José Cumplido
Raimundo García pattern produced by José Cumplido in Madrid, dated 1860 on the four of coins.
Spanish-suited playing cards produced by José Cumplido in Madrid, dated 1860 on the four of coins. There is also a small image of a man at a card table, inside a wreath and two cornucopias, on the four of coins. The ace of coins shows a lion with a sphere and the legend "Fabrica de Madrid" inside two ribbons. The cards have all the typical hallmarks of the Raimundo García pattern, including the colour scheme.
The renowned and rustic design originated in the early 1820s, crafted by Raimundo García in Madrid, possibly aimed at humble card players with a low budget. Its production thrived in García's workshop and its subsidiaries until the mid-1850s. Thereafter, independent workshops were entrusted with the task of manufacturing this design. Over time, the pattern garnered widespread recognition and acceptance throughout Spain, with numerous manufacturers replicating it until the turn of the century. See: Juan Humanes y Cía (1879) • Viuda de Gombau e Hijos (1882)►
Above: Raimundo García pattern produced by José Cumplido in Madrid, dated 1860. Stencil-coloured woodcuts, 40 cards. Source gallica.bnf.fr / Bibliothèque nationale de France • José Cumplido, año de 1860►
Note: the date on the four of coins looks as though it may have been modified from an earlier date.
By Simon Wintle
Spain • Member since February 01, 1996
I am the founder of The World of Playing Cards (est. 1996), a website dedicated to the history, artistry and cultural significance of playing cards and tarot. Over the years I have researched various areas of the subject, acquired and traded collections and contributed as a committee member of the IPCS and graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal. Having lived in Chile, England, Wales, and now Spain, these experiences have shaped my work and passion for playing cards. Amongst my achievements is producing a limited-edition replica of a 17th-century English pack using woodblocks and stencils—a labour of love. Today, the World of Playing Cards is a global collaborative project, with my son Adam serving as the technical driving force behind its development. His innovative efforts have helped shape the site into the thriving hub it is today. You are warmly invited to become a contributor and share your enthusiasm.
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