In the account books of Joanna, Duchess of Brabant there is an entry dated May--,-79 which reads, "Given to Monsieur and Madame four peters, two forms, value eight and a half moutons, where with to buy a pack of cards". Trying to familiarize a novice's awkward fingers with what must be one of the most popular and widely known games, takes a while. Through film and fiction if not in real life it is one of the most popular modern online and high-tech casino games. In the giddy atmosphere of first live games one may never realize that the glossy polygons with the unruly freak-show of royal Siamese twins have not in fact always been as they seem to have been.
The very first playing cards seem to have originated in Central Asia. The first known reference to cards is a 10th or 11th century record of paper dominoes, printed to represent all of the 21 combinations of a pair of dice, used in other games in China. The earliest found artifacts come from 9th century China. Scholars associate the first straight-sheet paper cards with the first use of straight writing paper as opposed to paper rolls (being one of the many ancient Chinese inventions so obvious now to any sane modern) and with the earliest book printing.
In quite modern form, playing cards were likely introduced in the late--th century into Europe by Egyptian Mamelukes. Consisting of 52 cards, four suits (polo sticks, coins, swords, and cups), and three court cards which depicted abstracting design rather than persons, this was the typical Mameluke deck. Only wealthy Europeans could, at the time, afford the hand-made cards. Around--00 the technique of applying woodcuts (used until then to decorate fabric) to paper and mass production followed suit. There are records of professional card makers in the period between--18 and--50. Currently, one of the most flourishing world-wide industries is card production.
In the 15th century playing cards the number and style of suits varied: some decks had five suits, the standard suits in Germany were hearts, bells, leaves, and acorns. In Southern Germany these suits are still used today for a distinctive set of card games. Besides the more standard deck, from my childhood, I remember the German suits which because of their relative pictorial richness I preferred them. Especially the golden nut and greenish cupules of the acorn suit. A gift perhaps imported from German relatives into Asia, Kazakhstan.
In the early games if the "kings" were the highest card in the suit then by the--th century the "ace" ( from the Latin word for the lowest unit of currency) began to turn highest card, which left the "two" as the lowest. During the French Revolution when it was vital that the lower classes rise above royalty this was an especially popular mode. To play cards with Kings and Queens would likely be disdained by a revolutionary who would prefer the innovative designs of Liberties, Equalities, and Fraternities. With the coming of Napoleon to power the classic design returned.
A reversible double image in court cards was introduced in the'th century. The earliest of such designs was American, though the invention is attributed to a French card maker of the late'th century whose idea was prohibited by the French government. The purpose was to prevent players from reversing their court cards during a session, thus in part revealing their hands to even not the most observant of opponents.
The very first playing cards seem to have originated in Central Asia. The first known reference to cards is a 10th or 11th century record of paper dominoes, printed to represent all of the 21 combinations of a pair of dice, used in other games in China. The earliest found artifacts come from 9th century China. Scholars associate the first straight-sheet paper cards with the first use of straight writing paper as opposed to paper rolls (being one of the many ancient Chinese inventions so obvious now to any sane modern) and with the earliest book printing.
In quite modern form, playing cards were likely introduced in the late--th century into Europe by Egyptian Mamelukes. Consisting of 52 cards, four suits (polo sticks, coins, swords, and cups), and three court cards which depicted abstracting design rather than persons, this was the typical Mameluke deck. Only wealthy Europeans could, at the time, afford the hand-made cards. Around--00 the technique of applying woodcuts (used until then to decorate fabric) to paper and mass production followed suit. There are records of professional card makers in the period between--18 and--50. Currently, one of the most flourishing world-wide industries is card production.
In the 15th century playing cards the number and style of suits varied: some decks had five suits, the standard suits in Germany were hearts, bells, leaves, and acorns. In Southern Germany these suits are still used today for a distinctive set of card games. Besides the more standard deck, from my childhood, I remember the German suits which because of their relative pictorial richness I preferred them. Especially the golden nut and greenish cupules of the acorn suit. A gift perhaps imported from German relatives into Asia, Kazakhstan.
In the early games if the "kings" were the highest card in the suit then by the--th century the "ace" ( from the Latin word for the lowest unit of currency) began to turn highest card, which left the "two" as the lowest. During the French Revolution when it was vital that the lower classes rise above royalty this was an especially popular mode. To play cards with Kings and Queens would likely be disdained by a revolutionary who would prefer the innovative designs of Liberties, Equalities, and Fraternities. With the coming of Napoleon to power the classic design returned.
A reversible double image in court cards was introduced in the'th century. The earliest of such designs was American, though the invention is attributed to a French card maker of the late'th century whose idea was prohibited by the French government. The purpose was to prevent players from reversing their court cards during a session, thus in part revealing their hands to even not the most observant of opponents.
About the Author:
The author is a successful limit cash game player. He plays poker and receives Paradise Poker Rakeback from Rakeback Solution.
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