Santo Mexico playing cards
Santo Mexico playing cards designed by Cédric Volon with Mexico-associated symbols.
Designed by the Belgian Cédric Volon (known as “Le Fils de Luc”), at the Mexican graphics gallery “La Sonrisa de la Muerte”, this non-standard pack was published in 2018 by Calaveras in Belgium. See the box
While his earlier pack Gallia Belgica is associated with Belgium-associated symbols, the suits in this Santo Mexico pack have been replaced by Mexico-associated symbols: agaves (spades), nopal / prickly pear cactus (clubs), Aztec and Mayan pyramids (diamonds) and flaming hearts (hearts). The court cards feature masked Luchadors (masked Mexican wrestlers), Catrinas (symbolizing the Day of the Dead “Dia de los Muertos” ceremonies) and Charos (Mexican cowboys) instead of classic kings, queens and jacks. The jokers portray two skeletal horsemen.
Above: Santo Mexico playing cards designed by Cédric Volon and published by Calaveras in Belgium, 2018.
By Peter Burnett
United Kingdom • Member since July 27, 2022 • Contact
I graduated in Russian and East European Studies from Birmingham University in 1969. It was as an undergraduate in Moscow in 1968 that I stumbled upon my first 3 packs of “unusual” playing cards which fired my curiosity and thence my life-long interest. I began researching and collecting cards in the early 1970s, since when I’ve acquired over 3,330 packs of non-standard cards, mainly from North America, UK and Western Europe, and of course from Russia and the former communist countries.
Following my retirement from the Bodleian Library in Dec. 2007 I took up a new role as Head of Library Development at the International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications (INASP) to support library development in low-income countries. This work necessitated regular training visits to many sub-Saharan African countries and also further afield, to Vietnam, Nepal and Bangladesh – all of which provided rich opportunities to further expand my playing card collection.
Since 2019 I’ve been working part-time in the Bodleian Library where I’ve been cataloguing the bequest of the late Donald Welsh, founder of the English Playing Card Society.
Related Articles
Gallia Belgica playing cards
Gallia Belgica playing cards by Cédric Volon presenting a view of Belgian culture and folklore.
High School Musical 3: Senior Year
American teen film depicting students staging their last spring musical.
Freimaurer Spielkarten / Masonic playing cards
Masonic playing cards created by Ivan Wojnikow, 2004.
Calaveras De Azúcar
Calaveras De Azúcar playing cards produced by Natalia Silva, USA, 2017.
Het Nest Brouwerij
Het Nest Brouwerij playing cards from Turnhout, Belgium.
Sleeperhold Publications
Sleeperhold Publications collaborative art playing cards.
Commedia dell’Carte
Commedia dell’Carte political transformation cards illustrated by Stef van Stiphout, Belgium, 1977. ...
23: Belgian Makers: Mesmaekers
Gustaaf Mesmaekers founded his business in 1859 in association with Louis- François Moentack, who le...
22: Belgian Makers: Van Genechten
Van Genechten started making playing cards in c.1840 and continued until the founding of Carta Mundi...
Grupo Editorial RAF S.A.
Grupo Editorial RAF S.A. de C.V. (founded 1962) has branches throughout Mexico.
Playing Cards and Religion
Early engravers and print makers made devotional images for pilgrims and people who could not afford...
Belgian Playing Cards
Belgian cardmakers have been actively designing and exporting playing cards since the 14th century. ...
Bartolo Borrego, Mexico
40-card Spanish-suited woodblock and stencil pack made in Mexico by Bartolo Borrego, 1836.
Anonymous Mexican Playing Cards c.1825
Anonymous Mexican playing cards, finely engraved and coloured on good card stock, first quarter of t...
Llombart pattern from Mexico
Cards from a Mexican pack c.1835; maker unknown.
Naipes Goliat
Naipes Goliat, La Cubana, S.A. (Fabrica de Naipes El Aguila), Mexico, c.1960
Naipes Poker Profesional
Naipes Poker Profesional, La Cubana, S.A. (Fabrica de Naipes El Aguila), Mexico, c.1960.
Naipes Bridge Profesional
Naipes Bridge Profesional, La Cubana, S.A. (Fabrica de Naipes El Aguila), Mexico, c.1960.
La Cubana, S.A.
La Cubana were successors to P. Munguia, who were founded in 1872. The company closed n 1995 bringin...
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 60 days
