The Maker

A. Solé Alsina chocolatiers of Barcelona produced, alongside confectionary, printed material including playing cards and chromolithographic prints. Some of these apparently came as promotional 'gifts' alongside their edible wares, and their designs varied widely, with themes including the 'Popes, Cardinals, Archbishops and Bishops of Europe and America'. J. Colomer is listed in numerous records of the business-owners of late-nineteenth century Barcelona as a printer and bookseller whose sons appear to have taken over the firm towards the turn of the century.

The Cards

The Spanish suits of Clubs, Coins, Cups and Swords have been incorporated into the juvenile theme of the present deck, with the Clubs presented as large skittles and the Coins as balls. On both pip and court cards, the symbols are depicted as toys being played with by children. The Queen of Coins catches a ball in mid-air, for example, while the King of Swords is represented as a boy dressed up in and crown and robe, and brandishing a sword! In addition to the corresponding number of suit marks, the value of each card is written in Arabic numerals on the top and bottom.