Playing cards are known and used the world over—and almost every corner of the globe has laid claim to their invention. The Chinese assert the longest pedigree for card playing (the “game of ...

They might seem universal—but playing cards vary wildly across cultures. From intricate artwork to completely different suits and symbols, the design and meaning of cards around the world are as ...

While the Middle Ages treated playing cards as objects ... companies sometimes used a royal symbol of crowns depicted in blue.) The cards were green instead of red or black and were intended ...

the 52-card French deck is the most famous playing card deck. Its four suits (hearts, diamonds, clubs, and spades) and two colors (red and black) are well-known to players around the world.