Back in the Middle Ages, various games of chance were played, which was a source of taxes for the feudal lords. Thus, the production of playing cards in many countries had to be taxed. He was harvested by feudal lords, that is, his subjects. In France, the tax on playing cards appeared as early as 1583. The ticket manufacturer had to print a white circle on the legally specified ticket. When the taxpayers came to collect the tax, they would stamp the place as proof of the tax paid. Only then were playing cards allowed to go on sale. As taxes increased, so did the price of playing cards.
This method of marking was adopted by the Germans. The first stamps appeared in Prussia in 1714. In Germany, on July 3, 1878, the tax on playing cards was regulated at the Empire level. Until then, each federal state decided its amount independently. A tax of 30 pfennigs was paid for a 36-carat deck, and 60 pfennigs for multi-card decks. This tax was abolished in 1939. Since that tax did not bring much money, it was abolished in 1981.
