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.
Jeu Quatre Empereurs
Brazilian scenic aces with emperors of Brazil, Austria and France and other dignitaries on the court cards.
Kings and Queens of Brazil & Portugal
Historical playing cards by C. L. Wüst depicting monarchs of Brazil and Portugal.
Mythological tarot by Michael Schatzberger
Mythological tarot by Michael Schatzberger, Passau, Bavaria, early 19th century.
Ansbach pattern by Emil Doll
Later Ansbach or Nürnberg pattern by Emil Doll, Neustadt.
Cartomancy deck by Johann Ernst Backofen
German-suited Cartomancy deck published by Johann Ernst Backofen, Nürnberg.
Trappola pack by Joseph Fetscher
Trappola pack published by Joseph Fetscher, Graz, 1739.
Animal Tarot by Joseph Fetscher
French-suited Natural History Tarot deck by Joseph Fetscher, Munich, c.1820.
Heathen Wars
German-suited ‘Heathen War’ playing cards published by Joseph Fetscher, Munich, c.1820.
Mythological and Allegorical tarot
Mythological and Allegorical tarot produced by Peter Paul Fetscher junior, Munich.
Fantasy deck by Joseph Fetscher
Fantasy French-suited pack produced by Joseph Fetscher, Munich, c.1825.
Dessoris
Spanish-suited cards by Dessoris, Perpignan, which anticipate the French Catalan pattern.
Miniature playing cards by Joseph Fetscher
Uncut sheet of miniature Bavarian playing cards by Joseph Fetscher.
Vogelspiel
Vogelspiel, a German card game known as the “cuckoo game” also known as “Gnau”.
Lyon pattern by Michel Ressy
Lyon pattern by Michel Ressy, c.1760.
Bavaria pattern
Classic German-suited Bavarian pattern by Joseph Fetscher, Munich, early 19th century.
Crimean War Deck
1854 saw the declaration of the Crimean War and this deck was published by Wüst around, or shortly after, 1856.
Trappola pack by Anton Herrl
Trappola pack of 36 double-ended cards published by Anton Herrl, Graz, Austria.
Animal Tarot by Andreas Benedict Göbl
French-suited Animal Tarot deck produced by Andreas Benedict Göbl, Munich.
Standard French-suited Bavarian deck by Göbl
French-suited Bavarian deck by Andreas Benedict Göbl, late 18th c.
Swiss Scenic Tarock
Scenic Tarock deck produced by Fabrique de Cartes J. Müller & Cie (Schaffhouse), Suisse.
Historical playing cards by Joseph Fetscher
Historical playing cards by Joseph Fetscher, Munich, c.1820.
Illustrated piquet cards
Bavarian piquet cards with oriental illustrations produced by Andreas Benedict Göbl, Munich, late 18th c.
Costumes of Turkey Tarot
‘National Costumes of Turkey’ tarot by Industrie Comptoir, Leipzig, c.1800-1825.
Natural History Tarot
Natural History Tarot published by G M, Germany, early 19th C.
Animal Tarot by J. B Dubois
French-suited Bavarian Animal Tarot by J B Dubois, Liège, Belgium, late 18th C.
Æsop’s Fables tarot
French-suited Æsop’s fables tarot produced by Leipzig Industrie Comptoir, c.1800-1825.
Animal Tarot by J. T Dubois
Early 19th century Animal Tarot pack produced by J T Dubois, Liège, Belgium.
Animal Tarot by G. Larmoyer
Flemish Animal Tarot deck by G. Larmoyer, Liège, 1753.
Albano-Waite® Tarot
Recoloured version of the Rider/Waite/Smith tarot produced by Frankie Albano, 1968.
Pomeranian Tarot
A Pomeranian Tarot deck with etchings by Georg Pommer published by Conrad Jegel, 1852.
French Cartomancy cards, c.1830
French Cartomancy cards published by J. Gaudais; printed by Mansion, Paris, c.1830.
Âs Nas
Âs Nas type playing cards from Persia.
Hand-painted and Silk-inlaid playing cards
Complete pack of 36 hand-painted and silk-inlaid playing cards with French suits made in Germany.
Questions et réponses
Questions and answers card game by Devaluy, Bruges, c.1880.
Historical Patience
Patience game with fantasy historical figures by Daveluy, Bruges, c.1875.
Cartes de Conversation
Question and answer game printed by Daveluy, Bruges. Each card contains a question (Q.) and an answer (R.).
Moorish Deck
Review of “Trzes’ Moorish Deck” facsimile published by Ulrich Kaltenborn, Berlin, 2023.
Guyenne Pattern - Portrait de Guyenne
The Guyenne pattern emerged from the earlier Languedoc pattern.
Dreveton - Provence pattern
French cardmakers Jean and François Dreveton lived in Aix-en-Provence.
Costumes des Peuples Étrangers
Costumes des Peuples Étrangers & Jeu d’Or dedicated to young people and likely used for games and fortune-telling.
Le Nouvel Etteilla
“Le Nouvel Etteilla” cartomancy deck published in Paris by La Veuve Gueffier, 1806.
Le Petit Oracle des Dames
Le Petit Oracle des Dames ou Récréation des Curieux, Paris, 1807.
Jonathan Hocus Pocus
Two sets of conjuring cards published by G. Martin, 6 Great St Thomas Apostle, London, early 19th century.
Baraja Mística
‘Baraja Mística’ satirical playing-cards featuring revelling clergy published by Litografía Fernández, Madrid.
Early German playing cards
Some early examples of popular German playing cards from the XV and XVI centuries.
Auvergne Pattern - Portrait d'Auvergne
The Auvergne pattern is one of the oldest in France.
P. Buscaglia: Spanish-suited cards
Spanish-suited cards published by P. Buscaglia, Mele & Genova.
Cartes Catalanes by Fossorier, Amar et Cie
‘Cartes Catalanes’ published by Fossorier, Amar et Cie (Paris)
B.P. Grimaud pack for Bolivia
Spanish-suited pack made in France for sale in Bolivia, c.1880.
José Maria Durán
Spanish Catalan pattern by José Maria Durán, Barcelona, c.1870.
Natural History Tarocchi
Natural History Tarocchi by Ferdinando Gumppenberg, Milan.