Wenceslao Guarro Catalan Pattern
Wenceslao Guarro ‘Escudo de Barcelona’ Catalan Pattern by Fabricantes de Naipes de España, c.1925.
Wenceslao Guarro Catalan Pattern (‘Escudo de Barcelona’) manufactured by Fabricantes de Naipes de España, c.1925. The original Wenceslao Guarro company (1885-1895) became Viuda de Wenceslao Guarro (1895-1903), then Guarro y Cía (1903-1910) and then Naipes Guarro (1910-1920) and finally 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. This particular design then became Fournier’s standard Catalan pattern see example →
Above: Wenceslao Guarro Catalan Pattern by Fabricantes de Naipes de España, c.1925. The four of cups has two tax stamps (click image to zoom); the short-lived regional (provincial) tax and the national tax.
By Simon Wintle
Spain • Member since February 01, 1996 • Contact
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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