Playing Cards from Ecuador
There has been very little playing card manufacture in Ecuador. Cards are mostly supplied from Colombia, Argentina & Spain. Known brand names include: Willy Wilson, La Raspa and El Heraldo. Some locally-made tourist souvenir packs are also known including Naipe Ciudad de Quito and Galapagos Islands souvenir cards.
There has been very little playing card manufacture in Ecuador. Cards are mostly supplied from Colombia, Argentina & Spain. Known brand names include: Willy Wilson, La Raspa and “El Heraldo”. Some locally-made tourist souvenir packs are also known including Naipe Ciudad de Quito, Ecuador Turistico and Galapagos Islands souvenir cards. An advertising deck published by UniBanco features adverts for businesses which use their ‘CuotaFácil’ store card.
Above: “El Heraldo” playing cards made in Ecuador since the 1930s, inspired by the archaic Spanish National pattern, which is now rarely found (it also survives in North Africa). The ace of coins features the rampant lion with two hemispheres, and the legend "El Heraldo - Clase Extra", with a small flying eagle motif. 40 cards, rounded corners.
Above: detail from “El Heraldo” advert, 1930s
Above: Naipe Ciudad de Quito
Above: Naipe “Mi Ecuador Turístico”
Above: Galapagos Islands Playing Cards
‘CuotaFácil’ Playing Cards for UniBanco, published by Poligrafica C.A., Ecuador.
Above: CuotaFácil playing cards produced for UniBanco, published by Poligrafica C.A., Ecuador. Each card features an advertisement for a store or business which accepts UniBanco's ‘CuotaFácil’ store card. The box reads "have fun playing and shopping in the best stores in the country." 52 cards + 2 jokers in box.
Cielito Lindo Mexican Restaurant, Guayaquil, Ecuador, c.2005
Above: ‘Fantasio’ brand deck for Cielito Lindo Mexican Restaurant, Guayaquil, Ecuador, manufactured in Argentina by Naipes La Española, c.2005.
Worldwide BMS, Ecuador, c.2005
Above: ‘Fantasio’ brand deck for Worldwide Business & Marketing Solutions published by Poligrafica C.A. (Ecuador) and manufactured in Argentina by Naipes La Española, c.2005.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Thanks to Jose Espinoza for additional research related to “El Heraldo”.
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.
Trending Articles
Popular articles from the past 28 days
Related Articles
Woodblock and Stencil King of Diamonds
A limited edition art print of the King of Diamonds 1984 woodblock joker.
Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Clubs
A limited edition art print of the Jack of Clubs 1984 woodblock joker.
Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Hearts
A limited edition art print of the Jack of Hearts 1984 woodblock joker.
Woodblock and Stencil Joker
A limited edition art print of the 1984 woodblock joker.
P. Buscaglia: Spanish-suited cards
Spanish-suited cards published by P. Buscaglia, Mele & Genova.
B.P. Grimaud pack for Bolivia
Spanish-suited pack made in France for sale in Bolivia, c.1880.
South American Costumes
Costumes of people of Brazil, Peru and Mexico, with views of Rio de Janeiro on the aces.
Félix Solesio e Hijos
Félix Solesio e Hijos - Real Fábrica de Madrid - Spanish National pattern for Venezuela
Juan de Brugada
Spanish National pattern by Juan de Brugada e hijo, Real Fábrica de Madrid, 1821.
Parisian Spanish pattern by Fossorier, Amar et Cie
‘Parisian’ Spanish pattern published by Fossorier, Amar et Cie (Paris), c.1902.
“Abd-el-Kader” by Fossorier, Amar et Cie for Algeria
Spanish National pattern produced by Fossorier, Amar et Cie (Paris) for Algeria, around 1902.
Félix Solesio e Hijos
Félix Solesio e Hijos, Fábrica de Macharaviaya, Spanish National pattern for West Indies, 1801.
Naipe de Bridge
Standard English pattern pack made in Ecuador, c.1970.
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 for export to Uruguay.
Naipes Criollos
“Naipes Criollos” Gaucho playing cards, 1995.
Anonymous Spanish Suited pack, c.1760
Anonymous archaic Spanish Suited pack, c.1760
America
“America” playing cards designed by Teodoro N Miciano, 1960.
Pedro Domecq
Anglo-American pattern for Pedro Domecq Mexican brandy made by Productos Leo S.A., c.2000.
Naipe Cantaclaro
A colourful version of the Spanish Catalan pattern from Colombia, with a crowing cockerel on the 4 o...
Naipes Artiguistas, 1816
Naipes Artiguistas published in Concepción del Uruguay, Entre Rios province (Argentina) in 1816, by ...
El Rodeo Talabartería
Promotional playing cards produced for ‘El Rodeo Talabartería’ specialising in leather goods and clo...
Naipes Españoles “El Mexicano”
Standard Catalan-type deck, titled "El Mexicano", by an anonymous Argentinean manufacturer, c.1980s....
Pedro Rotxotxo
Standard Spanish National pattern by Pedro Rotxotxo, Barcelona, late 18th century.
Baraja Hispanoamericana
“Baraja Hispanoamericana” published by Asescoin, with artwork by Ortuño, illustrates memorable peopl...
Xilografías de Mallorca
Spanish National pattern re-printed from original woodblocks which are preserved in the monastery at...
Parke-Davis Pharmaceuticals
Parke-Davis Pharmaceuticals, c.1998 & Bodegas Trapiche, 2003.
Bicicleta num.810
The United States Playing Card Co. issued Spanish versions of their flagship brand.
Benoist Laius
Spanish playing cards such as these were used in those parts of France where certain games were enjo...
9: Standard English Cards From Latin America: Mexico, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela
A continuation of the survey of designs used in Central and South America.
8: Standard English Cards in Latin America: Argentina, Brazil and Chile
A brief survey of the designs of English cards in South America.
Aparcero
Naipes Argentinos 'La Partida' y 'Aparcero' published by Obsequios Empresarios Argentinos, Santa Fe....
Ecuador Turistico
Naipe Mi Ecuador Turístico souvenir playing cards
Ciudad de Quito
Pack of souvenir playing cards made in Quito, Ecuador, featuring black & white photographs depicting...
Anonymous
Anonymous Moroccan Playing Cards for Royal Air Maroc airlines and others...
Fournier No. 55
Naipes Intransparentes de Una Hoja No.55 made by Hijos de Heraclio Fournier (Vitoria) for exportatio...
Copa de Oro 1980
Naipes “Copa de Oro 1980” manufactured by Compañía General de Fósforos Montevideana, 1980.
Supermercados CHIP
Supermercados CHIP playing cards manufactured in Uruguay by Compañía General de Fósforos Montevidean...
Cía Gral de Fósforos
Compañía General de Fósforos Montevideana, founded in 1893.
Naipes Victoria Gaucho
Naipes Victoria Spanish-suited, gaucho-themed pack celebrating the culture and traditions of the gau...
Agostino Bergallo
Agostino Bergallo Spanish pattern made for South American countries
Giuseppe Cattino
Playing cards manufactured in Italy by Giuseppe Cattino and Paolo Montanar for Spanish markets.
Pedro Bosio, 2
Cards of the Spanish National Pattern manufactured by Pedro Bosio, Genova (Italy) during the 18th ce...