Simon Wintle
- Spain • Member since February 01, 1996
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.
Danish Tarok Cards - Salomon & Co., c.1906
Danish Tarok cards published by S. Salomon & Co., Kjøbenhavn, c.1906.
Dasavatara Ganjifa from India
Chromo-lithograph Ganjifa cards by the Chitrasala Press, around 1950. Ten suits of twelve cards, each suit is based on one of the ten incarnations of Vishnu.
David Hurter, Schaffhausen
David Hurter built up a playing card business in Schaffhausen during the 18th century.
Disney Babies Cromy card game Argentina
Disney Babies Cromy card game Argentina.
Disney Characters Cromy card game Argentina
Disney Characters Cromy card game Argentina.
Disney playing cards from Peru
Disney playing cards from Peru.
Donald Duck Cromy card game Argentina
Donald Duck Cromy card game Argentina
Downloads & PDFs
If you would like to submit an article which you have written or images of cards from your collection to The World of Playing Cards please use the Feedback & Enquiries link in the page footer.
Dviracio Kortos, 2001
Dviracio Kortos playing cards, based on 'Dviracio Zynios' ('The Bicycle's News'), a popular Lithuanian TV comedy show, in which actors satirize the vices and follies of modern society.
E.P.C.S. Competitions
Do you know any good playing card related cartoons or jokes?
Early German Engraved Playing-cards
During the second half of the fifteenth century, with printing technology commercially established and playing cards already a mass-produced commodity, a succession of masterly German engravers practised their art and decorative playing cards reached a zenith.
Early History of Playing Cards & Timeline
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. Discover the early history of playing cards in our timeline from 50AD to the 15th century.
Early Spanish/Portuguese type
Fragment of a sheet of archaic Spanish-suited 'Dragon' playing cards found during restoration of a house in Antwerp built between 1559 and 1574
El Barco
El Barco playing cards designed by E. Pastor, Valencia, Spain, c.1895
El Ciervo, c.1930
Sebastian Comas y Ricart - Hija de A. Comas “El Ciervo” Spanish Catalan pattern, c.1930.
El Ferrocarril
Naipe El Ferrocarril made by La Cubana, S.A. (Fabrica de Naipes El Aguila), Mexico, c.1960
El Reloj card game by Imprenta Lecaros
“El Reloj” card game by Imprenta Lecaros, Lima, Peru, c.1920.
English Tarot Cards
The game of tarot was not widely accepted in England until the 1870s when a number of English occultists had begun taking an interest.
Ernesto Flaiban - Quality Control
Sr. Ernesto Flaiban, founder and president of E. Flaiban S.A., is seen here checking the quality of some playing cards.
Escalada y Vidiella, Montevideo c.1860
Cards from a 40-card pack made in Belgium by Antoine van Genechten exclusively for the firm "Escalada y Vidiella" based in Montevideo (Uruguay) in c.1860.
Estanco de Naipes del Perú
In October 1888 the Republic of Peru Congress passed Law no.26 establishing taxes on playing cards, whether imported or locally produced, according to the quality of the cards.
Estonia
Estonia's first period of independence lasted 22 years, beginning in 1918, and this period was one of great cultural advancement.
F. Munguia
Spanish-suited playing cards from a 40-card pack by F. Munguia, Merced 8, Mexico, c.1868. F. Munguia produced playing cards with brand names 'La Campana', 'La Estrella' and 'El Aguila' during the period c.1868-c.1882.
Fagoaga y Compañía (Casa Bertrand Domec), Buenos Aires, c.1970
Playing Cards Imported into Argentina by Fagoaga y Compañía (Casa Bertrand Domec), Buenos Aires, c.1970
Fernando Pessoa & Co playing cards
Fernando Pessoa & Co playing cards - Lisbon
Fournier No.35 Spanish-suited playing cards
Fournier No.35 Spanish-suited playing cards imported into Argentina by Fagoaga y Compañía (Bertrand Domec), c.1970.
Fournier’s Castilian pattern
Designed by Emilio Soubrier, Ignacio Díaz and Augusto Rius during the 1880s as a new definitive national pattern.
France
Some of the oldest cards still in existence come from France, as well as some of the best modern designs...
Francisco Girbau & Cia, Buenos Aires
Francisco Girbau & Cia, Buenos Aires, c.1890-1935
Frozen Court - The Aethiopic Rendering
A deck made specifically for Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., the first African-american college fraternity, for their 2000 convention.
Galapagos Islands
Galapagos Islands Souvenir Playing Cards, awakening the voice of nature and teaching us about the environment, endangered species and ecology...
Grace Cards
My creativity proved useful in the Primary School classroom and children's clubs I run at Brooke Baptist Church in Norfolk...
Grace Cards
Packs come complete with suggested instructions for playing a number of popular family games, at the same time, they promote the Word of God.
Grimaud Spanish pattern
Grimaud Spanish pattern, c.1880
Hana Fuda - Japan
Hana Fuda playing cards hand-made by Patricia Kirk, 2003
Hand-made Spanish Suited Playing Cards
Decks are made on two-ply pasteboard which reproduces the tactile quality of antique cards.
Harry Rountree
Designs by Harry Rountree (1878-1950); Waddington's 1933 Trade Brochure.
Hewson Replica Pack
Hand-made replica 17th century English playing cards, based on museum originals.
Hidden Mickeys
“HiddenMickeys” by Peter Wood
Hija de A. Comas “El Periquito”, c.1930
Sebastian Comas y Ricart - Hija de A. Comas “El Periquito” Spanish-suited playing cards for export to Argentina, c.1930.
History and Evolution of Spades
History and Evolution of Spades
History of Danish Playing Cards
The earliest mention of playing-cards in Denmark dates from 1487 when King Hans, who reigned from 1481-1513 and was notorious for his gambling, again and again drew money from the treasury to pay for his losses.
History of English Playing Cards & Games
The History of English Playing Cards dates probably from the mid 15th century
History of the War playing cards
“History of the War” playing cards with caricatures of Winston Churchill, Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin and Benito Mussolini, designed by Lino Palacio.
Hofamterspiel, c.1460
Hofamterspiel, c.1460
Hot Sauce Playing Cards
Each card shows an image of a bottle of hot Chilli Sauce (spelt 'chile' on the cards), a map of where the product is made, a heat gauge plus amusing notes and information about the particular sauce.
Hugo Castro, Santiago de Chile
Imprenta y Litografía Hugo Castro, Santiago de Chile.
Hunt, c.1800
Standard English pattern playing cards manufactured by Hunt, c.1800.
Hunting Depicted on Playing Cards
In the Middle Ages hunting was an integral part of life.