Vicente Gombau y Labad
Elegant fantasy designs by Vicente Gombau y Labad (Madrid), 1861.
These elegant non-standard Spanish-suited playing cards were published by Vicente Gombau y Labad in Madrid. The four of swords has the date 1861 and the inscription ‘Vte Gombau y Labad’ around an elaborate device containing the coat-of-arms of the city of Madrid, a bear standing by a strawberry tree (madroño). The four cavaliers are reminiscent of medieval crusading knights. All the court cards have feintly engraved scenery in the background. See detail from four of cups • four of coins • the back►
Above: non-standard Spanish-suited playing cards published by Vicente Gombau y Labad (Madrid) in 1861. Stencil-coloured lithograph, 40 cards, corner index numbers, square corners. Source gallica.bnf.fr / Bibliothèque nationale de France • Vicente Gombau et Labad (Madrid)►
Above: the four suit symbols are interesting. The ace of coins mentions "Fabrica de Madrid". The ace of batons is held by a hand, and has a serpents coiled around. The ace of cups is an ornamental vase contining flowers, inside a basket - click image to zoom.
Vicente Gombau y Labad (1844-1881) was succeeded by Viuda e Hijos de Gombau (1882-1890).
By Simon Wintle
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.
Related Articles
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...
Archaic Franco-Spanish pattern
Archaic Franco-Spanish pattern by Guillaume & Jean Grossard (Bordeaux).
La Baraja del Mundial
“La Baraja del Mundial” satirical football deck published by Fournier for ‘Interviú’ news magazine. ...
Crown Hill playing cards
Crown Hill playing cards with illustrations by Corrine Guiney, USA,
Archaic Spanish proof sheets
2 x uncoloured proof sheets of archaic Spanish-suited playing cards produced for “New Spain”, possib...
Hispania Romana
Educational card game depicting the Roman period in Spanish history.
QAIPES – cartas españolas
Spanish-suited cards made in China inscribed “QAIPES” and “BAIPES”!
Baraja de la Cocina Española
A celebration of Spanish gastronomy, with designs by Silja Götz employing non-standard suits.
Deportivo Alavés 1921-2021
Drawings by Guillem Bosch of famous Alavés footballers in celebration of the club’s centenary.
Naipes Kukuxumusu
A 52-card Spanish-suited advertising pack for a clothing company in Pamplona.
Euskal Herriko Mitologia
Important figures from Basque mythology, named in four languages.
Líneas rojas 2016
Semicaricatural images of Spanish politicians by Jordi Minguell, combined with non-standard suits. ...
Jeu des 7 familles basques
A Happy Families-type game from the Basque country, with designs by Soledad Bravi and Agathe de Las...
Trending Articles
Popular articles from the past 28 days
