Festa Major de Vilafranca 1988
Colourful figures associated with the annual festival held in Vilafranca, Catalonia.
Vilafranca del Penedès is situated in Catalonia between Barcelona and Tarragona. The festival held there at the end of August every year in honour of St Felix is considered to be of national importance. In this Spanish-suited pack which has the same designs in each suit, one can find gigantes (giants) on the Kings, castellers (pyramid builders), dancers, and el drac (a dragon representing the devil) on the Aces, generally in the appropriate number for each card. The human pyramids are particularly spectacular. Some of the suit symbols have had to be turned or moved from their regular positions in order to be accommodated, or omitted completely. The comodin or Joker depicts St Felix in black and white. Manel Baró is credited with the designs. See the box►
Above: Festa Major de Vilafranca 1988 playing cards designed by Manel Baró. Made by Heraclio Fournier, S.A., Vitoria, Spain, 1988. 48 cards + 2 (identical) Jokers in tuck box. Size: 61.5 x 95 mm.
By Roddy Somerville
France • Member since May 31, 2022
Roddy started collecting stamps on his 8th birthday. In 1977 he joined the newly formed playing-card department at Stanley Gibbons in London before setting up his own business in Edinburgh four years later. His collecting interests include playing cards, postcards, stamps (especially playing cards on stamps) and sugar wrappers. He is a Past President of the Scottish Philatelic Society, a former Chairman of the IPCS, a Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards and Curator of the WCMPC’s collection of playing cards. He lives near Toulouse in France.
Activity for Festa Major de Vilafranca 1988
Sign in to comment or save this article.
Related Articles
Balearic Souvenir Cards
Mediterranean Souvenir deck by Rioba Studio, Pollença, Mallorca.
Allegories and Myths
Semi-transformation playing cards from artist Violeta Monreal.
Persian Courts
Encapsulation of Persia’s rich heritage as conceived by Spanish artist Violeta Monreal.
Paco Lobo
Highly original and striking designs by Paco Lobo for the fashion house of the same name.
Naipes de Personajes Granadinos
Forty famous men and women with links to Granada, on a pack designed by Rubén Garrido.
El Desnudo en el Arte
The Nude in Art / El Desnudo en el Arte, Spain, 1977 (reprint 1990)
Secretos de Oriente
Secrets of the Far East playing cards featuring the designs of Violeta Monreal , Spain, c. 1991.
Multicard
A Spanish-suited pack with multiple uses including roulette and dice.
Crystal Time
Colourful and attractive designs by Violeta Monreal, inspired by stained glass through the ages.
XV Century Spanish-suited playing cards
XV Century Spanish-suited playing cards with moorish influences
Parejas del Mundo
“Parejas del Mundo” matching pairs card game by Naipes H. Fournier, 1972.
Loewe
Deck designed by J. L. Picardo for Loewe, 1959.
Romance Español
“Romance Español” designed by Carlos Sáenz de Tejada and published by Heraclio Fournier in various e...
Europe
“Europe” designed by Teodoro N. Miciano and printed by Heraclio Fournier in 1962, portraying XIV cen...
Classic
“Classic” playing cards designed by Paul Mathison inspired by classical mythology, 1959.
Ancient Civilisations
Ancient Civilisations playing cards designed by Celedonio Perellón, produced by Heraclio Fournier, ...
Catalan Playing Cards
With a distinct history stretching back to the early middle ages, many Catalans think of themselves ...
Fournier “El Fundador”
The cards shown here were originally printed in 12-colour lithography and published by Heraclio Four...
Heraclio Fournier S.A.
Founded in 1868, today it is part of Cartamundi.
The History of Playing Cards
Playing cards appear in European records in the late 14th century, but their earlier history lies fu...
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 60 days
