Simon Wintle
- Spain • 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.
Aluette by Dieudonné Jeune, Orléans, c.1850
Aluette game by Fabrique Dieudonné Jeune, Orléans, c.1850.
Instructive and Educational Playing Cards
Playing cards with an educational and instructive purpose first trended in mid-17th century France, inspiring imitations on a growing number of topics such as Arithmetic, Fortification and Military Science, Geometry, Grammar, Heraldry, Cartography, Biographies, Mythology, History, Political Satire, ...
Wine Labels & Chocolate Biscuits
‘Pinta en Copas’ playing card-themed wine labels sold at Día Supermarkets.
Romeo and Juliet
Unbranded ‘Romeo and Juliet’ backs by Russell Playing Card Company, c.1911.
Tarocco Piemontese by Giovanni Rossi
18th c. Piedmont Tarocchi by Giovanni Rossi, Turin.
Oriental Scenes tarock
Trumps have oriental scenes on one end of the card, and mermaids, mermen, assorted sea serpents and monsters on the other end.
Besançon Tarot by Jacob Jerger
Besançon tarot published by Jacob Jerger, 18th century.
Baraja Acehucheña
Souvenir playing cards from Acehúche created by Nacho Julián, Spain, 2001.
Animal Tarot by Johann M Backofen
French-suited ‘Bavarian Animal Tarot’ by Johann Matheus Backofen, Nürnberg, late 18th C.
Cartes Marbrées
A provincial variant of the French ‘Paris’ pattern produced by Daveluy c.1850-1895.
Petit Etteilla cartomancy cards
“Petit Etteilla” cartomancy cards designed and published by Jacques Grasset de Saint-Sauveur, Paris c.1796
Nouvel Eteila ou le petit nécromancien
“Nouvel Eteila ou le petit nécromancien” cartomancy cards from France, late 18th century.
XV Century Spanish-suited playing cards
XV Century Spanish-suited playing cards with moorish influences
Juego de Naipes Andalusí
Andalusian playing cards designed by Marifé Montoya Carrillo with booklet by Jorge Lirola Delgado, 2012.
Languedoc pattern - Portrait de Languedoc
The old Languedoc pattern was known at the beginning of the seventeenth century, if not before.
Pierre Roiné Aluette
Archaic form of Aluette published by Pierre Roiné, Nantes, c.1785.
Jeu d'aluette by Fossorier, Amar et Cie
A very distinctive 48-card Spanish-suited pack is used to play Aluette.
Parisian Spanish pattern by Fossorier, Amar et Cie
‘Parisian’ Spanish pattern published by Fossorier, Amar et Cie (Paris), c.1902.
“Abd-el-Kader” by Fossorier, Amar et Cie for Algeria
Spanish National pattern produced by Fossorier, Amar et Cie (Paris) for Algeria, around 1902.
José Serrano
‘Raimundo García’ pattern playing cards produced in Pamplona by José Serano, c.1875.
Bertschinger y Codina
Fantasy Spanish-suited playing cards by Bertschinger y Codina (Barcelona), c.1850.
Viuda de Gombau e Hijos
Spanish-suited pack in the Raimundo García pattern produced in Madrid by Viuda de Gombau e Hijos, 1882.
Vicente Gombau y Labad
Elegant fantasy designs by Vicente Gombau y Labad (Madrid), 1861.
García y Boyer
Spanish-suited pack in the ‘Raimundo García’ pattern produced by García y Boyer, Igualada, c.1880.
Félix Solesio e Hijos
Félix Solesio e Hijos, Fábrica de Macharaviaya, Spanish National pattern for West Indies, 1801.
Clemente Roxas double-ended Spanish pack
Double-ended Spanish-suited playing cards published by Clemente de Roxas in Madrid, 1814.
Llombart pattern
The Llombart pattern originated in Spain during the early 19th century.
Cartas Portuguezas
Portuguese pattern playing cards published in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, late 19th century.
Portuguese-suited cards
Portuguese-suited cards with dragon aces, made in Italy, 1613.
Gó Succo
Gó Succo fruit juice promotion deck featuring Walt Disney cartoons.
Antoine de Logiriera
Archaic Spanish-suited playing cards published in Toulouse by Antoine de Logiriera (1495-1518).
J. Deluy c.1490s
Archaic Spanish-suited cards produced by J. Deluy c.1490s.
Bavarian pattern by Ernst Jegel
Bavarian pattern published by Ernst Jegel, Nuremberg, late 19th C.
Conrad Jegel proof sheets
Two uncut German-suited proof sheets by Conrad Jegel, Nuremberg.
Fantasy Bavarian pack
An early Bavarian-style deck by Johann Conrad Jegel, Nürnberg, Germany , c.1835.
Jean Noblet Tarot de Marseille
Jean Noblet: the oldest known ‘Tarot de Marseille’ deck, Paris, c.1650.
Hall & Son
Hall & Son
Cartomancy, Oracle and Divination Cards
Playing cards are used for fortune-telling, predicting the future or even as a psychological adjunct to folk medicine and therapy. Turning another card illumines the moment and new clarity emerges.
Myriorama
Myriorama of Italian scenery, 1824.
Dubois
Dubois card makers from Liège in the Walloon Region of Belgium.
Transformation Cards for Christmas
Hand-drawn Transformation cards, c.1870.
Bosch Puzzle Playing Cards
Bosch Puzzle Playing Cards by Sunish Chabba, 2020.
Rex Pitts (1940-2021)
We are deeply saddened by news of the passing of Anthony Rex Pitts (1940-2021).
Andere Zeiten - Andere Kleider
‘History of fashion’ cultural quartet game designed by Erika Werner-Nestler, 1954.
Netherlands Kostuum Kwartet
Dutch costumes quartet game designed by Gerard Huijg, 1983.
Nederlands Stedenkwartet
Nederlands Stedenkwartet with heraldic needlepoint patterns by Permin, c.1970.
Toledo, 1584
Archaic Spanish-suited deck with 48 cards made in Toledo in 1584.
Gambling and Vice in the Middle Ages
Gambling and Vice in the Hours of Charles V: card-playing in the local tavern
Asperge Kwartet
Asperge Kwartet published by Knorr.
Christmas Playing Cards
Christmas Playing Cards published by Novelty Playing Cards, Syracuse, New York, 1986.
Wrappers
Playing cards were traditionally sold inside paper wrappers, which were usually thrown away.