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.
40-card "A Todos Alumbra - Naypes Refinos" pack manufactured by Léonard Biermans, Turnhout, c.1880.
Agostino Bergallo Spanish pattern made for South American countries
Spanish suited playing cards produced by B. P. Grimaud (Paris) for Algeria, around 1910.
Spanish-suited playing cards made in Belgium by Léonard Biermans, c.1875
Anonymous Moroccan Playing Cards for Royal Air Maroc airlines and others...
Anonymous archaic Spanish Suited pack, c.1760
‘La Auténtica Baraja Canaria’ was published in 1995 by Justo Pérez as an expression of the history and character of the Canary Islands.
Hijos de José Garcia Taboadela was a book-seller who also published this charming pack of lovers' fortune telling cards in 1871.
Baraja Digital by Naipes De La Cigüeña, 1990
Baraja Edad Media, fantasy Spanish-suited medieval playing cards published Mas-Reynals, Barcelona, 1993. Designed by M. Malé and illustrated by V. Maza.
Primitive Latin suited pack, possibly of Swiss or German origin for export to Spain, dated by paper analysis as early XV century, which makes this one of the earliest known surviving packs of playing cards.
Spanish playing cards such as these were used in those parts of France where certain games were enjoyed, such as Aluette.
Cádiz Pattern playing cards
Canary Islands Souvenir by Heraclio Fournier, c.1970
Cartes Catalanes are used in a small area in the Eastern Pyrenées region of Southern France.
Chaudsoleil Red Wine advertising playing cards from Morocco.
Naipes Conrad Punta del Este Casino playing cards produced specially for Conrad Punta del Este Resort & Casino. .
Copag Baralho Espanhol / Naipes Español
Dengue prevention playing cards. Juego de 40 Naipes. Material para la prevención del Dengue, Ministerio de Salud de la Nación (Argentina).
Spanische Spielkarten "Naipes Finos" No.304, manufactured by B. Dondorf designed by the catalan artist Apel-les Mestres, Barcelona, 1902.
‘El Jokey’ Spanish-suited pack by Piatnik & Sons, Vienna, 1990s
Spanish-suited playing cards by F. X. Schmid (Argentina) S.A.
'Foto Joker' Spanish playing cards for Matera Color Laboratory, 2008
Naipes Intransparentes de Una Hoja No.55 made by Hijos de Heraclio Fournier (Vitoria) for exportation to Argentina, c.1940.
Playing cards in this style have been discovered in various parts of the world, suggesting that they were exported or carried there by early explorers or merchants.
Playing cards manufactured in Italy by Giuseppe Cattino and Paolo Montanar for Spanish markets.
These cards may be a typical example of early 'standard' Spanish playing cards, maybe from before Columbus sailed for the 'New World' which were imitated by German engravers who wished to export their wares back to Spain.
Grimaud Spanish pattern, c.1880
“Money Bag” pattern by Hermanos Solesi, late 18th c.
'Recreo Infantil' children's educational cards published by Jaime Margarit, Palamós (Gerona) c.1888
Joan Barbot, San Sebastian c.1765-1810
Deck of half-sized [58 x 35 mms] Spanish-suited playing cards in the Maciá pattern produced by José Gombau, c.1833.
Catalan type by Juan Roura, La Hispano-Americana, Barcelona (1872 - 1962)
Kem ‘Spanish’ playing cards appear to depict Spanish conquistadors © 1994.
‘La Española Classic’ is a traditional ‘La Española’ Spanish-suited pack and is produced in several sizes (standard, round, small and pocket).
Playing cards had been introduced to the Americas with explorers such as Columbus or Cortés, whose fellow countrymen were keen gamblers. Cards were imported from Spain since the 16th century. Local production usually imitated Spanish cards.
Maciá Pattern
Nã'ib, the game of lieutenants... these cards are amongst the earliest Arabic playing cards extant.
Bull-fighters pack published by Hijos de Heraclio Fournier, Vitoria (Spain) with artwork by Andrés Martínez de León, 1951
Mesmaekers Spanish Pack for export to Spanish colonies and South American countries, c.1875
Crudely printed miniature children's packs produced anonymously in c.1930.
These two uncoloured, uncut sheets of early Moorish playing cards were formerly preserved in the Instituto Municipal de Historia in Barcelona. They were first brought to light by Simon Wintle in 1987.
An example of the typical version of the Spanish Catalan pattern which is widely used in South American countries, especially Argentina, Chile and Uruguay
Naipes ‘El Borrego’ Spanish-suited playing cards manufactured in El Salvador, c.2002
Naipes ‘El Leon’ manufactured by Federico Hidalgo (Barcelona, 1897-1899)
Naipes ‘Jaque’ Catalan pattern manufactured by Casabó S.A. for Laboratorios Gautier, c.1997.
Inspired by an archaic Spanish pattern formerly used in Spain during the 16th and 17th centuries.
