The History of playing Cards

and Their Uses Throughout

Time

Nathan Kush

Why I Like Playing Cards

I played with cards of different varieties as a kid
Various card games (poker, spades,
blackjacketc.)
Card magic

A Brief History of Playing Cards

First playing Cards were discovered in China
Playing cards went through many design changes in Europe
USPCC (United States Playing Card Company) began mass
producing playing cards
Various modern and experimental designs
1st artifacts
discovered
in China
969 AD

1st

playing
cards in
Europe
1400 AD

French
deck was
created

USPCC creates
the iconic rider
back design

1600 AD

1885 AD

Various third
party companies
design new
playing cards
Present and
Future

Design Innovation Through

History

Indexes in the
corners
Double ended court
cards
Inclusion of jokers
Elaborate back
designs

Common Uses of Playing cards

Card games
Gambling
Card manipulation
Arts and crafts
Statistics

POKER IS NOT A POPUALAR

GAME AMONG CHAMELEONS

Obscure Uses For Playing Cards

Memorandum slips
Book cover stiffening
material
Emergency money
Fortune telling (Tarot cards)
Back of a playing card
from the 17th Century

Playing Cards Today

USPCC still mass produces playing cards
Ellusionist Inc. makes their own designs
Anyone can give their card design to
Bicycle to make their own playing cards
Various new designs are made

Why Playing Cards Are Important

Playing cards allow people to be creative
and have fun in a variety of ways
Playing cards provide people with
entertainment in many forms
Gambling
Magic
Fortune telling

Casinos rely on table games for income

Conclusion
I think that playing cards were invented for
fun and entertainment
Playing cards play an essential role in gaming
and magic that no other invention can truly
replicate
I do not think that playing card production will
ever decline or stop any time in the future due
to the people who rely upon playing cards for
their jobs (ex. casino dealers, magicians,
manufactures)

Mentally choose one of these cards

Your card is now missing

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Cited Sources (Continued)

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