Alvarez Holmberg y Cia,
Alvarez Holmberg y Cia, playing card manufacturer, Buenos Aires, Argentina, c.1950-70
Alvarez Holmberg y Cía, c.1950-70
Senillosa 157, Buenos Aires
Naipes "El Cortijo" (the Farmhouse) c.1955. 40 cards/40 naipes. The courts are based loosely on the Spanish Catalan pattern, although the sotas are somewhat novel and have shadows beneath them. The symbols on the Ace of Coins allude to the forces of air, land and sea which was often the case with Spanish-suited cards.
Holmberg also produced Club 21 Poker playing cards which were still in production around 1970.
Above: Naipes ''El Cortijo' by Alvarez Holmberg y Cía, Buenos Aires, c.1950-70. The cards are slightly narrower than normal. The four of cups has the 'Marianne' tax stamp. (Clich image to zoom).
By Simon Wintle
Spain • Member since February 01, 1996 • Contact
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.
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