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
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.
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