Simon Wintle
- Spain • Member since February 01, 1996
I am the founder of The World of Playing Cards (est. 1996), a website dedicated to the history, artistry and cultural significance of playing cards and tarot. Over the years I have researched various areas of the subject, acquired and traded collections and contributed as a committee member of the IPCS and graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal. Having lived in Chile, England, Wales, and now Spain, these experiences have shaped my work and passion for playing cards. Amongst my achievements is producing a limited-edition replica of a 17th-century English pack using woodblocks and stencils—a labour of love. Today, the World of Playing Cards is a global collaborative project, with my son Adam serving as the technical driving force behind its development. His innovative efforts have helped shape the site into the thriving hub it is today. You are warmly invited to become a contributor and share your enthusiasm.
Luis Guarro, c.1920
Luis Guarro’s “El Caballo con Manta” Catalan pattern by Fabricantes de Naipes de España, c.1920.
Woodland Snap
Woodland Snap is played with a pack of 44 cards illustrated with "Woodland" characters by Racey Helps the famous children's artist.
RedElec
Publicity playing cards for RedElec Argentina, c.2008
Perón political decks
La baraja ‘Popular’, featuring Juan Domingo Perón issued at the time of Perón's election campaign in 1951. The reverse shows silhouettes of Juan Domingo Perón and his wife Evita.
Capacitación
Health & Safety playing cards designed as a teaching aid to improve safety standards in the workplace
Aparcero
Naipes Argentinos 'La Partida' y 'Aparcero' published by Obsequios Empresarios Argentinos, Santa Fe.
Globalstar
Naipes Globalstar TE.SA.M. Telefonía Satelital playing cards, manufactured by Gráfica 2001.
Old Smuggler
Old Smuggler Whisky playing cards manufactured by Gráfica 2001, Argentina
Bingo
Spanish-suited, Bingo-themed playing cards published in 2007 by Grupo AGG (Argentine Gaming Group) who owns the Bingo Avellaneda venues in Buenos Aires.
Gráfica 2001
Gráfica 2001 (Naipes ‘La Española’), successors to Naipes Vigor founded in 1945.
La Española Classic
‘La Española Classic’ is a traditional ‘La Española’ Spanish-suited pack and is produced in several sizes (standard, round, small and pocket).
La Española 2000 pattern
‘La Española 2000’ is a digitally re-drawn version of the original classic ‘La Española’ Spanish-suited pack and is produced in several sizes (standard, round, small and pocket).
Cilbrás
Cilbrás is a distribution branch of the Brazilian high-pressure gas cylinder and welding supplies company Praxair.
Fastener S.R.L.
Fastener S.R.L. are manufacturers bolts and industrial fasteners. Traditional Spanish suit symbols have been substituted by various kinds of nuts and bolts.
Cappellano S.A. c.1920-c.1985
Originally known as Cappellano Hnos in the 1920s, and undergoing several changes of name and address, the company produced catalan style packs with the brand names "Naipes Triunfo" and "Torcacita" as well as an Anglo-American style pack titled "VELCAP".
Canasta
Mexican Canasta set with paintings by Ramón Espino Barros (1918-2000).
Maya Playing Cards
The designs of Mayan artists shown here give a general idea of their enormous artistic and cultural potential.
Pasatiempos Gallo
Following their acquisition of Clemente Jacques y Cia in 1967, the playing card business was taken over by Pasatiempos Gallo S.A., which in 1990 became Pasatiempos Gallo S.A. de C.V.
Mathematical Instruments
Mathematical Instruments playing cards forming an instrument maker's trade catalogue, Thomas Tuttell, c.1700.
Cassino
Naipes Cassino de Don Clemente, Pasatiempos Gallo S.A., Mexico, c.1988.
Aeronaves de Mexico
Special pack for Aeronaves de Mexico S.A., designed by Ramón Valdiosera Berman, mid-1960s.
Mexican Poker
Mexican Poker cards made by Juegos y Fichas, S.A. de C.V., Mexico, 1991
Master of the Banderoles
Playing Cards by the Master of the Banderoles, one of the earliest professional printmakers.
Nutrimientos Purina
Nutrimientos Purina (Purina pet foods) advertising playing cards produced by Miguel Galas S.A. (Brown & Bigelow), Mexico, c.1960.
Brown & Bigelow
Brown & Bigelow of St Paul, Minnesota, was a leading producer of playing cards in the U.S. from the late 1920s - 1980s.
Korea
The game of Hanafunda was introduced into Korea by the Japanese and modified somewhat by the Koreans.
Hanafuda Flower Cards
Japanese Flower Cards (Hanafuda) made by Nintendo, Japan, 2008.
Netherlands
Playing cards have been known in the Low Countries since the 14th century
Naipe Victoria
Naipe Victoria by Clemente Jacques c.1900.
Soberano
‘Naipes Soberano’ published by Productora de Naipes y Confetti, S.A., Mexico, c1990s
El León
Naipes El León by Clemente Jacques y Cia.
Las Dos Torres
Naipe Extra 'Las Dos Torres' manufactured by Pasatiempos Gallo S.A. de C.V., Mexico.
Acapulco Souvenir
Acapulco Souvenir playing cards designed and printed by Foliproa S.A., Mexico.
Anonymous Mexican Manufacturers
Anonymous Mexican Playing Card Manufacturers.
Naipes Gacela
Naipes Gacela & Gacelita.
Pierrot-125
Naipes 'Pierrot' 125 manufactured by Orpamex, S.A., Mexico.
Camacho
Productos Camacho, c.2003
El Fenix
Naipe Fino 'El Fenix' playing cards by Clemente Jacques y Cia, Mexico.
Souvenir of Mexico
Souvenir of Mexico playing cards by Clemente Jacques y Cia, S.A., 1950s.
Grupo Editorial RAF S.A.
Grupo Editorial RAF S.A. de C.V. (founded 1962) has branches throughout Mexico.
Naipes Nacionales
Naipes Nacionales designed by Manuel Bayardi and published by Clemente Jacques y Cia, Mexico c.1940.
Joan Barbot
Joan Barbot, San Sebastian c.1765-1810.
Pigmy Playing Cards
Pigmy Miniature Playing Cards
Greek Playing Cards
Greek Playing Cards.
Aspioti Elka A.E.
An unknown brand by Aspioti Elka A.E probably from the 1960s.
Playing Cards in Croatia
Playing Cards in Croatia. Grafika-Grafoprint was founded in 1989 and is the Croatia’s first playing cards factory.
Piacentine Pattern
Piacentine Pattern, several double-ended versions.
Cartes Lenormand
“Cartes Lenormand” published by H. P. Gibson & Sons Ltd, London, printed in Germany by B. Dondorf, 1920s.
Russell Grant tarot
Russell Grant astro-tarot with optimistic and motivational illustrations by Kay Smith.
Seminole Wars deck by James Y. Humphreys, Philadelphia, c.1819
Court cards from the Seminole Wars deck by J. Y. Humphreys, Philadelphia, c.1819. Ace of Spades from Jazaniah Ford's Decatur deck, 1815. Jazaniah Ford was born in Milton (Massachusetts) in 1757
Tax on Spanish Playing Cards
Taxation on Spanish playing cards, the monopolies and smuggling.