Mesmaekers Spanish Pack, c.1875
Mesmaekers Spanish Pack for export to Spanish colonies and South American countries, c.1875
Since the 1840s & 50s Spanish-suited playing cards had been exported by leading European manufacturers to agents and wholesalers in Montevideo, Buenos Aires or Caracas, and in some cases the designs had an influence on local production.
Above: Spanish-suited Catalan-style playing cards made by Mesmaekers, Belgium, woodblock and stencil style, c.1875. 48 cards. The reverse has a purple marbled effect.
In 1875 the lithographic stone for Mesmaekers' Spanish cards was simply redesigned from a woodcut, despite the differences in technique and craftsmanship required for each method.
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.
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