16th century cards discovered in Peru
Fragments of playing cards and 2 dice were unearthed in a 16th century rubbish tip adjacent to a Spanish house in the lower Rimac Valley in Peru, providing evidence of games played by early Spanish settlers.
16th Century Spanish Playing Cards discovered in Archaeological Dig in Peru
33 fragments of playing cards and 2 dice were unearthed in a 16th century rubbish tip adjacent to a Spanish house in the lower Rimac Valley in Peru, providing evidence of games played by early Spanish settlers. In amongst the rubbish associated with the cards there was also a paper document dated 1516.
The cards are from more than one pack, and fall into two groups. The first group comprises cards of the archaic Spanish-suited "Dragon" type of pack, whilst the remaining cards are of a different early Spanish-suited pattern. Together these cards provide stunning evidence of early Spanish playing card production exported to Central and South American countries very soon after the 'discovery' of the New World.
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.
Related Articles
Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Clubs
A limited edition art print of the Jack of Clubs 1984 woodblock joker.
Woodblock and Stencil Queen of Clubs
A limited edition art print of the Queen of Clubs 1984 woodblock joker.
Woodblock and Stencil Joker
A limited edition art print of the 1984 woodblock joker.
Woodblock and Stencil King of Diamonds
A limited edition art print of the King of Diamonds 1984 woodblock joker.
Miniature spanish-suited playing cards
Pack of 48 miniature spanish playing-cards published by C R.
Manara: baraja de poker
Exotic illustrations by Italian comic book artist and writer Milo Manara.
Alice in Wonderland
Alice in Wonderland collector’s edition with illustrations of characters from the film, published by...
Women by Royo
‘Women by Royo’ erotic playing cards published by Heraclio Fournier, Spain, 2001.
Monuments de Paris
‘Monuments de Paris’ souvenir playing cards produced by Heraclio Fournier, c.1964.
B. Braun-Dexon®
Publicity pack promoting B. Braun-Dexon’s atraumatic needles, with non-standard courts and pips.
Bibaraja
Amusing designs of boys as circus performers by Alberto Muñiz Sánchez.
Peintres Latino Americains
Original artwork by 18 different Latin American artists.
Paco Lobo
Highly original and striking designs by Paco Lobo for the fashion house of the same name.
Loewe: Moda Europea Siglo XVII
Luxury pack for the Spanish fashion house Loewe, with 17th century costume designs by Margot Hamilto...
Toros: De El Cordobés a Espartaco
Publicity pack for the Spanish newspaper Ya with caricatures of famous bullfighters by Fernan...
Baraja de Alava
55 different paintings by Emilio Lope depicting the history and culture of Vitoria and the province ...
Postak – Las Postas
‘Postak - Las Postas’ playing cards commemorating the history of the Basque postal service, Spain, 1...
Tarot de Madrid
Black-and-white photographs of models whose faces are made up using elements found on the major arca...
Naipes de Personajes Granadinos
Forty famous men and women with links to Granada, on a pack designed by Rubén Garrido.
El Niño de las Pinturas
Forty-nine distinctive works by Spanish graffiti artist Raúl Ruiz.
Pere Pau Rotxotxo Puigdoura
Spanish national pattern by Pere Pau Rotxotxo Puigdoura (1766–1797).
75: Early American cards
An overview of some of the early cards made in the United States.
Mario Testino playing cards
A selection of Mario Testino’s photographic work in various fields, notably fashion.
Moorish Deck
Review of “Trzes’ Moorish Deck” facsimile published by Ulrich Kaltenborn, Berlin, 2023.
El Jueves playing cards
Caricatures of 52 famous Spaniards for the satirical magazine “El Jueves”.
Naipe Navarro
Historical figures and artefacts from Navarre with designs by M. Sinués for the Navarre Association ...
Bankunión playing cards
Ingredients and recipes for 24 dishes from different regions of Spain.
Souvenir Playing Cards of Egypt
55 different photographic views of Egypt in full colour.
Baraja Mística
‘Baraja Mística’ satirical playing-cards featuring revelling clergy published by Litografía Fernánde...
Early German playing cards
Some early examples of popular German playing cards from the XV and XVI centuries.
José Maria Durán
Spanish Catalan pattern by José Maria Durán, Barcelona, c.1870.
Spanish Political pack
Satirical playing cards manufactured by Francar y Cía depicting political situation, Barcelona, 1872...
José Cumplido
Raimundo García pattern produced by José Cumplido in Madrid, dated 1860 on the four of coins.
Juan Humanes y Cía
Raimundo García pattern published by Juan Humanes y Cía, Madrid, 1879.
Pou y Cía
Catalan pattern made by Pou y Cía, Madrid c.1860.
Nueva Baraja Taurina
'Nueva Baraja Taurina' designed by Pedro Maldonado, Madrid, c.1885.
Amorcillos
‘Amorcillos’ (Cupids), a masterpiece from the golden age of Spanish playing cards by Clemente Roxas,...
Félix Solesio e Hijos
Félix Solesio e Hijos - Real Fábrica de Madrid - Spanish National pattern for Venezuela
Four Empires - Clemente Roxas
‘Four Empires’ playing cards produced by Clemente Roxas, c.1805.
Llombart Costume Pack
Military-style costume pack made by Anton Llombart, Barcelona, 1815.
Juan de Brugada
Spanish National pattern by Juan de Brugada e hijo, Real Fábrica de Madrid, 1821.
Infirrera
Italo-Portuguese-suited cards by Andrea Infirrera with the arms of Malta, 1693.
Portuguese cards for Brazil
Portuguese-type cards made in or for Brazil, c.1890.
The Parisian Tarot
The “Parisian Tarot”, early 1600s, with imagery and design synthesizing several influences.