Drawing on four decades of research, the authors present a history of the cards created by Apache Indians after playing cards were introduced into their culture by Spanish explorers and colonists. Includes reproductions of cards from more than 100 packs in museums and private collections around the world.

The collection consists of 4 playing cards hand painted on skin prepared by the rawhide method and used by the Native American Apache tribe in the Southwest. An exact date for the cards cannot be established, but most likely they were created ca. 1880.

"With extensive data provided by many family members."

This study of one of the least known Apache tribes utilizes archival materials to reconstruct Lipan history through numerous threats to their society.