Guarro y Cia Catalan pattern

This is a classic Catalan pattern pack from the early years of the 20th century. The youthful courts have no facial hair whatsoever. There is some extra decoration, mainly on the 4s. Indeed, a version of the coat of arms of Barcelona is included on the 4 of Cups. The tax stamp of 10 centimos which was in use from 1904 to 1907 appears in the centre of the Ace of Coins. The maker’s name is shown on the Ace of Coins and the 4 of Cups. The pack is made all the more attractive by the use of a brownish red colour rather than a bright red. The borderless back design consists of straight and wavy horizontal and vertical lines in brownish black.

Above: Catalan pattern made by Guarro y Cia, Barcelona, Spain, c1904-7. 48 cards. Size: 60 x 96 mm.

Formerly known as Wenceslao Guarro (1885-1895) and then Viuda de Wenceslao Guarro (1895-1903), Guarro y Cia (1903-1910) was subsequently renamed Naipes Guarro (1910-1920) and finally became part of the amalgamation known as Fabricantes de Naipes de España S.A. (1917-1934) which in turn was absorbed by Hijos de Heraclio Fournier in 1934, as noted on the letterhead shown below. Some details of the basic pattern design were also altered or modernised over the years (e.g. beards, design of coins and cups, clothing, hats, etc).