The Earliest Playing Cards
|
|
 |
What did the earliest European cards look like?The first European references to playing cards date from the 1370s and come from Catalonia (Spain), Florence, France, Sienna, Viterbo (Italy), southern Germany, Switzerland and Brabant. Most of these refer to 'a recent introduction'. No cards from this early survive, but the sources indicate that cards were being painted 'in gold and various colours' or 'painted and gilded' which suggests luxury packs. The earliest surviving cards are from the fifteenth century. Some examples of these are shown on this page. The Medieval mind delighted in the ornate and colourful, and the art of the miniature was much admired and practised. Click on the images to see more |
 |
 |
 |
|