Spanish Historical Characters playing cards, c.1896

Spanish Historical Characters playing cards, c.1896

panish Historical Characters playing cards set printed by Litografía Madriguera (Barcelona), c.1896, which were inserted into packets of chocolate. The cards celebrate the union of Castille, Aragon, Léon and Navarre. The suit of coins has the arms of forty-seven Spanish towns depicted on each of the symbols, and many cards are decorated with vine, chestnut, olive and other foliage. These cards extended into many editions, with the reverse showing advertising for a variety of confectionery products, including Licor de Oro, Licor Crema de Leche, Escarchados and Chocolate Juncosa   See also: Children's advertising pack by Litografías Industrias Madriguera, Barcelona, c.1896 →

Above & Below: Spanish Historical Characters playing cards, with advertising on the backs, printed by Litografía Madriguera (Barcelona), c.1896. 48 cards depicting kings, presidents, generals and other personalities relating to Spanish history. The coin symbols show coats-of-arms of Spanish provinces. 93x60mms.

See also: Children's advertising pack by Litografías Industrias Madriguera, Barcelona, c.1896 • Comic Animals (Argentina) • Baraja Cinematográfica, c.1925 • Carreras Playing Cards and Dominoes, 1929 • Zoo Comics, 1968.

By Simon Wintle

Member since February 01, 1996

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Curator 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.