Archaic and Obsolete Playing Card Patterns
Playing cards have a rich and fascinating history, with a wide variety of patterns and designs having been used throughout the centuries. A lot of these early patterns have fallen out of use and are now considered archaic or obsolete. Often only one example is known.
These old, historic patterns are sometimes discovered as stiffener inside old book bindings when these are repaired, or under floorboards in old buildings during restoration. They are sometimes discovered in ancient rubbish tips. They are of great interest to collectors, historians, and enthusiasts alike.
16th Century French Playing Cards based on Illustrations by Gurney Benham
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by Adam Wintle
This pack of cards by Rose & Pentagram is said to be based off Pierre Marechal, Rouen pack from the 1600s, but they are actually copies of drawings by Gurney Benham from his book Playing Cards: Their History and Secrets from 1930.
61: French regional patterns: the kings
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by Ken Lodge
On page 11 I illustrated several examples of the regional French patterns from Sylvia Mann's collection; this is a more in-depth look at the figures of these patterns ("portraits" in French).
62: French regional patterns: the queens and jacks
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by Ken Lodge
Continuing our look at the figures from the regional patterns of France.
A Moorish Sheet of Playing Cards
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by Simon Wintle
This article was originally published in “The Playing-Card”, the Journal of the International Playing-Card Society (London), Volume XV, No.4, May 1987.
Antique Swiss Playing Cards, c.1530
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by Simon Wintle
The Swiss national suit system of shields, acorns, hawkbells and flowers originated sometime during the fifteenth century.
Antoine de Logiriera
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by Simon Wintle
Archaic Spanish-suited playing cards published in Toulouse by Antoine de Logiriera (1495-1518).
Archaic Spanish proof sheets
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by Simon Wintle
2 x uncoloured proof sheets of archaic Spanish-suited playing cards produced for “New Spain”, possibly clandestinely.
Auvergne Pattern - Portrait d'Auvergne
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by Simon Wintle
The Auvergne pattern is one of the oldest in France.
Baraja Morisca — Early XV century playing cards
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by Simon Wintle
Primitive Latin suited pack, dated by paper analysis as early XV century, which makes this one of the earliest known surviving packs of playing cards.
Burgundy pattern - portrait bourguignon
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by Simon Wintle
The old Burgundy (or Burgundian) pattern by Nicolas Chenevet, Dijon.
Dauphiné Pattern - Portrait du Dauphiné
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by Simon Wintle
The Dauphiné pattern is an archaic French pattern which was manufactured in the Lyon region from the 17th century.
Dreveton - Provence pattern
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by Simon Wintle
French cardmakers Jean and François Dreveton lived in Aix-en-Provence.
Early Anglo-French Cards
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by Simon Wintle
Cards produced in Rouen during the sixteenth century. It was cards like these which were imported to England and are the ancestors of the modern 'Anglo-American' pattern.
Early German playing cards
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by Simon Wintle
Some early examples of popular German playing cards from the XV and XVI centuries.
Early Spanish/Portuguese type
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by Simon Wintle
Fragment of a sheet of archaic Spanish-suited 'Dragon' playing cards found during restoration of a house in Antwerp built between 1559 and 1574
Francisco Flores
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by Simon Wintle
Playing cards in this style have been discovered in various parts of the world, suggesting that they were exported or carried there by early explorers or merchants.
French Playing Cards
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by Simon Wintle
Some of the oldest cards still in existence come from France. During the 16th and 17th centuries France was the major supplier of playing cards in Europe.
Georg Kapfler
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by Simon Wintle
Antique deck of old Bohemian playing cards of the German type manufactured by Georg Kapfler and dated 1611.
Gothic Spanish-suited cards
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by Simon Wintle
These cards may be a typical example of early 'standard' Spanish playing cards, maybe from before Columbus sailed for the 'New World' which were imitated by German engravers who wished to export their wares back to Spain.