Baraja Cartomántica Chocolates Nelia
Some examples of playing cards made in Catalonia from the collection of Iris Mundus, Barcelona.
Some examples of playing cards made in Catalonia from the collection of Iris Mundus, Barcelona.
Spanish advertising playing cards, or trade cards, cover a wide range of popular topics and interests including cinema, bullfighting, boxing and, of course, football. Information was often supplied on the cards about football teams, cinema stars, famous bullfighters or in the case shown (right), fortune-telling interpretations were given. Individual cards might be inserted inside packets of products such as chocolate, or printed on the wrappers or boxes, which could be collected, traded and assembled into full packs.
Baraja Cartomántica Chocolates Nelia
Note: Iris Mundus was founded in Barcelona in 1965 by Neus Serrano and her husband Salvador Tena in order to pursue their passion for antiques.
• Biblioteca Digital Hispánica: Baraja cartomántica Chocolates Nelia, c.1932►
Two Examples of the Spanish Catalan Pattern
What is known today as the “Modern Spanish Catalan” playing card pattern (to avoid confusion with the French Catalan style) began to emerge with an identity of its own during the early 19th century and became fully developed by the end of the 19th century. It was primarily manufactured by makers in the Barcelona region (Sebastian Comas y Ricart, Wenceslao Guarro, Giráldez, Juan Roura, etc) but is now regarded as a standard pattern throughout Spain and beyond. Packs usually contain 40 or 48 cards.
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.
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