Llombart Costume Pack
Military-style costume pack made by Anton Llombart, Barcelona, 1815.
Fancy costume packs were trending around this period and there had been a succession of finely engraved packs by Spanish designers and manufacturers such as Clemente Roxas, Josef Monjardín, Martínez de Castro. This military-style costume pack was published by Anton Llombart, Barcelona, in 1815. Some of the numeral cards are elegantly decorated with leaves and flowers; the four of cups has a lion motif inside an oval with the arms of Barcelona. The coins have the arms of Aragon, except the ace, which has those of Leon and Castile.
Llombart also produced another pack in c.1820 which became known as the Llombart pattern as it was widely imitated.
Above: military-style costume pack made by Anton Llombart, Barcelona, 1815. The ace of coins has the inscription "F_ca D'Anton Llombart Barce_na 1815." 40 cards, hand-coloured etching, backs printed in red with a pattern of small stars and dots. © The Trustees of the British Museum • Anton Llombart, Barcelona, 1815►
Reference
O’Donoghue, Freeman M: Catalogue of the collection of playing cards bequeathed by Lady Charlotte Schreiber, Trustees of the British Museum, London, 1901 (Spanish 1) [digital version here]
By Simon Wintle
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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