Playing Cards - Collecting

The origin of playing cards is surrounded with considerable doubt. According to the Chinese encyclopedia, Ching-tze-tung, published in 1678 a.d., playing cards were invented during the reign of the Emperor S'eun-ho (1120 a.d.) for the amusement of his favorite concubine. But historians have found references that convince them that playing cards are very much older and originated in another country. India lays strong claim to the invention of playing cards; Indian cards, round in shape and undoubtedly ancient, are on view today in several museums. The Egyptians and Arabs are known to have used cards, or card-like counters, long before 1120 a.d. The Chinese themselves are said to have used cards as early as 969 a.d. But there is no evidence that any of the very early card users "played" with the cards in games remotely similar to those which card players enjoy today. It is likely that cards developed in several countries at more or less the same time, and that one of their uses was as a medium of exchange. Another use of the first playing cards was almost certainly for augury, or divination; the early cards of the Arabs and Egyptians are said to have a religious meaning, and to have been used as symbols in mystic rites.

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