We are all familiar with the standard casino bonus bez depozytu deck comprising of 52 cards. But have you ever wondered where playing cards originated from? If you have, then doubt no more. In this article, we will tell you a short version of the history of the card deck.

Playing cards have existed for hundreds of years, during which they underwent massive transformations to become what we are familiar with today. These changes happened as the deck travelled from one country to the other. Perhaps this is why most people consider it a symbol of unity, cross-cultural cooperation, and international harmony.

The precise origin of cards remains to be one of the most debated subjects among scholars. There is no clear evidence that shows its origin since, as you know, the paper is fragile and can barely survive in ages. However, some think that the cards came from China, maybe at the end of the first millennium. This is alleged to be during the 9th Century AD and in the time of the Tang dynasty.

Cards, later on, arrived in Europe in the mid 14th century. This occurred due to the trading activities done by Italy and the Mamluks of Egypt. At this time, the deck was pretty much similar to the modern one we know. Moreover, according to assumptions, scholars believe that the card tricks and mechanics could have originated from India or the Middle East. 

In the first years of its existence in Europe, the card deck was considered a form of luxury, which only the rich could afford. But with time, the cards were highly demanded by people of all classes. As a result, the Germans started printing them with wood blocks in the early 15th century. Since hardwood is easily accessible, this made the cards readily available to all people.

The earliest card decks comprised of four suits: swords, coins, cups, and polo sticks. You can still find these suits in Spanish and Italian cards, referred to as Latin suits. Other than these four, there was also a king and two viceroys, but no female faces in a deck. 

German cards were created to replace Italian. They also contained four suits, but instead, they comprised hearts, acorns, leaves, and bells. In nearby countries like Switzerland, they used shields as substitutes for hearts and flowers in place of leaves. The German suits are still being used in some parts of Europe today.

In the 15th Century in France, the card suits (coeurs, piques, carreaux, and trefles) we use today were developed. Moreover, they also came up with the genius idea of dividing the four suits into red and black. This meant that the cards could be developed a hundred times faster using stencils and the improved printing processes. This made the Germans lose their dominance in the market since woodcutting and engraving processes were slow and costly.

It is after this period when the cards travelled to England and the USA. Besides, instead of England using the French icons, the English referred to the four card suits as spades, hearts, clubs, and diamonds, which we know and utilize in casino games today. Moreover, it is in England, where the artwork and the Ace of Spades originated. The United States did not contribute that much to the cards, but they were the ones who added the joker to the deck.

The history of the card deck is genuinely a fascinating but long journey. What will be the future of it? Well, only time will tell. For now, we can only enjoy the modern standard deck and appreciate those that made integral changes to make them what we love today. 

Pascal Bergman