Naipes “La Estrella” for BOLS by Igor Domicelj, Bs Aires, c.1954

Naipes “La Estrella” Cadiz pattern for Ginebra BOLS by Igor Domicelj, Bs Aires, c.1954. This version of the Spanish Cadiz pattern is copied from ‘Naipes El Heraldo’ by Segundo de Olea. In this example the backs feature advertising for Bols gin inset over a standard criss-cross back pattern. The rest of the pack is also a standard "La Estrella" deck, and is the first advertising deck produced by Domicelj / Vigor, c.1954-5.

Above: Naipes “La Estrella” Spanish-suited playing cards made for BOLS gin by Igor Domicelj, Buenos Aires, c.1954. Subsequent editions were produced by Vigor S.R.L., after the company was renamed in c.1955.

Above: tax band from Naipes Bols overstamped Igor L. M. Domicelj, c.1954.

The Patent Office Registration documents submitted by Vigor S.R.L. on 22nd June 1955 show designs for Naipes Bols. By holding these up to the light, beneath the label stuck onto the sample card the name of Igor L. M. Domicelj (c.1950-55) can be seen.

Above: detail from wrapper giving the manufacturer's name as Vigor S.R.L., Tejedor 244-56, Bs Aires, c.1955. The control slip also has the manufacturer's address as Fabrica de Naipes Vigor, Tejedor 244-56, Bs Aires.

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.