José Gombau, c.1833

José Gombau, c.1833

Deck of half-sized [58 x 35 mms] Spanish-suited playing cards in the Maciá pattern produced by José Gombau, c.1833. The cards are printed from woodblocks and coloured using a brush and stencils. Although the workmanship is slightly crude the result is charming. The standing figures adopt classical poses, gracefully placing their weight on one foot. The kings have the whole length of their legs in view and wear shoulder-capes over long robes.

Above: cards from a 48-card deck of half-sized [58 x 35 mms] Spanish-suited playing cards in the Maciá pattern produced by José Gombau, c.1830. This design was first produced by Juan José Maciá of Barcelona in 1830 and subsequently used as a model by other cardmakers in Spain and even in Italy.

By Simon Wintle

Member since February 01, 1996

View Articles

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.