Clothing
+ Fashion
Jewelry +
Watches
Home +
Furniture
 Pottery 
+ Glass
Art +
 Photos 
Paper +
  Books  
Music +
Movies
Toys +
Games
Sports +
Outdoors
Ads +
  Signs  
Eras +
Themes

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 o...

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.

About our sources | Got something to add?

▼ Expand to read the full article ▼

Show & Tell - Share Your Stuff!

» See all playing cards Show & Tells

Interviews & Articles

Guest Column: 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]

Guest Column: 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]

Guest Column: 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]

An Interview With Victorian Trade Card Collector Ben Crane

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]

An Interview With Baseball Card Collector Dave Campbell

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]

▼ Expand this section

Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)

World of Playing Cards

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

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]

Non Sports Cards: Tobacco, Gum and Candy

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]

Museum of Talking Boards

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]

Elliot Avedon Games Museum

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]

Museum of Childhood

Museum of Childhood

Embrace your inner child on this website from the Victoria and Albert Museum, filled with high-quality images and i… [read review or visit site]

Handhelden.com

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

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: Cards

Other Great Reference Sites: Cards

Top eBay Auctions

Showing 60. See all 627 by  highest bidmost watchedcompleted
Giant Dbz Gt Ccg Card Set Collection Irwin Kraft Promos, Ultras, Ubers Goku Lv 6Playing Cards Uncut Sheet Lot (the Blue Crown, Dan And Dave, Mana, Vision, Rev1)Playing Cards The Dunes Hotel & Country Club Las Vegas Nevada VintageHawaiian Souvenir Playing Cards Wall, Nichols Co. Early 1900's With Case Nice!Lovely 1890’s French Hand Painted €Large Lot Of Twenty Coles Swap Cards 1950sWhite Banner Malt Extract Vintage Advertising Playing Cards Saint LouisFrench Pin Up Nude Playing Cards Erotic Reprint Casanova PhillibertRare Uspc Triangles Prototype Playing Cards Deck + Limited Uncut Sheet Rare Ellusionist.com Ltd (limited) Playing Cards Plus Bonus Bicycle Deck No Res!Ford 1970's Playing Cards - Unopened Factory Sealed! Bicycle Christmas Holiday Double Deck Playing Cards In Tin Vargas Girl Playing Cards Vintage Poker Cards In The BoxDeck Vintage Vargas Vanities Pinup Girl Playing Cards MintTiffany & Co. Boxed Set 1939 World's Fair Double Deck Of Playing Cards, Vintage Swap Playing Card Album + 200 Assorted Vintage Cards 'armorial Des Chevaliers De La Toison D'or' P/cards. Editions Dusserre. FranceVintage Double Deck Of Playing Cards - Sealed Penn Central With/caseEllusionist Ltd. Limited DeckRare Ellusionist.com Ltd (limited) Playing Cards Plus Bonus Bicycle Deck No Res!Kem Plastic Playing Cards New York, N.y.Vintage Japanese Made In Japan Art Playing Cards 2 Decks Sealed Complete + BoxAntique Old Maid Playing Cards,complete In Original Box,milton Bradley #4681Woolworths Card - Small Boy On A Pillow - Green Border - Excellent ConditionVintage 1936 Whitman Publishing Complete 21 Pairs + Old Maid Playing Cards + BoxRare 1901 Playing Cards Forbidden City Pekin Chinese Views Boxer Rebellion China1919 Rare Antique Jewish Fortune Telling Game Playing Cards Scarce Version +box Blue Ribbon Rosette Back Playing Cards New Sealed 1 Deck Vintage RareVintage Double Deck Playing Cards In Box: ZebrasBicycle New Fan Back Playing Cards Set New Sealed 2 Decks Vintage RareGold Playing CardsBicycle Transducer Playing Card Deck (aqua)Smoke & Mirrors V6, Magic Con V2 Deck, Blue Crown V1, Signed Fantasitque. Vintage Reno Rodeo Casino Playing Cards 1950's Internal Revenue Stamp Sealed1800s B Dondorf Frankfort #178 German Deck Women Playing Cards OutstandingVintage Kem Playing Cards Unused Double Bridge Set Bakelite Box Harvest Design Vintage Antique Russian Playing Cards! Beautiful Set-amazing Art! No Reserve!!!Gil Elvgren,brown And Bigelow Playing CardsNo 45 Tally Ho Bridge 1915 52 Jolly Joker W/box Playing Cards Dougherty Ny Clown1915 Going To Market Cards Sherwin Williams Beech Nut Overland Ingersol Ads CibPlaying Cards 2 Vint Whisky Black & White Scotch Whisky Dog& BirdPlaying Cards 1 Vint Wide Royalty George V & Mary Durbar Delhi 1911Coles National Costumes (3) Swap/playing CardsBlack Crown Deck Playing Cards ~ The Blue Crown ~ Rare ~ Dan & Dave Theory 11Boob Deck Miniature Playing Cards 1 1/2" - 2 1/2" Complete Set1 Single Swap/playing Card.barribal Lady With A Scottie Dog. Artist .english .Playing Cards 1 Vint Wide Royalty George V & Mary Durbar Delhi 1911Playing Cards 1 Vint Wide Royalty George V & Mary Durbar Delhi 1911Playing Cards 2 Vint Wide Royalty George V R Gold DetailingEli Manning Ny Giants Jersey, Size 50 (adult Large)Lot Of 8 Decks Of Vintage Playing Cards 3 From Old Casino Poker Vending?6 Decks Playing Cards C&o Railroad Reynolds Metals United States Lines BoxedAssassin's Creed Revelations Limited Edition Playing Cards8 Brand New Playing Cards (all Sealed)Pack Of Sexy Nude Playing Cards NewBlack Crown Deck Playing Cards ~ The Blue Crown ~ Rare ~ Dan & Dave Theory 11Vintage Old Wide Whisky Playing Card - English - Dewars - Phil May Artist CardRussian Playing Cards Limited Edition Rococo Rare JokersLot Of ~10~ Vtg Double Deck Playing Card/cards~duratone/congress/hoyle HolderSmoke & Mirrors V3 Luxury Edition (rare & Sealed)
»» Get our weekly Playing Cards email



Right now on eBay



Recent News: Playing Cards

Source: Google News

My father-in-law Engelbert Humperdinck and his amazing healing hands: Our ...
Daily Mail, May 24th

Henrietta and Manon spend hours backstage playing cards with their grandfather. I have a sneaking suspicion EH may throw a few games to let the children win, though he promises he doesn't. My older girls have learned to deal with the fans accosting...Read more

Potter & Potter to sell Chicago mob gambling items June 23
Auction Central News, May 24th

On June 23, Potter & Potter Auctions will conduct its second annual auction of gambling memorabilia. A highlight of the sale will be a recently discovered set of duplicate books from El Patio, an illegal mob-run casino in Cicero Ill. Louis Campagna,...Read more

Coffee Run: A neighbourhood beacon stands tall through changing times
National Post, May 23rd

My first downtown rehearsal space was at the corner of Queen and Ossington, behind the old Toronto Transfer Lounge, whose best days, it seemed, had peaked in 1959: tall men in coats and fedoras; naked-lady playing cards; table lamps; and the low murmur...Read more

Custom Toys and other Consumer Merchandise to Support Hannover House Release ...
MarketWatch (press release), May 22nd

The action-figures and bust will be premium priced, limited edition items for animation fans and movie memorabilia collectors. The Jigsaw Puzzle and Playing Cards will be budget priced for retail distribution and consumer accessibility...Read more

A Hobby to Many, Card Collecting Was Life's Work for One Man
New York Times, May 21st

But no one disputes that the greatest card collector was Jefferson R. Burdick. Some hobbyists have more cards and some investors have more valuable collections. Yet all of them owe a debt of gratitude to Burdick, an unassuming bachelor from upstate New...Read more

Best bets for enjoying Victoria Day
Calgary Herald, May 21st

vintage photo shoot at the park on Sunday. Along with their mom, Lori, the trio posed as gunslingers at a frontier saloon. “We had the big dresses on and my brother was a little cowboy with a moustache. We had the playing cards and the bottles of...Read more

Are We There Yet: Ideas for 88 days of Summer Vacation
Patch.com, May 20th

By Nandita Godbole Antique cards make a beautiful addition to the experience. I counted: 88 days or 13 weeks and weekends of 'summer vacation' from school. For all of us; parents or not; this time can either be daunting or an opportunity to spend some...Read more

Artix's AQ Worlds' First Action Figures at Toys "R" Us
MPOGD.com, May 16th

Collector figures of Artix and Sepulchure each come with five in-game items redeemable online at http://www.AQ.com, five rare playing cards, and an achievement for your character page! Lutz, FL - May 16, 2012 - Artix Entertainment, the indie game...Read more