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Published February 22, 2016 Updated January 19, 2023

Anon Spanish Cards c.1875

Spanish-suited playing cards made in Belgium by Mesmaekers Frères, c.1875.

1875 Belgium Mesmaekers Spanish Suited Add to Collection

Spanish-suited playing cards made in Belgium, c.1875

Cards from an anonymous Spanish-suited pack made in Belgium by Mesmaekers Frères c.1875 for export to Spanish-speaking markets (North Africa, Latin America, Spain). Stencil-coloured. The lion motif on the ace of coins is a common feature on Spanish packs from this era, and the wrapper also features a lion lying between two trees. The basket of flowers is often seen on Belgian-made Spanish-suited cards.

Anonymous Spanish-Suited Playing Cards, c.1875 Anonymous Spanish-Suited Playing Cards, c.1875 Anonymous Spanish-Suited Playing Cards, c.1875 Anonymous Spanish-Suited Playing Cards, c.1875

Above: image courtesy Stefan Lauwers.

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By Simon Wintle

Member since February 01, 1996

Founder and editor of the World of Playing Cards since 1996. He is a former committee member of the IPCS and was graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal for many years. He has lived at various times in Chile, England and Wales and is currently living in Extremadura, Spain. Simon's first limited edition pack of playing cards was a replica of a seventeenth century traditional English pack, which he produced from woodblocks and stencils.

3 comments

Stefan Lauwers's Avatar'

Hello, I hope I'm not mistaken, but this same deck was attributed to the Turnhout factory 'Mesmaekers Frères', and not 'Biermans', in the book "Turnhoutse Speelkaarten", from 1983. deck n° 104, page 106. The book was written by E. Van Autenboer and Filip Cremers, both former directors of the Turnhout National Playing Card Museum. You might want to check this. Also in a recent internet-sale in Bordeaux (France) the deck was attributed to Mesmaekers rather then Biermans. Unfortunately, I don't see a possibility to add a picture to this reply. Kind Regards.

Simon Wintle's Avatar'

Hi Stefan, many thanks for your helpful feedback. We have corrected the error and also added the image from the book which you mention.

RamDom's Avatar'

Mil gracias Stefan, de todas formas mi baraja es ligeramente distinta...intentaré poner resto de naipes, aunque igual no difiere nada de lo comentado.


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