Where To Buy Playing Cards, The Best Variety Is On Zazzle

The history of playing cards goes all the way back to 9th century China, during the Tang Dynasty.  They would not become popular in Europe for another 500 years, during the 14th century.  Playing cards bearing the four suits most familiar to those of us in the western world today originated in France in the late 15th century.

Of course everyone has seen the famous painting of dogs playing cards, but the relationship between art and playing cards does not stop there. The back of a playing card would be like a blank canvas without some good graphics. Card manufacturers have produced some amazing looking decks over the centuries.  Even the back of a standard Bicycle playing card has a lovely elaborate design. If you examine it closely you'll see what I mean.  When people get together to play a game they spend a good deal of the time looking at the back of their opponent's hands, so it's nice to have something to look at that pleases the eye.  I've had many decks over the years, some inherited, some collected from estate sales, but the cards I like the most are from a deck I got when I was five or six.  It was the artwork on the back that made my eyes light up...A black cat with large jewel-like green eyes on a bright purple background. Without that cat they would have been just another deck and long forgotten. I still have about five of those cards left, and that cat still makes me smile.

                When I got my zazzle store (kischtorium) I was delighted to find that I could include playing cards along with my other products. It's been fun to find vintage illustrations and to create original graphics to apply to the backs of these cards. With so many wonderful artists on zazzle there is literally (almost) no end of designs to choose from. Because most of them can be customized it's a great place to buy decks as a gift, wedding favor or for a business. Because they are manufactured by Bicycle they are quality cards.  This part of my article isn't JUST a shameless plug for my zazzle store....Even if I didn't sell on zazzle I have no doubt that I would go there when I wanted to buy a new deck because I love to have so many great design choices in one place.  

                  Some of the decks you can find on zazzle are pictured below. The first two are mine...I couldn't resist the urge to share some of my designs with you, but the rest are from other people's zazzle stores. I chose them for this article because in my humble opinion, they are examples of some of the BEST looking decks around.          

I guess you can tell I like retro things by the vintage sci fi ( why DO aliens dream of Earth girls?) and Pink Poodle Princess on my cards. Available at my zazzle store: http://www.zazzle.com/kischtorium

Below are examples of what I think are some of the best decks you can buy (please note these are NOT from my zazzle store):

Pretty and a little scary, sugar skulls are a staple when celebrating The Day Of The Dead in Mexico, the US and elsewhere. A popular and fun design.

These monogrammed playing cards are provide a classic look without being boring.

I think these beautiful vintage illustrated playing cards would be fantastic wedding favors.

Playing cards can be a way to express what you care about. I never met a cat I didn't love. 

Looks like zombies have invaded...better wear a helmut!

Yes, and a fine looking one at that. This deck really makes me smile...a BIG smile.

 I hope you've enjoyed my little review as much as I've enjoyed writing it. Play on!