Where was playing cards originated from?

Natalie Peters (1817-1903), a British narrative painter and a Royal Academician, designed the first Christmas and New Year's card at the suggestion and request of her friend Sir Henry Cole (the first director of the Victoria and Albert Museum). In 1843 (three years after the card was designed) an edition of 1,000 of these Christmas cards was placed on sale in London for 1s per card. The Christmas card shows a family party in progress, beneath which is the greeting, "A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to You."