As a younger card player, I used to spend a lot of time looking at the card backs on Windows Solitaire – probably more time than I spent working on my actual card game then. I find that even as an older player I’m still just as fascinated by what’s on the back of playing cards.
Here are a few facts about playing card decks.
The Virtual Windows 3.0 Card Deck Was Created Thanks to Susan Kare
We have one of the most characteristic card backs of all time thanks to artist and graphic designer Susan Kare.
Not only is she responsible for Windows 3.0 Solitaire card designs, she also gave us the Happy Mac icon and many other classic designs that we’ll always associate with computing
The Most Decks Memorized and Recalled (So Far) is 59
According to Guinness World Records, David Farrow from Canada memorized and recalled 59 decks (that’s 3068 cards) correct and in order on the 2nd of April, 2007.
Maybe they wanted to do the record attempt on the first, but nobody would have believed it happened if they did… (Source: Guinness World Records)
The US Playing Card Company’s “Map Deck” Might Have Saved Thousands of People.
The League back was first introduced during 1893 – and Bicycle is very well one of the most famous (and most copied) card designs of all time.
The first thing to know about Bicycle is that it set a golden standard for playing card decks and remains preferred by many people today.
The second thing is that Bicycle was reportedly instrumental in helping POWs escape from war camps. According to Bicycle’s official website, these cards could peel apart – and revealed maps that led to freedom. (Source: Bicycle Cards)
JimKnapp.com offers a surprisingly comprehensive photo dictionary of Bicycle backs and origin year that’s worth looking at for any card payer. (Source: JimKnapp.com)