Crystal Palace, Great Exhibition (London, 1851) — international expositions where playing-card makers exhibited new printing and design techniques Since 1996, this collaborative project has grown into an independent archive of 4,972 articles, written by collectors, researchers, artists and historians from around the world, documenting playing cards from early handmade cards to industrial production, and from games of chance and skill to education, advertising, political satire, magic and fortune-telling.

The archive looks beyond the basics, revealing the wider history behind playing cards. It explores how cards were designed, printed and traded, how they were regulated, and what their imagery was intended to convey. All content is edited with care and supported by sources, images and dates to support reliable research
A decorative black and white line ornament with a circular design in the center and horizontal lines extending from both sides

Latest Articles

Balearic Souvenir Cards

Mediterranean Souvenir deck by Rioba Studio, Pollença, Mallorca.

Martin Sharp’s Psychedelic Tarot

Psychedelic Tarot by Martin Sharp issued in poster form with an issue of OZ magazine.

Murder of Crows Tarot

Corrado Roi’s 2020 tarot pack presents a dark, watchful world of crows and ritual figures.

Latest Activity

Martin Sharp’s Psychedelic Tarot
Martin Sharp’s Psychedelic Tarot

Psychedelic Tarot by Martin Sharp issued in poster form with an issue of OZ magazine.

1 day ago Roddy Somerville
Murder of Crows Tarot
Murder of Crows Tarot

Corrado Roi’s 2020 tarot pack presents a dark, watchful world of crows and ritual figures.

1 day ago Kieran Evans
EPCS June 2026 Newsletter
June 2026 Newsletter Members access

Discover De La Rue and British Empire Exhibition cards, a Waddingtons Orient Line pack, rare English Aces, Donald McGill...

Cartes Oracle or La Voyante
Cartes Oracle or La Voyante

Comparing three editions of a French cartomantic pack by Héron.

2 days ago Roddy Somerville
Tarot Familiars
Tarot Familiars

Lisa Parker’s Tarot Familiars gives the traditional 78-card tarot a distinctly gothic world of cats, creatures and witchcraft.

2 days ago Kieran Evans
Karten-Almanach
Karten-Almanach

Fifth Transformation Card Almanac published by J.G. Cotta’s bookshop, 1810.

3 days ago Simon Wintle
Les Fleurs (Hachette Livre)
Les Fleurs (Hachette Livre)

Delicate floral drawings by Zoé de Las Cases with symbolic meanings in French.

3 days ago Roddy Somerville
Calligraphy Card Game
Calligraphy Card Game

Military figures executed in calligraphic flourishes by Johann Christoph Albrecht.

5 days ago Marek Brejcha
Emoji Playing Card
Emoji Playing Card

Emoji suits in a Bicycle pack designed by Randy Butterfield.

5 days ago Adam Wintle
Papier Tigre
Papier Tigre

Stylised French pattern courts broken down into simple geometric shapes.

5 days ago Roddy Somerville
Tarot de los Angeles
Tarot de los Angeles

Tarot de los Angeles is a 78-card pack featuring angels and other celestial beings, which works more like an oracle than a conventional tarot.

5 days ago Kieran Evans
Dungeon Map Playing Cards
Dungeon Map Playing Cards

Dungeon-map cards from Inked Adventures for role-playing games.

6 days ago Adam Wintle
The Wildwood Tarot
The Wildwood Tarot

The Wildwood Tarot replaces the familiar suits and Major Arcana with a woodland world of animals, tools and folklore.

6 days ago Kieran Evans
Figures from Romanian History
Figures from Romanian History

Named characters from Romanian history on a pack by Grimaud of Paris.

6 days ago Roddy Somerville
The Reserve
The Reserve

Where the wild things are.

6 days ago Lev Golinkin
Tattoo Tarot: Ink & Intuition
Tattoo Tarot: Ink & Intuition

A 2018 tarot pack featuring Megamunden’s bold, vintage tattoo-inspired artwork.

Jul 15, 2026 Kieran Evans
Französisches Bild
Französisches Bild

North German pattern based on the 'Paris' pattern by Johann Anton Steinberger.

Jul 14, 2026 Simon Wintle
Romania playing cards
Romania playing cards

Romanian voivodes and their wives from the 15th and 16th centuries.

Roddy Somerville By Roddy Somerville
Piatnik No.97
Piatnik No.97

Non-standard French-suited cards published by Ferd Piatnik & Sõhne, Vienna, c.1940s.

Simon Wintle By Simon Wintle
The Reserve
The Reserve

Where the wild things are.

Lev Golinkin By Lev Golinkin
Politicards 2008
Politicards 2008

Politicards ’08 with caricatures cast as characters from classic movies, USA.

Peter Burnett By Peter Burnett
Schweizer Trachten
Schweizer Trachten

Schweizer Trachten No.174 (Costumes Suisses) by Dondorf.

Barney Townshend By Barney Townshend
Piatnik & Sons for the“Estanco de Naipes del Perú”
Piatnik & Sons for the“Estanco de Naipes del Perú”

Playing Cards made by Piatnik & Sons for the“Estanco de Naipes del Perú”, c.1960.

Simon Wintle By Simon Wintle
History of Tarot and Playing Cards: Timeline & Origins
History of Tarot and Playing Cards: Timeline & Origins

An alternative history of tarot and playing cards – from Mamluk Egypt to the invention of tarot in Renaissance...

Ana Cortez By Ana Cortez
The Standard English pattern - Part 2, the tricky bits
The Standard English pattern - Part 2, the tricky bits

There are many less straightforward aspects to the designs of the English pattern, which need careful consider...

Ken Lodge By Ken Lodge
Warka playing cards
Warka playing cards

Advertising pack for the Polish brewery Warka, featuring footballers, coaches and supporters.

Roddy Somerville By Roddy Somerville
Figures from Romanian History
Figures from Romanian History

Named characters from Romanian history on a pack by Grimaud of Paris.

Roddy Somerville By Roddy Somerville
Premio para los ninõs
Premio para los ninõs

Antique fantasy Spanish-style children's card game making a map, published in France.

Simon Wintle By Simon Wintle
Managing cards without corner indices
Managing cards without corner indices

For many hundreds of years cards had no corner indices, were square cut and mostly made from card without the ...

Tony Hall By Tony Hall
Romania playing cards
Roddy Somerville

By

Roddy Somerville

Romania playing cards

Romanian voivodes and their wives from the 15th and 16th centuries.

Piatnik No.97
Simon Wintle

By

Simon Wintle

Piatnik No.97

Non-standard French-suited cards published by Ferd Piatnik & Sõhne, Vienna, c.1940s.

The Reserve
Lev Golinkin

By

Lev Golinkin

The Reserve

Where the wild things are.

Politicards 2008
Peter Burnett

By

Peter Burnett

Politicards 2008

Politicards ’08 with caricatures cast as characters from classic movies, USA.

Schweizer Trachten
Barney Townshend

By

Barney Townshend

Schweizer Trachten

Schweizer Trachten No.174 (Costumes Suisses) by Dondorf.

Piatnik & Sons for the“Estanco de Naipes del Perú”
Simon Wintle

By

Simon Wintle

Piatnik & Sons for the“Estanco de Naipes del Perú”

Playing Cards made by Piatnik & Sons for the“Estanco de Naipes del Perú”, c.1960.

History of Tarot and Playing Cards: Timeline & Origins
Ana Cortez

By

Ana Cortez

History of Tarot and Playing Cards: Timeline & Origins

An alternative history of tarot and playing cards – from Mamluk Egypt to the invention of tarot in Renaissance Italy.

The Standard English pattern - Part 2, the tricky bits
Ken Lodge

By

Ken Lodge

The Standard English pattern - Part 2, the tricky bits

There are many less straightforward aspects to the designs of the English pattern, which need careful consideration.

Warka playing cards
Roddy Somerville

By

Roddy Somerville

Warka playing cards

Advertising pack for the Polish brewery Warka, featuring footballers, coaches and supporters.

Figures from Romanian History
Roddy Somerville

By

Roddy Somerville

Figures from Romanian History

Named characters from Romanian history on a pack by Grimaud of Paris.

Premio para los ninõs
Simon Wintle

By

Simon Wintle

Premio para los ninõs

Antique fantasy Spanish-style children's card game making a map, published in France.

Managing cards without corner indices
Tony Hall

By

Tony Hall

Managing cards without corner indices

For many hundreds of years cards had no corner indices, were square cut and mostly made from card without the smooth, sl...



Sign in to manage homepage interests and save the topics that appear in the rows you see here.
Themes

Biedermeier

Biedermeier
Biedermeier refers to a 19th century art movement in Central Europe, particularly in the German Confederation, that lasted from 1815 to 1848. It is characterized by a focus on middle-class values, domestic life, and simplicity in art, furniture and design, emerging after the Napoleonic Wars.

Biedermeier

Biedermeier refers to a 19th century art movement in Central Europe, particularly in the German Confederation, that lasted from 1815 to 1848. It is characterized by a focus on middle-class values, domestic life, and simplicity in art, furniture and design, emerging after the Napoleonic Wars. more
Musical playing cards
Musical playing cards

German song texts for domestic music-making on attractive early 19th-century playing cards.

Simon Wintle By Simon Wintle
Views of Baden-Baden
Views of Baden-Baden

Views of Baden-Baden: a Biedermeier souvenir deck by Johann Anton Steinberger.

Simon Wintle By Simon Wintle
The Comedy of Courtship
The Comedy of Courtship

Courtship, class and convention in a Biedermeier satirical card deck from Germany.

Simon Wintle By Simon Wintle
Translucent Playing Cards
Translucent Playing Cards

Translucent Playing Cards, 19th century French from the Biedermeier period

Simon Wintle By Simon Wintle
Musical playing cards
Simon Wintle

By

Simon Wintle

Musical playing cards

German song texts for domestic music-making on attractive early 19th-century playing cards.

Views of Baden-Baden
Simon Wintle

By

Simon Wintle

Views of Baden-Baden

Views of Baden-Baden: a Biedermeier souvenir deck by Johann Anton Steinberger.

The Comedy of Courtship
Simon Wintle

By

Simon Wintle

The Comedy of Courtship

Courtship, class and convention in a Biedermeier satirical card deck from Germany.

Translucent Playing Cards
Simon Wintle

By

Simon Wintle

Translucent Playing Cards

Translucent Playing Cards, 19th century French from the Biedermeier period


Themes

Fantasy, Myth & Legend on Playing Cards & Games

Fantasy
Fantasy on playing cards ranges from folklore and fairy tales to sword-and-sorcery, game tie-ins and artist projects. Subjects include dragons, wizards and mythical creatures, heroic quests, Gothic and occult motifs, and literary retellings. Illustration, photo-montage and hybrid approaches appear on courts, aces and jokers; some packs add map textures, heraldry, runic detail or special finishes.

Fantasy, Myth & Legend on Playing Cards & Games

Fantasy on playing cards ranges from folklore and fairy tales to sword-and-sorcery, game tie-ins and artist projects. Subjects include dragons, wizards and mythical creatures, heroic quests, Gothic and occult motifs, and literary retellings. Illustration, photo-montage and hybrid approaches appear on courts, aces and jokers; some packs add map textures, heraldry, runic detail or special finishes. more
Troubadour
Troubadour

Charming deck evoking the art of the Middle Ages.

Lev Golinkin By Lev Golinkin
The Wildwood Tarot
The Wildwood Tarot

The Wildwood Tarot replaces the familiar suits and Major Arcana with a woodland world of animals, tools and fo...

Kieran Evans By Kieran Evans
Flora playing cards
Flora playing cards

Flora playing cards made by the Angel Playing Card Co., Kyoto, 1982.

Peter Burnett By Peter Burnett
Magic: The Gathering® Poker Decks
Magic: The Gathering® Poker Decks

A pair of suited packs with artwork from Magic: The Gathering trading cards.

Roddy Somerville By Roddy Somerville
Troubadour
Lev Golinkin

By

Lev Golinkin

Troubadour

Charming deck evoking the art of the Middle Ages.

The Wildwood Tarot
Kieran Evans

By

Kieran Evans

The Wildwood Tarot

The Wildwood Tarot replaces the familiar suits and Major Arcana with a woodland world of animals, to...

Flora playing cards
Peter Burnett

By

Peter Burnett

Flora playing cards

Flora playing cards made by the Angel Playing Card Co., Kyoto, 1982.

Magic: The Gathering® Poker Decks
Roddy Somerville

By

Roddy Somerville

Magic: The Gathering® Poker Decks

A pair of suited packs with artwork from Magic: The Gathering trading cards.


Manufacturers

Karl Gerich

Gerich Karl
Karl Gerich's interest in playing-card production came to the fore while studying at Bath Academy of Art from 1975. Karl produced a unique range of hand-made playing cards during the period 1980-1998.

Karl Gerich

Karl Gerich's interest in playing-card production came to the fore while studying at Bath Academy of Art from 1975. Karl produced a unique range of hand-made playing cards during the period 1980-1998. more
Great Mogul Playing Cards
Great Mogul Playing Cards

The origins of the 'Great Mogul' brand playing cards.

Adam Wintle By Adam Wintle
Karl Gerich No.1
Karl Gerich No.1

The first entry in the catalogue, dating from c.1982, shows full-length figures with their symbols of office (...

Barney Townshend By Barney Townshend
Trappola Française v.1
Trappola Française v.1

Inspired by Piatnik's ‘Trappola’ of c.1890, with double-ended courts, a Jester and decorated Aces, the cards a...

Barney Townshend By Barney Townshend
Ganesh
Ganesh

Karl's ‘Ganesh’ pack has the four Aces with the suit sign in a circle decorated with flowers and double-ended ...

Barney Townshend By Barney Townshend
Great Mogul Playing Cards
Adam Wintle

By

Adam Wintle

Great Mogul Playing Cards

The origins of the 'Great Mogul' brand playing cards.

Karl Gerich No.1
Barney Townshend

By

Barney Townshend

Karl Gerich No.1

The first entry in the catalogue, dating from c.1982, shows full-length figures with their symbols o...

Trappola Française v.1
Barney Townshend

By

Barney Townshend

Trappola Française v.1

Inspired by Piatnik's ‘Trappola’ of c.1890, with double-ended courts, a Jester and decorated Aces, t...

Ganesh
Barney Townshend

By

Barney Townshend

Ganesh

Karl's ‘Ganesh’ pack has the four Aces with the suit sign in a circle decorated with flowers and dou...


Cheating at Whist and Bridge
Cheating at Whist and Bridge

The Blackleg in the Drawing-Room: Cheating and the Victorian Gentleman.

Tony Hall By Tony Hall
The Paraphernalia of Card Play
The Paraphernalia of Card Play

Innovation and novelties in the accessories on the card table.

Tony Hall By Tony Hall
Whist marker boxes
Whist marker boxes

The Camden Whist marker was being advertised by Goodall and son in 1872 as a new product.

Tony Hall By Tony Hall
EPCS November 2008 Newsletter
EPCS November 2008 Newsletter

Highlights include Key to the Kingdom, Jacksons Score Cards, and Sabrina Pack. The issue also covers Danger - ...

The English Playing Card Society By The English Playing Card Society
Cheating at Whist and Bridge
Tony Hall

By

Tony Hall

Cheating at Whist and Bridge

The Blackleg in the Drawing-Room: Cheating and the Victorian Gentleman.

The Paraphernalia of Card Play
Tony Hall

By

Tony Hall

The Paraphernalia of Card Play

Innovation and novelties in the accessories on the card table.

Whist marker boxes
Tony Hall

By

Tony Hall

Whist marker boxes

The Camden Whist marker was being advertised by Goodall and son in 1872 as a new product.

EPCS November 2008 Newsletter
The English Playing Card Society

By

The English Playing Card Society

EPCS November 2008 Newsletter

Highlights include Key to the Kingdom, Jacksons Score Cards, and Sabrina Pack. The issue also covers...


Manufacturers

Stancraft

Stancraft
Stancraft Playing Cards were manufactured by Brown & Bigelow of whom they were a subsidiary.

Stancraft

Stancraft Playing Cards were manufactured by Brown & Bigelow of whom they were a subsidiary. more
Official World’s Fair Souvenir, USA, 1964-6
Official World’s Fair Souvenir, USA, 1964-6

Official souvenir pack showing 52 coloured exhibits from the New York World’s Fair, 1964-6.

Peter Burnett By Peter Burnett
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! playing cards
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! playing cards

Strange facts from Robert Ripley’s ‘Believe It or Not’ books, in the form of cartoons.

Roddy Somerville By Roddy Somerville
Maya Deck
Maya Deck

The Maya Deck produced by Stancraft for Hoyle, 1976.

Rex Pitts (1940-2021) By Rex Pitts (1940-2021)
Stancraft “Split Deck”
Stancraft “Split Deck”

Stancraft “Split Deck”, 1979.

Simon Wintle By Simon Wintle
Official World’s Fair Souvenir, USA, 1964-6
Peter Burnett

By

Peter Burnett

Official World’s Fair Souvenir, USA, 1964-6

Official souvenir pack showing 52 coloured exhibits from the New York World’s Fair, 1964-6.

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! playing cards
Roddy Somerville

By

Roddy Somerville

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! playing cards

Strange facts from Robert Ripley’s ‘Believe It or Not’ books, in the form of cartoons.

Maya Deck
Rex Pitts (1940-2021)

By

Rex Pitts (1940-2021)

Maya Deck

The Maya Deck produced by Stancraft for Hoyle, 1976.

Stancraft “Split Deck”
Simon Wintle

By

Simon Wintle

Stancraft “Split Deck”

Stancraft “Split Deck”, 1979.


Themes

Playing Card Backs

Backs
Playing card backs can be seen in connection with the history of coloured paper, marbled papers and prints from different rollers. In the old days backs were often coloured with a wide brush by hand but today we see intricate designs and photography on the backs. The technical problem has always been ensuring that the backs are uniform and perfectly aligned so that no card may be identified from an irregularity or blemish on the back.

Playing Card Backs

Playing card backs can be seen in connection with the history of coloured paper, marbled papers and prints from different rollers. In the old days backs were often coloured with a wide brush by hand but today we see intricate designs and photography on the backs. The technical problem has always been ensuring that the backs are uniform and perfectly aligned so that no card may be identified from an irregularity or blemish on the back. more
The Dark Knight Joker Calling Cards
The Dark Knight Joker Calling Cards

Joker “Calling Card” set issued in connection with the film The Dark Knight (2008).

Adam Wintle By Adam Wintle
Three Rare Playing Card Back Designs
Three Rare Playing Card Back Designs

The Norwood 85 (USPC, c.1909): a very scarce American deck with two fine art back designs, apparently survivin...

Rod Starling (1936-2023) By Rod Starling (1936-2023)
14: Back Designs
14: Back Designs

A few examples of the many interesting back designs.

Ken Lodge By Ken Lodge
Playing Card Design
Playing Card Design

The playing card calls for artistic treatment and although the constrained size imposes some limitations there...

Simon Wintle By Simon Wintle
The Dark Knight Joker Calling Cards
Adam Wintle

By

Adam Wintle

The Dark Knight Joker Calling Cards

Joker “Calling Card” set issued in connection with the film The Dark Knight (2008).

Three Rare Playing Card Back Designs
Rod Starling (1936-2023)

By

Rod Starling (1936-2023)

Three Rare Playing Card Back Designs

The Norwood 85 (USPC, c.1909): a very scarce American deck with two fine art back designs, apparentl...

14: Back Designs
Ken Lodge

By

Ken Lodge

14: Back Designs

A few examples of the many interesting back designs.

Playing Card Design
Simon Wintle

By

Simon Wintle

Playing Card Design

The playing card calls for artistic treatment and although the constrained size imposes some limitat...


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

The English Playing Card Society

Founded in 1984, the English Playing Card Society (EPCS) promotes research into the history and development of English playing cards and card games, and supports the exchange of information and ideas between collectors, researchers, archivists, designers, manufacturers and dealers.

The Society publishes the EPCS Newsletter three times a year and maintains an online archive of back issues.

The English Playing Card Society motif: Deuce and Tray
Above: EPCS Society motif — Deuce and Tray (1865)

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 have a long history and cultural significance, forming a part of almost every society around the world. The origins of playing cards can be traced back centuries, and today they remain a universal symbol of creativity, entertainment, and human connection. These small, rectangular pieces of paper have been a source of fun for generations and are still enjoyed in countless ways—whether in a simple game of solitaire, a high-stakes poker match, or the tarot cards used for fortune-telling. There is something about the history and design of 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.

Recent Changes

Latest updates and modifications

Sign in with Google