Dondorf Spanish Pack

Spanische Spielkarten “Naipes Finos” No.304, manufactured by B. Dondorf

The cards were 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 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