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Playing cards originated in ancient China, and were introduced into Europe sometime in the 14th century. There are a wide variety of collectible cards today, from highly ornamented early European cards to tarot cards to 20th century decks issued by railroads, casinos, and cruise lines, or reflecting contemporary themes like war, politics and sports.
The earliest playing cards were hand-painted, often gilded, and designed to be beautiful objects. Meant for gambling or playing games of skill, they were also often used as symbolism or mnemonics for representing knowledge ranging from botany to heraldry, cosmology to geography...
The earliest surviving playing cards date from the fifteenth century, with imagery 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 around the world.
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.
People are often surprised when we tell them we collect playing cards. They all know how to play games with c… [more]
Collecting facsimile playing cards can be an interesting window onto the world of historic and antique playin… [more]
For over six centuries - apart from its functionality as a number game - the playing card has been chosen as… [more]
How did I start collecting Victorian trade cards? In the late 60s I was a bottle collector, early American bo… [more]
Dave Campbell contacted me after reading a post on The Baseball Card blog. He's been collecting baseball card… [more]
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… [more]
I started collecting in 1986. If you’re in Boston and you’re a baseball fan, the Red Sox may take over yo… [more]
A full house of great images and reference information on vintage playing cards. Browse cards by country and subjec… [read review or visit site]
This Dutch site showcases a wonderful international collection of old playing cards, with themes as varied as the P… [read review or visit site]
Tom Boblitt moderates this extremely deep, collaborative site dedicated to non-sports cards (tobacco, gum and candy… [read review or visit site]
Got a site to suggest? Let us know.
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Source: Google News
By Sarah Gantz / The Citizen AUBURN - The only sound that filled the cramped meeting room was the fwip, fwip, fwip of playing cards snapping against vinyl...Read more
In this Good Morning America interview, Beddor wows an audience of kids with his story and the beautiful antique "Alice in Wonderland" playing cards that...Read more
Saturday 10AM- A listed sale Antique Furniture-numerous 18th/19thC 1 & 2 drawer blanket chests & sea chest; Mass QA hiboy which was separated;...Read more
For $20, you get a set of playing cards featuring KD models wearing lingerie too delicate to be shown here. You get 52 cards, a soldier gets a set and $15...Read more
She has thought little of her distinction as the last surviving Civil War child and has no war diaries, photographs or memorabilia, although her brother's...Read more
He's also got serial killer playing cards, board games and action figures. "It's a way for you to get close to that particular serial killer or high-profile...Read more
By the time he sold them in 2002, Jim had amassed quite a collection of unique and interesting antique and vintage vehicles. Bonnie passed away on June 14,...Read more
Marcie said she isn't a collector of antiques, simply a steward of heirlooms. But there is one antique she bought: an 8-foot-tall John Purden London...Read more
