Playing cards have some of the most recognisable symbols in modern design, but how did we get here? Cards didn’t always look like this, and playing cards have been found across several different ancient cultures across the globe.

The first playing cards

Some of the earliest records date the oldest playing cards back to the ninth century in the Tang Dynasty in China. It’s reported that people would use woodblock stamps to print onto leaves, which would then be used to play a ‘leaf game’. Although the rules for this were lost in 1067, the leaf game was also sometimes used alongside a board game and dice.

Although it’s uncertain when playing cards were first used to gamble, the first official reports from the Ming Department of Punishments were on July 17, 1294, although it can be assumed that it was happening before this.

Some of the earliest playing cards can also be found in Persia and Egypt in the 11th century. Unbelievably, some of these still survive to this day and can be found in the Keir Collection or the Benaki Museum. They are known as the Mamluk playing cards due to them being dated back to the Mamluk period.

How were playing cards introduced to Europe?

It’s unclear how playing cards were brought to the West, but there are a few different theories. It’s widely accepted that they arrived first in either Italy or Spain. The earliest records of playing cards in Europe can be dated back to 1367, when a ban on them was mentioned. Several more mentions of playing cards are found in 1371, 1377 and 1413.

How did they end up in Italy or Spain?

Well, that’s the mysterious part. No-one knows how the cards traversed so far, but it’s likely that travellers crossed paths at some point and a pack was brought back to Italy. This is because the cards recreated in Italy have a similar design to Mamluk cards, while the Spanish versions are much more simplified.

This had led people to speculate that the cards first made their way to Italy, before a simple version was launched in Spain.

The traditional format of playing cards

How were playing cards introduced to the US?

The first records of playing cards in the US can be found in 1633, when two people were allegedly fined for playing card games! It’s believed that they came from the Plymouth Colony, although understandably, the records from this time are sketchy at best.

However, mass manufacturing of American playing cards began in the early 1800’s, which means that they would’ve been around for a while before gaining enough traction to enter manufacture.

Are playing cards the same as tarot cards?

Even though some of the older tarot card decks were used as playing cards, their utility has changed over time. Most modern tarot cards are used in divination

The tarot card designs were most popular in Europe. Some countries, such as France, Austria and Italy still have tarot-style playing cards in use.