Torras y Lleó, Barcelona, Spain, c.1838-1921
Francisco Torras y Lleó was a playing-card maker in calle Carmen, Barcelona, who flourished during the period 1838-1860.
Francisco Torras y Lleó was a playing-card maker in calle Carmen, Barcelona, who flourished during the period 1838-1860. After his death the company continued trading as Sucesores de Francisco Torras y Lleó (1861-1883), at the same address, and later as Hijo de Torras y Lleó (1884-1921). Over its lifetime the company produced a very extensive range of playing cards in a refined style.
The motif of the lion and two towers - a pun on the founder's name - which usually appeared on the four of cups and the wrapper, was often imitated by foreign manufacturers, in particular Francisco Girbau of Buenos Aires (Argentina).
Finally the company became part of the amalgamation known as Fabricantes de Naipes de España S.A. (1917-1934) which in turn was absorbed by Hijos de Heraclio Fournier in 1934.
By Simon Wintle
Member since February 01, 1996
Founder 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.
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