F. X. Schmid (Argentina) S.A.
Spanish-suited playing cards by F. X. Schmid (Argentina) S.A.
Spanish-suited cards by F. X. Schmid (Argentina) S.A.
At some point between c1975-1985 the West German playing-card manufacturer F.X.Schmid opened offices in Buenos Aires under the name F.X. Schmid (Argentina) S.A. During this period they acquired the brands "Payador" and "Victoria" which formerly had been owned and produced by Cía Gral Fabril Financiera S.A.
The brand names were also briefly used by Joker S.A. When Schmid ceased business in Argentina in the early 1980s, the brand names also ceased to exist and have not been used since. Exactly what happened to them is still a mystery.
 |
Left: Naipes "Payador" manufactured by Cía Fabril Financiera S.A. for Schmid Argentina S.A., c.1975. The Catalan-style designs are based on those previously used by Cía General Fabril Financiera. (Click the image to see more) |
 |
Left: Naipes "Victoria", manufactured by Cía General Fabril Financiera S.A. for Schmid Argentina S.A., c.1978. "Victoria" was another brand name used by Cía Gral Fabril Financiera, and also distributed for a short while by Joker S.A. (Click the image to see more) |
 |
Left: Naipes "Victoria" manufactured in West Germany for F.X. Schmid (Argentina) S.A., early 1980s. The brand name "Victoria" and the gladiator motif are those formerly used by Cía Gral Fabril Financiera S.A. and Joker S.A. until around 1980, at which point they appear to have become the registered property of F.X. Schmid. However, Schmid soon closed their offices in Buenos Aires and discontinued these brands. The pack shown below is their successor. (Click the image to see more) |
 |
Left: No.407 "Naipe Español" made in West Germany by F.X. Schmid for export to Argentina, 1985. The Argentine flag is shown on the ace of coins. There is a cupid on the four of coins but no mention of a brand name other than No.407. (Click the image to see more) |
By 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.
Related Articles
Engel-Tarot
Set of major arcana designed by Alois Hanslian depicting angels throughout.
Virgil Solis
Remarkable pack of 52 animal-suited playing-cards designed and etched by Virgil Solis.
Braulio Fournier
Baraja Nº 1 produced by Braulio Fournier, Burgos, c.1868.
Spanish pattern by Eugène Boisse
Spanish pattern published by Eugène Boisse, Bordeaux.
Politiker-Skat by Bubec
Caricatures of world leaders, including many German politicians, by the artist Bubec.
Le Poker Politique
French politicians and various world leaders caricatured by the German artist Bubec.
Unimog UX 100
Cartoons promoting the Unimog UX 100, a small truck produced by Mercedes-Benz.
Juristenskat
Caricatures of lawyers and judges by Philipp Heinisch for HEEL Verlag.
Battles in Mexico, 1847
Uncut proof sheet with Mexican Battle scenes on the aces and portraits of American generals on the c...
Double-ended German-suited pack by Josef Glanz, Vienna.
From the British Museum collection.
QAIPES – cartas españolas
Spanish-suited cards made in China inscribed “QAIPES” and “BAIPES”!
Medizin Skat
Promotional pack for a hospital group in the Saarland, with non-standard suits and courts designed b...
Naipes Kukuxumusu
A 52-card Spanish-suited advertising pack for a clothing company in Pamplona.
Opernkarte I
Humorous designs by Peter Becker on the theme of the Opera.
Haushaltgeräte
Publicity pack for VEB Kombinat Haushaltgeräte, makers of household goods, with designs by Volker Ha...
Animal Tarot by Johann Jobst Forster
French-suited 78-card animal tarot deck of the Bavarian type.
Trending Articles
Popular articles from the past 28 days
