Mr Deuceace and Mr Dawkins sitting at a round table playing cards Since 1996, this collaborative project has grown to include 4,552 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.

Copechat Paramount Sorting System

Preserving the past: a specimen deck showcasing edge-notched cards and their ingenious sorting system.

Heartsette by Herbert Fitch & Co, 1893

A glimpse into a busy print and design office in late Victorian London.

Intersigma

A Czech advertising deck for a company dealing with pump technology.

New Articles

Heartsette by Herbert Fitch & Co, 1893
Heartsette by Herbert Fitch & Co, 1893

A glimpse into a busy print and design office in late Victorian London.

Jon Randall • Less than a day ago
Intersigma
Intersigma

A Czech advertising deck for a company dealing with pump technology.

Jon Randall • 1 day ago
Angel 52 Secrets
Angel 52 Secrets

Vintage “52 Secret” art deco-inspired playing cards from Japan.

Jon Randall • 1 day ago
New Altenburg Skat cards – German DDR Pattern
New Altenburg Skat cards – German DDR Pattern

Authentic Altenburger Skat cards with German suits (Acorns, Hearts, Leaves, Bells).

Konrad Hämmerle • 2 days ago
Emilio Tadini playing cards
Emilio Tadini playing cards

Beautiful dreamlike playing card designs by Emilio Tadini.

Jon Randall • 2 days ago
Banjo Cards
Banjo Cards

Images of the peg heads from 4-string banjos from Akira Tsumura’s renowned collection.

Jon Randall • 3 days ago
Rap Rummy
Rap Rummy

Rap Rummy made by Parker Brothers in 1926, only 4 years after the discovery of King Tutankhamen’s tomb

Jon Randall • 3 days ago
Jeu Révolutionnaire
Jeu Révolutionnaire

Court cards and aces from a French Revolutionary pack by Pinaut, Paris, c.1794.

Simon Wintle • 5 days ago
German Travel Cards
German Travel Cards

A travel-themed educational deck helping American tourists visiting Germany.

Jon Randall • 6 days ago
Batman® playing cards
Batman® playing cards

Batman playing cards published by InterCol of London 1989.

Jon Randall • Apr 5, 2025
Can You Believe Your Eyes?
Can You Believe Your Eyes?

“Can You Believe Your Eyes?” playing cards featuring visual illusions & other oddities.

Jon Randall • Apr 4, 2025

Current Trends

Tarot de Valverde de la Vera 1980

A series of 24 surrealist engravings by Mexican artist Claudio Favier in which archetypal Tarot allegories are re-imagined as a mirror of the contradictory forces within us.

Canasta 1947

Canasta is a card game of the Rummy family which originated in Uruguay probably about 1947.

Cartes Lenormand 1920

“Cartes Lenormand” published by H. P. Gibson & Sons Ltd, London, printed in Germany by B. Dondorf, 1920s.

Traditionally cardmakers worked in guilds with long apprenticeships under master craftsmen.

Perspectives on the History of Tarot 1435

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.

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 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 bo...

The court cards in English packs of playing cards derive from models produced by Pierre Marechal in Rouen around 1565. A pack of such cards is preserved in the museum at Rouen.

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.

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...

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 metho...


Explore

4,554 articles featuring content from 119 countries, 1,348 manufacturers and 1,127 designers; including 386 themes, 266 brands, 76 suits, 52 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

Card Games
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.
1930 Love Tests

Love Tests

By Lynda Cowling

Happy Families

Happy Families

By Simon Wintle

1861 Jaques’ Happy Families

Jaques’ Happy Families

By Simon Wintle

1940 Chitrashala Press

Chitrashala Press

By Simon Wintle


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.
1960 Dutch Pattern for Van Perlstein

Political
Political playing cards were introduced in the 17th century providing entertainment by satirising or deriding current events and leaders. Propaganda cards, Imperial decks, war cards and even educational card games all carry a message which relates to the politics of memory, the means by which events are remembered and recorded, the way history is written and passed on. Historical memory can be used to arouse emotional reactions...
1934 Anti-Religions

Anti-Religions

By Barney Townshend

2015 Trump Presidential playing cards
1898 Kaiser Jubiläum

Kaiser Jubiläum

By Simon Wintle


Transformation
The best-known fantasies with playing cards are the ‘Transformation’ cards. Hand-drawing ‘transformations’ onto a pack of ordinary playing cards, with the suit symbols forming part of the overall composition, became a popular pastime 200 years ago and a test of skill in drawing. A great deal of ingenuity is required in their design. The earliest printed sets were published at the start of the 19th century, often published in the form of an almanac or sometimes known as ‘metastasis’, and these became a fashionable and entertaining novelty.

In the strict sense of the word ‘Transformation’ the pips should be in their standard positions and form part of, or fit into, the overll image portrayed on the card. more
1873 An Anonymous Belgian Transformation Pack
1800 Transformation of Playing Cards
2006 Kitten Club

Kitten Club

By Simon Wintle

1828 Charles Hodges

Charles Hodges

By Simon Wintle


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.
Jeu de Cartes No.1

Jeu de Cartes No.1

By Barney Townshend

1905 Whist by Ditha Moser

Whist by Ditha Moser

By Marek Brejcha

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

By Barney Townshend


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