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Mr Deuceace and Mr Dawkins sitting at a round table playing cards

Since 1996, this collaborative project has grown to include 4,532 articles by 28 contributors, including researchers, collectors, artists and historians covering topics from Art Nouveau to Zoology. We move beyond simply cataloguing playing cards by date, manufacturer and place of origin, and adopt a dynamic, interactive and thematic approach, bridging the past with the present, telling stories, opening conceptual perspectives and the necessary reflectiveness to gain new insights and ways to appreciate their role in history.

Songs with Flute accompaniment

Eighteenth century English engraved cards with music for voice and flute.

by Roddy Somerville

Love Tests

Vintage novelty “Love Test” cards of a slightly saucy nature but all in good fun!

by Lynda Cowling

Briefmarken-Quartett

Quartet game featuring postage stamps from the Zones of Occupation in post-WWII Germany.

by Roddy Somerville

New Articles

Love Tests

Vintage novelty “Love Test” cards of a slightly saucy nature but all in good fun!

Lynda Cowling • 1 day ago

Briefmarken-Quartett

Quartet game featuring postage stamps from the Zones of Occupation in post-WWII Germany.

Roddy Somerville • 2 days ago

The Game of the Gods

Figures and symbols from Norse mythology, designed by Barbro Gustafsson and Inga Lundström.

Roddy Somerville • 3 days ago

Prager Pattern by Bratří Willnerové, Teplice

Traditional single-ended Prager pattern by Willner Brothers from northern Bohemia.

Marek Brejcha • Mar 10, 2025

Never Mind the Belote

Limited edition Belote pack with designs by a collective of 24 street artists.

Roddy Somerville • Mar 10, 2025

Sannois dans les étoiles

Celebrities and buildings associated with Sannois, a commune in the suburbs of Paris.

Roddy Somerville • Mar 9, 2025

Le carte da gioco Arcimboldo

Courts and suit-signs inspired by the works of the Italian Renaissance painter, Giuseppe Arcimboldo.

Roddy Somerville • Mar 7, 2025

International pattern from Russia

Colourful international pattern cards from Russia sold in Latvia.

Roddy Somerville • Mar 6, 2025

Ukraine playing cards

Historical figures from Ukraine’s past in a familiar Piatnik style.

Roddy Somerville • Mar 5, 2025

Ben 10 playing cards

Characters from the American animated television science fantasy series Ben 10.

Roddy Somerville • Mar 5, 2025

Visite Mexico

Promoting Mexican tourism with 54 different photographs in full colour.

Roddy Somerville • Mar 4, 2025

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Current Trends

Corner Indices

1864

Corner Indices were a major innovation in playing card production.

Suicide King

The King of Hearts, holding a sword behind his head, is sometimes nicknamed the “Suicide King”. He can be seen to derive from a late medieval design showing a King wielding a battle axe.

Rider Waite Tarot early editions

Chinese Playing Cards 中国纸牌

The Chinese took their cards with them wherever they travelled and traded in the East, and we find Chinese cards in use not only in the mainland but also in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan, Sin...

Mamluk Playing Cards

1495

Nã'ib, the game of lieutenants... these cards are amongst the earliest Arabic playing cards extant.

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...

Portuguese Playing Cards

1490

The Real Fábrica de Cartas de Jogar was founded in 1769, by Royal Charter of King José, under the master craftsman Lorenzo Solezio, brother of Félix Solesio who ran the Spanish Real Fábrica at Machara...

The Joker Card

1863

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.

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.

Italian Playing Cards

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...

The Visconti-Sforza Tarot, c.1460

1460

This pack of tarot cards appears to have have been made in the Bembo workshop in Cremona for Bianca Maria Visconti, c.1460.

The History of Playing Cards

Explore

4,532 articles featuring content from 119 countries, 1,342 manufacturers and 1,125 designers; including 385 themes, 266 brands, 76 suits, 52 games and 31 licenses.

Countries & Places

View All Countries

Tarot, originally a 15th century card game from Italy, has evolved into a form of personal mysticism and spiritual exploration, offering new visions of expanding awareness. more ►

2022

Dungeons and Dragons Tarot

By Adam Wintle

Rider Waite Tarot early editions

By Saskia Jansen

2016

Dungeons & Dragons “Curse of Strahd” Tarokka Deck

By Adam Wintle

2019

Tarot of the Unknown

By Adam Wintle

Playing Cards have been around in Europe since the 1370s. Some early packs were hand painted works of art which were expensive and affordable only by the wealthy. But as demand increased cheaper methods of production were discovered so that playing cards became available for everyone... more ►

Suicide King

By Simon Wintle

1947

Canasta

By Simon Wintle

1435

Perspectives on the History of Tarot

By Simon Wintle

Italian Playing Cards

By Simon Wintle

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.

1940

Chitrashala Press

By Simon Wintle

Introduction to Collecting Themes

By Paul Bostock

1875

Ganjifa - Playing Cards from India

By Paul Bostock

1991

Handmade Ganjifa Birds Playing Cards

By Ian Taylor

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 ►

1957

De la Rue’s 125th anniversary

By Simon Wintle

2000

Jest Jokers

By Simon Wintle

1950

West Flanders Souvenir

By Simon Wintle

Hand Drawn Joker Pack

By Jon Randall

In 1889, Fusajirô Yamauchi began manufacturing “Hanafuda” or “flower cards” under the brand name Nintendo Koppai. Cards were hand crafted using the bark from mulberry and mitsu-mata trees. Around 1902 the firm began producing Western style playing cards.

Japanese Playing Cards

By Simon Wintle

Kabufuda

By Anthony Lee

Playing cards with prints by Sumio Kawakami

By Roddy Somerville

1970

Akadama Honey Wine by Nintendo

By Rex Pitts (1940-2021)

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

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Current Trends

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