Ace of Spades - 'The Death Card' and the Shocking Secret in the Deck of Playing Cards

The Ace of Spades is not only the strongest card in the deck of playing cards, but also the most elaborately decorated card. Behind it are interesting stories that not everyone knows.

According to UIJ, the Ace of Spades is the most recognizable card in any deck because of its elaborate designs. But it is no coincidence that it was chosen to be the most special card in the deck. There are some very interesting stories behind it.

The Ace of Spades is considered the most elaborately decorated card in a deck of playing cards. (Illustration: Pinterest)

A brief history of the deck

Before hearing the stories related to the Ace of Spades, we should learn about the historical origins of card playing. According to Live About, although there is some controversy, many historians agree that card playing originated in China around the 10th century and was considered an entertainment at that time. During the process of trade, it spread and appeared in Europe.

In the 15th century, playing cards were handmade so they were very expensive, only the rich and royal could afford to buy them.

According to Live About, card playing originated in Asia before spreading to Europe, America and the rest of the world. (Illustration: Justdial).

Over time, French manufacturers standardized the four suits (hearts, diamonds, spades, clubs) and their shapes and colors - to allow mass production and lower costs.

This further popularized the decks throughout Europe, England, and the British colonies in North America. Around the 19th century, Americans began producing their own decks.

"The Death Card"

According to Psy Warrior, it is unclear where the idea that the Ace of Spades is the "card of death " first came from. But in the 1930s - when the Murder Incorporated criminal gang was rampant in the US, at least 2 members of the mafia were murdered and found in their hands were the Ace of Spades.

In 2010, a British historian presented historical evidence supporting the notion that the Ace of Spades is the "card of death".

According to this person's explanation, a deck of playing cards has 52 cards (not counting the 2 Jokers - also known as phang teo in Vietnam). Each card represents a week in a year. 13 cards of the same suit (hearts, diamonds, spades, clubs) represent 13 months in a year. In the past, England divided a year into 13 months, each month had 28 days and one day left over.

The four suits - clubs, diamonds, spades, hearts - represent the four seasons: spring - summer - autumn - winter. The red suits represent femininity, warmth, positivity, and growth. Meanwhile, the black suits represent masculinity, coldness, negativity, and retreat.

The Ace of Spades is also associated with Yule, the ancient name in some European countries for the beginning of winter, which began on January 21st. This was also a time of famine due to harsh weather.

Food supplies will run out during this period and the last of the meat will be rationed and eaten in the following months. Many people without food will starve to death.

Sacrificial offerings are made to the dead and the elderly will speak their final wishes in case they pass away at this time.

The Ace of Spades at that time was considered to represent the end of a year and implied: In the end, death will come to all of us, without exception, whether you are king or commoner.

This card in the Tarot, a deck used in Europe since the 15th century, is a sword, a symbol of war. And casualties in battle are inevitable.

The Ace of Spades was once considered the "card of death". (Illustration photo).

In 2012, a Canadian reader sent Psy Warrior a pretty good explanation for why the Ace of Spades is called the "death card ." He explained: " The word spade means shovel, and the image representing the spade suit is also a simplified drawing of a shovel. And a shovel is something used to dig graves ."

In 2020, author Gary Monger pointed out another story related to the Ace of Spades being the "card of death" . According to Gary, Richard Harding, the owner of a company that manufactured playing cards, forged the seal - stamped on the Ace of Spades to certify that the deck had been taxed. This allowed Richard to evade taxes and become rich. But everything was later exposed, Richard was convicted at the Old Bailey and hanged in 1805. If a person was hanged for the Ace of Spades, this might be a good reason to call it the "card of death".

Why is the Ace of Spades the most elaborately decorated?

According to UIJ, the answer to the above question lies in 16th century England .

The deck of cards used today is called the Anglo-American deck, which evolved from the English deck. From the 16th to the early 18th century, because of their popularity, decks of cards became a major source of revenue for the royal family of that period. Therefore, they were taxed.

Queen Anne was the first to introduce this tax in 1588, with amendments made in 1628 and 1711.

In 1828, a stamp was placed on one card of a deck to show that the deck had been taxed. Since it was the first card in the deck when opened, the Ace of Spades was usually stamped.

Also in 1828, the seal was replaced by an elaborately printed Ace of Spades. Having an Ace of Spades with this design in a deck meant that the company that produced the deck had paid taxes. The design on the Ace of Spades is also known as the "Old Frizzle" and it looks like the design on a banknote .

An elaborate "Old Frizzle" once printed on an Ace of Spades playing card. (Photo: UIJunkie).

By 1862 , the 'Old Frizzle' was abolished. Manufacturers were free to create their own designs to be printed on the Ace of Spades. Since this was a tradition, manufacturers wanted to have their own designs, representing the most prominent features of the company to build their brand. By 1960, the tax was abolished because the cost of labor to collect it was more expensive than the tax collected.

However, the decoration and design of the Ace of Spades card remains the same. That is why the Ace of Spades is still the most elaborate card.

Additionally, according to Scalar, since the Ace of Spades is the strongest card in the deck , it has been used as the symbol of various military units since World War II.