Germanic countries use an acorn instead of a spade.
Cards from France, around the mid 15th century, heavily influenced today's English playing cards. After 1712, each deck of cards manufactured in England had to be stamped or marked with the maker's name for tax purposes. Manufacturers continue to mark the ace, although the tax was abolished in 1960. In the ancient world of cartomancy, or telling fortunes with cards, the ace of spades is a card of ill omen and bad luck. The identities of the court cards have been distorted by history and through the evolution of the card game.