Playing cards have a long and varied history, with their origins believed to date back to ancient China in the 9th century. The earliest known examples of playing cards were found in the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and were called "money cards" or "leaf cards." These cards were used in various games, including a game called "The Game of Leaves," which involved matching cards and was similar to the modern-day game of Go Fish.
From China, playing cards spread to other parts of Asia, including India and Persia. By the 14th century, playing cards had arrived in Europe, likely brought over by traders from the Middle East. The earliest European playing cards were produced in Italy and featured suits of swords, cups, coins, and batons.
Over time, the suits used in European playing cards evolved to include hearts, diamonds, clubs, and spades. These suits were first introduced in France in the 16th century and gradually became the standard for playing cards throughout Europe and much of the world.
Playing cards have had many cultural and symbolic meanings throughout history. In Europe, for example, the court cards (the king, queen, and jack) were often depicted as historical or mythological figures, such as Charlemagne or Julius Caesar. In some cultures, certain cards were believed to have mystical or supernatural powers, such as the ace of spades, which was thought to be associated with death.
Playing cards have also been used for divination and fortune-telling in many cultures. In the 18th and 19th centuries, tarot cards became popular for this purpose in Europe and are still used for divination and spiritual guidance today.
Today, playing cards are a popular form of entertainment worldwide, used in countless games and enjoyed by people of all ages. Marked Cards USA carries a vast selection of playing cards and with their long and rich history, playing cards continue to evolve and adapt to new technologies and cultural trends.
A Journey Through Time
The modern deck of playing cards that we are familiar with today has undergone a significant transformation over the centuries. When you hold a standard deck of Bicycle rider back cards, it might feel very normal and traditional. However, this deck has evolved dramatically. Originally, the concept of a 52-card deck with four suits in red and black, and the inclusion of two Jokers, was anything but normal. The journey of playing cards spans hundreds of years, involving travelling through various countries and absorbing significant elements from different cultures.
Geographic Influences and Cultural Impact
The geographic influences on the modern deck are profound. Starting from the East, where the exact origin of playing cards is still surrounded by uncertainty, the cards made their way to Europe. In Italy and Spain, the cards began to take a form that we might recognize today. From there, they spread to Germany, moved west to France, and then crossed the channel to England. Each of these countries contributed to the significant elements that shaped the cards. The designs and suits were influenced by the local cultures and geographic features of these regions.
The Modern Deck's Final Evolution
The final leg of the cards' journey brought them across the ocean to the United States, where the USPCC (United States Playing Card Company) produced the decks in the form we know today. This company played a crucial role in standardizing the deck's appearance and feel. The 52 cards with four suits and two Jokers became a standard, easily recognized worldwide. The significant elements from the countries they travelled through, combined with the geographic influences, determined the look of the modern playing cards we use today.
The East
The origin of playing cards has been a topic of debate among scholars. Various theories exist, but they often rely on speculation rather than proof. Historical evidence suggests that playing cards appeared in Europe around the 1300s and 1400s, but their journey is unclear. It's believed they came from the East, possibly imported by gypsies, crusaders, or traders. There is a common consensus that an early form of playing cards originated in Asia, though we must be honest that we cannot be entirely sure. Paper is fragile and does not survive well through the ages, making solid historical evidence lacking.
Educated guesses link the suits and icons of playing cards to China, India, Korea, Persia, and Egypt, possibly introduced to Europe by the Arabs. Some scholars think playing cards were invented in China during the Tang dynasty in the 9th century AD. Evidence suggests that games involving cards, sometimes linked with drinking, existed from this period onward. Cards from this time often featured coins, similar to those seen in Western Europe later. This implies that the origins of playing cards may date back to before 1000AD, evolving from tile games like dominoes and mahjong. Initially, playing cards might have served as play money for gambling games before becoming part of the games themselves. Other theories propose connections to chess or dice games, but these are also speculative.
Some believe that playing cards traveled from China to Europe via Egypt during the Mamluk period. Mamluk decks featured goblets (cups), gold coins, swords, and polo-sticks, reflecting the main interests of the Mamluk aristocracy. These suits have clear parallels to the four suits of Italian cards from the 14th century. However, it remains uncertain if playing cards first appeared in the East or if their ancestors originated in Europe independently. The earliest confirmed reference to playing cards in Europe is found in a Latin manuscript written by a German monk in a Swiss monastery.
Italy and Spain
In a manuscript dating back to 1377, a German monk named Johannes from Switzerland documented the appearance of playing cards and various card games. By the 1400s, these cards, along with dice, were often referenced in religious sermons, where gambling activities were denounced. It's during this time that a 52-card deck began to take shape in Europe.
The suits in the first European decks of the 14th century included swords, clubs, cups, and coins. These signs likely had their origin in Italy, possibly influenced by Egyptian Mamluk cards. The court cards of late 14th-century Italian decks featured a mounted king, a seated and crowned queen, and a knave. This knave, representing a royal servant or prince, later became known as a Jack to avoid confusion with the king. Spanish cards, however, took a different direction, with court cards depicting a king, knight, and knave, omitting queens entirely. This resulted in a 40-card deck due to the absence of certain numbers in the Spanish game of ombre.
Initially, playing cards were luxury items exclusive to the upper classes in Italy, meticulously hand-painted and admired for their beauty. However, as card playing gained popularity, methods were developed to produce them more cheaply, making them accessible to a wider audience. The spread of playing cards to Spain and beyond was swift, described by historians as an "invasion," with even soldiers aiding in their movement.
Germany
The Germans played a significant role in the development of playing cards. They introduced new suits to replace the traditional Italian ones, reflecting their rural life with symbols like acorns, leaves, hearts, and bells. These hawk-bells were a nod to the popular pastime of falconry. Interestingly, the queen was eliminated from the Italian courts, leaving a King and two knaves, known as obermann (upper) and untermann (under). In this new deck, the Two replaced the Ace as the highest card, creating a 48 card deck.
During this time, custom decks became popular, featuring unique suit symbols like animals, kitchen utensils, and appliances—everything from frying pans to printers' inkpads! Despite these novelties, the standard German suits of acorns, leaves, hearts, and bells were predominant. In nearby Switzerland, a variation included flowers instead of leaves and shields instead of hearts. The Germanic suits remain in use in some parts of Europe today, a testament to this influential period in history.
The real contribution of Germany to the world of playing cards was their methods of printing. Using advanced techniques like wood-cutting and engraving in wood and copper, driven by the demand for holy pictures and icons, printers produced cards in larger quantities. This innovation allowed Germany to dominate the playing card trade, even exporting decks to Western Europe, where playing cards had first been produced. Eventually, the suit symbols adopted by Germany became more common throughout Europe than the original Italian ones.