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Iriarte 2035 - Buenos Aires Founded in 1889 as Compañía General de Fósforos, and favoured by certain economic factors, such as the emergence of transportation infrastructure (railways) and network links with the Italian community in Buenos Aires, the firm provided a range of general printing and publishing services, with interests in textiles and other industrial processes. In 1929 the firm became known as Compañía General Fabril Financiera S.A. Spanish suited playing card brand names include: Angelito, Domador, Payador and Victoria. These cards were based on Catalan designs appropriated from Sebastian Comas y Ricart of Barcelona (Spain). Naipes El Heraldo, registered in 1930, and Naipes Mónaco were the company's leading Anglo-American playing card brands. During the 1960s the firm grew to become one of the major general printers of the day, with over 3,000 employees. In January 1969, following a period of growing labour unrest, a strike was called which lasted for four months. read more… In c.1975 Gustavo Pueyrredón designed a special pack celebrating Aberdeen Angus cattle breeding. The firm commissioned artists such as Dante Quinterno, Divito, Lino Palacios and Carlos Páez Vilaró. A special promotional pack was produced for Parliament Cigarettes in 1977 with cartoon characters on the courts and jokers, designed by Carlos Loiseau. There was a business relationship with F.X.Schmid of Germany during the 1970s, but the playing-card side was finally taken over by Joker S.A. in 1977. The business closed down in 1995, when the official Telephone Directory contract was lost and debts escalated, and the buildings were destroyed by fire and bankruptcy ensued. | ||
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Above: Early version of The Joker, not smiling and uncoloured. c.1930 |
Above: Ace of Hearts with green "Impuestos Internos" tax stamp, and the address: Iriarte 2035, Bs Aires. |
Above: King of Clubs from a standard "El Heraldo" pack. |
Below: Joker from a later "El Heraldo" pack now has a smile on his face, and the typography has been improved. |
Below: "Antártida Turistas Dir. Nac. Turismo, c.1974" |
Below: Ace of Spades from a standard "El Heraldo" pack showing the later address: California 2098, Buenos Aires. c.1977 |
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