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
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Martin Sharp’s Psychedelic Tarot
Psychedelic Tarot by Martin Sharp issued in poster form with an issue of OZ magazine.
Less than a day ago • Roddy SomervilleMurder of Crows Tarot
Corrado Roi’s 2020 tarot pack presents a dark, watchful world of crows and ritual figures.
Less than a day ago • Kieran EvansJune 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
Comparing three editions of a French cartomantic pack by Héron.
1 day ago • Roddy SomervilleTarot Familiars
Lisa Parker’s Tarot Familiars gives the traditional 78-card tarot a distinctly gothic world of cats, creatures and witchcraft.
1 day ago • Kieran EvansKarten-Almanach
Fifth Transformation Card Almanac published by J.G. Cotta’s bookshop, 1810.
2 days ago • Simon WintleLes Fleurs (Hachette Livre)
Delicate floral drawings by Zoé de Las Cases with symbolic meanings in French.
2 days ago • Roddy SomervilleCalligraphy Card Game
Military figures executed in calligraphic flourishes by Johann Christoph Albrecht.
4 days ago • Marek BrejchaEmoji Playing Card
Emoji suits in a Bicycle pack designed by Randy Butterfield.
4 days ago • Adam WintlePapier Tigre
Stylised French pattern courts broken down into simple geometric shapes.
4 days ago • Roddy SomervilleTarot 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.
4 days ago • Kieran EvansDungeon Map Playing Cards
Dungeon-map cards from Inked Adventures for role-playing games.
5 days ago • Adam WintleThe Wildwood Tarot
The Wildwood Tarot replaces the familiar suits and Major Arcana with a woodland world of animals, tools and folklore.
5 days ago • Kieran EvansFigures from Romanian History
Named characters from Romanian history on a pack by Grimaud of Paris.
6 days ago • Roddy SomervilleTattoo Tarot: Ink & Intuition
A 2018 tarot pack featuring Megamunden’s bold, vintage tattoo-inspired artwork.
6 days ago • Kieran EvansFranzösisches Bild
North German pattern based on the 'Paris' pattern by Johann Anton Steinberger.
Jul 14, 2026 • Simon Wintle
Politicards 2008
Politicards ’08 with caricatures cast as characters from classic movies, USA.
Hispania Romana
Educational card game depicting the Roman period in Spanish history.
Habemus Boda, 2004
“Habemus Boda” deck celebrating the royal wedding of Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia of Spain with cartoons...
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...
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...
Empics playing cards
Photography from the UK and around the world, past and present.
Morgan-Greer Tarot
Based on the knowledge, wisdom and interpretation of Paul Foster Case and Arthur Edward Waite.
Le Geant, or Second Empire pack
Transformation cards issued during the Second Empire under Napoleon III.
Französisches Bild
North German pattern based on the 'Paris' pattern by Johann Anton Steinberger.
Explore
4,972 articles featuring content from 122 countries and 388 themes; including 1,428 manufacturers, 1,211 designers, 269 brands, 26 suits, 54 patterns, 64 games and 33 licenses.
Biedermeier
Biedermeier
Views of Baden-Baden
Views of Baden-Baden: a Biedermeier souvenir deck by Johann Anton Steinberger.
Musical playing cards
German song texts for domestic music-making on attractive early 19th-century playing cards.
Translucent Playing Cards
Translucent Playing Cards, 19th century French from the Biedermeier period
The Comedy of Courtship
Courtship, class and convention in a Biedermeier satirical card deck from Germany.
Views of Baden-Baden
Views of Baden-Baden: a Biedermeier souvenir deck by Johann Anton Steinberger.
Musical playing cards
German song texts for domestic music-making on attractive early 19th-century playing cards.
Translucent Playing Cards
Translucent Playing Cards, 19th century French from the Biedermeier period
The Comedy of Courtship
Courtship, class and convention in a Biedermeier satirical card deck from Germany.
Fantasy, Myth & Legend on Playing Cards & Games
Fantasy, Myth & Legend on Playing Cards & Games
The Wildwood Tarot
The Wildwood Tarot replaces the familiar suits and Major Arcana with a woodland world of animals, tools and fo...
Premio para los ninõs
Antique fantasy Spanish-style children's card game making a map, published in France.
Tarot by IELLO Games
A modern French tarot deck designed by Charlène Ingouff with radiant Art Nouveau echoes.
The Wildwood Tarot
The Wildwood Tarot replaces the familiar suits and Major Arcana with a woodland world of animals, to...
Premio para los ninõs
Antique fantasy Spanish-style children's card game making a map, published in France.
Troubadour
Charming deck evoking the art of the Middle Ages.
Tarot by IELLO Games
A modern French tarot deck designed by Charlène Ingouff with radiant Art Nouveau echoes.
Karl Gerich
Karl Gerich
Cartes Turques
"Cartes Turques" was published in 1985. Intricate designs with a hint of orientalism, double borders and disti...
Karl Gerich No.26
Variations on the standard English pattern are one of Karl's favourite themes. He produced several versions an...
Karl Gerich No.20: Rouennais A
The Aces are decorated with the pip in a central circle and two different figures at each end of the card. The...
Cartes Turques
"Cartes Turques" was published in 1985. Intricate designs with a hint of orientalism, double borders...
Great Mogul Playing Cards
The origins of the 'Great Mogul' brand playing cards.
Karl Gerich No.26
Variations on the standard English pattern are one of Karl's favourite themes. He produced several v...
Karl Gerich No.20: Rouennais A
The Aces are decorated with the pip in a central circle and two different figures at each end of the...
A New Look at the Evolution of Whist Markers and Gaming Counters
This article aims to illustrate the evolution of whist and gaming counters from the 18th century to the 20th.
The Evolution of Whist and Bridge Boxed Sets, 1870s – 1930s
Boxed sets of cards, markers, scorers and rule booklets have been around for many decades. Some of the "shop p...
The Molassine Company and its link to Whist and Bridge
A savvy marketing strategy blending Victorian decorative design with Edwardian practicality.
Bezique Markers, 1860-1960
Bezique is a two-player melding and trick-taking game. Dr. Pole introduced Bezique to England in 1861, but it ...
A New Look at the Evolution of Whist Markers and Gaming Counters
This article aims to illustrate the evolution of whist and gaming counters from the 18th century to ...
The Evolution of Whist and Bridge Boxed Sets, 1870s – 1930s
Boxed sets of cards, markers, scorers and rule booklets have been around for many decades. Some of t...
The Molassine Company and its link to Whist and Bridge
A savvy marketing strategy blending Victorian decorative design with Edwardian practicality.
Bezique Markers, 1860-1960
Bezique is a two-player melding and trick-taking game. Dr. Pole introduced Bezique to England in 186...
Stancraft
Official World’s Fair Souvenir, USA, 1964-6
Official souvenir pack showing 52 coloured exhibits from the New York World’s Fair, 1964-6.
Stancraft
Stancraft Playing Cards were manufactured by Brown & Bigelow of whom they were a subsidiary.
Official World’s Fair Souvenir, USA, 1964-6
Official souvenir pack showing 52 coloured exhibits from the New York World’s Fair, 1964-6.
Maya Deck
The Maya Deck produced by Stancraft for Hoyle, 1976.
Stancraft “Split Deck”
Stancraft “Split Deck”, 1979.
Stancraft
Stancraft Playing Cards were manufactured by Brown & Bigelow of whom they were a subsidiary.
Playing Card Backs
Playing Card Backs
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
The Norwood 85 (USPC, c.1909): a very scarce American deck with two fine art back designs, apparently survivin...
Playing Card Design
The playing card calls for artistic treatment and although the constrained size imposes some limitations there...
The Dark Knight Joker Calling Cards
Joker “Calling Card” set issued in connection with the film The Dark Knight (2008).
14: Back Designs
A few examples of the many interesting 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, apparentl...
Playing Card Design
The playing card calls for artistic treatment and although the constrained size imposes some limitat...
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 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 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!”
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.
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