The World of Playing Cards Logo

Playing cards in Puerto Rico

Published July 03, 1996 Updated December 29, 2022

Playing cards in Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico Windmill Playing Card Co Souvenir
Playing cards in Puerto Rico

Playing cards in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico was 'discovered' by Columbus in 1493 and settled by Juan Ponce de León in 1510. Although frequently attacked by the British and Dutch in the 17th and 18th centuries, the island was in Spanish hands until 1898 when it passed to the USA by the treaty which closed the Spanish-American war. A new constitution adopted in 1952 gave the island home rule as an associated free commonwealth within the United States.

The Spaniards were fond of gambling and brought their dice, cards and recreational games with them. Early 16th century Spanish playing cards would have been available in Puerto Rico, similar to those recently discovered in Peru, and Spanish playing cards would have been used for the next 350 years or longer.

Spanish playing cards from c.1500-c.1800

Above: Spanish playing cards exported to new Spanish colonies from c.1550 onwards. Cards like these would have been in use for the first 350 years or so after the first Spanish settlers arrived.

Most playing cards used in Puerto Rico until the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries were imported from Spain. Puerto Rican casinos were being supplied from Spain in the 1930s. More recently packs have been imported from East Asia. Packs with Puerto Rico flags on the reverse are found in souvenir shops today. No local production of playing cards is currently known.

 

Puerto Rico souvenir playing cards made in Hong Kong, c.1960 Puerto Rico souvenir playing cards made in Hong Kong, c.1960 Tax Stamp 1940-65

Left and above: Puerto Rico souvenir playing cards manufactured in Hong Kong by Windmill Playing Card Co., c.1960. The backs show Puerto Rican dancers, but the court cards are standard 'Windmill' - disappointing! The packs were sealed with American Internal Revenue tax stamps.

Dragon Cards by Francisco Flores Spanish National Cards by Felix Solesio
avatar
1,474 Articles

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

1979 Baraja Turística del País Vasco

Baraja Turística del País Vasco

Basque poker deck of 55 cards published by Fournier with scenic views of the Basque Country.

2024 English Heritage

English Heritage

52 different colour photos of historic sites managed by English Heritage.

2006 Covered bridges playing cards

Covered bridges playing cards

Historical covered bridges with photography by Bill Miller, 2006.

Hispania Romana

Hispania Romana

Educational card game depicting the Roman period in Spanish history.

2013 Go Go Gorillas!

Go Go Gorillas!

Go Go Gorillas! charity playing cards sponsored by the Eastern Daily Press and the Norwich Evening N...

2024 Piatnik’s 200<sup>th</sup> Anniversary

Piatnik’s 200th Anniversary

A special philatelic souvenir for Piatnik’s 200th anniversary, combining playing cards an...

Sissi playing cards

Sissi playing cards

produced for the Austrian tourist market.

Seashells playing cards

Seashells playing cards

Each card shows colour photo of a different seashell for easy identification.

Introduction to Collecting Themes

Introduction to Collecting Themes

Playing cards can be broadly categorised into standard and non-standard designs, with collectors app...

2002 Scenic Views of Australia

Scenic Views of Australia

54 different scenic views of Australia in full colour.

1964 Monuments de Paris

Monuments de Paris

‘Monuments de Paris’ souvenir playing cards produced by Heraclio Fournier, c.1964.

1990 Borna Skat

Borna Skat

Publicity pack for the Saxon town of Borna, with designs by Andreas Wachter.

2023 Marlow playing cards

Marlow playing cards

Visitor attractions and businesses to be found in Marlow, Buckinghamshire.

1890 Swiss Scenic Tarock

Swiss Scenic Tarock

Scenic Tarock deck produced by Fabrique de Cartes J. Müller & Cie (Schaffhouse), Suisse.

1996 Papyrus Playing Cards

Papyrus Playing Cards

Papyrus playing cards distributed by Egypt Trade, c.1996.

1905 British Columbia Souvenir

British Columbia Souvenir

British Columbia Souvenir Playing Cards by The Clarke and Stuart Company