Baraja Taurina by Simeon Durá, c.1916
Baraja Taurina manufactured by Simeon Durá (Valencia) for Chocolate Angelical, first published in 1916.
Above: cards from Baraja Taurina desigbed by J. Vázquez and manufactured by Simeon Durá (Valencia) for Chocolate Angelical, first published in 1916. 48 cards. The back of each card features a sepia photograph of a different contemporary matador with advertising for Chocolate Angelical superimposed on cross-hatching. Owing to its great popularity this pack was in print until the 1930s and variations in the front and back designs and colouring can be found in the different editions.
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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