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.
Kingdoms of Europe
A collecting game published in two series: the first series featuring Western Europe and the second series Eastern/Southern Europe.
London Post
Jaques' The London Post Card Game, c.1895.
Jaques Advertising Leaflet
Jaques Advertising Leaflet showing Lawn tennis, Table Billiards, Staunton Chess, Croquet, etc.
National Gallery (British School)
Jaques' The National Gallery Card Game, c.1895.
Entente Cordiale
Jaques' The Entente Cordiale Card Game, c.1905.
Counties of England
Jaques’ Counties of England card game.
Jaques’ Games
John Jaques & Son (established in 1795) published a large range of popular parlour games, many of which have become classics.
Golden Egg Game
The Golden Egg Card Game, anonymous manufacturer, c.1860
Famous Five
The Famous Five Card Game by Enid Blyton.
Noddy Happy Families
Enid Blyton’s Noddy Happy Families was published in 1955 by Sampson Low, 25 Gilbert Street, London W.1., manufactured in Great Britain.
Jaques’ Illustrated Proverbs
Jaques’ Illustrated Proverbs, c.1870. The complete proverb is printed along the top of each card in the set.
Circular Coon Cards
Circular playing cards in a round tin titled: Sutherland's Circular Coon Cards published by Hartley Bros Pty Ltd, Australia, late 19th century.
Black Peter, c.1940
Black Peter card deck for children printed in Riga during World War II, believed to have been designed by a Latvian artist.
Swastika designs
Swastika design playing cards by De La Rue, c.1925.
Cir-Q-Lar
Cir-Q-Lar Playing Cards. In 1929 John Waddington Ltd commenced the production of circular cards and these were very popular.
Baraja Digital
Baraja Digital by Naipes De La Cigüeña, 1990.
Naipes Fantasio
Naipes Fantasio by Vigor S.A.C. e I., c.1960.
Siriol Clarry
Playing cards designed by Siriol Clarry
Copa de Oro 1980
Naipes “Copa de Oro 1980” manufactured by Compañía General de Fósforos Montevideana, 1980.
Holmblads No. 121
Holmblads No. 121 made by John Waddington, England, for Denmark
Naipes Victoria
Victoria playing cards manufactured in Uruguay by Compañía General de Fósforos Montevideana, c.1955.
Supermercados CHIP
Supermercados CHIP playing cards manufactured in Uruguay by Compañía General de Fósforos Montevideana, 1979
John Waddington Ltd, early type
John Waddington Ltd, early type Ace of Spades and court cards, 1922-30.
Cía Gral de Fósforos
Compañía General de Fósforos Montevideana, founded in 1893.
Naipes Victoria Gaucho
Naipes Victoria Spanish-suited, gaucho-themed pack celebrating the culture and traditions of the gauchos.
Inky-Dinky Playing Cards
A series of four decks designed by John Littleboy.
Kitten Club
From Empresses to King Cats and One-Eyed Jacks, every game is a pageant of unforgettable cats, each with a story to tell...
Pack of Dogs
Pack of Dogs playing cards designed by John Littleboy. Every card tells a story...
Mermaid Queen
Mermaid Queen playing cards, from a series of four decks designed by John Littleboy, 2008
Bag of Bones
Bag of Bones playing cards, from a series of four decks designed by John Littleboy, 2008.
Jean Picart le Doux
Jean Picart le Doux playing cards, issued in 1957 to celebrate the company's 125th anniversary, featuring designs carried out in richly toned colourings typical of tapestries.
Agostino Bergallo
Agostino Bergallo Spanish pattern made for South American countries
Playing cards from Finland
Playing cards from Finland. Finnish cards have a relatively short history, presumably because the country only finally broke loose from Russian influence in 1920.
Pekka-peli
‘Pekka’, an additional card in the set, is an ethically-incorrect golly look-alike card, embodying the caricature of foreign heritage without a status or family structure. In other countries the game is often known as ‘Old Maid’, ‘Black Peter’, ‘Petter-spel’ or ‘Schwarzer Peter’.
Giuseppe Cattino
Playing cards manufactured in Italy by Giuseppe Cattino and Paolo Montanar for Spanish markets.
Naipes del Salitre
Playing cards recovered from the Northern Chile saltpetre workers. The cards are mostly from Spanish 'Cadiz' pattern decks, and several manufacturers can be identified.
Mapocho
Naipes Marca Mapocho, Santiago de Chile.
Pedro Bosio, 2
Cards of the Spanish National Pattern manufactured by Pedro Bosio, Genova (Italy) during the 18th century for export to South America.
Pedro Bosio
Cards of the Spanish National Pattern 'Money Bag' type manufactured by Pedro Bosio, Genova (Italy) probably during the 18th century and for export to Spain or South America.
Lequart Aluette
Spanish-suited Aluette pack with 'FABRICANDO IN MADRID' printed on the Two of Swords and the legend Lequart - Paris printed in the top left corners of the court cards.
Richard Bouvier
The assorted antique playing cards shown below are examples of the French 'Paris' pattern from the seventeenth century. The Jack of Clubs has the name Richard Bouvier.
Maciá Pattern
The Maciá Pattern which was originally produced by a Barcelona cardmaker in the 1830s and subsequently used as a model by other makers.
Sweden
Swedish cards have characteristics in common with their Scandinavian neighbours
Rameses Fortune Telling
The Rameses Fortune Telling Cards were manufactured by Chas. Goodall & Son Ltd, London, c.1910, around the same time as Rameses The Egyptian Wonderworker, was performing.
Excelsior
Excelsior by A. Dougherty, c.1870.
Dieudonné & Cie Aluette
Aluette playing cards manufactured by Dieudonné & Cie, Angers (France), early 20th century.
Hungarian Seasons pattern
The Hungarian Seasons pattern. With the Hungarian deck you can play a lot of card games. Every village has its own game and rules with this card deck.
Geistliche Karten
Geistliche Karten, Augsburg, 1718. Each card carries a text in Gothic typeface giving advice regarding what to do and think each day. Not quite oracle or divination cards, they are more like 'a motto for the day' collection. The method of using the cards is not known.
Julio Laje
Julio Laje, importing agent for playing cards, Aconquija 2981, Buenos Aires, c.1930-1960.
Muir & Moodie Pictorial
Muir & Moodie Pictorial playing cards, New Zealand, c.1903
Wiener pattern
The Vienna pattern, or Wiener Bild, is a distant relative of the early Lyons pattern. The King of Hearts carries a scroll in his hand.