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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...
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.
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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: Cards
Other Great Reference Sites: Cards
Top eBay Auctions
1863 Confederate General Civil War Playing Cards Full Deck M Nelson Co Ny Real
Authentic Salvador Dali Historic Sealed Incredibly Rare Unopened Playing Cards
Original Jerry
Antique German T.o. Weigel Playing Cards Circa 1885, Nr
1891 Rare Bicycle Historic Russell & Morgan Playing Card Americana Artifact
Early 1900's Antique Bicycle 808 New Fan Back Playing Cards Dozen Boxed Set
1904 Mint Antique Rare Trolley Americana Historic Playing Cards Ny Parlor Game
Ca1890 Complete Deck Of N458 Hard-a-port Tobacco Advertising Playing Cards Women
United Airlines Boxed Set Of Two Decks Playing Cards From The 1950s
Prada - Playing Card Gift Set Box
Original Jerry's Nugget Playing Cards
Original & Rare Miracle Mile Casino Deck
Gold Arcane Uncut Sheet - Ellusionist - Playing Cards - Black Club Exclusive
Woolworths Swap Card - Brunette Lady - Red Border - Very Good Condition !!!
Derby Horses Bold Forbes & Secretariat Two Full Decks 52 Cards Each No Joker
Very Large Lot Of 255+ Vintage "bingo" Cards +markers Some From Old Vfw Hall
Rare Complete Deck Antique 1850s De La Rue Playing Cards For Exportation Nr
1905 Rare Beautiful German Artifact Deck Gorgeous Antique Playing Cards
1916 Rare Americana Diana Gorgeous Congress 606 Art Deco Antique Playing Cards
Cartier Double Deck Playiing Cards With Leather Holder
1 New Deck Black Artifice Apex Edition Playing Cards Black Club Ellusionist 11 
2 Deck Floral Black Playing Cards Rare
Vintage Playing Cards Twin Deck Lacquer Enamel Painted Box Gorgeous Birds Nr Yqz
The Key To The Kingdom An Enchanted Deck Hc 1992 1st Ed With Playing Cards New
Vintage Mixed Lot 84 Playing Cards Decks Bicycle Todor Rose Lion 
3 Deck Floral Red Playing Cards
1945 Pennsylvania Railroad Playing Card Deck
'romanov' Playing Cards. Piatnik. Austria. The Great Dynasty Of Russia. 1997
Old Wide Us Playing Card # 7 Railroad Rare - Chicargo & Alton Rr Mint Cond
Vintage Wooden Playing Cards Box - Holds Two Decks
Ellusionist Black Artifice Rare Deck Playing Cards Theory 11 Black Club
Russian Nevskie Playing Cards Limited Edition Sveshnikov
Lot Of 5 Deck Of Vintage Delta Airlines Playing Cards Bridge Size Sealed!
Kem Pinochle Playing Cards In Original Bakelite Case And Another Deck
Vintage Washburn Playing Cards (mandolins, Guitars, Banjos)
Vint Art Deco Terrier Scotty? Dog Set Of Boxed Card Deck Top Hat & Monacle (d299
Early 1900's Antique Goodall & Sons London Bicycle Cycling Playing Cards
4 Boxes(8 Decks Total) Of The Best Brown/green Kem Casino, Plastic Playing Cards
Coca Cola Playing Cards Ca. 1950's? Complete Undamaged
Early 1900's Antique Bicycle 808 Saddle Back Playing Cards Complete
Vintage Kem Unicorn Plastic Playing Cards, Double Deck With Box
Two (2) Deck Set Of Vintage Pin-up Playing Cards, Excellent!! 
Vintage Macpherson Nude Pinup Art Double Deck Win, Lose Or Draw Playing Cards
Le Jeu Des Papes, Carte Dei Papi, Grimaud, 3 Deck Card Game, 1983
1986 Centennial Statue Of Liberty/ellis Island Kem Playing Cards - 2 Decks
B Dondorf Frankfurt Complete Deck Antique Victorian Era German Playing Cards
12 Decks - Bicycle All Wheel Playing Cards
Vintage Playing Cards Matched Decks Three Musketeers Mint Sealed Box & Stamps
Lot 18 Decks Playing Cards-poodle, Advertising, 7-up, Kent, Spanish, Cats, Vtg.
New Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum Playing Cards With Pinup Girls - Factory Sealed
# 1 Swap Playing Cards Album Has 144 Cards Royals
1960s Vintage 54 Adult Erotic Mini Playing Cards Full Deck Nude Girls Ladies
Masonic Playing Cards - Full Set - New And Unused
Nice Double Deck Of Kem Playing Cards / Mint In Box / Still In Wrapper
Rare Playing Cardstiffany&co, Gold Edge, Design C.e.carryl From 1879 Collectabl
1 Deck Golden Nugget Brown Playing Cards Rare
1 Deck Golden Nugget Green Playing Cards Rare
Vintage Congress Cel-u-tone Finish Pinochle Playing Cards Set - Still Sealed
Vintage Floral Patience Playing Cards Double Deck With Box Piatnik Decks Sealed
Rare Dan And Dave Smoke And Mirrors V3 Luxury Edition Cards Deck (mirror Only!)
Recent News: Playing Cards
Source: Google News
They cast a spell on Kochiites
The New Indian Express, May 18thErnakulam District Collector P I Sheik Pareeth, Greater Cochin Development Authority Chairman N Venugopal, magician Gopinath Muthukadu, actor Captain Raju and director Kamal were also present at the venue.Renowned street magician of the state...Read more
Rise and shine in the Mississippi Pearl - Muscatine Journal
Muscatine Journal, May 17thThe uniquely named suites have private baths, Wi-Fi, microwave and mini fridge, and are surrounded by antique pieces dating back to the early 1900s. The wrap-around porch has a swing amongst other outdoor seating to relax and enjoy the evening breeze...Read more
Religion Almanac for May 18, 2013
Bradenton Herald, May 17thFormer members or their families are invited to share photos or memorabilia from St. George's between 1965 and the present. Contact the church office at 941-755-3606, 9 a.m.-noon Tuesday-Friday, to arrange for pick-up and return of .... worship...Read more
BRIEFLY: May 16
Wicked Local, May 16thVintage items, birdhouses, vegetable plants, herbs, annuals and perennials, one of a kind garden structures, hypertufa, wreaths and vertical garden elements will be offered for sale. New this year, Kokedama, which is derived ..... support to hospice...Read more
Bucket List Bars: 10 Must-Visit Bars In America (PHOTOS) - Huffington Post
Huffington Post, May 14thBuilt from an old whaling ship in 1883 this water-front saloon saw sailors and pirates drinking at the (now very slanted) bar and playing cards at the original tables you can still sit at today. It also became a home to one of America's most celebrated...Read more
Artisan White Edition Playing Cards
The Dieline (blog), May 14thArtisan Black Edition playing cards in 2012, received an incredible welcome. David Copperfield called it “the greatest playing cards ever produced.” On Friday, May 10th, Theory 11 released the anticipated follow-up to the deck, Artisan White Edition...Read more
School's ban on Pokemon cards
The Argus, May 13thIn a letter the school said: “We have taken the decision to ban all playing cards, including Moshi Monsters cards, from the school site. “Children have been bringing these collector cards into school and trying to swap cards during the day, which has...Read more
Total War: Rome 2 launching Sept. 3 worldwide in standard and collector's editions
Polygon, May 9thInvolving combat, territorial control, resource management and technological development, Punic Wars consists of 58 high-quality playing cards and a game-board printed with the Punic Wars tech-tree. Canvas Campaign Map: A reminder of the worlds you...Read more