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Cappellano S.A. c.1920-c.1985

Published January 07, 2012 Updated June 12, 2023

Originally known as Cappellano Hnos in the 1920s, and undergoing several changes of name and address, the company produced catalan style packs with the brand names "Naipes Triunfo" and "Torcacita" as well as an Anglo-American style pack titled "VELCAP".

Argentina Cappellano Torcacita Triunfo Vel Cap

Originally known as Cappellano Hnos in the 1920s, over the years the company underwent several changes of name and address. It is by studying these changes that some sort of history of the company has been reconstructed. The evolution of the company from c.1920 to its demise in the 1980s can be followed on these pages. Originally operating as printers and publishers, playing card production commenced during the 1920s and included Spanish-suited packs with the brand names "Naipes Triunfo" and "Torcacita" as well as an Anglo-American style pack titled "VELCAP". There were also Tarok packs and a special Gaucho deck titled Martín Fierro designed by José Speroni.

Naipes Triunfo by Orestes A. Cappellano, c.1925-45

Above: Naipes 'Triunfo' were first produced by Cappellano Hnos in the 1920s, then by Orestes A. Cappellano, with re-drawn designs in use from c.1930 onwards, similar to those used earlier by Girbau. Decks are found with patterned backs or from about 1955 onwards with advertising reverses, e.g. Fernet Branca, Perkins diesel engines, etc.

Above: Assorted cards by Orestes A. Cappellano and Cappellano S.A., c.1940s onwards.

Cappellano Hnos logo, c.1925 CAPPELLANO S.A. building, c.1960
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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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