If you Google the history of playing cards, you will find lots of information dating back to the 12th Century and perhaps before. Playing cards have an incredibly rich and mysterious history. While many facts are known about the origins of playing cards, several of the details surrounding the creation of cards as we know them today are still subject to debate. Part of the problem is that paper is a fragile medium, so it is almost impossible to truly trace the originals, since samples no longer exist. Kelli’s sells thousands of decks of cards monthly, so we thought that you might enjoy reading some of the facts we gleaned.
1. Who Is The Largest Producer of Playing Cards?
The United States Playing Card Company (USPC), located in Cincinnati, Ohio, is the world’s largest producer of playing cards. The company was founded in 1867. USPC vends over 100,000,000 decks of playing cards annually. The company produces Aristocrat, Aviator, Bee, Bicycle and Hoyle brand cards. It also produces playing cards for popular brands and names like Coca-Cola, Mickey Mouse, Harry Potter and Mr. Potato Head.
2. When Were Playing Cards First Used?
The first recorded account of their use was in the Orient, sometime in the 12th century. The Chinese replaced their bone or ivory playing cards (tiles) they used to play the game of Dominos with a heavy paper kind of playing cards.
3. From Where Did the Four Suits Originate?
The four suits in a standard deck of playing cards are thought to have originated in the Middle East. The suits started out as being coins, cups, swords and sticks. These suits evolved into today’s playing card suits with the coins now being diamonds; the cups, which stood for “love”, turning into hearts; the spades replaced the swords, and the sticks are now clubs.
4. How Did French Playing Cards Get Their Face Card Designs?
An interesting fact about a deck of standard playing cards is that it originally was the French version. The face cards in the deck were named after, and designed to look like, actual historical figures. The King of Hearts was Charlemagne; the King of Diamonds was Julius Caesar; the King of Clubs was Alexander the Great, and the King of Spades was King David from the Bible.
5. Why Is the Ace of Spades Different Looking?
Playing cards was a popular form of entertainment in France. The rulers saw a way to make more money by taxing the Ace of Spades, and only that card in the deck. Aces were given the most open space so they could be stamped showing that the tax had been paid. Today, card manufacturers use the space to print their company information, including trademark information.
6. They’re Not Playing with a Full Deck!
Have you ever heard this phrase, or said it about someone yourself? Nowadays, this phrase is generally used to describe a person who isn’t completely in their right mind. To avoid paying the tax that was tacked onto the Ace of Spades, people wouldn’t buy that card when they bought a deck of playing cards. So, they were playing traditional games that required using 52 cards with only 51. It was said they weren’t “playing with a full deck” or they were foolish for doing so.
7. What Do the Patterns on the Backs of Cards Mean?
Playing cards often have differentiable patterns on the backs of the cards. Unless the cards have advertising or pictures on the backs, that is. Each card manufacturer has their own unique pattern they place on their cards. The normal colors you’ll see these patterns printed in are red and blue.
8. Building Houses with Playing Cards Is Also a Favorite Pastime
Besides playing card games, building houses out of playing cards or “Cardstacking” is a favorite pastime for many people. A man named Bryan Berg has turned this pastime into a career. He earned the Guinness World Record for the “world’s tallest card tower” in 1992. Since then, Berg has won even more honors for building higher towers. His highest tower to date measured 25 feet, 3.5 inches. Bryan Berg used 2,400 decks of playing cards with which to build this huge tower.
9. Playing Cards Helped American Prisoners Escape
During the War Specially-constructed decks were sent to American soldiers who were being held in German camps during World War II. The United States Playing Card Company collaborated with the government in the production of these cards. What made these cards so unique was, once they became wet, they peeled apart. Inside, the prisoners found parts of maps that would lead them to freedom.
10. Ace of Spades Assisted the U.S. Troops in Vietnam
In 1966, when the Vietnam War was raging on, two United States lieutenants contacted the United States Playing Card Company. The two officers wanted decks of playing cards that consisted of nothing more than Aces of Spades. The aces were used as part of a psychological warfare against the Viet Cong. You see, when the French used cards to foretell the future, the Aces of Spades forewarned of death. The Viet Cong were superstitious, and just seeing this card made them fearful. Thousands of Aces of Spades were dispersed throughout the jungles to make the enemy leave in fear.
If you have any questions or would like to become a Kelli’s wholesale customer, you will find all contact information at Kellisgifts.com/Contacts.
Contributed by Sharlie Walker
Kelli's Sales Rep & Blogger