Bertrand Domec, 1904-1970

Bertrand Domec was an importer of playing cards into Argentina. The business was first established in around 1904 as successors to Pedro Desparbez, with the first address as Buen Orden 263, which was renamed later to Bernardo de Irigoyen 263, Bs. As. following a government decision to commemorate patriotic heroes in street names.

Domec was the exclusive agent of The New York Consolidated Card Company, U.S.A. and imported brands such as “Squeezers”, “Bee-92” and “Congress” into Argentina  Domec also imported cards from Spain, mainly by Sebastian Comas y Ricart.

Above: four cards and wrapper from a pack imported from Spain. The date 1904 is printed on the wrapper, as well as mention that B Domec was successor to Pedro Desparbez, importer.

Over the years the name of the company, the address and other details changed until sometime in the 1970s the company was superseded by Joker S.A. who are still in business today. The succession is roughly as follows:

	Pedro Desparbez Buen Orden 263, Buenos Aires	c.1900-03
	B. Domec (Sucesor de Pedro Desparbez) Buen Orden 263, Buenos Aires	c.1904
	Bertrand Domec (Importador)► B. de Irigoyen 263, Buenos Aires	c.1904-1926
Casa Bertrand Domec (Importadora) Bernardo de Irigoyen 223, Buenos Aires	1926-1930
	Casa Bertrand Domec de F. Fernández y J. Fagoaga (Sucesores)► B de Irigoyen 223 See: Hija de A. Comas “El Periquito”►	1930-35
	Casa Bertrand Domec de Fagoaga y Fernández (Sucesores)► Tacauri 127	1935-50
	Casa Bertrand Domec de Fagoaga y Compañia (Sucesores)► Tacauri 127 - taken over by Joker S.A. ?	1950-70

See Complete list of Importers►

By Simon Wintle

Member since February 01, 1996

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Curator 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.