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 ...

These playing card fragments date to 13th and 16th century ... figural imagery but are identified through a combination of symbols and label-like inscriptions. One deck dates back to the Mamluk ...

The composition and design of playing card decks varied with time and locale (particularly the number of cards in a deck), but the inclusion of both numbered cards and court cards (or "royals ...

The French deck simplified the symbols to make the cards easier to produce and the English altered them further to the suits we know today. However, because playing cards already have a long ...

You probably have a couple decks of cards in your home. Chances are they are Bicycle playing cards, the most widely used brand in the world. They’re used at casino poker tables, in magic tricks ...