talkmagic.co.uk

Playing cards are possibly the most important prop that a magician may employ.

However, I wonder how many of us actually fully comprehend the history and significance of these simple objects.

I, myself, have only a superficial understanding of the significance of the reason why there are four suits, picture cards, aces instead of ones, two jokers and so on. Most of this I have gleaned from the Card College series.

However, I know that it would enhance my performance if I had a thorough grasp of all the background to a pack of cards.

Does anyone have a sound knowledge of playing card history? Perhaps you may know of a website that provides this? Perhaps you can post a short reply regarding some fact that you know.

Please feel free to add your replies

You might find the following links helpfull

i-p-c-s.org/history
wopc.co.uk/history
thehouseofcards.com/card_history.htm

Cards must have been invented in China, where paper was invented.

Hmmmmm this is from that first link. Wasn't paper invented in Egypt? Papyrus is there. I think they are wrong. Interesting stuff though.

oh well n/m. It was china in A.D. 105 by Ts'ai Lun that’s why I am not on Jeopardy

Originally cards were used entirely as a gambling device. They would be hand painted with intricate designs.
They were shunned buy society until they were printed in mass quantities. Magic with cards would mainly be done at the games table.

also invented at the gaming table was the sandwich


arnt you glad magicians of the time picked cards instead?

PCwizme

There is a great panting in one of my history text books that is showing people make ards while explaining how the french taxed people for ever deck they bought. Little tidbit for you.

this isnt really the reason behind cards but a cool peice of info i read couple years ago
52 cards - 52 weeks of the year
4 suits- 4 seasons
13 different types of cards- 13 moon cycles in one year
and if you add up all the value of the cards like 1=1, 2=2, 3=3 etc counting the jokers as one each it equals 365 - number of days in one year.

pretty trippy aye
mattyb..

Deck of Cards - Wink Martingdale

i heard somewhere that each suit was supposed to represent a 'class' of people originally. Clubs were the working class and Hearts were the royalty