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Simon Wintle

Member since February 01, 1996

Founder and editor of the World of Playing Cards since 1996. He is a former committee member of the IPCS and was graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal for many years. He has lived at various times in Chile, England and Wales and is currently living in Extremadura, Spain. Simon's first limited edition pack of playing cards was a replica of a seventeenth century traditional English pack, which he produced from woodblocks and stencils.

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1875 Anon Spanish Cards c.1875

Anon Spanish Cards c.1875

Spanish-suited playing cards made in Belgium by Mesmaekers Frères, c.1875.

1955 Views of Ireland

Views of Ireland

Selected views of Ireland Souvenir playing cards published by the Irish Tourist Association, 1950s

2006 Truco “Únicos”

Truco “Únicos”

Naipes Truco “Únicos” with caricatures of national celebrities designed by Gerardo N. Perez, 2006.

1978 Gráfica S.A., Bs Aires

Gráfica S.A., Bs Aires

Gráfica S.A. of Buenos Aires has produced a number of brands using the Catalan pattern.

2004 Habemus Boda, 2004

Habemus Boda, 2004

“Habemus Boda” deck celebrating the royal wedding of Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia of Spain with cartoons by Sir Cámara

2004 Baraja PEPLVM

Baraja PEPLVM

Baraja PEPLVM features cartoons by Ortuño of famous actors and actresses in roles from epic Roman movies.

2015 Hesslers Enhanced

Hesslers Enhanced

Matt Hessler’s “Enhanced” four-colour playing cards, 2015.

1951 Martínez de León

Martínez de León

Bull-fighters pack published by Hijos de Heraclio Fournier, Vitoria (Spain) with artwork by Andrés Martínez de León, 1951.

Vergnano Tarot 1826-1851

Stefano Vergnano’s Tarot and playing card factory holds a special place in the history of the Tarot.

2009 Learn Thai

Learn Thai

“Learn Thai” cards published by Lanna Innovation Co. Ltd, 2009.

1877 Woolley & Co: “Second Harrys”

Woolley & Co: “Second Harrys”

Woolley & Co produced a range of different quality playing cards, and these “Second Harrys” are towards the cheaper end of the range.

1979 Stancraft “Split Deck”

Stancraft “Split Deck”

Stancraft “Split Deck”, 1979.

Bio-Pack

Bio-Pack flashcards produced for Thai biology students

2015 Math Stack

Math Stack

“Math Stack” playing cards designed by Diana Stanciulescu, illustrating and explaining 36 important mathematical constants, published by EduStack in India

2015 Star Stack

Star Stack

Star Stack playing cards feature illustrations of famous astronomers and important astronomical constellations.

1988 Delta Playing Cards

Delta Playing Cards

Delta playing cards are a modern art concept deck invented by Professor M. R. Ali, an artist operating under the company name of “Artology International”.

Magic Poker Cards

“Magic Poker Cards” are often found inside Christmas crackers along with party hats, puzzles and jokes...

EduStack — Playing Cards for Math & Astronomy

EduStack is a team from India passionate about gaming and education that has created two sets of custom playing cards about Maths and Astronomy

Naipes Españoles “El Mexicano”

Standard Catalan-type deck, titled "El Mexicano", by an anonymous Argentinean manufacturer, c.1980s.

1920 La Suisse Historique Swiss Cantons souvenir

La Suisse Historique Swiss Cantons souvenir

A masterpiece in the genre of tourist souvenir decks, “La Suisse Historique” Swiss Cantons souvenir designed by Melchior Annen in c.1920.

Nationaal Speelkaart Nº 165

Wüst: Nationaal Speelkaart Nº 165 issued for the Dutch market

Jeu D’Aluettes - Boéchat Frères c.1950

Jeu D’Aluettes manufactured by Boéchat Frères, Bordeaux, c.1950 with archaic Spanish features mixed with the standard Catalan pattern

Beautiful Britain Series

The ‘Beautiful Britain’ series depicting seaside and country resorts was produced by John Waddington Ltd for the Great Western Railway and London and North Eastern Railway between 1924-1939.

1980 Heráldica Castanyer

Heráldica Castanyer

Spanish Catalan pattern No.6 by Heráldica Castanyer, Sabadell (Barcelona), c.1980.

1980 Amos del Universo

Amos del Universo

“Amos del Universo” card game published by Litografía Goicochea Hnos, S.A., Lima, Peru, c.1980.

Hoyle® Official Card Games Collection

The Hoyle® Official Card Games Collection 2015 includes plenty of favourites, and also includes the official rules for the games as well as tips and strategies, allowing you to easily try out and learn new games.

1960 Poker Nº 505

Poker Nº 505

Heraclio Fournier ‘Poker Nº 505’ for export to Argentina with elaborate peacock joker, c.1960.

Archaeological find: old playing cards under the floorboards

The municipal archaeological service in Dordrecht (Netherlands) recently found some antique playing cards under the floorboards inside an old public bar.

2006 DWYN

DWYN

Dwyn - a card game about Welsh history designed by Simon Grennan and Christopher Sperandio, 2006.

Atlantic Playing Card Co

Atlantic Playing Card Co., Inc. promoted Bridge Ensemble boxes and companion accessories.

2001 Tarjetas de la Felicidad

Tarjetas de la Felicidad

“Tarjetas de la Felicidad” containing positive mental affirmations by Lauro Trevisan, Buenos Aires (Argentina) c.2001

Cartes à Jouer Espagnoles

Cartes à Jouer Espagnoles Héron - Catalan pattern.

1999 Mas-Reynals Catalan Pattern

Mas-Reynals Catalan Pattern

Mas-Reynals standard Catalan pattern comes in several slightly different versions.

Manuf’d for L.N. Mann

Standard English pattern manuf’d for L.N. Mann by Van Genechten, c.1890.

Ronia Genoese Pattern

‘Ronia’ Genoese Pattern made in Hungary for the Dutch market, c.1970

1925 Pneumatic Series ‘F’

Pneumatic Series ‘F’

De la Rue Pneumatic Series ‘F’ playing cards, c.1925.

1934 Rūfa

Rūfa

Rūfa is a game designed by Ernest Legh and manufactured by De la Rue. The object is to build a pagoda with specially-designed cards without causing the building to collapse.

1932 Lexicon

Lexicon

The summer of 1932 saw the introduction of Lexicon, when a small edition was produced and sold to test the market.

2011 Army Health Promotion

Army Health Promotion

Health Promotion playing cards issued by the British Army with cartoons about army life and information on where to get health advice.

1988 Le Bossu de Notre-Dame

Le Bossu de Notre-Dame

“Le Bossu de Notre-Dame” families card game published by Ducale (France Cartes), c.1998.

Tarot of Musterberg

Designed by Cesare Asaro to simulate decks from the 1700s or earlier, the Tarot of Musterberg is based on the traditional Tarot de Marseille but with an imaginary historical background.

1975 Arlequin

Arlequin

Naipes Arlequin come in both International and Spanish versions.

Brepols Genoese pattern

“Cartes Françaises” and Genoese pattern by Brepols.

1950 West Flanders Souvenir

West Flanders Souvenir

West Flanders Souvenir pack manufactured in Belgium by Mesmaekers, c.1950.

1960 Dutch Pattern for Van Perlstein

Dutch Pattern for Van Perlstein

Brepols Dutch Pattern for Van Perlstein distillery, c.1960.

1890 Chi Chi Pai

Chi Chi Pai

Chinese “Chi Chi Pai” Playing Cards by Mesmaekers Frères for Far East market.

Finnish Stamps

Playing cards featuring a selection of Finland's postage stamps made by Nelostuote Oy (Tactic Games), Pori, Finland

Papyrus playing cards

Egyptian ‘Papyrus’ playing cards with beautiful illustrations against a papyrus background.

World Tour

World Tour Quiz Game published by Tactic Group for Finnair involves recognising flags from different countries and their locations on the map.

2000 Naipes Argentinos Patagonia

Naipes Argentinos Patagonia

“Naipes Argentinos Patagonia” with court cards depicting gauchos and native Indians, c.2000.

Waddingtons Aces of Spades, 1970 onwards

Waddingtons Aces of Spades, 1970 onwards