Playing Cards - Collecting

Playing cards were probably introduced into Europe around the middle of the thirteenth century. Throughout the middle ages they were—in Europe as in Asia—used primarily in fortune-telling. By the sixteenth century they were in full use in various games of luck or skill, as well as by the clergy as a means of distributing scriptural passages. Only the Puritans disapproved, referring to a deck of cards as "the devil's picture book."

The earliest known cards were hand-painted. Later cards were printed from wood engravings and colored by the use of stencils. The four suits of the earliest playing cards were hearts, bells, leaves, and acorns. The suit markings on somewhat later Italian cards were swords, batons, cups, and money. These symbols are still used in some countries.

Playing cards have been made in many shapes. In recent years, the narrow oblong cards (usually called "bridge cards") have replaced the wider oblong-shaped cards. Round cards have long since gone out of use. Round poker chips and checkers counters, however, are still standard, recalling the days when round cards were probably used as counters of a sort.

Few of the very early cards are available to collectors, and when they are, they are expensive. You may occasionally be able to find a deck of moderate age at a country auction. Some antique dealers have a few, though most of them do not carry playing cards at all.

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