The Tarot Strikes Back
Roy Huteson Stewart's The Tarot Strikes Back combines Star Wars with Rider-Waite tarot imagery.
House of Tudor
Randy Butterfield's House of Tudor playing cards feature detailed art in a high-quality collectible ...
Morgan-Greer Tarot
Based on the knowledge, wisdom and interpretation of Paul Foster Case and Arthur Edward Waite.
Dungeons & Dragons “Curse of Strahd” Tarokka Deck
Enhance your Dungeons & Dragons game with the Tarokka Deck, a tarot-inspired set of cards that bring...
Dungeons and Dragons Tarot
This 78-card officially licensed Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) tarot deck offers a visually appealing var...
Tarot of the Everlasting Day - AI Generated Tarot
Artificial Intelligence (AI) generated tarot deck produced by Marcus Katz. Is this science fiction o...
Branded Tarot Decks and Modern Mystic Lifestyle
Taking a closer look at the rise of media tie-in branded tarot deck and esoteric lifestyle of younge...
Cyberpunk 2077 Tarot Cards
Polish cartoonist Jakub Rebelka created this set of tarot cards for the Cyberpunk 2077 video game.
Russian Playing Cards
Playing cards were known in Muscovy as early as the last quarter of the sixteenth century.
Luxury Collectable Playing Cards
Luxury packs of cards have been produced since the 15th century, a trend that is very popular among ...
Playing cards arrived in Europe the late 14th century and rapidly became a part of popular culture. Antique playing cards are like a visit to the local museum and evoke images of past eras and ways of life and also demonstrate archaic technology or production methods. So what do the oldest surviving playing cards look like?
Russian Playing Card History - From the Beginnings to 1917
An in-depth review of the history of card-playing, gambling, legislation, manufacture and taxation o...
Das Kupferstichspiel des I.M.F. von 1617
Playing cards had been made as precious objects for wealthy clients since the late 14th century. The...
Giuseppe Cattino
Playing cards manufactured in Italy by Giuseppe Cattino and Paolo Montanar for Spanish markets.
XV Century Catalan playing cards
XV Century Catalan Playing Cards, featuring four female Sotas, four Aces and four cards from the sui...
Art & Design
Design Caricatures Abstract Cartoon Celtic Deco Jugendstil Renaissance Rococo SurrealismThe playing card calls for artistic treatment and although the constrained size imposes some limitations there is an almost bewildering wealth and variety of designs in playing cards and their tuck boxes. The serious player requires design to be unobtrusive so that aesthetic considerations remain in the background. However, with modern manufacturing technology more eye-catching designs are becoming popular as gifts, collectibles and for their attractive appearance.
Brunner Möbel
Publicity pack for Brunner Möbel with graphic design by André Stehle, 1966
Folklore
“Folklore” by Altenburger Spielkarten Fabrik, c.1982
Ottakar’s Happy Families
Ottakar’s Happy Families designed by Chris Burke, 2000.
Sandton City
African tribal mask playing cards for Sandton City, Johannesburg.
Oracle, Divination & Tarot
The art of interpreting divine omens - augury or reading karma - has since ancient times been integral to political, civic and religious life.
More recently, Cartomancy and modern esoteric tarot packs have been produced in a wide variety of conceptions and involve use of imagination and intuition to assess one’s thoughts and feelings from the view point of the symbolic images and numbers.
It is possible for an object to be construed as a game in one context, and as something other than a game in a different context.
Tarot, originally a 15th century card game, has evolved into a popular system of personal mysticism, self-exploration and spirituality Learn more about tarot►
Joshi Bharát Tarot
A set of the major arcana created by an Indian fortune-teller living in Hungary.
I Gatti Originali di Evelyne Nicod
Etchings of cats on a set of major arcana created by Evelyne Nicod.
Il Vostro Destino
Italian fortune-telling pack produced by Viassone and later by Masenghini.
Michael Scot's rebus figure of "Juppiter" as prototype for the tarot pack's "Magus”/”Bateleur”
A precursor for the 'Bateleur'/'Magus' included in the major arcana of our tarot pack.
The games we play mirror the world we live in, like popular art. There was a time when friends and family played indoor games by the fireside and enjoyed countless hours of pleasure and amusement. Children don’t play card games so much because they prefer computer games, the ultimate excitement. Antique and vintage card games offer documentary evidence, as well as nostalgic memories, of the social interaction, fashions and stereotypes of bygone days and are a study in social anthropology.
French card games are mostly Jeux des Sept Familles. German games are often pleasing on the eye, and they seem to favour quartet games. USA love quartets of world worthies like authors, painters, composers. Games are not simply an escape from the real world, they are also educational and provide a place to process what it all means.
EPCS October 2003 Newsletter
Essence of the Law • Waddington Catalogue • Wandsworth • Picart Le Doux & De La Rue • Cards In Art (...
Shakespearian Misfitz
C. W. Faulkner’s “Shakespearian Misfitz” designed by George Lambert and published around 1907/08 sho...
Pierre l’Ebouriffé
Heinrich Hoffmann (1809-1894) wrote the Struwwelpeter stories in 1847 for his son Carl. The stories ...
Fairy Snap
Fairy Snap by Norvic Mill, c.1920s.
The Big Picture
Playing cards have a universal appeal and are a reflection of human culture.
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!”
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.
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 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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About the World of Playing Cards
Our aim is to increase awareness and appreciation of the cultural and historical significance of playing cards.
The World of Playing Cards was established in 1996 as a place where you can learn about playing cards, their history, design and manufacture, and see cards from around the world.
They reflect the traditions of many countries. They vary widely in size, style, shape, artistry, usage and many other purposes in education, marketing or even for fortune telling. There is a fascination in playing card design: the neat symmetries and quirky symbols. The composition of the pack - court cards, suits, pips - provides endless scope of play.
They are recognised everywhere around the world - we rarely question their origins.
Since their invention, cards have lost none of their popularity. Playing cards have a long history and it's in the art that the richness of playing cards is to be discovered.
Simon & Adam
We humbly ask for your help
We’re a team of two that depends on donations to ensure the site remains online and thriving.
We intentionally keep the site ad-free. Whilst revenue generated from advertisements could give us the resources to improve the website, on the other hand, advertising may be at odds with our mission and our aims to educate. By their very nature ads are biassed content intended to influence people.
The amount you donate is up to you and we are grateful that so many people find value in the World of Playing Cards and want to sustain its future.