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.
Poker Lusso
Richly costumed courts on a luxury poker pack from Masenghini.
Classic Card Games for Kids
A boxed set of playing cards, Happy Families and an alphabet pack with rules for 22 games.
Eves Playing Cards
A pack of cards with colour photos of Indian film stars from the era
Alabama Crimson Tide 1972
Photos of American football players representing the University of Alabama in 1972.
Knoll International
Geometric designs by the French artist Jean Garçon for Knoll International, the furniture company.
Transair
Humorous designs promoting Transair, a German charter flight operator.
Bon Gout No.11 with Crimean War aces
Made by Mesmaekers & Moentack of Turnhout.
A New Year’s Greeting
in the form of playing cards
Nine art-nouveau transformation playing cards
by an unknown artist
Interhotel playing cards
Interhotel playing cards printed by Obchodni Tiskárny (OTK), Prague, and published by the Interhotel...
Naipes Heraclio Fournier 130th Anniversary
Baraja conmemorativa del 130 aniversario de naipes Heraclio Fournier (1868-1998) Spain, 1998.
Guanlangaoshou / Slam Dunk playing cards
Basketball-themed manga animated playing cards from Japan.
44: Australia
Two early makers, Thomas and Sands & McDougall, used courts copied from those of the New York Consol...
48: Ferdinand Piatnik & Sons
Ferd. Piatnik produced a very large range of cards with many different standard and non-standard pat...
Cribbage Board Collection part 4
A collection of antique and vintage Cribbage Boards by Tony Hall, part 4.
Patience Cards and their Boxes
Patience Cards and their Boxes by Tony Hall.
Cribbage Board Collection
A collection of antique and vintage Cribbage Boards by Tony Hall
Les Mousquetaires
Philibert "Les Mousquetaires" Playing Cards, designed by Albert Dubout (1905-1976).
Karl Gerich no.23: “Beautiful Bath”
Beautiful Bath is a hand-made pack by Karl Gerich which was published in 1996.
Tarot Microscopique
French-suited tarot cards made by B. Dondorf, c.1870.
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?
XVII Century Engraved Animal Cards
Anonymous French-suited German engraved cards c1610 to 1650.
The Combination of Images and Text on early playing cards
When playing cards have titles or legends these reference a written/literary tradition of some form....
72: The Ace of Spades
In standard English packs the Ace of Spades is associated with decorative designs. This is a histori...
Trappola cards from Prague
15 Trappola playing cards possibly made by Johann Ziser of Prague, c1760.
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.
Whimsical Playing Cards
Whimsical Playing Cards by Turkish designer & illustrator Oksal Yesilok, 2016.
Estelares
Naipes Estelares playing cards manufactured by Luis A. Fourvel y Cia., Buenos Aires, early 1950s.
Trump 777
Trump 777 decorative playing cards by Hallmark.
Japanese Women
Japanese Women playing cards in an idealised and erotic style by Keiichi Takasawa (1914-1984).
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►
Tarocchi di Mantegna, c.1465
The so-called Tarocchi di Mantegna (c.1465) reflect an ideological structure bringing to mind the so...
Prophet Fortune Telling Cards
Prophet Fortune Telling Cards copyright and made by Thomas de la Rue & Co., 1933.
Watersprite tarot
The vibrant colours and artwork glorify the symbolism, mood and positive energy in this exciting new...
Jack-O’-Lantern Tarot
Giuliano Costa's Jack-O’-Lantern tarot blends Rider-Waite symbolism with the rich and atmospheric th...
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.
Fairy Snap
Fairy Snap by Norvic Mill, c.1920s.
Waddy Productions
Waddy Productions Ltd was a member of the giant Amalgamated Press group and only published card game...
Carousel Playing Cards
Carousel Playing Cards commissioned by Tesco stores, 2019.
Happy Families, c.1930
“Happy Families” game published by Chad Valley c.1930 drawn in the slightly grotesque style of the V...
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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