
New Articles

Can You Believe Your Eyes?
“Can You Believe Your Eyes?” playing cards featuring visual illusions & other oddities.
Jon Randall • 1 day ago
Pastime Playing Cards for the Blind
The “Pastime” Playing Cards for the Blind manufactured by Goodall & Son Limd., c.1910.
Jon Randall • 1 day ago
Polish Kings and Queens – red deck
Polish kings and queens plus the court jester, illustrated in a distinctive style inspired by historical portr...
Konrad Hämmerle • 1 day ago
Doppel-Deutsche Karten by Bratří Willnerové, Teplice
This deck from local manufacturer Bratří Willnerová offers a standard version of the popular Central European ...
Marek Brejcha • 2 days ago
French Revolutionary cards by Pinaut
Seven cards from a French Revolutionary pack by Pinaut featuring characters from classical antiquity.
Roddy Somerville • 3 days ago
Zürcher Festspiel 1903
Swiss-suited pack designed by Robert Hardmeyer featuring figures from art and politics.
Roddy Somerville • 5 days ago
An Anonymous Belgian Transformation Pack
Anonymous Belgian transformation pack borrowing many images from earlier designs by Braun & Schneider.
Roddy Somerville • 6 days ago
Tarot de las Coscojas
Historical playing card design, tarot symbolism and an almost psychedelic medieval surrealism.
Simon Wintle • Mar 28, 2025
The European Interchanges Quartets
A card game based around motorway intersections from European countries.
Marek Brejcha • Mar 26, 2025
Tarot de Valverde de la Vera
A series of 24 surrealist engravings by Mexican artist Claudio Favier in which archetypal Tarot allegories are...
Simon Wintle • Mar 22, 2025
Austrian Tarock by S.D. Modiano
Modiano’s Austrian Tarock with country scenes has been in production for over 100 years.
Marek Brejcha • Mar 18, 2025Current Trends
A series of 24 surrealist engravings by Mexican artist Claudio Favier in which archetypal Tarot allegories are re-imagined as a mirror of the contradictory forces within us.
Canasta is a card game of the Rummy family which originated in Uruguay probably about 1947.
The Rider Waite Tarot was created at the beginning of the 20th century by Arthur Edward Waite and Pamela Colman Smith.
“Cartes Lenormand” published by H. P. Gibson & Sons Ltd, London, printed in Germany by B. Dondorf, 1920s.
The luxury playing card factory founded in Frankfurt am Main by Bernhard Dondorf in 1833 existed for 100 years.
The art of mystifying people is very old indeed. The first conjurers were priests who obtained power over simple minds by performing magical tricks which appeared to have a supernatural origin.
The 'Joker' is believed to have been invented by American Euchre players who, when modifying the rules sometime during the 1860s, decided that an extra trump card was required.
The 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 bo...
De La Rue introduced letter-press printing into playing card production and his patent was granted in 1831. He produced his first playing cards in 1832.
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. Di...
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 metho...
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4,544 articles featuring content from 119 countries, 1,346 manufacturers and 1,126 designers; including 386 themes, 266 brands, 76 suits, 52 games and 31 licenses.



Iraqi Most Wanted Playing Cards
By Peter Burnett

Bicycle No.808
By Simon Wintle

Bicycle Playing Cards, 1st edition
By Rod Starling (1936-2023)

Circus No.47
By Rod Starling (1936-2023)


Donkey game from Malaysia
By Anthony Lee

Dungeons & Dragons “Curse of Strahd” Tarokka Deck
By Adam Wintle

Proverbs and Maxims
By Simon Wintle

Jaques’ Games
By Simon Wintle


Branded Tarot Decks and Modern Mystic Lifestyle
By Adam Wintle

Dutch Pattern for Van Perlstein
By Simon Wintle

Introduction to Collecting Themes
By Paul Bostock

Air India
By Rex Pitts (1940-2021)


The History of Playing Cards
By Simon Wintle

Mamluk Playing Cards
By Simon Wintle

Perspectives on the History of Tarot
By Simon Wintle

Corner Indices
By Simon Wintle

Facsimiles, Replicas & Recreations of playing cards offer a unique glimpse into the evolution of card design. This list includes various reproductions, some based on historical designs from as far back as the 1600s. Each article provides detailed information about the origins and inspirations behind the recreations.

The Princely Hunting pack, c.1440
By Simon Wintle

Antique Swiss Playing Cards, c.1530
By Simon Wintle

La Sibylle des Salons
By Rex Pitts (1940-2021)

Vandenborre Tarot
By Simon Wintle
The Big Picture
Playing cards have a universal appeal and are a reflection of human culture.


Above: Chinese money-suited cards. Some of the earliest cards have origins in the Far East.
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!"

Above: Dasavatara Ganjifa from India. Playing cards from India are often circular.
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.

Above left: a set of Spanish playing cards from 1638 was discovered inside a prison wall during demolition, likely used for gambling by prisoners. Above center: Trump Presidential playing cards, playing cards are often used for political messages. Above right: the Magician from the popualr Rider-Waite tarot, which has become the template for modern tarot decks.
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.

Above left: Kashmir Playing Cards, above center: Ethiopian Air Lines playing cards produced by Nintendo, above right: striking playing cards designed by Masuo Ikeda.
Playing cards have a wide embrace, spanning across cultures and countries, with a scope of diverse subjects that reflect the values and beliefs of their respective societies.
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
- The Playing Card, Delef Hoffmann, 1972
- Collecting Playing Cards, Sylvia Mann, 1966
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