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.
Spanish 19th century Political pack
Satirical playing cards manufactured by Francar y Cía depicting political situation.
José Cumplido
Raimundo García pattern produced by José Cumplido in Madrid, dated 1860 on the four of coins.
Juan Humanes y Cía
Raimundo García pattern published by Juan Humanes y Cía, Madrid, 1879.
Pou y Cía
Catalan pattern made by Pou y Cía, Madrid c.1860.
Nueva Baraja Taurina
'Nueva Baraja Taurina' designed by Pedro Maldonado, Madrid, c.1885.
Amorcillos
‘Amorcillos’ (Cupids), a masterpiece from the golden age of Spanish playing cards by Clemente Roxas, Madrid, 1790.
Fashion costume pack by O. Gibert
Elegant fashion costume deck published by O. Gibert, Paris c.1860.
South American Costumes
Costumes of people of Brazil, Peru and Mexico, with views of Rio de Janeiro on the aces.
Félix Solesio e Hijos
Félix Solesio e Hijos - Real Fábrica de Madrid - Spanish National pattern for Venezuela
Four Empires - Clemente Roxas
‘Four Empires’ playing cards produced by Clemente Roxas, c.1805.
Llombart Costume Pack
Military-style costume pack made by Anton Llombart, Barcelona, 1815.
Juan de Brugada
Spanish National pattern by Juan de Brugada e hijo, Real Fábrica de Madrid, 1821.
Infirrera
Italo-Portuguese-suited cards by Andrea Infirrera with the arms of Malta, 1693.
Portuguese cards for Brazil
Portuguese-type cards made in or for Brazil, c.1890.
Jeu de cartes abécédaire
An educational card game designed by F. Séré and published by Lithographie Musicale de Boboeuf, Paris 1840.
Cartes Universelles
Four Continents fantasy playing cards by Daveluy, Bruges, Belgium, 1860-1885.
The Parisian Tarot
The “Parisian Tarot”, early 1600s, with imagery and design synthesizing several influences.
Jeu de Cartomancie pour l’amusement des Dames
Early French Cartomancy deck "for the amusement of Ladies" but also referred to as "Jeu divinatoire révolutionnaire", 1788.
Joseph Bardou & Fils cigarette papers
Delightful pack advertising Joseph Bardou & Fils cigarette papers for the Philippines.
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.