Early Spanish/Portuguese type
Fragment of a sheet of archaic Spanish-suited 'Dragon' playing cards found during restoration of a house in Antwerp built between 1559 and 1574
Fragment of a sheet of archaic Spanish-suited ‘Dragon’ playing cards found during restoration of a house in Antwerp built between 1559 and 1574, a period during which the histories of Spain and the Netherlands were connected.
The history of the Spanish Netherlands covers the period from 1556 when, after the abdication of Emperor Charles V, they became the inheritance of his son, King Philip II of Spain, becoming known as the Spanish Netherlands. This period ran until 1715, when the remaining Southern Netherlands came under the authority of the Austrian emperor.
Above: fragment of a sheet of archaic Spanish-suited ‘Dragon’ playing cards found during restoration of a house in Antwerp built between 1559 and 1574, in a period in which the histories of Spain and the Netherlands were intricately connected. The initials ‘FC’ can be seen on the 9 of swords. The aces feature sea dragons holding the suit symbol; the courts are a seated king, a horse-man and a female page. Cards of this type spread to many parts of the world: examples have been made in, or associated with Italy, Sicily, Portugal, Malta, Spain, Belgium, Brazil, Japan, India and Indonesia.
See also: Francisco Flores, Rimac Valley Excavations in Peru, The South German Engraver.
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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