service, Spain, 1996.
Rowley & Co - “Monarchs of Europe”
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by Simon Wintle
In around 1775 Rowley & Co attempted to reform the traditional court cards to portraits of the kings and queens of England, France, Spain and Russia.
Stars of Country Music
Stars of Country Music playing cards with non-standard suit symbols, USA, 1995
Stuttgart pack, c.1430
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by Simon Wintle
The luxury, hand-painted Stuttgart Cards (Stuttgarter Kartenspiel) dated c.1430, with suits of ducks, falcons, stags and hounds.
The Book of Trades by Jost Amman, 1588
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by Simon Wintle
The Book of Trades by the prolific German Renaissance artist Jost Amman (1539-91). Suits are books, printers' pads, wine-pots and drinking cups.
The Fat Pack
A vastly expanded pack with 8 suits for playing traditional or new games, devised by Roger Howard Butler Clough.
The History of Playing Cards
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by Simon Wintle
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...
The Princely Hunting pack, c.1440
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by Simon Wintle
The Princely Hunting Pack, c.1440/45, is attributed to Konrad Witz and his workshop in Basle.
Tulsa City-County Library System Annual Report
Tulsa City-County Library System Annual Report playing cards, USA, 1983.
Whimsical Playing Cards
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by Simon Wintle
Whimsical Playing Cards by Turkish designer & illustrator Oksal Yesilok, 2016.
Zoo Comics
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by Simon Wintle
ZOO COMICS animated playing cards made by Litografía Ferri, Valencia (Spain), first published in 1968.