November 23, 2008
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]
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]
A full house of great images and reference information on vintage playing cards. Browse cards by country and subjec… [more]
This Dutch site showcases a wonderful international collection of old playing cards, with themes as varied as the P… [more]
Great reference on ephemera... includes examples and descriptions of various ephemera categories, selected special … [more]
Marty Weil's wide-ranging, in-depth blog on ephemera, including lots of great interviews with ephemera collectors. … [more]
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Toronto Star, Canada -
Back when he was a player, he remembers being at parties playing cards with the guys, while a threesome was taking place, in full view, just metres away. ...
Poker News Daily, NV -
Plastic playing cards are available for $30 per set and come complete with a case and WSOP logo. Announcing the WSOP auction earlier in the week, Alan Fey, ...
Post-Bulletin, MN -
In his spare time, he enjoyed antique cars, playing the accordion, polka dancing and playing cards. He was known to ride his bike to church on Sundays and ...
Tampabay.com, FL -
These days, collectors can find similar Florida gems at auctions, junk shops, antique stores and collector shows. The Plant exhibit is displayed artfully ...
Essex Echo, UK -
The stall, at Basildon Market, is open three days a week and sells the goods beside stalls selling children’s playing cards and toys. ...
So Md News, MD -
A collector of antique dolls since her youth, Snyder branched out from that hobby to repairing the dolls she collects. And now she runs a "doll hospital" in ...
VillageSoup Belfast, USA -
For the man in your life: super bookends, antique ink wells and stamp boxes, a vintage cocktail shaker or deck of playing cards. For a teenager: vintage ...
Kansas City Star, MO -
Ron is an avid collector and specializes in chips, slot tokens and swizzle sticks. The column and photos below are the first of many to follow from Ron and ...
Western Australia Post Newspapers, Australia -
His other enduring legacy is a vast network of friends, who he called his family, who first met playing cards and dominoes while drinking at The Vintage, ...
New York Times, United States -
Christina scored this 1920s macramé jacket at Herman Brown (151 West Port; 011-44-131-228-2589), a vintage store set among go-go bars and old-school ...
Vintage Vargas Playing Cards, Double Set$105.50 Ends in 5 hours 14 bids
Very Very Rare Playing Card Joker In Mint Condition$99.00 Ends in 7 hours 2 bids
Rare Joker Hard A Port Playing Cards 1890 Near Mint$93.00 Ends in 7 hours 2 bids
Rare Tabacco Playing Card Joker Joker Old Wide 1920's$89.99 Ends in 7 hours 2 bids
Vintage White Star Lines Playing Cards - Sweet!$67.00 Ends in 2 hours 3 bids
New York Central Railroad (dd) Mint/sealed - 1932!$58.00 Ends Monday 4 bids
Soo Line Railroad - Early Logo- Nr. Mint - 1941!$56.00 Ends Monday 2 bids
Northern Pacific Railroad "logo W/vertical Lines - 1940$55.00 Ends Monday 4 bids
Lehigh Valley Railroad "diamond Logo" Mint/sealed!$46.99 Ends Monday 2 bids
Rare 1906 Urbana Wine Co.playing Cards Great Joker Ace Buy it Now$39.99 Ends in 8 hours 1 bid
Very Old Playing Card Joker Gold Medal Flower 1910 $39.99 Ends in 6 hours 1 bid
" 1000 Different Vintage" Single/swap Playing Cards $39.99 Ends in 8 hours 1 bid
Kansas, Oklahoma & Gulf Rr (dd) "engine 751" - 1950!$38.50 Ends Monday 6 bids
Vintage Complete Set Vargas Pin-up Girls Playing Cards$34.33 Ends in 11 hours 19 bids
Playing Cards Peter Schuyler 10c Cigar Great Ace-joker$33.00 Ends Tuesday 3 bids
1941 Alberto Vargas Unopened Deck Pin Up Playing Cards$33.00 Ends in 11 hours 5 bids
2 Decks Of Kem Playing Cards From 1940's Still Sealed!$32.00 Ends in 11 hours 3 bids
Tiffany & Co. Playing Cards 2 Decks New In Sealed Box!$31.00 Ends Thursday 4 bids
1940 Us Playing Card Stamp Rf27 Peppy's Pepper Horse $30.65 Ends Monday 3 bids
Zwiefel Antique Golf Card Game ( Very Rare Cir. 1932) $30.00 Ends in 10 hours 1 bid
Alaska Yukon Pacific Seattle Souvenir Playing Cards$28.00 Ends Wednesday 5 bids
Art Deco 9ct Gold Cuff Links Cards Suits Vintage$26.27 Ends Wednesday 1 bid
Vintage Risque Playing Cards - Mais Qui - Elvgren $24.01 Ends Monday 4 bids
1917 Congress 606 Named Playing Cards: Brook$23.50 Ends in 3 hours 4 bids
Octopussy-poster Rare James Bond 007 Roger Moore 27x40$23.50 Ends Tuesday 12 bids
Vintage Celluloid Bakelite Dice & Cup Whist Marker $22.50 Ends in 12 hours 3 bids
Art Deco Longchamps Linen Playing Cards~lady Feather$22.50 Ends in 12 hours 3 bids
Vintage Set Of German-made Playing Cards$22.00 Ends in 12 hours 4 bids
1899 Playing Cards Rocky Mountain Souvenir, Tom Jones$20.73 Ends Tuesday 3 bids
Vintage Kem Poker Playing Cards 5 Straight Decks W Box$20.51 Ends in 4 hours 5 bids
Japanese Classical Art Playing Card Beauty Of Heian Era$19.99 Ends in 11 hours 1 bid
Deco Playing Cards 1932 Huntley Bidding Bridge Cards $19.99 Ends Tuesday 2 bids
Antique German Monssinian Cards? Eduard Buttner & Co. $19.95 Ends Monday 1 bid
World Series Of Poker 2 Decks Kem Playing Cards & Case$19.95 Ends Friday 1 bid
Fortune Telling Tarot Playing Cards-oswald Wirth$18.95 Ends Monday 1 bid
53 Vargas Vintage Girls Playing Cards Poker$18.49 Ends Tuesday 4 bids
Canadian Pacific Wide Souvenir - "lady" Nr. Mt/mt- 1905$15.50 Ends Monday 3 bids
Vargas Pin-up Girls Playing Cards, Complete W Box $15.37 Ends Wednesday 2 bids
Vintage Emilio Pucci Playing Card Set!!! So Hot!!$15.00 Ends Wednesday 1 bid
Bicycle Mirror Face Metal Playing Card Guard/clip $15.00 Ends Thursday 1 bid
1956 Melbourne Olympic Playing Card Double Deck$15.00 Ends Saturday 1 bid
Tiffany Stained Glass Windows Sealed Playing Cards 1992$14.99 Ends in 11 hours 2 bids
Very Original Playing Cards With Adof Hitler's Painting$13.99 Ends in 1 hour 1 bid
Vintage Antique Bone Dice Circa Civil War Era 1800's$13.26 Ends in 12 hours 2 bids
Flowering Oriental Looking Tree Playing Cards$13.09 Ends in 9 hours 2 bids
Washington State Souvenir Playing Cards 52 Photos C1899$13.08 Ends Wednesday 2 bids
New Barack Obama Playing Card Election 2008 $12.99 Ends in 2 hours 1 bid
Art Deco Congress 606 Named Petite Playing Cards C1926$12.99 Ends in 11 hours 1 bid
Vintage Nude Pin Up Girls Playing Cards Models $12.62 Ends in 12 hours 2 bids
1940's Alberto Vargas Pin Up Girls Playing Cards Iob$12.50 Ends Wednesday 2 bids
Deck Of 1920s Art Deco Show Girl Playing Cards~centaur$12.50 Ends in 1 hour 4 bids
53 Vargas Girls Playing Cards W/ Box (vintage)$11.50 Ends Monday 6 bids
Portland-by-the-sea Souvenir Playing Cards Maine$11.50 Ends Tuesday 2 bids
2 Decks Girls Playing Card Vintage Original Vsquire$11.01 Ends Tuesday 3 bids
Kem Plastic Cards Bakelite Box Complete Set W/ Booklet$10.99 Ends in 5 hours 3 bids
Playing Cards-2 Sets 2+ 1 Rca Radio Card Singles$10.49 Ends Wednesday 3 bids
Playing Cards-2 Wide Worshipful Card Singles 1909$10.49 Ends Wednesday 2 bids
