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.
Bavarian pattern by Ernst Jegel
Bavarian pattern published by Ernst Jegel, Nuremberg, late 19th C.
Conrad Jegel proof sheets
Two uncut German-suited proof sheets by Conrad Jegel, Nuremberg.
Fantasy Bavarian pack
An early Bavarian-style deck by Johann Conrad Jegel, Nürnberg, Germany , c.1835.
Jean Noblet Tarot de Marseille
Jean Noblet: the oldest known ‘Tarot de Marseille’ deck, Paris, c.1650.
Hall & Son
Hall & Son
Cartomancy, Oracle and Divination Cards
Playing cards are used for fortune-telling, predicting the future or even as a psychological adjunct to folk medicine and therapy. Turning another card illumines the moment and new clarity emerges.
Myriorama
Myriorama of Italian scenery, 1824.
Dubois
Dubois card makers from Liège in the Walloon Region of Belgium.
Transformation Cards for Christmas
Hand-drawn Transformation cards, c.1870.
Bosch Puzzle Playing Cards
Bosch Puzzle Playing Cards by Sunish Chabba, 2020.
Rex Pitts (1940-2021)
We are deeply saddened by news of the passing of Anthony Rex Pitts (1940-2021).
Andere Zeiten - Andere Kleider
‘History of fashion’ cultural quartet game designed by Erika Werner-Nestler, 1954.
Netherlands Kostuum Kwartet
Dutch costumes quartet game designed by Gerard Huijg, 1983.
Nederlands Stedenkwartet
Nederlands Stedenkwartet with heraldic needlepoint patterns by Permin, c.1970.
Toledo, 1584
Archaic Spanish-suited deck with 48 cards made in Toledo in 1584.
Gambling and Vice in the Middle Ages
Gambling and Vice in the Hours of Charles V: card-playing in the local tavern
Asperge Kwartet
Asperge Kwartet published by Knorr.
Christmas Playing Cards
Christmas Playing Cards published by Novelty Playing Cards, Syracuse, New York, 1986.
Wrappers
Playing cards were traditionally sold inside paper wrappers, which were usually thrown away.
Natuurkwartet
Nature Quartet game published by Staatsbosbeheer, printed by Roem Speelkaarten, Kampen.
Sprookjes Kwartet
Fairy Tales quartet published by Heinrich Schwarz + Co for Dutch market, c.1970.
Corner Indices
Corner Indices were a major innovation in playing card production.
Timothy Curtis Art
Timothy Curtis Art custom Bicycle playing cards, 2018.
Cefacidal
“Cefacidal” / Mead Johnson medical humour advertising playing cards, c.1975.
Solitaire
We worked with the Solitaired.com to customise this game using traditional woodblock courts.
Welsh Language Playing Cards
Welsh Language Playing Cards designed by Richard Ruston-Burgess, made in Wales, 2020.
Vanity Fair
Vanity Fair No.41 Playing Cards by the United States Playing Card Co, 1895. All the number cards have been imaginatively transformed.
Squared Faro #366
Squared Faro #366 by Russell & Morgan Co. first issued in 1887.
Aesop’s Fables
Aesop’s Fables playing cards by I. Kirk, c.1759.
Friendly Felines
‘Friendly Felines’ playing cards designed by Azured Ox, 2017.
Bicycle Cybertech
Bicycle Cybertech playing cards inspired by cyberpunk genre, illustrated by Jamie Meza, 2019.
Alice in Wonderland by Sasha Dounaevski
Alice in Wonderland playing cards designed by Sasha Dounaevski, 2018.
Fungi Mycological Playing Cards
Mystic Mushrooms Playing Cards, 2018.
Egyptian Tarot
Egyptian Tarot inspired by ancient Egyptian art, mythology, and iconography, published by Naipes La Banca, Buenos Aires, c.1980.
Naipes Criollos
“Naipes Criollos” Gaucho playing cards, 1995.
Naipes Cardón
Naipes Cardón designed by Mario Luis Rivero depicting traditional Argentine culture and identity, 2002.
El Oráculo de la Bruja
“El Oráculo de la Bruja” fortune-telling cards, 2003.
Hesslers Rider Back Playing Cards
Hesslers Rider Back Playing Cards with two different coloured backs, 2019.
Martín Fierro
Naipes “Martín Fierro” based on the epic poem by José Hernandez.
On The Cards
A Motley Pack - transformation playing cards & ‘On The Cards’ book facsimile published by Sunish Chabba, 2019.
Boxing Greats
Boxing Greats published by KickarseCards, a compilation of boxing icons in history.
Views of New Zealand
Views of New Zealand published by G.B.Scott Souvenirs, Auckland, c.1960.
The Four Worlds
The Four Worlds playing cards by artist Aleksey Zhiryakov in the stylistic traditions of Palekh, 2018.
Gunfighters
Gunfighters playing cards from the Wild West Series by SPCC, 2018.
Atouts de la Vie
“Atouts de la Vie” wartime card game created by Madame Lucien Willemetz, c.1940.
Prisoners of War
Hand-made playing cards by French prisoners of war in Porchester Castle, Hampshire, c.1796.
Ocean to Ocean Canada Souvenir
“Ocean to Ocean” Canadian Pictorial Souvenir packs by Chas Goodall & Son Ltd, c.1906 & 1911.
Iohann Christoph Hes Tarot c.1750
Facsimile of Tarot de Marseille by Iohann Christoph Hes, Augsburg, c.1750.
Kalevala
Kalevala playing cards by Sunish Chabba and Ishan Trivedi inspired by ancient Finnish mythology.
Notgeld - Emergen¢y Money
Notgeld - Emergency Money - was in rare cases issued on playing cards.
Chicken Playing Cards
Chicken Playing Cards designed by Susan Krupp, 2017.