Naipes Comas - El León · Nº 3-S (Samsó)
INTRODUCTION & IDENTIFICATION DETAILS
One of the earliest articles published on Atlas de Naipes was devoted to Naipes Comas Nº 2-S, marketed under the El León brand, whose designs originally belonged to José Samsó y Cía., a firm acquired by Comas in 1895. This time, we will examine the circumstances of that acquisition in greater detail, which will also help explain the curious persistence of the name Samsó on these models more than a century after the transaction.
Our examination will focus, at least in part, on an El León pack bearing the reference Nº 3-S on the 5 of Swords. Although it lacks a tax stamp, the inscriptions and overall design of the cards allow us to date it to around 1955. It is a Spanish-suited deck showcasing the Catalan pattern, with artwork different from that of the previously examined Nº 2-S. It should also be noted that a later model bearing the Nº 3-S reference exists, this one identical to the Nº 2-S discussed in the earlier entry.
JOSÉ SAMSÓ & NAIPES COMAS: A TALE OF BRANDS AND RIGHTS
While the eventual fate of José Samsó's firm is well known, its origins remain somewhat obscure. The playing-card collection catalogue of the Historical Archive of the City of Barcelona appears to provide the earliest documented reference to the firm, dating from 1828 and associated with José Samsó Cabot. The business later passed into the hands of his son, José Samsó Iglesias, in the mid-19th century. The company was dissolved in 1894, and its assets were eventually acquired by Naipes Comas the following year.
José Samsó Camó (son of Samsó Iglesias) was appointed to oversee the liquidation of the firm, whose partners included several members of the family. He sold the El León trademark to Alejandro José de Mas y Borrás for 250 pesetas, with the proceeds distributed among the partners. However, Samsó Camó bought back the trademark from Mas y Borrás in March 1895, becoming the sole owner following the liquidation.
Shortly afterwards, in June 1895, he sold the factory's machinery and tools to Antonio Comas, while leasing him the trademarks and lithographic stones used to produce his playing cards. Comas, in turn, agreed to continue manufacturing and selling Samsó's playing cards under their existing brands and designs, paying him a percentage of the sales value of cards sold under the Samsó name.
Among the trademarks leased was El León, which had been registered not only in Spain but also in Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines. Ownership remained with Samsó until January 1940, when the widow of José Samsó Camó sold the trademark to Josefa Comas, widow of Antonio Comas.
ICONOGRAPHY & VARIANTS
The presence of the suffix “-S” in the reference numbers, along with the motif of a reclining lion with palm trees and two pyramids in the background, depicted on the 4 of Cups, are recurring features of these packs. Most follow the Catalan pattern, although examples of the Cádiz pattern also exist.
It should be noted that at least two variants of Samsó's Catalan pattern existed: one featuring maritime trade motifs on the Ace and 4 of Coins (a common feature of this pattern), and another depicting putti on those same cards. Interestingly, both variants are represented in the packs we have examined: the former in Nº 2-S and the latter in the Nº 3-S examined here.
Over the years, Samsó's original designs for both the court and pip cards underwent various modifications, with elements transferred between different packs. The pack examined here largely retains Samsó's original artwork on the court cards, while the pip cards incorporate Comas' own designs, particularly in the suits of Cups and Coins. This is perhaps unsurprising, as this particular variant first entered production in 1940, shortly after Naipes Comas acquired the trademark. In fact, it is the only example in which the name Samsó doesn't appear on any of the cards.
As for the Nº 2-S featured in our earlier entry, it entered production around 1955. The Samsó name reappears on the 4 of Cups, although the pack incorporates court card designs from other Comas models, along with the previously noted modifications to the pip cards.
The images below show four El León packs produced by Naipes Comas between 1896 and 1904, labeled A, B, C, and D, illustrating the brand's early evolution and the variations in its designs.
Testimoni Històric de Naipes Comas
A · 1896: The cups pips differ from those typically found in the Catalan pattern as produced by Comas and other manufacturers.
A · 1896: Typical Catalan Ace of Coins. Similar to Nº 2-S.
A · 1896: The poses of the horses in Samsó's Batons and Swords differ from those typically found in the Catalan pattern.
B · 1904: Cup pips similar to those of the 1896 pack.
B · 1904: Typical Catalan Ace of Coins, with a tax stamp on the central coin.
B · 1904: The poses of the horses in Samsó's Batons and Swords differ from those typically found in the Catalan pattern.
C · 1904: Cup pips more typical of the Catalan pattern as produced by Comas and other manufacturers.
C · 1904: Ace of Coins featuring two putti, similar to Nº 3-S, but with a tax stamp on the central coin.
C · 1904: Once again, a "Samsó-type" horse, similar to Nº 3-S.
D · c. 1900: Similar to C.
D · c. 1900: Typical Catalan Ace of Coins. Similar to Nº 2-S.
D · c. 1900: Rampant horse, more typical of the Catalan pattern. Similar to Nº 2-S.
Over the years, the iconographic elements of Samsó and Comas became increasingly intertwined, with motifs and court card designs reused across different models from both manufacturers. One example is the putto on the 4 of Coins of our Nº 3-S, which can also be found in other Comas packs unrelated to the El León brand.
FINAL THOUGHTS
It remains unclear to what extent the terms of the agreement between Samsó and Comas were honored in practice. What is evident, however, is that the relationship between the two firms left a lasting imprint on Naipes Comas and its playing-card production.
Perhaps the most striking aspect is the persistence of the name Samsó, even after Comas acquired full ownership of the trademarks in 1940. While it is not unusual for commercial brands such as El León or Los Dos Tigres to survive, the continued use of the original manufacturer's name is more remarkable. Its temporary disappearance and subsequent reappearance, lasting until the end of Comas's history, may have reflected the recognition the name still enjoyed among the public, although we have no evidence to substantiate this assumption.
Ultimately, these packs illustrates how a manufacturer's identity can outlive the company itself, surviving not only through its brands but also through the artwork and motifs that find their way into the production of its successors.
Coins
Cups
Swords
Batons
Card Back
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