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.
Baraja Marinera
‘Baraja Marinera’ designed by Francisco Javier San Juan, published by Asescoin (Madrid), 1995
El Cid 9th centenary
Playing cards commemorating the IX centenary of the death of ‘El Cid’ designed by Vicente S. Algora.
Draughts League Medals
Arthur Charles Prince worked for De la Rue as a playing card cutter and later was promoted to supervisor of a small team of workers of same until his death aged 50.
Rowley & Co - “Monarchs of Europe”
In around 1775 Rowley & Co attempted to reform the traditional court cards to portraits of the kings and queens of England, France, Spain and Russia.
Monumentos de España
"Monumentos de España" souvenir playing cards manufactured by Heraclio Fournier, S.A., Vitoria (Spain), c.1955.
Regional Costumes
Spanish regional costumes and coats-of-arms; cute illustrations on each card, 1986.
Repoker Político
Political caricature playing cards designed by Antonio Olveira, published by the Malaga newspaper “Diario 16” on the occasion of the 1995 local elections.
Capel Vinos
Advertising playing cards for Capel Vinos S.A., manufactured by Naipes Comas, 2001.
Quits
Jaques' Quits card game, c.1880-85, with portraits of monarchs inside suit symbols in red, blue and yellow, designed to assist in the education of school children in British history.
Baraja Gallega
Baraja Gallega designed by cartoonists and caricaturists Pinto Chinto (David Pintor & Carlos López) in 2002.
Baralla Galega
'Baralla Galega' designed by X. Cobas and published by Imprenta Comercial Imprent S.A., La Coruña (Spain) in 1983
Nintendo Mario Playing Cards
Special cartoon playing cards designed to accompany Nintendo's Mario series of computer games.
Jaime Margarit - Recreo Infantil
'Recreo Infantil' children's educational cards published by Jaime Margarit, Palamós (Gerona) c.1888.
P. Steinmann
Single-figure provincial Paris pattern cards with traditional names on the courts manufactured in Copenhagen by P. Steinmann, c.1820.
William Warter
William Warter's Proverbial Cards, which carry illustrations of old English proverbs, were first published in 1698.
Gnav
cards from an early 'Gnav' game made by C.L.Keiblinger, Copenhagen c.1860
Don Quijote IV Centenario
Baraja IV Centenario Don Quijote is the work of artist Vicente Arnás, published by Asescoin, Madrid, 2004.
Litografías Industrias Madriguera
Pictorial trade cards were becoming popular throughout Europe so that tea, tobacco, chocolate or even beef extract were the commodities most associated with beautifully lithographed insert cards.
Baraja Andaluza
Non-standard Spanish-suited playing cards created by Rafael Rodriguez Hernandez and published by Ediciones Baja Andalucia, Sevilla, c.1980.
Chitrashala Press
Chitrashala Press produced some charming children's pictorial alphabet cards for early learning purposes in the 1940s.
Malta
The so-called ‘Dragon Cards’, with winged monsters on the four Aces, are an enigmatic aspect of early playing card history.
Charles Hodges
Charles Hodges produced engraved geographical and astronomical decks, London, c.1827-30.
Serravalle-Sesia Tarot
Serravalle-Sesia Tarot published by Fratelli Avondo, c.1880.
Eglantine Table
The Eglantine Table, Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire, elaborately inlaid with marquetry depicting musical instruments, playing-cards, games and heraldic references.
No.500 Playing Cards
No.500 Playing Cards published by U.S.P.C.C., c.1910
C.L.Keiblinger, Copenhagen 1852-85
C.L.Keiblinger, Copenhagen 1852-85
The Game of Four Queens
In 1988 the Danish School of Design set the examination project to design a pack of playing cards. Thomas Damkier designed this royalty deck, called “Dronningespillet” (Game of Queens).
Otto Tragy Jugendstil Spielkarten
Special Jugendstil playing cards designed by Otto Tragy and first published by Altenburger Spielkartenfabrik Schneider & Co. in c.1898.
Inner Realms Tarot
Inner Realms tarot was designed by Saleire, conceived from sacred geometry, and aims to reflect this day and age.
Fournier “El Fundador”
The cards shown here were originally printed in 12-colour lithography and published by Heraclio Fournier in 1888.
Etruria Minchiate
The Cavaliers are man/beast creatures. The Valets (or Pages) are male for clubs and swords, and female for cups and coins.
Army & Navy
Andrew Dougherty’s Army & Navy deck from the Civil War era, c.1865.
Watersprite tarot
The vibrant colours and artwork glorify the symbolism, mood and positive energy in this exciting new tarot deck from Australia.
Jacob Holmblad c.1830
An amazing difference can be seen between the early and the later Jacob Holmblad packs, covering a time span of only 17 years.
Jacob Holmblad, 1820s
The Q♥ has a butterfly net in which she has caught four hearts. Many of Holmblad's designs were replaced or changed in different editions, but this design was not used again.
Jacob Holmblad c.1820
Standard woodblock and stencil deck produced by Jacob Holmblad with double-ended court cards in the tradition of the French ‘Paris’ pattern. The A♥ features a red over-stamp referring to Jacob Holmblad's royal license to print playing-cards which had been granted in 1820.
Holmblad Animal Tarot
Instead of the old emblematic designs, the trump cards show illustrations of animals, which could possibly have symbolic meanings or moralizing interpretations.
Pierre Marechal
Rouen became an important centre for card-making whose influence extended far afield. Cards from Rouen are significant because they became the model from which our English pack subsequently evolved.
L. P. Holmblad, c.1845
Holmblad ordered his earlier designs to be re-drawn and updated. Comparison of packs from this era show instances where one figure is replaced by another more imposing version.
Christian IV Anniversary
King Christian IV anniversary pack, designed by Thora Fisker and printed by L. Jevison Junior, 1988.
L. P. Holmblad c.1840
L. P. Holmblad's house pattern used from c.1840. The K♠ carries a harp as in the traditional French-type cards; but the J♠ is sleeping with his arms folded and his shield resting behind him.
Mitelli Tarocchini
The title refers to “a new form of Tarocchini”. Mitelli's designs are to a high standard of artistic quality and a complete departure from the old tradition, especially the 22 Trump cards which are unnamed and unnumbered.
Union Playing Card Co.
Not much is known about this early manufacturer who is reckoned to have traded between c.1860s-1890s.
Ye Witches’ No.62 Fortune Cards
Ye Witches Fortune Telling Cards published by the United States Playing Card Co., 1896. 52 cards + Joker + extra card in box.
Hustling Joe
Hustling Joe himself appears on the Ace of Spaces dressed in red.
Sum-it Card Game
‘Sum-it’ Card Game published by Sum-It Card Games Ltd. c.1935.
Kellogg’s Complete Breakfast Game
Kellogg’s Complete Breakfast card game, ©1997.
Schweizer Luxus-Jasskarte No.41
The lower and upper knaves are depicted in a vibrant and lively manner, while the enthroned kings are more ponderous. The traditional Swiss Shield court cards also have beer tankards with a barrel on the Deuce.
Pope Joan Trays
Some traditional Pope Joan boards comprise a circular tray, others are square, divided into sections labelled Ace, King, Queen, Jack, Intrigue and Matrimony. In the game, the Nine of Diamonds is “Pope Joan”.
Bicicleta num.810
The United States Playing Card Co. issued Spanish versions of their flagship brand.
History of Baccarat
With the advancement of the Internet, it is now possible to play baccarat in online casinos.