The World of Playing Cards Logo
Published July 03, 1996 Updated June 12, 2023

Francisco Girbau & Cia, Buenos Aires

Francisco Girbau & Cia, Buenos Aires, c.1890-1935

Argentina Latin America Francisco Girbau & Cia Catalan Pattern Add to Collection
playing cards by Francisco Girbau & Cia, Buenos Aires, c.1890-1935

Francisco Girbau & Cia, Buenos Aires, c.1890-1935

Piedad 2260, Bs.As.
Also: Cangallo 2686, Bs.As.

The firm was originally founded by Francisco Girbau in Igualada (Barcelona) in c.1830. After being handed down from father to son it became Francisco Girbau & Cia. The business was relocated to Buenos Aires in 1890 and operated from the addresses shown above, which can also be found on the fours of cups.

Above: four cards from a 40-card pack made by Francisco Girbau, early 1900s, printed by colour lithography and with square corners. The black 'Mercury' tax stamp on the four of cups was used during the period 1895-1905 (approx.). The address is given on the four of cups as Piedad 2260. The inscription "Tipo Barcelona" on the four of cups refers to the Spanish Catalan pattern which is associated with Barcelona and which became popular in several South American countries. The same designs were subsequently used by Fourvel and Cappellano.

Above: four cards from a slightly later 40-card pack made by Francisco Girbau, c.1920, printed by colour lithography and with square corners. The green 'Mercury' tax stamp (first version) on the four of cups is from the period c.1905-1920. The address is now given on the four of cups as Cangallo 2686, B. Aires. The back design can be either crossed lines or a single colour applied by brush

Above: four cards from a 40-card pack made by Francisco Girbau & Cía, S.R.L., c.1930s, printed by colour lithography and with rounded corners. The green 'Mercury' tax stamp (second version) on the four of cups is from the period c.1920-1945. The company name has changed to a limited company, and address given is Cangallo 2686, B. Aires. The legend 'Industria Argentina' also appears at the bottom of the four of cups.

unopened deck, in wrapper

Left: wrapper showing the 50 Centavos outer tax band, from a deck made by Francisco Girbau at his second address: Cangallo 2686, from c.1915-20. (Image courtesy of Jose Luiz G Pagliari.)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thanks to Maria Marcet for information about her family ancestors.

avatar
1,433 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

Woodblock and Stencil Queen of Clubs

Woodblock and Stencil Queen of Clubs

A limited edition art print of the Queen of Clubs 1984 woodblock joker.

Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Hearts

Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Hearts

A limited edition art print of the Jack of Hearts 1984 woodblock joker.

Woodblock and Stencil Joker

Woodblock and Stencil Joker

A limited edition art print of the 1984 woodblock joker.

Woodblock and Stencil King of Diamonds

Woodblock and Stencil King of Diamonds

A limited edition art print of the King of Diamonds 1984 woodblock joker.

1986 Peintres Latino Americains

Peintres Latino Americains

Original artwork by 18 different Latin American artists.

1880 B.P. Grimaud pack for Bolivia

B.P. Grimaud pack for Bolivia

Spanish-suited pack made in France for sale in Bolivia, c.1880.

1870 José Maria Durán

José Maria Durán

Spanish Catalan pattern by José Maria Durán, Barcelona, c.1870.

1850 Pou y Cía

Pou y Cía

Catalan pattern made by Pou y Cía, Madrid c.1860.

1860 South American Costumes

South American Costumes

Costumes of people of Brazil, Peru and Mexico, with views of Rio de Janeiro on the aces.

1802 Félix Solesio e Hijos

Félix Solesio e Hijos

Félix Solesio e Hijos - Real Fábrica de Madrid - Spanish National pattern for Venezuela

1895 Sanmartí Catalan pattern

Sanmartí Catalan pattern

Standard Catalan designs of the late 19th century by Sucesores de Viuda Sanmartí e Hijo, Barcelona. ...

1904 Guarro y Cia Catalan pattern

Guarro y Cia Catalan pattern

Catalan pattern (‘Escudo de Barcelona’) with youthful courts and attractive colouring.

1904 Alejo Gabarró Catalan pattern

Alejo Gabarró Catalan pattern

Alejo Gabarró “El Cuervo” Catalan pattern playing cards, Igualada, Spain, c.1904.

1902 Parisian Spanish pattern by Fossorier, Amar et Cie

Parisian Spanish pattern by Fossorier, Amar et Cie

‘Parisian’ Spanish pattern published by Fossorier, Amar et Cie (Paris), c.1902.

1801 Félix Solesio e Hijos

Félix Solesio e Hijos

Félix Solesio e Hijos, Fábrica de Macharaviaya, Spanish National pattern for West Indies, 1801.

1970 Naipe de Bridge

Naipe de Bridge

Standard English pattern pack made in Ecuador, c.1970.

1992 Quinto Centenario del Descubrimiento de América

Quinto Centenario del Descubrimiento de América

Fifth Centenary of the Discovery of America by Heraclio Fournier, 1992.

Parisian style Spanish deck by Grimaud

Parisian style Spanish deck by Grimaud

Parisian style Spanish deck by Grimaud for export to Uruguay.

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.

1760 Anonymous Spanish Suited pack, c.1760

Anonymous Spanish Suited pack, c.1760

Anonymous archaic Spanish suited pack, c.1760.

1979 Mordillo Skat

Mordillo Skat

Mordillo Skat designed by Guillermo Mordillo, c.1979

1960 America

America

“America” playing cards designed by Teodoro N Miciano, 1960.

1870 J. Muñoz, Getafe (Madrid) c.1870s

J. Muñoz, Getafe (Madrid) c.1870s

Catalan pattern by unusual manufacturer from Madrid, J. Muñoz, Getafe, c.1870s.

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.

1978 Mundialito de Radiolandia 2000

Mundialito de Radiolandia 2000

‘Mundialito’ toy football playing cards published inside the magazine ‘Radiolandia 2000’, Argentina,...

1880 ‘El Cid’ by Simeon Durá, Valencia, Spain

‘El Cid’ by Simeon Durá, Valencia, Spain

‘El Cid’ playing cards manufactured by Simeon Durá, Valencia, Spain.

1998 Baraja Gaucha

Baraja Gaucha

“Baraja Gaucha” fantasy deck designed by Mateo Tikas Plechas for Argentina, 1998.

La Baraja

La Baraja

Anonymous “La Baraja” Spanish deck, c.2005.

2000 Pedro Domecq

Pedro Domecq

Anglo-American pattern for Pedro Domecq Mexican brandy made by Productos Leo S.A., c.2000.

2006 Baraja Gaucha Juan C. Yelina

Baraja Gaucha Juan C. Yelina

Baraja Gaucha by Juan C. Yelina for Profertil S.A., 2006.

Naipe Cantaclaro

Naipe Cantaclaro

A colourful version of the Spanish Catalan pattern from Colombia, with a crowing cockerel on the 4 o...