
New Articles

Jeux de Cartes de la Haute-Marne
Double pack featuring historical figures and local views of the Haute-Marne, to mark its bicentenary as a dépa...
Roddy Somerville • 1 day ago
Mini One Deck
One small pack for playing card games, chess, checkers, domino games, dice games, and for use as poker chips.
Roddy Somerville • 2 days ago

Catch the Kaiser
Card game with non-standard suits, featuring British military leaders from WWI plus the Kaiser.
Roddy Somerville • 3 days ago

Julius Berndl and his Austrian tarock
Josef Glanz's Tarock: a classic deck with artistic innovation by Julius Berndl.
Marek Brejcha • Jul 12, 2025
OSHO Transformation Tarot
Beyond Cartomancy: Ancient Parables for Modern Self-Reflection.
Simon Wintle • Jun 28, 2025
Gigerl-Tarock by Joseph Glanz
Urban Dandy caricature deck from 19th century Vienna designed by Julius Berndl.
Marek Brejcha • Jun 27, 2025
The Molassine Company and its link to Whist and Bridge
A savvy marketing strategy blending Victorian decorative design with Edwardian practicality.
Tony Hall • Jun 22, 2025
Prague Heraldic Poker Cards
Heraldic souvenir playing cards infused with Czech national and historical symbolism.
Konrad Hämmerle • Jun 21, 2025Current Trends
Artificial Intelligence (AI) generated tarot deck produced by Marcus Katz. Is this science fiction or the future of tarot?
Playing cards used to help troops identify the most-wanted members of Saddam Hussein's government. 2003.
In standard English packs the Ace of Spades is associated with decorative designs. This is a historical survey of why this should be.
Canasta is a card game of the Rummy family which originated in Uruguay probably about 1947.
Playing cards are used for fortune-telling, predicting the future or even as a psychological adjunct to folk medicine and therapy. Turning another card illumines the moment and new clarity emerges.
John Waddington Limited was a leading producer of playing cards and card games in the UK during the period 1922-1995. The company had been founded in the nineteenth century by Mr John Waddington and W...
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.
The first reliable evidence that playing cards were being used in Italy is from 1376, when a game called 'naibbe' is forbidden in a decree, with the implication that the game had only recently been in...
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...
Explore
4,617 articles featuring content from 119 countries, 1,370 manufacturers and 1,150 designers; including 388 themes, 266 brands, 77 suits, 54 games and 31 licenses.



Ogdens Beauties & Military cigarette cards
By Roddy Somerville

Jack Daniel’s Playing Cards
By Peter Burnett

Spanish Historical Characters playing cards, c.1896
By Simon Wintle

Boddingtons Bitter playing cards
By Roddy Somerville

This term refers to a family of card games that originated in Persia and spread to India during the Moghul period. The traditional Ganjifa deck consists of 96 cards divided into eight suits. The cards are typically round and hand-painted with intricate designs. The games played with this pack often involve trick-taking mechanics, and the rules can vary significantly depending on the region and specific variant of the game being played.

Dasavatara Ganjifa from India
By Simon Wintle

Indian Ganjifa Playing Cards
By Rex Pitts (1940-2021)

Chitrashala Press
By Simon Wintle

Handmade Ganjifa Birds Playing Cards
By Ian Taylor


The Joker Card
By Simon Wintle

Why our playing-cards look the way they do
By Paul Bostock

Jest Jokers
By Simon Wintle

Baggy Clown Joker
By Rex Pitts (1940-2021)


New Era No.46
By Rod Starling (1936-2023)

Whist by Ditha Moser
By Marek Brejcha

Art Nouveau Rommé • Canasta • Bridge
By Rex Pitts (1940-2021)

Jugendstil Art Nouveau Bridge
By Rex Pitts (1940-2021)

In 1889, Fusajirô Yamauchi began manufacturing “Hanafuda” or “flower cards” under the brand name Nintendō Koppai. Cards were hand crafted using the bark from mulberry and mitsu-mata trees. Around 1902 the firm began producing Western style playing cards.
After WWII, Nintendō managed to survive a period of heavy taxation on playing-cards, which killed off many smaller manufacturers. In the second half of the 20th century they diversified into children’s toys and, later on, video games.

Japanese Playing Cards
By Simon Wintle

Dancing
By Jon Randall

Kabufuda
By Anthony Lee

Tactics Design
By Jon Randall
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
Recent Changes
Latest updates and modifications