Miniature spanish-suited playing cards
Pack of 48 miniature spanish playing-cards published by C R.
Uncut Sheet by Johann Jobst Forster
A proof sheet containing twelve court cards of conventional French type.
Lend Me Five Shillings
or “Her Majesty’s Privy Purse” - a merry round-the-table game published by D. Ogilvy.
Manara: baraja de poker
Exotic illustrations by Italian comic book artist and writer Milo Manara.
Collectors’ Playing Cards for Sale
Some interesting playing cards for sale.
Poker Lusso
Richly costumed courts on a luxury poker pack from Masenghini.
Logger-Reno
A tribute to the logging industry with suits of trees and trucks.
Jazz Legends playing cards
52 different photographs of famous jazz musicians.
Paintings from Bulgaria
Fifty-five paintings of Bulgaria published as “Sense of Bulgaria” by Land of Roses Ltd, Bulgaria, c....
Nine art-nouveau transformation playing cards
by an unknown artist
Specsavers playing cards
to help you see better when playing cards
Isle of Man souvenir playing cards by Goodall & Son.
Two antique packs with scenic aces illustrating places on the Isle of Man.
Island 2000 Trust
“Island 2000 Trust” sustainability project playing cards, Isle of Wight, United Kingdom, c. 2005.
On-line offsite data backup
On-line offsite data backup publicity playing cards produced by The Bunker, United Kingdom, c. 2004....
Hunting playing cards
Hunting playing cards / “Okhotnich’i karty” with illustrations by the court artist Mihály Zichy.
10: Playing Cards in Germany
The playing card manufacturers of Germany from 1900 until 1939 provide a complicated set of relation...
28: How to Analyze and Differentiate Playing Card Plates (De La Rue, Waddington and the Berlin pattern [französisches Bild])
My interest in postage stamp variants led me to apply the same principles to playing cards.
De La Rue Pocket Guides
The 19th Century saw the production, by all of the major companies, of pocket guides or “mini-books”...
Cribbage Board Collection part 6
A collection of antique and vintage Cribbage Boards by Tony Hall, part 6
Whist marker boxes
The Camden Whist marker was being advertised by Goodall and son in 1872 as a new product.
Mémoires de Casanova
Mémoires de Casanova artistic and lightly risqué playing cards with paintings by Paul-Émile Bécat, p...
Film Star Playing Cards
Promotional playing cards for the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film company with film stars on the court card...
Renée Sturbelle
Artistic playing cards with abstract designs by Renée Sturbelle, first published by Brepols S.A., Tu...
Investors Overseas Services
Investors Overseas Services, Ltd. (IOS) by A. G. Müller (Schaffhausen), c.1969.
Caught in a Trap
A Victorian card game telling a story of a victim being ensnared in a trap, being caught, and finall...
Utamaro “Ukiyo-e” playing cards
Utamaro Ukiyo-e playing cards showing woodblock prints of beautiful women.
Morgan-Greer Tarot
Based on the knowledge, wisdom and interpretation of Paul Foster Case and Arthur Edward Waite.
New Palladini Tarot
“The New Palladini Tarot” by David Palladini published by U.S. Games Inc., in 1996.
The Aquarian Tarot Deck
The Aquarian Tarot Deck illustrated by David Palladini, published by Morgan Press, Inc., 1970.
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 ...
Jack-O’-Lantern Tarot
Giuliano Costa's Jack-O’-Lantern tarot blends Rider-Waite symbolism with the rich and atmospheric th...
Miniature spanish-suited playing cards
Pack of 48 miniature spanish playing-cards published by C R.
Uncut Sheet by Johann Jobst Forster
A proof sheet containing twelve court cards of conventional French type.
Lend Me Five Shillings
or “Her Majesty’s Privy Purse” - a merry round-the-table game published by D. Ogilvy.
The History of Playing Cards
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?
Provence Pattern
The 'Provence' pattern contains figures which go back to the fifteenth century.
21: Belgian Makers: Brepols and Biermans
Brepols started making playing cards in 1826, although he had been in the printing trade since 1800....
A. Camoin & Cie
This deck was inherited from ancestors, it has has a family history surrounding it. Details of the l...
Perspectives on the History of Tarot
Tarot, originally a 15th century card game from Italy, has evolved into a form of personal mysticism...
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.
Jeu de Familles Les Pierrafeu®
Quartet game featuring The Flintstones and friends.
Gods of Egypt
Gods of Egypt playing cards dedicated to the culture of Ancient Egypt.
Trinidad Carnival Playing Cards
“Allfours Carnival Playing Cards” designed by Gabby Woodham, Trinidad, 1995
Karl Gerich No.22: “Rouennais”
Karl Gerich’s hand-made design No.22: “Rouennais”, Victoria P.C.C, Bath (UK), 1990.
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►
Wüst “Encyclopedic Tarot”
“Encyclopedic Tarot” by C. L. Wüst with “bourgeois” views of life on the Trumps.
Fortune Telling playing cards
English Fortune Telling cards probably published c.1770.
The ‘Mystic’
The ‘Mystic’ Fortune Teller card game by Clifford Toys.
Egyptian Tarot
Egyptian Tarot inspired by ancient Egyptian art, mythology, and iconography, published by Naipes La ...
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.
Happy Families, c.1950
Chad Valley “Happy Families” card game, c.1950.
EPCS February 1992 Newsletter
1957 40th Anniversary of the Queen's Accession to the Throne • Case of Neglected Duty • Mabel Lucy A...
Hello Kitty
Waddington’s “Hello Kitty” themed deck produced in 2009.
EPCS February 1995 Newsletter
Fums Up! • WW1 • Matches • Noah's Ark • Carreras • Theatre • Isle of Man • National Trust • De La Ru...
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.
References
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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
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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.