Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards
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The Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards is one of the livery companies of the
City of London The City of London is a city, ceremonial county and local government district that contains the historic centre and constitutes, alongside Canary Wharf, the primary central business district (CBD) of London. It constituted most of London fr ...
, incorporated in 1628, and ranking at No.75 in the order of precedence. It is limited to 150 members, and its livery colours are red and white.


History

The company was incorporated by royal charter granted by
Charles I Charles I may refer to: Kings and emperors * Charlemagne (742–814), numbered Charles I in the lists of Holy Roman Emperors and French kings * Charles I of Anjou (1226–1285), also king of Albania, Jerusalem, Naples and Sicily * Charles I of ...
with effect from 22 October 1628, and was granted livery status on 27 November 1792 with a limit of a hundred members. On 21 July 1903 the limit was increased to 150. In order of precedence, the Makers of Playing Cards are No. 75, and the livery colours are red and white. The company was created in order to regulate and control the importation of cheap
playing card A playing card is a piece of specially prepared card stock, heavy paper, thin cardboard, plastic-coated paper, cotton-paper blend, or thin plastic that is marked with distinguishing motifs. Often the front (face) and back of each card has a fi ...
s, to protect the card makers and their families, and to maintain quality. The Crown received the benefit of the duties levied by the company agreeing to pay a tax on all packs, and the
ace of spades The Ace of Spades (also known as the Spadille and Death Card) is traditionally the highest and most valued card in the deck of playing cards in English-speaking countries. The actual value of the card varies from game to game. Design The orn ...
was chosen to show the tax. Every maker of playing cards had to have a mark of his own enrolled to indicate recognition of his name. The excise duty on playing cards was abolished on 4 April 1960, as the cost of administration had become excessive. The true origin of the company’s coat of arms is unknown, but an official grant of arms was presented on 31 March 1982. The shield shows the four suits with an upright hand holding an ace of hearts. The motto is ‘''Corde Recto Elati Omnes''’ meaning ‘with an upright heart all will be exalted’.


Traditions

Since 1882, the company has designed and presented an annual double pack of playing cards to each liveryman and freeman of the company at the installation of the new master. Since 1888, a portrait of the master has appeared at the centre of the ace of spades, and the design chosen and developed by the master has traditionally commemorated an event of importance occurring in the twelve months of the master’s year in office, such as the company’s first lord mayor and sheriff, or some royal or historical celebration. The company maintains and expands its world-famous collection of playing cards first presented by past master Henry Phillips in 1907 and housed by arrangement with the City of London at the
London Metropolitan Archives The London Metropolitan Archives (LMA) is the principal local government archive repository for the Greater London area, including the City of London: it is the largest county record office in the United Kingdom. It was established under its pr ...
. The company is undertaking a project to make digitised images of the collection available for internet access.


The Charitable Trust

Formed in 1943, in the year of the mastership of Lindsay Cutler, and administered by trustees, the funds accumulated by members’ donations and fundraising generate income used to help those under the age of 25 for educational purposes as well as financial aid to overcome hardship and distress. Benefactors include the Lord Mayor’s Appeal and various hospices.


The company today

Since the formation of the company in the Middle Ages, the production and use of playing cards in London has declined. Today the company still has cardmakers as members. However the company has many other members connected with playing cards in some way including card collectors, dealers, bridge players, magicians and other professions. The company has several affiliations recognising the role that the Armed Services provide. Their affiliations include the naval destroyer HMS ''Diamond'', and 19 Company; Middlesex & NW London
Army Cadet Force The Army Cadet Force (ACF), generally shortened to Army Cadets, is a national youth organisation sponsored by the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence and the British Army. Along with the Sea Cadet Corps and the Air Training Corps, the ACF mak ...
.and also 82 squadron Royal Air Force Air Cadets


References


External links


The Makers of Playing Cards' Company
{{authority control 1628 establishments in England Makers of Playing Cards Organizations established in 1628 Playing card manufacturers