The Art & Design of Playing Cards
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 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.
Playing Card Design
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by Simon Wintle
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 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.
Playing Cards designed by Alvaros
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by Simon Wintle
Playing Cards designed by Alvaros, published by Eduardo Carrión, Montevideo, 2000
Playing cards in Russian life
Playing cards in Russian life - Karty v zhizni Rossii - published by Aleksandr Lutkovskii in 2004.
Portrait Playing Cards
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by Paul Bostock
Portrait playing cards, featuring realistic drawings of people on the court cards instead of traditional stylized figures, originated in the 18th century and continue to gain popularity.
Première Croisade
Deck evoking the ‘Première Croisade’ with single-ended courts by Daveluy, Bruges, c.1850.
Prime Arts
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by Matt Probert
Prime Arts Playing Cards were published in 2004 featuring the work of contemporary artists, illustrators and photographers.
Production Methods for Small Scale Editions
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by Simon Wintle
Some alternative approaches to producing small, hand-made editions of playing cards
Punch Studio: ‘Geisha Girls’
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by Matt Probert
‘Geisha Girls’ playing cards published by Punch Studio, Culver City, CA., 2013
Queen of Hearts
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by Simon Wintle
“Queen of Hearts” by Josie Callipari, winner of the Brian Tucker Accounting Desert Fantasia Award 2005
Regarding the designs of playing cards
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by Simon Wintle
The quality of playing card designs often deteriorates with time…
Renée Sturbelle
Artistic playing cards with abstract designs by Renée Sturbelle, first published by Brepols S.A., Turnhout, 1947.
Rococco
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by Simon Wintle
Designed by Josef Maria Melchior Annen (1868-1954) who also designed several other packs for Müller & Cie.
Rococo No.2130
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by Matt Probert
Piatnik: Rococo No.2130 playing cards designed by Prof. Kuno Hock, c.1975
Rococo Playing Cards
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by Matt Probert
Piatnik’s Rococo style playing cards issued as “Rococo Patience”, “Luxus-Patience”, “Empire Patience”, “White Horse Patience”, “Patience-Whist No.140” and “Mini Patience”
Roman Empire
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by Matt Probert
Roman Empire playing cards designed by G. Wyatt for Green Board Game Co Ltd.,