Playing cards combine many aspects of our history including paper-making, printing technologies, innovation, symbolism, graphic design and how these have changed over the years. Whatever your interest in cards, you'll find something interesting here.
Miniature spanish-suited playing cards
Pack of 48 miniature spanish playing-cards published by C R.
Uncut Sheet by Johann Jobst Forster
A proof sheet containing twelve court cards of conventional French type.
Lend Me Five Shillings
or “Her Majesty’s Privy Purse” - a merry round-the-table game published by D. Ogilvy.
Eves Playing Cards
A pack of cards with colour photos of Indian film stars from the era
Poker Lusso
Richly costumed courts on a luxury poker pack from Masenghini.
Laughing Made Easy
a Victorian card game published by D. Ogilvy.
Borna Skat
Publicity pack for the Saxon town of Borna, with designs by Andreas Wachter.
Naipe Centenario
Latin American designs by Productora de Naipes y Confetti (Pronaco), S.A., Mexico, c1980.
Politically Incorrect Happy Families
A Happy Families set with many differences from a conventional one.
Hand made WW2 Prisoner of War Playing Cards
made by German soldiers held captive by US troops
Vues et Caractères Suisses No.228
A Swiss souvenir pack by Dondorf
Goodall’s Wüst house pattern playing cards
Goodall’s Wüst house pattern playing cards with scenic aces of Brazil.
Bicycle Negro League Baseball Museum
Bicycle Negro League Baseball Museum souvenir playing cards, USA, 2012.
Anti-Fascist cards, 1943
Satirical Anti-Fascist cards designed in 1943 by Ivan Ivanovich Kharkevich.
Cycle all over London
Cycle all over London playing cards published by Transport for London Street Management, 2003.
33: Functional Changes to Playing Cards
The emphasis throughout my collecting has been on the design of the courts cards, and it should be p...
49: De La Rue in detail
A detailed presentation of the variants of De La Rue's standard cards.
32: The Not-So-Minor Cardmakers of the 19th Century - Part 3
A survey of the cards made by Creswick and Hardy, with a brief mention of De La Rue, Goodall and Rey...
Miniature Card Dominoes
A miniature set of Goodall domino cards (5.9 x 3.5 cms) still in perfect condition.
Card Game Items and contemporary advertisements
It is often difficult to identify the origin, manufacturer and date of a card game boxed set and oth...
Past Masters’ Association Presentation Pack
The Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards Past Masters’ Association Presentation Pack, 2013....
Submarine Cards
Lighting in submarines involved wearing red goggles to preserve night vision for viewing instrument ...
Einar Nerman Patience
Einar Nerman (1888–1983) was a talented Swedish artist born in Norrköping who designed playing cards...
Jeu de Cartes No.1
Henri Meunier was a Belgian Art Nouveau lithographer, etcher, illustrator, bookbinder and poster des...
Inspector
Inspector card game published by W F Jackson & Sons, 1940s.
Handmade Black Peter
Handmade Black Peter cards.
Stocks & Shares
Stocks & Shares card game first published by Pepys Games in 1957.
Morgan-Greer Tarot
Based on the knowledge, wisdom and interpretation of Paul Foster Case and Arthur Edward Waite.
New Palladini Tarot
“The New Palladini Tarot” by David Palladini published by U.S. Games Inc., in 1996.
The Aquarian Tarot Deck
The Aquarian Tarot Deck illustrated by David Palladini, published by Morgan Press, Inc., 1970.
The Tarot Strikes Back
Roy Huteson Stewart's The Tarot Strikes Back combines Star Wars with Rider-Waite tarot imagery.
House of Tudor
Randy Butterfield's House of Tudor playing cards feature detailed art in a high-quality collectible ...
Jack-O’-Lantern Tarot
Giuliano Costa's Jack-O’-Lantern tarot blends Rider-Waite symbolism with the rich and atmospheric th...
Miniature spanish-suited playing cards
Pack of 48 miniature spanish playing-cards published by C R.
Uncut Sheet by Johann Jobst Forster
A proof sheet containing twelve court cards of conventional French type.
Lend Me Five Shillings
or “Her Majesty’s Privy Purse” - a merry round-the-table game published by D. Ogilvy.
The History of Playing Cards
Playing cards arrived in Europe the late 14th century and rapidly became a part of popular culture. Antique playing cards are like a visit to the local museum and evoke images of past eras and ways of life and also demonstrate archaic technology or production methods. So what do the oldest surviving playing cards look like?
Georg Kapfler
Antique deck of old Bohemian playing cards of the German type manufactured by Georg Kapfler and date...
Playing cards in the Upper Rhine region
Documentary evidence suggests that card playing established itself in Italy in 1376, and then spread...
Silver Cards from Peru
Spanish-suited silver cards, richly embellished and enamelled, from a former Spanish Viceroy in Peru...
Hidden meanings in painting by Jheronimus Bosch
Medieval View of Gambling in the ‘Garden of Earthly Delights’ by Jheronimus Bosch
Art & Design
Design Caricatures Abstract Cartoon Celtic Deco Jugendstil Renaissance Rococo SurrealismThe playing card calls for artistic treatment and although the constrained size imposes some limitations there is an almost bewildering wealth and variety of designs in playing cards and their tuck boxes. The serious player requires design to be unobtrusive so that aesthetic considerations remain in the background. However, with modern manufacturing technology more eye-catching designs are becoming popular as gifts, collectibles and for their attractive appearance.
Repoker Político
Political caricature playing cards designed by Antonio Olveira, published by the Malaga newspaper “D...
1893 Worshipful Company Pack
Worshipful Company Pack manufactured by Chas Goodall & Son, 1893.
Le Ore playing cards
Caricatures of famous personalities from the late 1970s for the Italian magazine Le Ore.
Art Nouveau Whist playing cards from a small Dutch factory
The factory probably only produced playing cards for a few years in the 1920's
Oracle, Divination & Tarot
The art of interpreting divine omens - augury or reading karma - has since ancient times been integral to political, civic and religious life.
More recently, Cartomancy and modern esoteric tarot packs have been produced in a wide variety of conceptions and involve use of imagination and intuition to assess one’s thoughts and feelings from the view point of the symbolic images and numbers.
It is possible for an object to be construed as a game in one context, and as something other than a game in a different context.
Tarot, originally a 15th century card game, has evolved into a popular system of personal mysticism, self-exploration and spirituality Learn more about tarot►
Tarot de Madrid
Black-and-white photographs of models whose faces are made up using elements found on the major arca...
Smash Hits playing cards
Pack of playing cards with pop stars offered free with the Smash Hits magazine.
Animal Tarok by Jean Friedrich Mayer (1752-1783)
Animal Tarok by Jean Friedrich Mayer (1752-1783).
Geistliche Karten
Geistliche Karten, Augsburg, 1718. Each card carries a text in Gothic typeface giving advice regardi...
The games we play mirror the world we live in, like popular art. There was a time when friends and family played indoor games by the fireside and enjoyed countless hours of pleasure and amusement. Children don’t play card games so much because they prefer computer games, the ultimate excitement. Antique and vintage card games offer documentary evidence, as well as nostalgic memories, of the social interaction, fashions and stereotypes of bygone days and are a study in social anthropology.
French card games are mostly Jeux des Sept Familles. German games are often pleasing on the eye, and they seem to favour quartet games. USA love quartets of world worthies like authors, painters, composers. Games are not simply an escape from the real world, they are also educational and provide a place to process what it all means.
EPCS May 1986 Newsletter
Memories by Robert Burrow • Waddington & De la Rue patience packs • De la Rue LOBO: Tooting Broadway...
EPCS February 2002 Newsletter
Richard Edward • Rorkes Drift - ZULU • Benno • Sir Gurney Benham • Nursery Rhyme & Travel Snap • The...
EPCS August 1995 Newsletter
Peace and Liberation VJ DAY 1945-1995 • John Jaques & Son 1795-1995 Bicentenary • WWII • Royals • Gu...
Waddingtons Nursery Rhymes
Nursery rhyme playing cards by Waddingtons, Leeds, UK, 1975.
The Big Picture
Playing cards have a universal appeal and are a reflection of human culture.
Playing cards are a part of almost every culture and society around the world. These small, rectangular pieces of paper have been a source of entertainment for generations and are still enjoyed by people of all ages today. Whether it’s a simple game of solitaire, a high-stakes game of poker, or a magic trick that delights, there’s something about playing cards that captures the imagination and inspires creativity. As Delef Hoffmann once said “whether we consider cards as mere merchandise or as the bond which unites people with one another, just think of what we would be if we had no cards! How boring and unsociable our lives would be without this invention!”
The origin of cards can be traced back to China, where they were first used as early as the 9th century. From there, the cards travelled across Asia and the Middle East, and finally found their way to Europe in the 14th century.
Since then, playing cards have been used for a wide range of purposes, including fortune-telling and even propaganda. But the most significant impact they have had on humanity is through their use in games, which have brought people together for centuries.
While playing cards have brought people together for fun and play, they have also been a source of disruption in the form of gambling. For many, gambling has become an addiction, leading to financial ruin and even anti-social problems.
The artistic value of cards cannot be overlooked, with their intricate details and unique designs of each card reflecting the creativity and ingenuity of artists. Playing cards are a reflection of our society, with each country and region having its unique designs and styles. As Sylvia Mann put it “there are fashions in cards, and these fashions very often reflect the history of the times”. From the bold and colourful designs of India to the intricate and detailed patterns of Russia, playing cards are a testament to the creativity and diversity of the human experience.
Playing cards are an enduring symbol of human connection and creativity, transcending language, borders and cultures. Through the power of games, they have brought people together for centuries, creating shared experiences that have fostered friendships, learning and social bonds. While their role in gambling has been disruptive, their stunning artistic designs elevate them to works of art, worthy of appreciation and admiration. Playing cards are a testament to the power of human creativity and a reflection of the rich cultural tapestry of our world.
References
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About the World of Playing Cards
Our aim is to increase awareness and appreciation of the cultural and historical significance of playing cards.
The World of Playing Cards was established in 1996 as a place where you can learn about playing cards, their history, design and manufacture, and see cards from around the world.
They reflect the traditions of many countries. They vary widely in size, style, shape, artistry, usage and many other purposes in education, marketing or even for fortune telling. There is a fascination in playing card design: the neat symmetries and quirky symbols. The composition of the pack - court cards, suits, pips - provides endless scope of play.
They are recognised everywhere around the world - we rarely question their origins.
Since their invention, cards have lost none of their popularity. Playing cards have a long history and it's in the art that the richness of playing cards is to be discovered.
Simon & Adam
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