Playing Cards


Playing Cards

There are many sites on the Web concerning playing cards, consequently this Site does not intend to be exhaustive about the subject. Rather, the focus is on the over 250 decks of playing cards and objects related to card games in the collection.

The subject of playing cards is quite diverse since there is considerable information available - information spanning a number of centuries and from many different regions of the world.

The help of a number of people has been used to provide the content for this section of the Website. David Galt of the United States (a collector of playing cards) contributed preliminary information. Eugen Bruhin of Switzerland (a collector of playing cards) clarified some of the information offered about various suits on European decks of playing cards. Joop Muller of the Netherlands (who maintains an elaborate Dutch Website about playing cards) sent considerable information to modify incorrect information and add information to the pages in this section. Jinhee Chung of Korea (a graduate student at the University) was instrumental in clarifying the differences between certain Asian decks in the collection.

This page is a Table of Contents to this Website section on playing cards. Information is divided into a number of topics. On the menu are two topics "History of Playing Cards" and "About Playing Card Suits". Both of these items are of a general nature and are offered as background information. The following list concerns specific decks in the collection. Click on a topic in the list below to be taken to a page about that topic.

Cezanne
  • National & Regional Decks
    (in the collection)

  • Special Purpose Decks
    (in the collection)

  • Objects Related to Playing Cards
    (in the collection)

  • Objects Related to Specific Card Games
    (in the collection)



  • NOTE: This page was originally created and posted on the Web on December 15, 1997. Subsequently it has been modified and periodically updated. Last update: June 7, 2010