Âs Nas

Published October 27, 2023 • Updated October 27, 2023

Âs Nas type playing cards from Persia.

Âs Nas playing cards from Persia, between 1750-1850, consisting of five cards repeated four or five times and representing a king (Shâh or Pishâ, on a dark green background), a queen (Bîbî, on a yellow background), a lion or a sun (Shîr va Khurshíd or âs, on a black background), a dancer (Lakat) or a hunter (Kouli) on a red background and a soldier (Sarbâs, on a white or gold background) The game calls for a certain amount of "bluffing", and is reputed to be the ancestor of the game of poker.

Above: Âs Nas type playing cards from Persia, 1750-1850. Illuminated and lacquered oil painting on cardboard; 6.1 x 4.3 cm. Source gallica.bnf.fr / Bibliothèque nationale de France • Cartes à jouer persanes de type Âs Nas►

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By Simon Wintle

Member since February 01, 1996

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I am the founder of The World of Playing Cards (est. 1996), a website dedicated to the history, artistry and cultural significance of playing cards and tarot. Over the years I have researched various areas of the subject, acquired and traded collections and contributed as a committee member of the IPCS and graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal. Having lived in Chile, England, Wales, and now Spain, these experiences have shaped my work and passion for playing cards. Amongst my achievements is producing a limited-edition replica of a 17th-century English pack using woodblocks and stencils—a labour of love. Today, the World of Playing Cards is a global collaborative project, with my son Adam serving as the technical driving force behind its development. His innovative efforts have helped shape the site into the thriving hub it is today. You are warmly invited to become a contributor and share your enthusiasm.

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