The first example of cards can be traced back to India, Persia, and Egypt. However, some experts believe that playing cards originated in China, besides games such as Mahjong and Dominos. China invented printing and paper, with cards from 800 years ago similar to today's cards and decks.
Other historians and experts believe that cards originally came from Persia, where they then advanced to India and China. They also spread west to Egypt, and finally into Europe.
Above: Mamluk playing cards from the Mamluk Sultanate of Egypt which ended in 1517.
The designs found on European deck cards seem to have been influenced from Egyptian cards from the 14th century, this was a result of the trade between the two. A few of the similarities are:
Swords evolved into the Clubs of today
Sticks became Clubs
Suits of Cups and coins can still be found on decks made in Italy and Spain
Several different countries were intent to put their own designs and cultures into their decks, i.e Suits of Acorns, Hawk Bells, Hearts and Leaves found on German decks.
Above: cards from a satirical pack designed by Peter Flöttner of Nuremberg, c.1545. The backs of the cards contain the vocal scores for German songs. Cards from the facsimile edition published by Ferd Piatnik & Söhne, Vienna, 1993
Meanings of Playing Cards
Spades correspond to the element fire and were once known as the sword, they symbolise willpower, courage, strength and other masculine qualities.
Hearts were once known as cups, it corresponds to the element water that stands for love, emotions, imagination and the subconscious. These can be said to be feminine qualities.
Clubs, also known as wands, correspond to the element air. Air represents the mind, speech and words. These are neutral qualities.
Diamonds, formerly known as pentacles correspond the element Earth. Earth stands for wealth and matter.
One or Ace - Beginning, new ideas
Three - Fate, Karma, and the planet Saturn
Four - Completion, the material world, wisdom and Jupiter
Eight - Intellect, positive and negative qualities of the four elements
Ten - Whole world and Earth