Colombia
Colombian playing cards.
Naipes Colombianos
Above: 4 cards from a Spanish-suited pack in the 'Paris' style, following designs produced by Grimaud in France for export to Spanish-speaking countries. The 'Paris' style is also used in Uruguay.
Colombian playing cards have tended to follow the Catalan, Castilian and Paris styles, but not the Cadiz style. Known manufacturers include Félix de Bedout e Hijos (Medellín), Litografía Granada, Rond(Bogotá), Editorial Colina (Medellín), and Cacharrería Colombiana Ltda.
Brand names include Centauro, Esperanza and Cantaclaro►
There was a consumption tax on Colombian playing cards of 20 centavos per pack, raised in 1946 to 40 centavos, which was applied by means of a printed band affixed around each outer wrapper or box.
Above: 6 cards from Naipe Centauro, c.1980, by Editorial Colina de Medellín. Designs based loosely on Fournier's 'Castilian' pattern. A centaur appears on the four of coins and on the reverse.
Thanks to Luz Ángela Vargas, Enrique García Martín and Peter Endebrock for their contributions.
By Simon Wintle
Spain • Member since February 01, 1996
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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