Regarding the designs of playing cards
The quality of playing card designs often deteriorates with time…
The quality of playing card designs often deteriorates with time…
William Morris in The Decorative Arts, a lecture given to the Trades Guild of Learning, London 1877.
Above: 16th century cards by Jean Faucil, Rouen.
Above: cards by Hunt, London, c.1790-1800.
More examples of this tendency can be seen in studying the early examples of the Navarra pattern from Spain►
By Simon Wintle
Spain • Member since February 01, 1996 • Contact
I am the founder of The World of Playing Cards (est. 1996), a website dedicated to the history, artistry and cultural significance of playing cards and tarot. Over the years I have researched various areas of the subject, acquired and traded collections and contributed as a committee member of the IPCS and graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal. Having lived in Chile, England, Wales, and now Spain, these experiences have shaped my work and passion for playing cards. Amongst my achievements is producing a limited-edition replica of a 17th-century English pack using woodblocks and stencils—a labour of love. Today, the World of Playing Cards is a global collaborative project, with my son Adam serving as the technical driving force behind its development. His innovative efforts have helped shape the site into the thriving hub it is today. You are warmly invited to become a contributor and share your enthusiasm.
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