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History of Playing Cards
A Brief History of Cards |
Origin of Playing Cards |
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Playing Cards have existed for millennia and around them hundreds of games and conventions have been devised. The standard deck comprises 52 cards, in four suits each of thirteen ranks. In the Royal Household are Kings, Queens and Jacks. The English pattern itself derives from a 15th century design that originated in Rouen, France. |
It is not known from where playing cards originated, nor has it been easy to document their introduction to European culture. Playing cards appeared in Europe almost everywhere at once in the latter half of the 14th century. Various explanations have been proposed for their arrival, but none have pieced together the entire story. |
Card Masters of the 19th Century
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French Regional Patterns of the 18th Century |
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By the beginning of the Eighteenth century, war, and no doubt extravagance, had drained France's national treasury to little more than copper coins in a tin pot. In 1701 a new duty was imposed on playing cards of 18 deniers a deck. In order to collect the new tax, the country was divided into nine manufacturing regions. Each manufacturer was required to submit a design block to the ‘Recettes generales’. It was in this manner that each region was allotted its own design. Read More » |
Early Standard Playing Cards |
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Very little is known about the history of card making in England. However, through a pictorial history of French, English and American patterns it is clear to see the origins of the English Pattern and its patrimony in the French Rouen design. |
L I N K S
♠ History of Playing-Cards - International Playing-Cards Society
♠ Playing Cards and their History some links to other sites - World of Playing Cards
♠ The History of Playing Cards: The Evolution of the Modern Deck - PlayingCardDecks.com
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