Mr Deuceace and Mr Dawkins sitting at a round table playing cards Since 1996, this collaborative project has grown into a living archive of 4,617 articles by over 30 contributors, including researchers, collectors, artists and historians, unravelling the rich tapestry of playing cards across cultures and centuries. More than catalogues of dates and makers, these cards are silent witnesses to human creativity: artifacts of art, science and social exchange. They’ve been tools for games of chance and skill, canvases for folklore or political satire, and instruments of divination. Here, we explore their stories as reflections of the people who held them and the societies that shaped them, sparking curiosity and wonder.

Korean Folk Painting Cards

Traditional Korean folk paintings called Minhwa, representing wishes for good fortune and longevity.

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 département.

Mini One Deck

One small pack for playing card games, chess, checkers, domino games, dice games, and for use as poker chips.

New Articles

Jeux de Cartes de la Haute-Marne
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
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
Karty Do Wróżb
Karty Do Wróżb

Fortune Telling Cards from Poland by Ewa Hadydoń.

Marek Brejcha • 3 days ago
Catch the Kaiser
Catch the Kaiser

Card game with non-standard suits, featuring British military leaders from WWI plus the Kaiser.

Roddy Somerville • 3 days ago
Happy Families
Happy Families

A cautionary tale...

Tony Hall • 6 days ago
Julius Berndl and his Austrian tarock
Julius Berndl and his Austrian tarock

Josef Glanz's Tarock: a classic deck with artistic innovation by Julius Berndl.

Marek Brejcha • Jul 12, 2025
Quaterne
Quaterne

A Victorian quartet-style children’s card game by Goodall & Son.

Tony Hall • Jul 3, 2025
OSHO Transformation Tarot
OSHO Transformation Tarot

Beyond Cartomancy: Ancient Parables for Modern Self-Reflection.

Simon Wintle • Jun 28, 2025
Gigerl-Tarock by Joseph Glanz
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
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
Prague Heraldic Poker Cards

Heraldic souvenir playing cards infused with Czech national and historical symbolism.

Konrad Hämmerle • Jun 21, 2025

Current Trends

Tarot of the Everlasting Day - AI Generated Tarot 2022

Artificial Intelligence (AI) generated tarot deck produced by Marcus Katz. Is this science fiction or the future of tarot?

Iraqi Most Wanted Playing Cards 2003

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.

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.

Apache Playing Cards 1875

Apache Indian Playing Cards made on rawhide, first recorded 1875.

Rider Waite Tarot early editions

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.

Waddington’s Playing Cards 1922

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 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.

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...

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...


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.

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

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.
1994 Jack Daniel’s Playing Cards
1996 Boddingtons Bitter playing cards

Boddingtons Bitter playing cards

By Roddy Somerville


Ganjifa

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.

1950 Dasavatara Ganjifa from India
Indian Ganjifa Playing Cards

Indian Ganjifa Playing Cards

By Rex Pitts (1940-2021)

1940 Chitrashala Press

Chitrashala Press

By Simon Wintle


Joker
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. more
1863 The Joker Card

The Joker Card

By Simon Wintle

2000 Jest Jokers

Jest Jokers

By Simon Wintle

1908 Baggy Clown Joker

Baggy Clown Joker

By Rex Pitts (1940-2021)


Art Nouveau & Jugendstil
Art Nouveau, also known as Jugendstil, was an artistic movement that emerged in Europe in the late 19th century, around the 1890s. It was inspired by a desire to break away from the academic and historicist styles that dominated art and design at the time and to create a new, modern aesthetic that reflected the changing world and the spirit of the age. Major influences on the Art Nouveau movement were the growing interest in Eastern art and design, including “exotica”, curvilinear forms and decorative motifs drawn from nature, and advances in technology. Playing cards provide many elegant and refined examples of this style, with intricate designs, bold patterns, and vibrant colours.
1896 New Era No.46

New Era No.46

By Rod Starling (1936-2023)

1905 Whist by Ditha Moser

Whist by Ditha Moser

By Marek Brejcha

1987 Art Nouveau Rommé • Canasta • Bridge
1980 Jugendstil Art Nouveau Bridge

Jugendstil Art Nouveau Bridge

By Rex Pitts (1940-2021)


Nintendo

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

Japanese Playing Cards

By Simon Wintle

1970 Dancing

Dancing

By Jon Randall

Kabufuda

Kabufuda

By Anthony Lee

1982 Tactics Design

Tactics Design

By Jon Randall


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