Taroquis ‘Obelisco’

Published July 31, 2004 • Updated June 23, 2022

78-card 'Taroquis Marca Obelisco' published by Mario Colombo, Buenos Aires, during the 1950s, 60s & 70s, in the style known as "Tarocco Piemontese" which had been developed by Italian cardmakers during the nineteenth century.

TAROQUIS ‘MARCA OBELISCO’

by Mario Colombo, Rodriguez Peña 335, Bs As

Above: Taroquis ‘MARCA OBELISCO’ published by Mario Colombo, Buenos Aires, during the 1950s. 78 cards in box. The four of cups has a 'Mercury' tax stamp and red lettering. Compare this with the card immediately beneath.

Taroquis Marca Obelisco, Mario Colombo, Buenos Aires, c.1960

Above: Taroquis ‘MARCA OBELISCO’ published by Mario Colombo, Buenos Aires, during the 1960s, in the style known as "Tarocco Piemontese" which had been developed by Italian cardmakers during the nineteenth century. Similar Piemontese tarot packs had already been produced in Buenos Aires during the early 1900s by Fabrica de Naipes La Primitiva, and another Tarok pack with Spanish inscriptions was published by Cappellano S.A. in the 1970s. Only the packs published by Mario Colombo have the title ‘MARCA OBELISCO’.

The decks are printed in black/red/yellow only on cheap-grade card. The reverse has a pattern of small black diamonds forming a trellis. Size: 64 mms x 107 mms.

Left: The Obelisk, as shown on the ace of coins (above), was built in 1936 in commemoration of the first founding of the city. It is located in Avenida Nueve de Julio in Buenos Aires.

Mario Colombo also produced "Naipes Obelisco" directly copied from the designs of John Waddington (England).

Taroquis Marca Obelisco, Mario Colombo, Buenos Aires, c.1970

Above: Taroquis ‘MARCA OBELISCO’ published by Mario Colombo, Buenos Aires, during the 1970s. The cards have square corners and are printed on paper.

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By Simon Wintle

Member since February 01, 1996

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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.

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Taroquis ‘Obelisco’

TAROQUIS ‘MARCA OBELISCO’

by Mario Colombo, Rodriguez Peña 335, Bs As

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