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Playing cards arrived in Europe sometime in the late 14th century. They may have been introduced by North African Moors, whose influence on southern Europe was strong at this time. A key piece of evidence in this theory is a 15th-century document called the "Chronicles of Viterbo," which indicates that playing cards with designs similar to suits and varying numbers of items on each card arrived in Italy in 1379. But where the Moors got playing cards, or even whether they invented them at all, is a good deal less clear.
The earliest surviving playing cards date from the 15th century, bearing images of animals, plants, birds, and flowers. By about 1500, three main suit systems had evolved: Latin (including Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese); Germanic (German and Swiss), and French (which has become the most widely-used suit system in the world). These early playing cards were hand-painted, often gilded, and designed to be beautiful objects. Meant for gambling as well as for playing games of skill, they also often incorporated symbols or mnemonics to represent knowledge ranging from botany to heraldry, cosmology to geography.
Playing-card design as we know it today (double-ended court cards with crowns, etc.) became standardized in the 1800s by designers like Hunt, Reynolds, De La Rue, and Goodall. Id...
To identify 18th- and 19th-century British cards, looks for a tax stamp on one of the cards in the deck, usually the ace of spades. Stamping playing cards began in 1765, and the first ones read "G. III REX" until it changed to "G. IV REX" in the 1820s. The words "SIXPENCE ADDITL. DUTY" were added to cards from 1776 until 1789, and subsequent changes to this legend and its placement on the card can give the collector important information about a card's age.
Among the most common cards are those with the Bicycle brand. Beginning in 1885, more than 80 intricate designs, mostly in red or blue, were created for these classic playing cards. And by the 20th century, playing cards were given away so that railroads, tourist destinations, and airlines could advertise themselves on the back of each card, as well as the packet in which the deck was stored.
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by Interviews & Articles
Collecting Antique and Vintage Playing Cards
People are often surprised when we tell them we collect playing cards. They all know how to play games with cards and have all hel… [more]
Collecting Modern Facsimiles of Historical Playing Cards
Collecting facsimile playing cards can be an interesting window onto the world of historic and antique playing card decks. In a re… [more]
The Evolution, History, and Imagery of Playing Cards
For over six centuries - apart from its functionality as a number game - the playing card has been chosen as a medium for artistry… [more]
Selling Soap and Smokes With Victorian Trade Cards
How did I start collecting Victorian trade cards? In the late 60s I was a bottle collector, early American bottles and flasks. I s… [more]
19th-Century Tobacco Cards
Dave Campbell contacted me after reading a post on The Baseball Card blog. He's been collecting baseball cards non-stop since 1981… [more]
The Force of Collecting Star Wars Cards
I was 10 when the movie came out and I went to the store and bought a couple of packs of Star Wars cards. But I ended up trashing … [more]
Hitting a Home Run with Baseball Cards
I started collecting in 1986. If you’re in Boston and you’re a baseball fan, the Red Sox may take over your life. They take over y… [more]
Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)
World of Playing Cards
A full house of great images and reference information on vintage playing cards. Browse cards by country and subjec… [read review or visit site]
DXPO Playing Cards
This Dutch site showcases a wonderful international collection of old playing cards, with themes as varied as the P… [read review or visit site]
Museum of Talking Boards
Prepare to enter the strange world of Ouija, the Wonderful Talking Board game, which captured imaginations en masse… [read review or visit site]
Non Sports Cards: Tobacco, Gum and Candy
Tom Boblitt moderates this extremely deep, collaborative site dedicated to non-sports cards (tobacco, gum and candy… [read review or visit site]
Elliot Avedon Games Museum
This in-depth University of Waterloo virtual exhibit showcases vintage games in a variety of categories, from class… [read review or visit site]
Handhelden.com
From Tomy to Coleco to Mattel and Nintendo, check out this collection of over 660 handheld and tabletop videogames … [read review or visit site]
Pong Story
David Winter's tribute to early video games, and to Ralph H. Baer, 'inventor of the video game.' Offers a detailed … [read review or visit site]
Clubs & Associations
Other Great Reference Sites
Top eBay Auctions
Original Jerry
Gorgeous Vintage Russian Anti-religions Playing Cards C 1930
Rare New Vintage Bee Silver Slipper Casino Playing Cards - Factory Sealed - Unc
Vintage Very Rare Palmistry Cartomancy Historic Fortune Telling Playing Cards
Original Jerry's Nugget Playing Cards
Vtg 1st Generation Tax Stamped Arrco Stud Playing Cards - Rare Back Design - Nib
Vtg 1st Generation Tax Stamped Arrco Stud Playing Cards - Rare Back Design - Nib
Rare U.s. Playing Card Co. Black Techart Playing Cards - Factory Sealed - Nib 
Vintage Unopened Sealed Deck Us Playing Card Company Bee Playboy Playing Cards 
Ultimate Dan & Dave Brick, Smoke & Mirrors V3 V4 V6, Rounders. Wynns, Theory 11
Smoke And Mirrors V1 Playing Cards By Dan&dave D&d - Rare, Limited
Vintage 1936 Casino Gambling Cheating Equipment Trade Catalog Slot Machine Lot 2
Vintage Golden Nugget Casino Black Playing Cards Deck Unopened Las Vegas 
Jerry's Nugget Playing Cards, Smoke & Mirrors V3 V4, Ace Fulton's Midnight Fuel 
Levian Playing Cards, Bottle, Notepad, Tag, Bracelet, Organizer Trade Show 2014
Rare! 1970's Vintage Playboy Playing Cards, Unopened, Sealed
Rare! 1970's Playboy Club Playing Cards. Unopened, Sealed.
Playing Cards Swap Cards Vintage Woolworths Pastel Nile Rive & Boat
Vintage Playing Cards 2 Decks Gibson Art Deco Scotty Dogs Run From Bees Sealed
Rare Vintage Bee Silver Slipper Casino Playing Cards - Factory Sealed - Nib
Rare Ellusionist Black Ghost Playing Cards Deck 1st First Edition V1
Vintage Red Hot ! Rare Poker Playing Cards Unopened Old West Deck & Indian Stamp
Colt Firearms Playing Cards New In Box Not Opened 150 Year Anniversary 
Rare U.s. Playing Card Co. Black Techart Playing Cards - Factory Sealed - Nib 
Madison Players - Playing Cards - Rare - Out Of Print - Theory 11
Madison Players - Playing Cards - Rare - Out Of Print - Theory 11
Rare U.s. Playing Card Co. Gamblers Limited Edition Playing Cards - Sealed - Nib
Theory11 Playing Card Collection, White Centurion, Black, White Monarchs
Rare Vintage Uspc Frontier Casino Playing Cards - Factory Sealed - Mint - Nib
Rare Vintage Uspc Frontier Casino Playing Cards - Factory Sealed - Mint - Nib
Playing Swap Cards 1 Vint Woolworths Red Tall Ships & Kiddies
Playing Swap Cards 1 Vint Woolworths Green Super Chic Lady
Rare Vintage Uspc Frontier Casino Playing Cards - Factory Sealed - Mint - Nib
Rare Vintage Uspc Frontier Casino Playing Cards - Factory Sealed - Mint - Nib
1901 Hawaiian Playing Cards, By Wall, Nichols Co. Ltd, 52 Different Views +
Vintage 1950's House Of Cards Picture Deck By Charles Eames Tigrett Uncut
Fabulous" Key To The Kingdom" Playing Cards Wth.book,enchanted Set
2 Decks Fournier Playing Cards Sealed 1850's French Costumes
Rare Vintage Uspc Sands Casino Playing Cards - Factory Sealed - Mint - Nib
Artistic Pin Up Playing Cards Each Card Different 1965
Original 1950's Vintage Playing Cards Deck Japan Girl And Cat Dainippon Nos Rare
Rare Vintage Uspc Frontier Casino Playing Cards - Factory Sealed - Mint - Nib
Special Design Dutch Artist Playing Cards - Maaike Vonk - 2013
Playing Card Collection Ellusionist, Bicycle, Tally Ho, And More
Grateful Dead Playing Cards Full Deck 52 W/2 Jokers By Michael Everettnewsealed 
Adult Playing Cards (bridge Size) 2 Dozen 24 Deck's
Huge Lot Of Souviner Playing Cards - 78 Decks - Us States/travel Destinations
Lot Of Vintage Playing Cards 2 Double Decks San Francisco, Gerber, Pin Ups Adult
3 Boxes(6 Decks Total) Of The Best Brown/green Kem Casino, Plastic Playing Cards
Vintage Hamilton Playing Cards 2 Decks Sealed In Orig Box *fox Hunting Scene*
Vintage Sealed/stamped "hostess Playing Cards"
Kem Plastic Playing Cards 1998 Millennium Red
Single - Old Wide Lacquer Rare Horse Jockey Gold Vintage Swap Playing Card
Vintage Kem Plastic Playing Cards W/ Cases - 2 Sets, 4 Decks Total
Vintage Playing Cards Gibson Art Deco Terrier Dog In Landscape Yellow #2
Vintage Unopened Nib Congress Playing Card Decks Roadrunners-collectibles
Vintage John F Kennedy Center For The Performing Arts Playing Cards In Case New!
1947 "quick On The Draw" Pinup Girl Cowgirl Playing Cards One Complete Deck
Vintage Russell Deluxe Playing Cards...cameo Lady...two Decks..
1964-1965 New York World's Fair 2 Vintage Decks Of Scenic Souvenir Playing Cards
Recent News: Playing Cards
Source: Google News
Snyder, Dorothy H.
Rapid City Journal, June 19thHer interests included gardening, collecting Coca-Cola memorabilia, Barbie Dolls, shopping and playing cards with family and friends. She devoted much of her time and energy as a caregiver to family members and a dedicated wife. Left to cherish...Read more
Dark Horse Deluxe Gets Grimm
MediaConnection, June 19thThe Dark Horse coin pin replica is given an antique finish over zinc alloy, re-creating the patina of antiquity. Dark Horse will continue to offer more Grimm products, including busts, journals, and playing cards, and some very cool lenticular...Read more
Breckenridge Soapbox Derby racers revved up and ready to go (with video)
News-Herald.com, June 18th“The Shriners in their little cars, the police who do their things on motorcycles, the Junior U.S. Marine Corps/National Guard, at least a half a dozen convertible vintage cars, some clowns,” Hunter said, listing those who will kick off the first ever...Read more
Verdi: At old Boston Garden, rats and excessive heat had their place
Chicago Daily Herald, June 18thAlthough TD Garden is of a similar vintage as the United Center (born 1995), it borrowed certain housekeeping codes from the ancient Boston Garden, R.I.P. There, guest teams also found quirks in their quarters. Hayden Fry, the famed Iowa football coach...Read more
Rich legacy of cottage generations
Haliburton County Echo, June 18thAdmire the antique dough box from the old homestead in Milton. Sink into the comfort of Great Aunt Molly's Doug remembers quiet evenings reading by oil lamp, playing cards and watching the stars down by the lake. His teenage years changed all that...Read more
My love affair with cars
News24, June 17thOne was a 318i and the other was a 320i – both of eighties vintage. Each of those cars was bought in a decidedly I first met it at a cramped, 'cheapie' used-car dealer in an area where you just know the yard owner will have gold teeth and speak...Read more
J. Cole in Wonderland: A Cautionary Tale
MTV Hive, June 17th“I bet nobody will like this,” he muttered, slipping into vintage Roc-A-Wear jammies and quaffing a virgin Thug Passion (one part fruit punch, one part sparkling Martinelli's). Upon hearing the album's first words, “it's way darker this time,” J. Cole...Read more
Door opens for country coders
The Age, June 16thThe Adelaide native loves to be able to work from anywhere and enjoy the region's sights, sounds and smells, including the "prominent scent of grapes during vintage". However, he feels isolated from his peers. "Networking is "The challenge itself...Read more