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.
Mario Colombo
Naipes "OBELISCO" by Mario Colombo, Rodriguez Peña 385, Buenos Aires (Argentina), c.1950.
Eduardo Antonio Chemmes
Playing cards published by E. A. Chemmes, Buenos Aires during the early 1950s. The cards were probably printed by Ernesto Flaiban.
Baraja de Amor
Hijos de José Garcia Taboadela was a book-seller who also published this charming pack of lovers' fortune telling cards in 1871.
Naipes Condor
"Naipes Condor" Chilean playing cards, with Chilean symbolism on the suit signs.
The 72 Names Cards
The 72 Names Cards based on the Kabbalistic "72 Names of God" and the metaphysical artwork of Orna Ben-Shoshan, Raanana, Israel.
Peru Rail
Peru Rail souvenir cards "exploring the land of the Incas" published by Peru Rail, Cusco, c.2005.
Las Cartas de Sara
Las Cartas de Sara (Yerba Mate) based on an idea by Diego Silva Pintos and illustrated by Hogue. Produced by Color/9, c.2003.
Chocolondo by Famosa
Chocolondo Waffle deck for Famosa.
Jaques’ Happy Families
In 1851 the games manufacturer John Jaques of London (founded in 1795) commissioned a set of drawings from John Tenniel, later Sir John, the chief cartoonist of Punch, for their new game of Happy Families.
Happy Families
Happy Families is probably one of the most popular card games ever invented, with educational benefits relating to sorting and matching of sets, as well as early literacy and elementary genealogy, flowers or bird identification, etc.
Vic Joc de Cartes
Vic Joc de Cartes, happy families quartet game, 1990.
Anonymous manufacturers 1
Argentina has produced a series of anonymous decks, both Spanish-suited and Anglo-American type and children's games.
Vistas del Perú, c.1920s
Vistas del Perú souvenir deck, made in USA and imported by Edw. E. Muecke, Lima, Peru, c.1920s.
Swiss Album patience
Swiss Album patience cards by C. L. Wüst (Frankfurt), c.1900, with a different landscape on the reverse of each card.
Lagos del Sur Souvenir
Lagos del Sur Souvenir playing cards published by Gráfica S.A., Buenos Aires, c.1980.
República Española Souvenir
Printed by Hijos de Heraclio Fournier, Vitoria, for the French-speaking tourist market. 52 cards + joker in mock crocodile skin box.
Souvenir Playing Cards
Tourist souvenir playing cards depict the aesthetic, political, social and economic conceptions of the countries to which they belong. They feature beauty spots, local customs, gastronomy, historic ruins or other attractions.
Cía Chilena de Tabacos
Anglo-American style pack issued on behalf of the Cía Chilena de Tabacos, c.1930.
Anonymous manufacturers 2
Argentina has produced a series of anonymous decks, both Spanish-suited and Anglo-American type and children's games.
Hija de B Fournier
Having started out as Fournier Hermanos, Burgos in 1860, the company remained in the Fournier family undergoing several changes of name and finally becoming Hija de B. Fournier sometime around 1900.
John Llewellyn, playing card manufacturer, London, 1778-1785
John Llewellyn, playing card manufacturer, London, 1778-1785
Carreras Ltd Playing Cards and Dominoes, 1929
Carreras Ltd miniature playing cards and dominoes, 1929
Schincariol Beer, Nossagraf, Brazil
Schincariol Cerveja Pilsen brewery playing cards manufactured by Gráfica Nossa Senhora Aparecida Ltda (Nossagraf), Brazil
Brazil
Playing card production in Brazil was officially sanctioned by royal decree in 1770.
Léonard Biermans, Turnhout
Léonard Biermans had been employed by Brepols from 1871-1874 before opening his own playing card factory in 1875.
José Gombau
Deck of half-sized Spanish-suited playing cards in the Maciá pattern produced by José Gombau, Zaragoza, c.1833.
Fenno, Peru
Fenno souvenir playing cards, made in Peru.
Pilsen Trucofest
Pilsen Trucofest playing cards, Uruguay.
A Todos Alumbra
40-card “A Todos Alumbra - Naypes Refinos” pack manufactured by Léonard Biermans, Turnhout.
Baraja Taurina by Simeon Durá, c.1916
Baraja Taurina manufactured by Simeon Durá (Valencia) for Chocolate Angelical, first published in 1916.
Eagle Playing Card Co. Limited
Cards from std English pattern printed by The Eagle Playing Card Company Limited, Czechoslovakia, c.1900. The cards are in imitation of American cards, but probably for the UK market.
Richard Wagner
Richard Wagner playing cards designed by Melchior Annen.
Vitrail‒Bridge, 1991
Playing cards inspired by stained glass, designed by Gertrud Kümpel-Amsler, 1991.
Naipes Pokerin by Vigor S.A.C. e I., Buenos Aires, c.1975
Naipes Pokerin playing cards manufactured by Vigor S.A.C. e I., Buenos Aires, c.1975.
Axe Deodorant
Clearly promoting good personal hygiene, each card shows a young female model posing seductively and appealing to the playboy.
Naipes Chinita by Vigor S.R.L.
Naipes Chinita Spanish-suited playing cards manufactured by Vigor S.R.L., Bs Aires, c.1955.
Playing Cards in Cuba
During the colonial years and afterwards, Spanish-suited packs were imported into Cuba.
Naipes Vigor S.R.L.
VIGOR S.R.L (1955 - c1975) manufactured a range of playing cards and card games, including Chinita, La Estrella, Barcelonesa, La Española, Fantasio, Las Rosas, Pokerin, Cartas Gitanas and a Hungarian Seasons pack.
Berkshire Printing Co.
The company was founded in 1908 as the printing division of the Brooke Bond Tea Company in Reading.
Denbro (Denny Brothers)
Denbro (Denny Brothers) c.1975-79
Woodpecker Press Ltd
Woodpecker Press is believed to have started up in 1987 as a spin-off from the closure of Astra Games.
Sanmartí, 1840
Sanmartí, 1840.
Mesmaekers Spanish Pack, c.1875
Mesmaekers Spanish Pack for export to Spanish colonies and South American countries, c.1875
Spanish Cards c.1920
Spanish-suited Playing Cards manufactured by Van Genechten, c.1920.
Hunt & Sons, 1820-1849
Hunt & Sons (1820-1849) was the first maker to modernise the court card designs with a complete re-drawing.
Hunt, 1790-1801
Packs manufactured by Hunt, c.1800.
Dauphiné Pattern - Portrait du Dauphiné
The Dauphiné pattern is an archaic French pattern which was manufactured in the Lyon region from the 17th century.
King Christian of Denmark
In 1935 a souvenir pack of playing cards to celebrate the King's 65th birthday was commissioned from the British firm of De La Rue.
Thomas Creswick
Thomas Creswick was a paper-maker and wholesale stationer. Playing cards were produced from c.1820 onwards.
Miniature Playing Cards
Crudely printed miniature children's packs produced anonymously in c.1920-30.
Gibson & Co., c.1770
Standard English playing cards manufactured by Gibson & Co., c.1770.