Benoist Laius
Spanish playing cards such as these were used in those parts of France where certain games were enjoyed, such as Aluette.
Spanish National Pattern made in South France, early 18th century
Benoist Laius is believed to have worked in Montpellier between 1706 - 1738. Montpellier is located on the south coast of France on the Mediterranean Sea. The pack could possibly have been carried to Spain by French troops supporting Felipe V in Barcelona in 1714.
Spanish playing cards like these were used in those parts of France where certain games were enjoyed, such as Aluette.
Above: cards from a 48-card deck in the 'Spanish National' pattern, manufactured by Benoist Laius, Montpellier (France), sometime between 1706-1725. The maker's name or initials appears on several cards. Woodblock and stencil printing technology. There are no 'pintas' or breaks in the framelines to denote the suits, as is usual in Spanish playing cards. The backs are plain white.
There is no Bourbon escutcheon on the Spanish arms on the Ace of Coins (the first Bourbon King in Spain was 1700). Possibly the woodblocks were out-of-date, or the woodcutters supplied unnamed blocks so that the new owner could print their own name or initials in the empty spaces. The Sota of Coins holds a horn in his right hand. Almost identical packs were being produced by other makers, such as Jacques Sellon, Marseille, c.1710 or J. Coissieux, Romans in c.1725.
REFERENCES
Mann, Sylvia: All Cards on the Table, Jonas Verlag/Deutsches Spielkarten-Museum, Leinfelden-Echterdingen, 1990
By Simon Wintle
Spain • Member since February 01, 1996
I am the founder of The World of Playing Cards (est. 1996), a website dedicated to the history, artistry and cultural significance of playing cards and tarot. Over the years I have researched various areas of the subject, acquired and traded collections and contributed as a committee member of the IPCS and graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal. Having lived in Chile, England, Wales, and now Spain, these experiences have shaped my work and passion for playing cards. Amongst my achievements is producing a limited-edition replica of a 17th-century English pack using woodblocks and stencils—a labour of love. Today, the World of Playing Cards is a global collaborative project, with my son Adam serving as the technical driving force behind its development. His innovative efforts have helped shape the site into the thriving hub it is today. You are warmly invited to become a contributor and share your enthusiasm.
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