The World of Playing Cards Logo

Cía General Fabril Financiera S.A.

Published March 26, 1999 Updated June 12, 2023

Founded in 1889 as Compañía General de Fósforos, and favoured by certain economic factors, the firm provided a range of general printing and publishing services, with interests in textiles and other industrial processes. In 1929 the firm became known as Compañía General Fabril Financiera S.A.

Argentina Cia Gral Fabril Financiera S.A.
Cía General Fabril Financiera S.A.
Naipes Domador, c.1940 Naipes Victoria, c.1950

Iriarte 2035 - Buenos Aires
and California 2098 - Buenos Aires

Founded in 1889 as Compañía General de Fósforos, and favoured by certain economic factors, such as the emergence of transportation infrastructure (railways) and network links with the Italian community in Buenos Aires, the firm provided a range of general printing and publishing services, with interests in textiles and other industrial processes. In 1929 the firm became known as Compañía General Fabril Financiera S.A.   read blog

Talleres Gráficos Compañía General Fabril Financiera S.A.

Above: Lithographic presses, Compañía General Fabril Financiera S.A.   see more

Spanish suited playing card brand names include: Angelito, Domador, Payador and Victoria.  These cards were based on Catalan designs appropriated from Sebastian Comas y Ricart of Barcelona (Spain). Naipes El Heraldo, registered in 1930, and Naipes Mónaco were the company's leading Anglo-American playing card brands.

During the 1960s the firm grew to become one of the major general printers of the day, with over 3,000 employees. In January 1969, following a period of growing labour unrest, a strike was called which lasted for four months  read more

In c.1975 Gustavo Pueyrredón designed a special pack celebrating Aberdeen Angus cattle breeding. The firm commissioned artists such as Dante Quinterno, Divito, Lino Palacios and Carlos Páez Vilaró. A special promotional pack was produced for Parliament Cigarettes in 1977 with cartoon characters on the courts and jokers, designed by Carlos Loiseau.

There was a business relationship with F.X.Schmid of Germany during the 1970s, but the playing-card side was finally taken over by Joker S.A. in 1977. The business closed down in 1995, when the official Telephone Directory contract was lost and debts escalated, and the buildings were destroyed by fire and bankruptcy ensued.

Joker, c.1940-50 Ace of Hearts with tax stamp, c.1945-50 Logo from wrapper, 1975

Above: Early version of The Joker, not smiling and uncoloured. c.1930

Above: Ace of Hearts with green "Impuestos Internos" tax stamp, and the address: Iriarte 2035, Bs Aires.

Above: Logo from wrapper, 1975

Tax stamps Tax stamps Tax stamps
avatar
1,474 Articles

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.

Related Articles

1980 Egyptian Tarot

Egyptian Tarot

Egyptian Tarot inspired by ancient Egyptian art, mythology, and iconography, published by Naipes La ...

1995 Naipes Criollos

Naipes Criollos

“Naipes Criollos” Gaucho playing cards, 1995.

2002 Naipes Cardón

Naipes Cardón

Naipes Cardón designed by Mario Luis Rivero depicting traditional Argentine culture and identity, 20...

2003 El Oráculo de la Bruja

El Oráculo de la Bruja

“El Oráculo de la Bruja” fortune-telling cards, 2003.

2000 Martín Fierro

Martín Fierro

Naipes “Martín Fierro” based on the epic poem by José Hernandez.

1977 Naipes Parliament por Caloi

Naipes Parliament por Caloi

Carlos Loiseau, better known as ‘Caloi’, was a cartoonist whose designs for Parliament Cigarettes we...

1980 Minifusor Tipo Español

Minifusor Tipo Español

Naipes "Minifusor" tipo Español published by Difusora S.A., c.1980.

1975 Clark’s Industries

Clark’s Industries

Clark’s Industries Spanish Cards, c.1975.

2002 El Tripero

El Tripero

Hand-drawn semi-erotic, satirical playing cards by Lautaro Fiszman ‘El Tripero’, 2002.

1979 Mordillo Skat

Mordillo Skat

Mordillo Skat designed by Guillermo Mordillo, c.1979

1955 Cartas Gitanas

Cartas Gitanas

The designs of these fortune-telling cards are largely taken from nineteenth century Austrian "Rural...

2002 Naipes Garaycochea

Naipes Garaycochea

Humorous playing cards designed by Carlos Garaycochea, Buenos Aires, c.2002.

2000 Desafio Football Caricatures

Desafio Football Caricatures

“Desafio” playing cards with football player caricatures, c.2000

1980 Roche Playing Cards

Roche Playing Cards

Roche Pharmaceutical playing cards, 1980s.

2001 Cartas Precolombinas

Cartas Precolombinas

Spanish playing cards with Pre-Columbian designs from Argentina, 2001.

2000 World Cup ’98

World Cup ’98

World Cup ’98 football team pack for Paradigma Consulting Group, 2000.