A deck of playing cards may look simple, but hidden among the pips, suits, numbers, and portraits are surprising secrets, some of which are hundreds of years old.
That box of pasteboards in bold, primary colors is one of the most recognizable things in the world, but the more we look, the more it seems like those cards are filled with mystery.
Cards are special things. Each deck is a marvel of engineering, design, and history, loaded with secrets that have been whispered and distorted with each retelling. Here are 10 secrets about a standard deck of playing cards that have been hiding in plain sight all this time.
1. If you’ve ever shuffled a deck of playing cards before, you’ve heard that satisfying “snap” sound while the cards flip through your hands. Most people think it’s the plastic lamination on the cards that causes the sound, but it’s actually thin layers of glue that give each card their snapping “backbone.”
2. You might not think the designs on the backs of the cards have any real significance, but they sure do. For example, magicians look for cards with no outside borders because it helps them better hide their tricks. Casino card handlers will also tell you certain designs work better with certain games to prevent scams.
3. Magicians and sleight-of-hand experts pay close attention to the razor-thin edges of the cards. Decks are cut using very powerful blades, and certain beveled edges work better for card-shuffling than others. These specific cuts are huge selling points for people who handle cards for a living.
4. Even though there are many brands of playing cards, nearly all of them are, in fact, printed in the same facility in Kentucky. Over the years, the United States Playing Card Company acquired most of the brands, and they now print them all in one place.
