Sanmartí Catalan pattern
Standard Catalan designs of the late 19th century by Sucesores de Viuda Sanmartí e Hijo, Barcelona.
All the features of a standard Catalan pattern pack of the late 19th century are here. The court cards have strong facial features and look young and clean-shaven. There is a typical medallion portrait on the Ace of Coins. The maker’s name appears on the 4 of Cups. The colours still look fresh although some cards have suffered some staining. The borderless back design consists of straight and wavy diagonal lines in blue.
According to Victor Ferro (2004) the succession of the Sanmartí dynasty was approximately as follows: Agustín Sanmartí (1826-1846) • Viuda Sanmartí e Hijo (1847-1886) • Sucesores de Viuda Sanmartí e Hijo (1891-1897). During the interval between Viuda de Sanmartí e hijo and Sucesores de la Viuda manufacture was probably under Camps e hijos.
Above: Standard Catalan design made by Sucesores de Viuda Sanmartí e Hijo (the successors of the widow Sanmartí and Son), Barcelona, Spain, c1895. 46/48 cards (9 of Coins and 5 of Swords missing). Size: 56.5 x 94 mm.
Although the design probably originated with Joaquín Sarbat in 1830, it is interesting to compare with the Torras y Sanmarti pack of 1830. The basic design is much the same but the later pack has been “cleaned up” and looks much more sophisticated.
REFERENCES
Ferro Torrelles, Victor: Registro de Naiperías Españolas 1380-2004, Asescoin, Madrid.
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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