The Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards was founded by Royal charter granted by King Charles 1st on 22nd October 1628, At that time Playing card manufacturers in Britain was having a really bad time competing with Imported foreign cards ,so they petitioned the King to ban further importation of foreign cards.
The Company was set up mainly to pay back the King for the Duty lost by the ban.The company was also given additional duties to supervise the Trade of playing cards, make sure each pack was sealed, and that the makers name or mark was on every pack.
Each year the company holds a banquet to appoint a new Master and two wardens for the ensuing 12 months, In 1882 at the annual banquet every liveryman was given a double pack of Playing cards specially designed for the occasion and since then it has become a custom to present double packs or single packs to liverymen of the company.A portrait of the Master for the year appears on the Ace of spades with the names of the two wardens and clerk appearing below, the design on the back shows some important event that has happened during that year.
The 1938 packs were printed by De La Rue and shows King George VI laying a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier and came with either a maroon or turquoise border (double packs had one of each)
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