J. Deluy c.1490s
Archaic Spanish-suited cards produced by J. Deluy c.1490s.
The cardmaker’s name can be read on the knave of cups. The pack contains standing kings and queens (queens instead of cavaliers which are usually found in Spanish-suited packs), and the queen of coins carries a pet dog. If the French suit system was invented in circa 1480, the question arises what type of cards were the French using before that invention? If the answer is cards like these, then Spanish-suited cards were not exclusively used in Spain. France shared certain territories with Spain during the XV century and before. This would also be consistent with the fact that Spanish-suited cards are still used in certain parts of France for the game of Aluette.
Above: 2 fragments of uncut proof sheets of archaic Spanish-suited cards produced by J. Deluy c.1490s. Stencil coloured woodcut, no border-breaks. Source gallica.bnf.fr / Bibliothèque nationale de France • Planches de cartes d'un jeu à enseignes latines►
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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