There are several individuals associated with the development of playing cards, most notably, Thomas De La Rue and Samuel Hart. Playing cards didn’t always have the satin finish on the back, nor the luxury of color. Although playing cards have been traced to Persia in the 8th century, and China in the 12th century, their contemporary look began taking shape in Europe. By the 15th century, a primitive set of royal cards was included in a deck, the King, Chevalier and Valet. The number of cards in a deck back then varied from 48 to 56.
Later in the 15th century, the number 52 was chosen for a standard deck. Prior to De La Rue, playing cards were made from woodblocks and hand-colored stencils.
Thomas De La Rue Fathers the Color Print Playing Card
In 1831, Thomas De La Rue was granted a patent for producing color playing cards, the first step in propelling him to fame for mechanized color printing. The advancement of the printing press allowed De La Rue to print four colors at once in perfect alignment. He could also inexpensively mass produce the casino playing cards. The new printing press covered up flaws in the cards. This was a new concept because flaws and marks were common on playing cards.
It was easy to identify cards from the flaws on their backs. De La Rue wanted only first class artists working on the back of his cards.
He solicited the help of Owen Jones, who would end up designing playing cards for much of his career. Over a period of 20 years, Jones would design 173 backs on cards. De La Rue had a vision, and by the 1870s, he was producing approximately 100,000 decks of cards a year.
He was able to sell them in large quantities at a price people could afford. The cards has rounded corners and satin finishes. De La Rue is remembered as the "father of the English playing card." Famous writer, Charles Dickens, wrote an article touting De La Rue’s company.
The article was called, "A Pack of Cards." It included the history of playing cards, and De La Rue’s contribution. De La Rue’s career eventually expanded to printing train tickets, postage stamps and banknotes, among other items.
Samuel Hart Master Playing Card Maker
On the other side of the ocean, Samuel Hart was making strides in the printing business. He had grown up in the paper trade through printing and paper making. In his family, were craftsmen who made stationary and pencils, and sold books. It was only natural for Hart to lean toward the same type of career.
He learned the craft and opened shop in 1844. Hart soon named his business, Samuel Hart & Co. He was one person among many to take up printing stationary and manufacturing cards.
Five years later, Hart delve into the world of making playing cards. The decks had wrappers, which Hart titled, Hart’s Linen Eagle, Club House, London Club Cards and other labels. All were stamped with Hart’s signature eagle, and were very popular, etching their mark in playing card history. Hart’s background and training would lead to his playing card legacy. During his training, he had worked under the direction of Lewis I. Cohen, a card master.
He also met John J. Levy and John M. Lawrence, and a score 
of other people, who were aspiring card masters.
All were looking to publish popular brands, demonstrating the skill and craftsmanship of a master card maker. Hart himself had vision, and by the 1900s, he was responsible for many important firsts like the double-ended cards, the ones with rounded corners, and the satin finishes that make decks easier to shuffle. Hart wasn’t always the first person to create the concepts, but he was the first to mass produce them, and make them a part of American tradition.
He is credited with the introduction of the Joker that came out sometime around the 1860s.
A card game, Eurchre, needed an extra trump, and the joker took care of it. Another interesting fact about that time is double-ended face cards were a novelty. Players were used to the singe-ended face cards.
Hart joined the masters from his alma mater, Cohen, Lawrence and Levy to form New York Consolidated Card Company, in which he merged Samuel Hart & Co. It seems all had the same desire to improve the playing card industry. They were constantly offering developments and refinements.
Hart offered "Squeezers." These were playing cards with miniature numbers and suits in the corners so a player could make a fan of the hand and see all the cards.
Other Playing Card Makers in History
Additional figures in the world of card making were Russell, Morgan & Co., Andrew Dougherty, L. Hewson and Pierre Marechal. Russell, Morgan & Co., printed the Texan Decks in 1889. The cards were proportionately designed, and said to be elegant and attractive, an important consideration in playing cards. The cards were double-ended and had corner-side indices. They were put out of print for more than 80 years, but recently resurfaced with an antique look on quality linen embossed paper.
The antique look comes from a slight tint in the paper. Texans are easy to handle, slide and shuffle. They are used by professionals and card enthusiasts alike.
Russell, Morgan & Co., were also the masters behind the Marlboro Texan, which was held as a standard playing card. While balance and proportion were just a bit off center, the card had a modern look that was improved throughout the years.
Andrew Dougherty began his career of making playing cards in the 1842. He came out with "American Cards." All decks had an eagle on the wrappers. Dougherty also produced Army and Navy cards, and Union-designed cards during the American Civil War. Dougherty was instrumental in the corner side indices. L. Hewson’s cards would not withstand the test of time because they were of poor quality.
Little is known about Hewson and his fellow English card makers, however, his workmanship was considered crude. His method of design disappeared from playing card history, although he is recognized as an early craftsman, hitting his high time in 1680.
Even earlier than Hewson was Pierre Marechal, who used the same pattern as Hewson. The royal cards were in designed to show their entire bodies in detail. The King of Diamonds, for example, was shown with his back toward the player and his left hand outward. The Jack of Clubs was designed to hold a spear with a turned blade.
The King of Clubs was seen with his orb, and the Queen of Spades was not holding a scepter like she is seen in an English standard deck. Many images of contemporary and historic playing cards may be viewed online.
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