Simon Wintle
- Spain • 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.
Naipes Tango by Arco Iris
Naipes Tango by Producciónes Gráficas Arco Iris, 1999.
Falta Envido
Naipes Argentinos para Truco "Falta Envido" created by Alberto Soifer with Gaucho courts and variant suit symbols, 1982.
The Combination of Images and Text on early playing cards
When playing cards have titles or legends these reference a written/literary tradition of some form. It connects the image to a wider cultural sphere, extending the visual impact.
La Cumparsita Tango deck
Tango playing cards manufactured in Argentina, 2001.
Animal Tarot
Woodblock and stencil Animal Tarot cards, probably of Swiss origin, 2nd half 18th century.
El Monoplano
María González Rizzo (1926-1940) followed in her father's business producing Spanish-suited brands such as “Los Dos Tigres”, “La Española” and an Anglo-American style deck titled “El Monoplano”
Suicide King
The King of Hearts, holding a sword behind his head, is sometimes nicknamed the “Suicide King”. He can be seen to derive from a late medieval design showing a King wielding a battle axe.
Provence Pattern - Portrait de Provence
The 'Provence' pattern contains figures which go back to the fifteenth century.
Heber Mardon (1840-1925)
Heber Mardon was born in 1840. With his father he founded the firm of Mardon and Son which, in 1863, became Mardon, Son & Hall.
Baraja Canaria
‘La Auténtica Baraja Canaria’ was published in 1995 by Justo Pérez as an expression of the history and character of the Canary Islands.
Baraja Marinera
‘Baraja Marinera’ designed by Francisco Javier San Juan, published by Asescoin (Madrid), 1995
El Cid 9th centenary
Playing cards commemorating the IX centenary of the death of ‘El Cid’ designed by Vicente S. Algora.
Draughts League Medals
Arthur Charles Prince worked for De la Rue as a playing card cutter and later was promoted to supervisor of a small team of workers of same until his death aged 50.
Rowley & Co - “Monarchs of Europe”
In around 1775 Rowley & Co attempted to reform the traditional court cards to portraits of the kings and queens of England, France, Spain and Russia.
Monumentos de España
"Monumentos de España" souvenir playing cards manufactured by Heraclio Fournier, S.A., Vitoria (Spain), c.1955.
Regional Costumes
Spanish regional costumes and coats-of-arms; cute illustrations on each card, 1986.
Repoker Político
Political caricature playing cards designed by Antonio Olveira, published by the Malaga newspaper “Diario 16” on the occasion of the 1995 local elections.
Capel Vinos
Advertising playing cards for Capel Vinos S.A., manufactured by Naipes Comas, 2001.
Quits
Jaques' Quits card game, c.1880-85, with portraits of monarchs inside suit symbols in red, blue and yellow, designed to assist in the education of school children in British history.
Baraja Gallega
Baraja Gallega designed by cartoonists and caricaturists Pinto Chinto (David Pintor & Carlos López) in 2002.
Baralla Galega
'Baralla Galega' designed by X. Cobas and published by Imprenta Comercial Imprent S.A., La Coruña (Spain) in 1983
Nintendo Mario Playing Cards
Special cartoon playing cards designed to accompany Nintendo's Mario series of computer games.
Jaime Margarit - Recreo Infantil
'Recreo Infantil' children's educational cards published by Jaime Margarit, Palamós (Gerona) c.1888.
P. Steinmann
Single-figure provincial Paris pattern cards with traditional names on the courts manufactured in Copenhagen by P. Steinmann, c.1820.
William Warter
William Warter's Proverbial Cards, which carry illustrations of old English proverbs, were first published in 1698.
Gnav
cards from an early 'Gnav' game made by C.L.Keiblinger, Copenhagen c.1860
Don Quijote IV Centenario
Baraja IV Centenario Don Quijote is the work of artist Vicente Arnás, published by Asescoin, Madrid, 2004.
Litografías Industrias Madriguera
Pictorial trade cards were becoming popular throughout Europe so that tea, tobacco, chocolate or even beef extract were the commodities most associated with beautifully lithographed insert cards.
Baraja Andaluza
Non-standard Spanish-suited playing cards created by Rafael Rodriguez Hernandez and published by Ediciones Baja Andalucia, Sevilla, c.1980.
Chitrashala Press
Chitrashala Press produced some charming children's pictorial alphabet cards for early learning purposes in the 1940s.
Malta
The so-called ‘Dragon Cards’, with winged monsters on the four Aces, are an enigmatic aspect of early playing card history.
Charles Hodges
Charles Hodges produced engraved geographical and astronomical decks, London, c.1827-30.
Serravalle-Sesia Tarot
Serravalle-Sesia Tarot published by Fratelli Avondo, c.1880.
Eglantine Table
The Eglantine Table, Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire, elaborately inlaid with marquetry depicting musical instruments, playing-cards, games and heraldic references.
No.500 Playing Cards
No.500 Playing Cards published by U.S.P.C.C., c.1910
C.L.Keiblinger, Copenhagen 1852-85
C.L.Keiblinger, Copenhagen 1852-85
The Game of Four Queens
In 1988 the Danish School of Design set the examination project to design a pack of playing cards. Thomas Damkier designed this royalty deck, called “Dronningespillet” (Game of Queens).
Otto Tragy Jugendstil Spielkarten
Special Jugendstil playing cards designed by Otto Tragy and first published by Altenburger Spielkartenfabrik Schneider & Co. in c.1898.
Inner Realms Tarot
Inner Realms tarot was designed by Saleire, conceived from sacred geometry, and aims to reflect this day and age.
Fournier “El Fundador”
The cards shown here were originally printed in 12-colour lithography and published by Heraclio Fournier in 1888.
Etruria Minchiate
The Cavaliers are man/beast creatures. The Valets (or Pages) are male for clubs and swords, and female for cups and coins.
Army & Navy
Andrew Dougherty’s Army & Navy deck from the Civil War era, c.1865.
Watersprite tarot
The vibrant colours and artwork glorify the symbolism, mood and positive energy in this exciting new tarot deck from Australia.
Jacob Holmblad c.1830
An amazing difference can be seen between the early and the later Jacob Holmblad packs, covering a time span of only 17 years.
Jacob Holmblad, 1820s
The Q♥ has a butterfly net in which she has caught four hearts. Many of Holmblad's designs were replaced or changed in different editions, but this design was not used again.
Jacob Holmblad c.1820
Standard woodblock and stencil deck produced by Jacob Holmblad with double-ended court cards in the tradition of the French ‘Paris’ pattern. The A♥ features a red over-stamp referring to Jacob Holmblad's royal license to print playing-cards which had been granted in 1820.
Holmblad Animal Tarot
Instead of the old emblematic designs, the trump cards show illustrations of animals, which could possibly have symbolic meanings or moralizing interpretations.
Pierre Marechal
Rouen became an important centre for card-making whose influence extended far afield. Cards from Rouen are significant because they became the model from which our English pack subsequently evolved.
L. P. Holmblad, c.1845
Holmblad ordered his earlier designs to be re-drawn and updated. Comparison of packs from this era show instances where one figure is replaced by another more imposing version.
Christian IV Anniversary
King Christian IV anniversary pack, designed by Thora Fisker and printed by L. Jevison Junior, 1988.
L. P. Holmblad c.1840
L. P. Holmblad's house pattern used from c.1840. The K♠ carries a harp as in the traditional French-type cards; but the J♠ is sleeping with his arms folded and his shield resting behind him.