The World of Playing Cards Logo

The English Playing Card Society

EPCS Logo

Promoting research into English card history since 1984. Members receive the EPCS magazine three times a year.

Join from £10/year

Igor Domicelj, Buenos Aires, c.1945-55

Published March 03, 2012 Updated July 11, 2023

Igor Domicelj commenced producing playing cards in c.1945. By the early 1950s the range had grown to include Naipes La Estrella, Barcelonesa, Chinita, La Española, Fantasio, Cartas Gitanas, Naipes Tipo Húngaro and a Jewish Quartet game.

ArgentinaDomiceljBarcelonesa
Igor L. M. Domicelj, fabricante de naipes

Igor Domicelj commenced producing playing cards in Argentina in c.1945. By the early 1950s the range had grown to include Naipes La Estrella, Barcelonesa, Chinita, La Española, Fantasio, Cartas Gitanas, Naipes Tipo Húngaro and a Jewish Quartet game. The design and content of these last three items suggests that Igor Domicelj may have had an Eastern European background - possibly Slovenian or Czech.

In 1955 the company changed to Vigor S.R.L. who continued to produce the full range of cards. Further details about Domicelj's early history are obscure, but there may have been an association with G. Berger.

The Patent Office Registration documents dated 22 June 1955 show the designs registered by Vigor S.R.L. for Naipes Fantasio at the time of the take-over.


Naipes Fantasio by Igor Domicelj, c.1950

Right: double set of Naipes "Fantasio" in bakelite box, manufactured by Igor L. M. Domicelj, c.1950.

Left: Naipes "Fantasio" made by Igor L. M. Domicelj, c.1950. The ace of hearts has a green 'Mercury' tax stamp.

Naipes Fantasio by Igor Domicelj, c.1950
1 Peso orange tax band, c.1950

Above: orange 1 Peso tax band from Naipes Fantasio manufactured by Igor L. M. Domicelj, c.1950. This was the tax for 'French-suited' cards.


Left & Right: Naipes Bols manufactured by Igor L. M. Domicelj, c.1954. This is the first advertising pack produced by Domicelj / Vigor.

Naipes La Estrella for Ginebra Bols, c.1954
Tax band, c.1954

Above: brown 50 Centavos tax band from Naipes Bols manufactured by Igor L. M. Domicelj, c.1954. This was the tax for Spanish-suited cards.


Above: Naipes "Tipo Húngaro" made by Vigor S.R.L, c.1955-60. The seven of bells has a green 'Marianne' tax stamp and gives the name of the manufacturer as Vigor S.R.L. The box states that Igor L.M. Domicelj is the manufacturer suggesting that old stock was being used up.

avatar
1,494 Articles

By Simon Wintle

Spain • Member since February 01, 1996

I am the founder of The World of Playing Cards (est. 1996), a website dedicated to the history, artistry and cultural significance of playing cards and tarot. Over the years I have researched various areas of the subject, acquired and traded collections and contributed as a committee member of the IPCS and graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal. Having lived in Chile, England, Wales, and now Spain, these experiences have shaped my work and passion for playing cards. Amongst my achievements is producing a limited-edition replica of a 17th-century English pack using woodblocks and stencils—a labour of love. Today, the World of Playing Cards is a global collaborative project, with my son Adam serving as the technical driving force behind its development. His innovative efforts have helped shape the site into the thriving hub it is today. You are warmly invited to become a contributor and share your enthusiasm.

Activity for Igor Domicelj, Buenos Aires, c.1945-55

Sign in to comment or save this article.


Related Articles

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

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

Naipes “La Estrella” Spanish-suited playing cards made for BOLS gin by Igor Domicelj, Buenos Aires, ...

2004 Naipes Gauchescos Argentinos

Naipes Gauchescos Argentinos

“Naipes Gauchescos Argentinos” with re-styled Spanish suit-symbols reflecting Argentinean culture, 2...

1950 Jewish Card Game

Jewish Card Game

Judaism is the oldest of the great monotheist religions, parent of Christianity and Islam.

1960 Naipes Tipo Húngaro

Naipes Tipo Húngaro

32 cards Hungarian "Seasons" pattern, with Argentinean tax stamp and trade mark of six-pointed star ...

1960 Naipes Barcelonesa by Vigor S.R.L., Bs As, 1960

Naipes Barcelonesa by Vigor S.R.L., Bs As, 1960

Naipes Barcelonesa Spanish-suited playing cards manufactured by Vigor S.R.L., Buenos Aires, 1960.

Gráfica 2001

Gráfica 2001

Gráfica 2001 (Naipes ‘La Española’), successors to Naipes Vigor founded in 1945.

2001 La Española Classic

La Española Classic

‘La Española Classic’ is a traditional ‘La Española’ Spanish-suited pack and is produced in several ...

Anonymous manufacturers 1

Anonymous manufacturers 1

Argentina has produced a series of anonymous decks, both Spanish-suited and Anglo-American type and ...

Naipes Chinita by Vigor S.R.L.

Naipes Chinita by Vigor S.R.L.

Naipes Chinita Spanish-suited playing cards manufactured by Vigor S.R.L., Bs Aires, c.1955.

Naipes Vigor S.R.L.

Naipes Vigor S.R.L.

VIGOR S.R.L (1955 - c1975) manufactured a range of playing cards and card games, including Chinita, ...

1959 Naipes Las Rosas by Vigor S.R.L., c.1959

Naipes Las Rosas by Vigor S.R.L., c.1959

Naipes Las Rosas by Vigor S.R.L., c.1959.

Naipes La Española by Vigor S.R.L.

Naipes La Española by Vigor S.R.L.

Naipes La Española Spanish-suited playing cards manufactured by Vigor S.R.L., Buenos Aires, c.1955-7...

Cía General Fabril Financiera S.A.

Cía General Fabril Financiera S.A.

Founded in 1889 as Compañía General de Fósforos, and favoured by certain economic factors, the firm ...

List of Argentinian Playing Card Manufacturers

List of Argentinian Playing Card Manufacturers

List of Argentinian Playing Card Manufacturers from the 19th and 20th centuries.

Naipes Porteño by C. Della Penna S.A.C.I., c.1960-70

Naipes Porteño by C. Della Penna S.A.C.I., c.1960-70

Naipes PORTEÑO Spanish-suited playing cards manufactured by C. Della Penna S.A.C.I., Buenos Aires, c...

Naipes Heraldo, later style

Naipes Heraldo, later style

Naipes Heraldo, later style, c.1978.

Playing Cards by Compañia General de Fósforos

Playing Cards by Compañia General de Fósforos

Playing Cards by Compañia General de Fósforos, Bs. As. (founded 1888).

Naipes Side Car Tipo Español

Naipes Side Car Tipo Español

Naipes Side Car Tipo Español.

Bedaumine Hnos, Bs Aires

Bedaumine Hnos, Bs Aires

Naipes Tipo Español 'El Vencedor', Bedaumine Hnos, Bs Aires

Naipe Español

Naipe Español "VICTORIA ® by F. X. Schmid (Argentina) S.A.

Naipe Español "VICTORIA ® by F. X. Schmid (Argentina) S.A.


Sign in with Google