Gaudí poker
Gaudí poker playing cards illustrated by Josep Opisso, Spain, c. 1992.
Published c.1992 by Naipes Comas, this pack celebrates Antoni Gaudí of Catalonia (1852-1926), considered the quintessential modernist architect of the 20th century. His masterpiece, the still-incomplete Sagrada Família, is the most-visited monument in Spain. Between 1984 and 2005, seven of his works were declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.
Each of the suited cards has a finely detailed illustration – not a photograph – of an architectural, design or decorative element from one of Gaudí’s buildings by Barcelona artist Josep Opisso (b. 1935). Much of the Spade suit is devoted to the Sagrada Família. The jokers take the form of two information cards about the artist, while a third card offers illustrations of fifteen of Gaudí’s architectural wonders. The card reverse reproduces multiple copies of the artist’s signature. See the box►
By Peter Burnett
Member since July 27, 2022
I graduated in Russian and East European Studies from Birmingham University in 1969. It was as an undergraduate in Moscow in 1968 that I stumbled upon my first 3 packs of “unusual” playing cards which fired my curiosity and thence my life-long interest. I began researching and collecting cards in the early 1970s, since when I’ve acquired over 3,330 packs of non-standard cards, mainly from North America, UK and Western Europe, and of course from Russia and the former communist countries.
Following my retirement from the Bodleian Library in Dec. 2007 I took up a new role as Head of Library Development at the International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications (INASP) to support library development in low-income countries. This work necessitated regular training visits to many sub-Saharan African countries and also further afield, to Vietnam, Nepal and Bangladesh – all of which provided rich opportunities to further expand my playing card collection.
Since 2019 I’ve been working part-time in the Bodleian Library where I’ve been cataloguing the bequest of the late Donald Welsh, founder of the English Playing Card Society.
Related Articles
Woodblock and Stencil Queen of Clubs
A limited edition art print of the Queen of Clubs 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.
Miniature spanish-suited playing cards
Pack of 48 miniature spanish playing-cards published by C R.
Manara: baraja de poker
Exotic illustrations by Italian comic book artist and writer Milo Manara.
Alice in Wonderland
Alice in Wonderland collector’s edition with illustrations of characters from the film, published by...
Women by Royo
‘Women by Royo’ erotic playing cards published by Heraclio Fournier, Spain, 2001.
Monuments de Paris
‘Monuments de Paris’ souvenir playing cards produced by Heraclio Fournier, c.1964.
B. Braun-Dexon®
Publicity pack promoting B. Braun-Dexon’s atraumatic needles, with non-standard courts and pips.
Bibaraja
Amusing designs of boys as circus performers by Alberto Muñiz Sánchez.
Peintres Latino Americains
Original artwork by 18 different Latin American artists.
Paco Lobo
Highly original and striking designs by Paco Lobo for the fashion house of the same name.
Loewe: Moda Europea Siglo XVII
Luxury pack for the Spanish fashion house Loewe, with 17th century costume designs by Margot Hamilto...
Toros: De El Cordobés a Espartaco
Publicity pack for the Spanish newspaper Ya with caricatures of famous bullfighters by Fernan...
Baraja de Alava
55 different paintings by Emilio Lope depicting the history and culture of Vitoria and the province ...
Postak – Las Postas
‘Postak - Las Postas’ playing cards commemorating the history of the Basque postal service, Spain, 1...
Tarot de Madrid
Black-and-white photographs of models whose faces are made up using elements found on the major arca...
Wren 300 playing cards
Papercuts by Chloe Campbell of the 52 Wren churches in the City of London.
Naipes de Personajes Granadinos
Forty famous men and women with links to Granada, on a pack designed by Rubén Garrido.
El Niño de las Pinturas
Forty-nine distinctive works by Spanish graffiti artist Raúl Ruiz.
Pere Pau Rotxotxo Puigdoura
Spanish national pattern by Pere Pau Rotxotxo Puigdoura (1766–1797).
The Aquarian Tarot Deck
The Aquarian Tarot Deck illustrated by David Palladini, published by Morgan Press, Inc., 1970.
Moorish Deck
Review of “Trzes’ Moorish Deck” facsimile published by Ulrich Kaltenborn, Berlin, 2023.
El Jueves playing cards
Caricatures of 52 famous Spaniards for the satirical magazine “El Jueves”.
Naipe Navarro
Historical figures and artefacts from Navarre with designs by M. Sinués for the Navarre Association ...
Bankunión playing cards
Ingredients and recipes for 24 dishes from different regions of Spain.
Art Nouveau Oracle
A Lenormand-type fortune-telling pack in the Art Nouveau style.
Nation’s capital souvenir playing cards
Nation’s capital souvenir playing cards published by the United States Playing Card Company, USA, 19...
Souvenir Playing Cards of Egypt
55 different photographic views of Egypt in full colour.
Baraja Mística
‘Baraja Mística’ satirical playing-cards featuring revelling clergy published by Litografía Fernánde...
José Maria Durán
Spanish Catalan pattern by José Maria Durán, Barcelona, c.1870.
Spanish Political pack
Satirical playing cards manufactured by Francar y Cía depicting political situation, Barcelona, 1872...
José Cumplido
Raimundo García pattern produced by José Cumplido in Madrid, dated 1860 on the four of coins.
Juan Humanes y Cía
Raimundo García pattern published by Juan Humanes y Cía, Madrid, 1879.
Pou y Cía
Catalan pattern made by Pou y Cía, Madrid c.1860.
Nueva Baraja Taurina
'Nueva Baraja Taurina' designed by Pedro Maldonado, Madrid, c.1885.
Amorcillos
‘Amorcillos’ (Cupids), a masterpiece from the golden age of Spanish playing cards by Clemente Roxas,...
Félix Solesio e Hijos
Félix Solesio e Hijos - Real Fábrica de Madrid - Spanish National pattern for Venezuela
Four Empires - Clemente Roxas
‘Four Empires’ playing cards produced by Clemente Roxas, c.1805.
Llombart Costume Pack
Military-style costume pack made by Anton Llombart, Barcelona, 1815.
Juan de Brugada
Spanish National pattern by Juan de Brugada e hijo, Real Fábrica de Madrid, 1821.
Aluette by Dieudonné Jeune, Orléans, c.1850
Aluette game by Fabrique Dieudonné Jeune, Orléans, for Spanish market, c.1850.
Baraja Española de Pintores Murcianos
A Spanish-suited pack as conceived by 48 different artists from the region of Murcia.