Naipes Comas

7/08/2026

Naipes Comas - 2-S

Naipes Comas acquired José Samsó y Cía. in 1895 and subsequently maintained some of the original company's brands. Among them was this 2-S model—as noted on the Ace of Coins—which became one of the brand's most popular items alongside their iconic Castilian pattern deck.

Before settling into its definitive form, Samsó’s original artwork went through multiple iterations. It absorbed minor design tweaks, subtle variations, and structural changes from other decks, all while keeping the overall aesthetic remarkably consistent. Notably, this specific deck went into production in 1955—over half a century after the aforementioned acquisition.

This model showcases the Catalan pattern in its purest form, serving as a textbook example of the style. It perfectly maintains the traditional proportions, colors, and stylization, closely mirroring other benchmark decks like Fournier's No. 35.

Chief among its distinctive features is the lion on the Four of Cups—a vestige of the original manufacturer—stamped alongside the "Naipes Samsó" inscription. The remaining fours are similarly adorned with various motifs, most notably the anchor on the Four of Coins.

Another distinctive trait of this deck is the design of the Coins pip cards (2 through 9), depicted as yellow discs with a red dot in the center. Curved lines radiate outward, creating the illusion that the coins are spinning on their axes. Interestingly, this feature is missing from the court cards, which display simpler coin designs. Additionally, the knaves and knights of every suit stand on small patches of ground—a detail absent in the kings.

All in all, this is a typical example of the Catalan pattern, offering excellent legibility and clean, distraction-free designs. Its functional, pragmatic nature makes it one of my personal favorites.

The cards feature mostly matte, slightly satin finish that is only noticeable when the light catches them at certain angles. They have a very smooth surface and are quite flexible, though in-hand they feel somewhat thinner and more fragile than expected.

Finally, the Comas 3-S deserves mention—a deck identical in its artwork but with a somewhat glossier finish and marginally thicker cards. While these traits convey a sense of greater durability, they detract a bit from the overall aesthetic.