The World of Playing Cards Logo

Quercia y Possi, Buenos Aires 1815-16

Published July 03, 1996 Updated June 12, 2023

José Maria Quercia y Possi was an Italian immigrant who joined the Chilean Independence army. He set up a playing card factory in Argentina in 1815 known as "Fábrica de Buenos Aires".

1815 Argentina Chile Quercia y Possi Spanish Suited

José Maria Quercia y Possi, 1815-16

18 engraved playing cards by José Maria Quercia y Possi, Buenos Aires, 1815.

José Maria Quercia y Possi was an Italian immigrant who joined the Chilean Independence army. He fled to Buenos Aires after being defeated by Spanish forces in the Battle of Rancagua in 1814. Once he had re-settled in Buenos Aires, he set up a playing card factory known as "Fábrica de Buenos Aires" as shown on the ace of coins.

A document dated 2nd November 1816 states that the factory manager, Félipe Cardenas, filed a complaint regarding illegal imported playing cards which were damaging the business. These are likely to have been arriving from Italy and Spain. Shortly after this Quercia y Possi returned to Chile and no further information about the playing card factory is known.

Quercia y Possi was also a practising Freemason and this is alluded to on the four of cups.

18 engraved playing cards by José Maria Quercia y Possi, Buenos Aires, 1815

This uncoloured proof sheet is preserved in the Archivo General de la Nación (Buenos Aires). Each card measures 8.8 x 5.5 cms. The designs are based on an earlier model by Juan Francisco Maciá of Madrid, first published in around 1800, and subsequently by Juan José Maciá of Barcelona, in 1830, which was widely imitated in Spain and Italy during the19th century.   More →

Thanks to Juan Carlos Recarey for help with historical information. Images from printed sheet held in the Archivo General de la Nación (Buenos Aires). A second companion sheet is believed to have existed but which is now missing from the archive.

avatar
1,465 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.


Leave a Reply

Default Avatar
Your Name
Just now

Create account to comment Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here. Your comment here.


Related Articles

QAIPES – cartas españolas

QAIPES – cartas españolas

Spanish-suited cards made in China inscribed “QAIPES” and “BAIPES”!

2006 Naipes Kukuxumusu

Naipes Kukuxumusu

A 52-card Spanish-suited advertising pack for a clothing company in Pamplona.

1816 Spanish-suited deck by J.Y. Humphreys

Spanish-suited deck by J.Y. Humphreys

A rare Spanish-suited deck published by J.Y. Humphreys, Philadelphia, c.1816.

P. Buscaglia: Spanish-suited cards

P. Buscaglia: Spanish-suited cards

Spanish-suited cards published by P. Buscaglia, Mele & Genova.

1460 XV Century Spanish-suited playing cards

XV Century Spanish-suited playing cards

XV Century Spanish-suited playing cards with moorish influences

1850 Bertschinger y Codina

Bertschinger y Codina

Fantasy Spanish-suited playing cards by Bertschinger y Codina (Barcelona), c.1850.

1850 Alphonse Arnoult Spanish-suited pack

Alphonse Arnoult Spanish-suited pack

Luxurious Spanish-suited pack made by Alphonse Arnoult, Paris, France, c.1850.

1814 Clemente Roxas double-ended Spanish pack

Clemente Roxas double-ended Spanish pack

Double-ended Spanish-suited playing cards published by Clemente de Roxas in Madrid, 1814.

Antoine de Logiriera

Antoine de Logiriera

Archaic Spanish-suited playing cards published in Toulouse by Antoine de Logiriera (1495-1518).

1490 J. Deluy  c.1490s

J. Deluy c.1490s

Archaic Spanish-suited cards produced by J. Deluy c.1490s.

1910 Wüst Spanish pattern

Wüst Spanish pattern

Wüst Spanish pattern c.1910 advertising Cuban ‘Tropical’ beer.

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.