As-Nas

Like Ganjifa cards, they are generally hand-painted, although some later examples use a collage technique to add a ready-made printed image onto the painted background.

For a long period As-Nas cards existed alongside the more ancient Ganjifa types.

[6] According to Murdoch Smith, by 1877 As-Nas cards were 'gradually falling into disuse, being replaced by European' types.

Nonetheless the cards used standard Western style suit symbols (hearts, clubs, spades and diamonds).

In his work published in the 1960s, Arasteh writes that "rural life in Iran revolves around traditional practices that have persisted unchanged for centuries".

In a passage regarding Muslim values, he writes "the Qashqai, and probably other tribes, permit the men to drink alcoholic beverages.

For example, 4 × ace of spades, 4 × king of clubs, 4 × queen of hearts, 4 × jack of diamonds, 4 × joker (or pip card).