These were the first tarot decks to be created, appearing in the 15th century in northern Italy. There are three decks in this category that are still used to play specific games.
Here we are comparing the 4 of hearts and of 4 spades in the traditional deck we sell with decks of other themes. More themes will be added when possible.
The 4 of clubs and 4 of diamonds from various deck themes are compared here to see what the same card looks like in different versions. There will be more added as time goes on.
The origins of playing cards are uncertain, however they first appeared in Europe in the late 14th century. The first records come from 1367 in Berne, and they appear to have spread extremely quickly throughout Europe, as seen by the records, primarily of card games being prohibited. The only significant information about the appearance and number of these cards is provided by a text by John of Rheinfelden in 1377 from Freiburg im Breisgau, who, among other versions, describes the basic pack as containing the still-current four suits of 13 cards, with the courts usually being the King, Ober and Unter ("marshals"), although Dames and Queens were already known by then.
