Turkey
Once the centre of the Ottoman Empire.
Once the centre of the Ottoman Empire, the modern secular republic was established in the 1920s by nationalist leader Kemal Ataturk. This amounted to a repudiation of the former Ottoman legacy with the fez and veil outlawed and rights given to women.
Playing cards were not common during the Ottoman Empire due to religious reasons, and there are hardly any examples of 19th-century playing cards being imported. In a recent ordinance regarding the same type of card, Turkey imposed a 1984 law stipulating that cards had to be sold in hospitals and pharmacies. The profit from the sale went to the Turkish Red Crescent, the counterpart of the Red Cross.
However, in more recent years the government has reverted to culturally conservative and authoritarian politics, whilst remaining open to trade and economic development.
By Simon Wintle
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.
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Once the centre of the Ottoman Empire.
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