The Playing Cards of Spain: A Guide for Historians and Collectors - Hardcover

Denning, Trevor

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1900541106 ISBN 13: 9781900541107

Publisher: Cygnus Arts, 1996

Synopsis

Fine cloth copy in an equally fine dw, now mylar-sleeved. Particularly and surprisingly well-preserved; tight, bright, clean and especially sharp-cornered.; 8vo 8" - 9" tall; 184 pages; Physical desc. : xii, 184 p. , [8] p. Of plates : ill. (some col. ), maps ; 27 cm. Subjects: Playing cards - Collectors and collecting - Spain - History. Playing cards - Spain - History. Playing cards - Spain - Collectors and collecting. Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. [175]-176) and index.

About this title

Synopsis

Describes the playing-cards peculiar to Spain from the earliest 14th-century records to the present day. From seemingly crude and simple woodcut designs, to florid and baroque ornamentation, to the brightly coloured modern styles of the late 20th-century, the text presents a history of the cards with a wide rang of illustrations. The 15 or so "standard" designs of Spanish cards which evolved into the patterns preferred for everyday use are systematically described and illustrated. The development of cards traditionally outside the field of standard patterns is also described. Cards advertising various brands of chocolate constitute a major part of this group and are given detailed attention, as are cards depicitng subjects ranging from bullfighting to film stars. The text also offers insights into the mechanics and psychology of playing-card design as a whole.

About the Author

Trevor Denning became a senior lecturer in Foundation Studies and Graphic Design at Birmingham Polytechnic (now the University of Central England).

Edition details

• Publisher: Cygnus Arts
• Publication date: 1996
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1900541106
• ISBN 13: 9781900541107
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 180