Heráldica Castanyer No. 16
Strange variant of international pattern cards for poker or bridge.
Sometimes it is difficult to know what to call a particular pack or how to classify it. Here is a typical example of that. From the wording on the box, one would imagine that the contents would be a standard English (or international) pattern pack. Far from it. This can hardly even be called an English pattern variant. Most striking perhaps is the King of Hearts, who looks to the right and carries no axe. The moustaches on all of the kings look mildly ridiculous – as if they had been added with a felt-tipped pen. Meanwhile, the queens sport modern hairdos and the jacks carry rather strange-looking objects. Is that a bone on the Jack of Spades?! Red, black and yellow are the only colours used. In the final analysis, it is easiest to use the maker’s name and their reference number to identify the pack • See the box



Above: Heraldica Castanyer No. 16 poker bridge playing cards made by Heraldica Castanyer, Sabadell (Barcelona), Spain, 1980. 52 cards + 2 (identical) Jokers in tuck box. Size: 63 x 88 mm. The back design is repeated on the back of the box.
Reference
Lodge, Ken. The Standard English Pattern (Second edition). Bungay, Suffolk, UK: K.R. Lodge; 2010. p.324.

By Roddy Somerville
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.
Related Articles

Heráldica Castanyer No. 16
Strange variant of international pattern cards for poker or bridge.

Fantasy Spanish-suited deck
Fantasy Spanish-suited deck by Bertschinger y Codina, Barcelona.

Bertschinger y Codina - Cartes Françaises
French ‘Paris’ pattern made by Bertschinger y Codina, Barcelona, c.1850.

Braulio Fournier
Baraja Nº 1 produced by Braulio Fournier, Burgos, c.1868.

Pirritx eta Porrotx
Happy Families card game from the Spanish Basque Country.

Naipe Vizcaino
‘Naipe Vizcaino’ designed by Javier Urkiri and published by Industrias Gráficas Castuera and the Caj...

Baraja Turística del País Vasco
Basque poker deck of 55 cards published by Fournier with scenic views of the Basque Country.

Baraja Vasca
Spanish Basque Country deck with original drawings by María Isabel Ibañez de Sendadiano.

Baraja Cultura Española
ASESCOIN pack for 2022 designed by M.A. Corella featuring famous Spaniards and notable buildings.

English pattern by JRC Industries
A standard pack from South Africa using Piatnik courts with minor modifications.

Laurenzo Propagine
Spanish-suited cards made in Italy by Laurenzo Propagine.

Jeu de 7 familles Les Dynasties d’Artisans Basques
Long-standing Basque businesses represented in a traditional card game with illustrations by Odile A...

Archaic Franco-Spanish pattern
Archaic Franco-Spanish pattern by Guillaume & Jean Grossard (Bordeaux).

Junior Playing Cards
Child-friendly versions of standard English pattern cards designed by Louie Mantia, Jr.

La Baraja del Mundial
“La Baraja del Mundial” satirical football deck published by Fournier for ‘Interviú’ news magazine. ...

Rouen Pattern - Portrait Rouennais
An attractive XV century French-suited design from Rouen became the standard English & Anglo-America...
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 28 days