Mr Deuceace and Mr Dawkins sitting at a round table playing cards Since 1996, this collaborative project has grown to include 4,544 articles by 28 contributors, including researchers, collectors, artists and historians covering topics from Art Nouveau to Zoology. We move beyond simply cataloguing playing cards by date, manufacturer and place of origin, and adopt a dynamic, interactive and thematic approach, bridging the past with the present, telling stories, opening conceptual perspectives and the necessary reflectiveness to gain new insights and ways to appreciate their role in history.

Batman® playing cards

Batman playing cards published by InterCol of London 1989.

Can You Believe Your Eyes?

“Can You Believe Your Eyes?” playing cards featuring visual illusions & other oddities.

Pastime Playing Cards for the Blind

The “Pastime” Playing Cards for the Blind manufactured by Goodall & Son Limd., c.1910.

New Articles

Can You Believe Your Eyes?
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
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 – 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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, 2025

Current Trends

Tarot de Valverde de la Vera 1980

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.

Corner Indices 1864

Corner Indices were a major innovation in playing card production.

Canasta 1947

Canasta is a card game of the Rummy family which originated in Uruguay probably about 1947.

Rider-Waite Tarot 1909

The Rider Waite Tarot was created at the beginning of the 20th century by Arthur Edward Waite and Pamela Colman Smith.

Cartes Lenormand 1920

“Cartes Lenormand” published by H. P. Gibson & Sons Ltd, London, printed in Germany by B. Dondorf, 1920s.

Dondorf 1833

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 Card 1863

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 1832

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.

Early History of Playing Cards & Timeline 1370

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...


Explore

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.

A decorative black and white line ornament with a circular design in the center and horizontal lines extending from both sides

United States Playing Card Co.
Over the years the pressures of competition and other market forces have led to many smaller manufacturers being taken over by larger ones. The outcome is that the U.S.P.C.C. is now the largest manufacturer in the United States. more
2003 Iraqi Most Wanted Playing Cards
1885 Bicycle No.808

Bicycle No.808

By Simon Wintle

1885 Bicycle Playing Cards, 1st edition

Bicycle Playing Cards, 1st edition

By Rod Starling (1936-2023)

1896 Circus No.47

Circus No.47

By Rod Starling (1936-2023)


Card Games
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.
1984 Donkey game from Malaysia

Donkey game from Malaysia

By Anthony Lee

Proverbs and Maxims

Proverbs and Maxims

By Simon Wintle

Jaques’ Games

Jaques’ Games

By Simon Wintle


Advertising
Closely following the development of visual advertising in general, such as on labels, packaging, posters and TV commercials, advertising playing cards seek to find ways to associate products with our inner desires and longings, with our identity and who we want to be. Some packs are widely distributed as part of larger promotions, others are more exclusive. In some cases single cards are collected from inside the advertised product, thereby stimulating further sales to complete a full set.
1960 Dutch Pattern for Van Perlstein
1980 Air India

Air India

By Rex Pitts (1940-2021)


History
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... more
1495 Mamluk Playing Cards

Mamluk Playing Cards

By Simon Wintle

1864 Corner Indices

Corner Indices

By Simon Wintle


Facsimiles & Replicas

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.

1440 The Princely Hunting pack, c.1440
1879 La Sibylle des Salons

La Sibylle des Salons

By Rex Pitts (1940-2021)

1780 Vandenborre Tarot

Vandenborre Tarot

By Simon Wintle


The Big Picture

Playing cards have a universal appeal and are a reflection of human culture.

A decorative black and white line ornament with a circular design in the center and horizontal lines extending from both sides
Simon & Adam Wintle

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!"

Dasavatara Ganjifa from India

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.

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.

Playing cards from different cultures

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