The World of Playing Cards Logo

Ernesto Flaiban, Buenos Aires

Published April 27, 2003 Updated July 11, 2023

Ernesto Flaiban, Buenos Aires, 1942-1970.

Argentina Flaiban Paisanito S.R.L

Quality ControlFlaiban y CamilloniPoker “Paisanito”Paisanito S.R.L.Naipes GalgoTela de Araña

E. Flaiban S.R.L. was founded by Ernesto Flaiban in 1942 as a general printer with premises at Corrientes 3679 & Sadi Carnot 646/48/50 (renamed Esperanza 646/48/50), Buenos Aires. In 1952 the firm became E. Flaiban S.A. and in 1955 new manufacturing premises were acquired at Santa Rosa and offices at Venezuela 1949 and Mario Bravo 525-9.

New techniques, such as a process for manufacturing two-ply board using black glue and improved varnishing, led to the cards having a quality comparable to those imported from Spain or France. Over the years the firm became very successful and produced a range of products including school notebooks, envelopes, containers, office stationery and playing cards.

All these different products shared the same brand names: "Galgo", "Paisanito", "Patito", "Tehuelche", "Tito", "Aparcero", "Tiburón", "Tela de Araña" and "Fragata".

At its height the factory was producing in the order of 6,000 packs per day, staying off foreign competitors. In 1952, Paisanito S.R.L. was set up with premises at Rio Limay 1527-29, but was re-merged with the parent firm shortly afterwards due to legal reasons. During the second half of the 1960s profits declined and the business was finally closed down in 1970.

Thanks to Diego Flaiban for historical information about E. Flaiban.

E. Flaiban Playing Card Works, Buenos Aires c.1967

Above: card faces being pulled from the machine. The backs were printed separately, and then both sheets were glued together and given a satin finish.

E. Flaiban playing card Works, Buenos Aires c.1967 E. Flaiban playing card Works, Buenos Aires c.1967
Naipes Galgo, c.1970

Above: Naipes Galgo.

c.1955 c.1952-3

Above: Four of cups from a "Paisanito" pack, c.1955. Flaiban was temporarily succeeded by Paisanito S.R.L. (1952-3) but the partnership was wound down.

Above: Two jokers from a "Naipes Tela de Araña" deck, showing the address as: Mario Bravo 525.

Above: Joker from "Naipes Tela de Araña" pack giving address of sales office as Venezuela 1949.

Above: Three cards from a "Naipes Tela de Araña" pack manufactured for FIAT automobiles (c.1968) showing the address of the sales offices as: Mario Bravo 525/9 with 5 telephone lines.

E. Flaiban brands, Buenos Aires
avatar
1,473 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.