Playing card museums: where to see historic packs

If you’d like to see historic packs of cards, the Fournier Playing Card Museum of Álava in Vitoria-Gasteiz is one of the world’s most important playing card museums. It holds thousands of packs from different periods and countries, though historic examples are also preserved in other art museums and national libraries.

The Fournier Museum

It began with the Fournier family’s collection and now belongs to the Provincial Council of Álava. It displays packs dating from the 14th–15th centuries to the present day, alongside printing plates, tools and manufacturing materials. You can read about the factory’s history in Heraclio Fournier.

What you can see

• Hand-painted packs.
• Playing cards from different countries and periods.
• Tarot, advertising and children’s packs.
• Printing and engraving tools.

Other places to look

Major European museums and libraries hold some of the earliest documented packs of cards. These are sometimes shown in temporary exhibitions.

Collecting at home

Many enthusiasts collect antique or advertising packs. If you fancy giving it a go, start by learning how to choose a good pack of cards.