Joan Barbot
Joan Barbot, San Sebastian c.1765-1810.
Joan Barbot, San Sebastian
Joan Barbot originated from Poitiers (France) and settled in San Sebastian in his youth. He became a playing card manufacturer and his workshop was recorded in 1761 as one of four existing in the city. Barbot died in 1810 and his widow, Dña María Miloy (“la naipera”), continued running the business until it burnt down in 1813.
A similar pack is listed in the British Museum and described as: “The ace of coins has the arms of Spain displayed on an eagle with the name J. Barbot below. The maker's monogram appears on the 2 of swords and the ace of clubs. On the 2 of coins are the shields of Aragon and Castile. The large coin in the 5 of coins has the head of a king.” [Department of Prints & Drawings, Registration number: 1896,0501.857].
Above: cards from a facsimile edition published by Naipes Heraclio Fournier S.A. of an original pack held in the “Fournier” Playing Card Museum, Alava (Vitoria-Gasteiz), Spain, in 1997 on the occasion of the Asescoin AGM held in San Sebastian that same year. The publication was sponsored by Fundación Cruzcampo in celebration of the leisure and comaraderie which card playing has always been associated with.
By Simon Wintle
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.
Related Articles
French Revolutionary cards by Pinaut
Seven cards from a French Revolutionary pack by Pinaut featuring characters from classical antiquity...
Tarot de las Coscojas
Historical playing card design, tarot symbolism and an almost psychedelic medieval surrealism.
Tarot de Valverde de la Vera
A series of 24 surrealist engravings by Mexican artist Claudio Favier in which archetypal Tarot alle...
Baraja de Juan Martín Zamorano
Deck inspired by El Pendón de los Zamorano, a military pennant dating from 1501, published by Priego...
Heráldica Castanyer No. 16
Strange variant of international pattern cards for poker or bridge.
Fantasy Spanish-suited deck
Fantasy Spanish-suited deck by Bertschinger y Codina, Barcelona.
Trappola cards from Poland
Trappola cards published in Warsaw by J G Du Port during the 18th century.
Bertschinger y Codina - Cartes Françaises
French ‘Paris’ pattern made by Bertschinger y Codina, Barcelona, c.1850.
Braulio Fournier
Baraja Nº 1 produced by Braulio Fournier, Burgos, c.1868.
Pirritx eta Porrotx
Happy Families card game from the Spanish Basque Country.
Naipe Vizcaino
‘Naipe Vizcaino’ designed by Javier Urkiri and published by Industrias Gráficas Castuera and the Caj...
Baraja Turística del País Vasco
Basque poker deck of 55 cards published by Fournier with scenic views of the Basque Country.
Baraja Vasca
Spanish Basque Country deck with original drawings by María Isabel Ibañez de Sendadiano.
Baraja Cultura Española
ASESCOIN pack for 2022 designed by M.A. Corella featuring famous Spaniards and notable buildings.
Laurenzo Propagine
Spanish-suited cards made in Italy by Laurenzo Propagine.
Jeu de 7 familles Les Dynasties d’Artisans Basques
Long-standing Basque businesses represented in a traditional card game with illustrations by Odile A...
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 28 days
