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Romance Español

Published August 13, 2017 Updated March 30, 2022

“Romance Español” designed by Carlos Sáenz de Tejada and published by Heraclio Fournier in various editions since 1951.

1961 Spain Heraclio Fournier Carlos Sáenz Art & Design Fantasy Medieval

“Romance Español” designed by Carlos Sáenz de Tejada (1897-1957) and published by Heraclio Fournier in various editions since 1951. Carlos Sáenz de Tejada was for many years the artistic director at Heraclio Fournier. The designs feature romantic, fantasy medieval court figures evoking conquest, hunting, music and poetry.

“Romance Español” designed by Carlos Sáenz de Tejada and published by Heraclio Fournier, 1959 “Romance Español” designed by Carlos Sáenz de Tejada and published by Heraclio Fournier, 1959 “Romance Español” designed by Carlos Sáenz de Tejada and published by Heraclio Fournier, 1959

Above: “Romance Español” designed by Carlos Sáenz de Tejada and published by Heraclio Fournier in various editions since 1951. This is the 1959 edition with the green 5 Ptas tax stamp from that period on the four of clubs. 52 cards + 2 jokers + contract bridge score card + leaflet in box.

Right: four cards from the last edition (1969) with suit symbols removed from the court cards and a new back design by Tapicerías Gancedo.

CREDITS & REFERENCES

Ferro Torrelles, Víctor: Romance Español, La Sota Nº 11, 1994

García Martín, Enrique: La Baraja Francesa de figuras dobles de Heraclio Fournier, La Sota Nº 29, 2003

Scans of cards courtesy Rex Pitts.

“Romance Español” designed by Carlos Sáenz de Tejada and published by Heraclio Fournier, 1969
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By Rex Pitts (1940-2021)

Member since January 30, 2009

Rex's main interest was in card games, because, he said, they were cheap and easy to get hold of in his early days of collecting. He is well known for his extensive knowledge of Pepys games and his book is on the bookshelves of many.

His other interest was non-standard playing cards. He also had collections of sheet music, music CDs, models of London buses, London Transport timetables and maps and other objects that intrigued him.

Rex had a chequered career at school. He was expelled twice, on one occasion for smoking! Despite this he trained as a radio engineer and worked for the BBC in the World Service.

Later he moved into sales and worked for a firm that made all kinds of packaging, a job he enjoyed until his retirement. He became an expert on boxes and would always investigate those that held his cards. He could always recognize a box made for Pepys, which were the same as those of Alf Cooke’s Universal Playing Card Company, who printed the card games. This interest changed into an ability to make and mend boxes, which he did with great dexterity. He loved this kind of handicraft work.

His dexterity of hand and eye soon led to his making card games of his own design. He spent hours and hours carefully cutting them out and colouring them by hand.

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