Naipes Finos — No.304 Spanish Pack
Spanische Spielkarten "Naipes Finos" No.304, manufactured by B. Dondorf designed by the catalan artist Apel-les Mestres, Barcelona, 1902.
Spanische Spielkarten “Naipes Finos” No.304 manufactured by B. Dondorf
Designed by the catalan artist Apel-les Mestres, Barcelona, 1902, the designs were also published in Portugal by Costa y Valerio, c.1905. Probably produced mainly for export to Italy, Spain or Spanish colonies in South America, the cards are a relatively close imitation of the standard Spanish pattern but more elaborately decorated and coloured using the chromo-lithographic technique.
Above: 48 cards (no joker), printed by chromolithography, gold corners, small indices inside the frames, published 1902 until c.1930. Images courtesy José Manuel Murcia.
See also: Dondorf Homepage • Cartes Comiques, c.1860 • Four Continents, c.1870 • Four Continents Patience • Club Karte • Tarot Microscopique, c.1870 • Einköpfige Deutsche Spielkarte • Doppelköpfige Deutsche Spielkarte / Gaigel-Karten • Whist No.80 • Whist No.122, “Rhineland” • Mittelalter No.150 • Whist No.160, “Baronesse” • Whist No.192 / Shakespeare-Spielkarte • Lenormand Cards • Poker No.140 • Neue Klubkarte No.422 • Kinder-Karte • Deutsches Luxusbild No.417 • Promotion deck for Saks & Company, New York, c.1930 • Superfine Playing Cards No.1101 • Dondorf patience book
By Simon Wintle
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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