Naipes Inca by C. Della Penna S.A., c.1943-65
Naipes Inca Spanish-suited playing cards by C. Della Penna S.A., Buenos Aires, c.1943-65.
Naipes INCA Spanish-suited playing cards manufactured by C. Della Penna S.A., Buenos Aires, c.1943-65
Naipes Inca was one of Della Penna's leading brands of Spanish-suited playing cards, and was produced in successive editions until the company was taken over in 1978. This new version of Naipes Inca, with re-drawn and slightly simplified court cards, appears to have been registered in 1943.
Above & Right: four of cups and back from a Naipes Inca deck, c.1945-55. The "Mercury" tax stamp was in use at this time.
Decks produced over this time period can have either the "Mercury" or "Marianne" tax stamp on the four of cups, and the brown 50 centavos tax band around the outer wrapper or box, relating to Decreto 18,235 (1944-1964).
Boxes appear to have been introduced around 1960. Over the years numerous small changes of detail are discernible in the typography and design of the cards, but it is not possible to classify these here.
Above: cards from a 50-card deck of Naipes Inca, including 2 extra cards. The "Marianne" tax stamp on the four of cups suggests a date of between c.1955-68. In both cases the logo has the company name in a serif typeface.
By Simon Wintle
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.
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