Playing Cards
What follows is a list of just some of the many, many fascinating playing cards currently or previously available from various manufacturers, both European and American. Our thought is that such a list will inspire you to think about the idea of collecting playing cards as a hobby. There are also links to various topics related to playing cards that appear on our website.
- Brueghel – Hunters in the Snow. Double deck bridge set. Piatnik. Austria.
- Cezanne Gift Bridge Set. Piatnik.
- M C Escher Playing Cards. Piatnik, Austria. 2-deck set, entitled “Up and Down.” 1992.
- Erté
- Nile. Two-deck bridge set from Piatnik. 2002.
- Secret. Two-deck bridge set from Piatnik. 2002.
- Guggenheim. Single deck from Piatnik.
- Impressionist Masterpieces. Single deck from Piatnik, 2003.
- Klimt.
- Emilie. Double deck bridge set. Piatnik. Austria.
- Fritza. Double deck bridge set. Piatnik. Austria.
- Monet Gift Bridge Set.
- Mucha.
- Biscuits.
- Dreams.
- Hyacinta.
- Monte Carlo. Double deck bridge set. Piatnik. Austria.
- Sarah Bernhardt. Double deck bridge set. Piatnik. Austria.
- Picasso Playing Cards, double deck bridge set. Piatnik.
- Renoir. 2-deck bridge set, Piatnik.
- Norman Rockwell Playing Cards
- Seurat. Double deck bridge set. Piatnik. Austria.
- Self-Portrait Pack
- Toulouse-Lautrec 2-deck bridge set, one deck features “Moulin Rouge – La Goulue,” other features “Ambassadeurs.” Piatnik.
Bicycle Playing Cards
We have a special page devoted to Bicycle brand playing cards – please click here. Includes Bicycle Bridge Size Playing Cards and Braille Playing Cards.
Christmas Playing Cards
- Christmas. Plastic playing cards, 2-deck bridge-size set, from KEM.
- Old Time Christmas Angels Double Deck Playing Cards. Packaged in tin.
- Victorian Santas. Congress. Printed in Spain. 2 decks, mates.
Congress Playing Cards
- For a partial listing of Congress playing cards, click here.
Cultural & Ethnic Playing Cards
- Ancient Egypt Playing Cards, 2 deck set. Piatnik.
- Arabian Design Art Playing Cards. Piatnik.
- Hungarian Playing Cards. 2 decks. Piatnik, Austria.
- Native American Playing Cards I.
- Native American Playing Cards II.
- Polonia (Poland) Playing Cards, 2 deck set. Piatnik.
- Persian Art. Piatnik.
- Shamrock Irish Heritage Playing Cards, 2 deck set. Piatnik.
Fortune-Telling Playing Cards
For more information on this topic, see the article on fortune-telling playing cards by Marina Robbins.
- Antique Fortune Telling Cards. 32 cards in pack. Piatnik.
- Art Deco Fortune Telling Cards. Piatnik, introduced in 2002.
- Biedermeier Fortune Telling Cards. Piatnik.
- The Fortune Teller’s Deck. A deck and book set by Jane Lyle. Published by Stoddart.
- Gypsy Witch Fortune Telling Playing Cards – a brief essay.
- Lenormand Oracle Cards
- Sibilla Oracle Cards. Lo Scarabeo, Italy.
Fournier Playing Cards
- Difficult to acquire in the USA – for a list of some, please click here.
Historical Playing Cards
- 1864 Poker Deck.
- Antique Map Playing Cards. Piatnik, Austria.
- Black History Playing Card Deck. “52 portraits and biographies of notable black persons in America’s rich heritage.” US Games.
- Civil War Illuminated Poker Deck.
- Early Aviation Playing Cards
Imperial Playing Cards
Literary Playing Cards – Works, Authors and Literary Characters
- Authors Card Game – click here for rules and full listing.
- Shakespeare Playing Cards. 2 decks, 55 cards per pack. US Games. 1992.
- Writers & Poets Playing Cards. Single deck.
Military & Patriotic Playing Cards
- Airplane Spotter & Naval Spotter Playing Cards
- Civil War Illuminated Poker Deck. Single-ended court figures, illuminated with gold ink.
- Civil War Union Emblems.
- Iraq Most Wanted Playing Cards (Authorized Edition).
- Patriotic Playing Cards – Army
- Three Cheers Playing Cards (Congress)
- Union and Confederate Military Leaders Playing Cards. 2 decks, poker size. US Games. 1995.
- World War I Poster Playing Card Deck
- World War II Posters Playing Card Deck.
Non-Standard (unusual shapes, etc.) Playing Cards
- Big Bicyle Deck. US Playing Card Co.
- Braille Playing Cards. US Playing Card Co.
- Crooked Deck Playing Cards. US Games. 1967, 1989.
- Four-color decks
- Miniature Playing Cards
- Mummy Playing Cards. Cards in the shape of sarcophagi.
- Piatnik Jumbo Size Playing Cards.
- Square Deal Playing Cards – square deck
Performing Arts
- Elvis Presley Playing Cards
- Screen Legends Playing Cards
Piatnik Playing Cards
- For a brief history of Piatnik playing cards, click here
Pictorial Playing Cards
- Language of Flowers Playing Cards
- Optical Illusions Playing Cards. US Games, printed in Belgium.
- Teddy Bear Playing Cards
- Victorian Playing Cards
Reproduction & Facsimile Playing Cards
- 1864 Poker Deck. Reproduction of a Civil War-era poker deck with full length, single-ended court figures. Box is also authentic reproduction. US Games. Civil War Illuminated Playing Cards Deck. US Games. Civil War Union Emblems Playing Cards.
Sports-Related Playing Cards
- Golf
- Golf. Plastic playing cards, 2-deck set, from KEM.
- Ladies Golf. 2-deck bridge set, one deck features “Golf Monte Carlo,” other features “Golf Club d’Alsace.” Piatnik.
- Nostalgic Golf. 2-deck set, one deck features “The Players Shop,” other features “Winners of the Challenge Trophy.” Congress.
- St. Andrews Golf Bridge Set.
Squeezers – old-time brand, also known as Bulldog Squeezers
- Lo Scarabeo
Other Reference Sources
Catlin’s Historic Origin of Playing Cards
Hochman Encyclopedia of American Playing Cards
Care of KEM Plastic Playing Cards
Prophetical, Educational and Playing Cards
Valuing Old Decks of Playing Cards
International Playing-Card Society
6 Reynard’s Copse
Highwoods
Colchester C04 4UR
United Kingdom
The premier organization for playing card collectors. Their journal, The Playing-Card, is published bimonthly.