Juan Roura, Barcelona (1872 - 1962)

After the Spanish Civil War (1936-40) only three or four Spanish playing card makers remained: Fournier, Comas and Roura. During the firm’s existence, a range of popular standard designs were produced, including Catalán and Castilian type packs, plus Cádiz-type models for exportation to Philippines and Latin America. Brand names include Dos Mundos, La Hispano-Americana, La Legitima Loba and El Toro. Juan Roura worked in Barcelona at Calle Nápoles no. 113 until acquired by Heraclio Fournier in 1962.

Catalan type pack No.32

Above: Catalan type pack No.32 by Juan Roura, Barcelona, c.1932   see more►

Catalan pattern

Above: Catalan type "Naipes Finos de Una Hoja La Hispano-Americana", manufactured in Barcelona by Juan Roura, c.1935. The ace of coins has a mural crown of the Second Spanish Republic. This design was used, with slight modifications, over several decades   see more►

Castilian style No.21 “Hispano Americana”

Above: Naipes Finos No.21 "Hispano Americana", in the Castilian style, by Juan Roura, Barcelona, c.1940   see more►

Cadiz style “Dos Toros” brand for exportation

Above: Naipes "Dos Toros", in the Cadiz style, produced for export to the Philippines by Juan Roura, Barcelona   see more►

By Simon Wintle

Member since February 01, 1996

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Curator and editor of the World of Playing Cards since 1996. He is a former committee member of the IPCS and was graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal for many years. He has lived at various times in Chile, England and Wales and is currently living in Extremadura, Spain. Simon's first limited edition pack of playing cards was a replica of a seventeenth century traditional English pack, which he produced from woodblocks and stencils.