Peruvian Playing Cards

Playing cards have been travelling from Spain to South American colonies ever since Christopher Columbus. In 1531 Francisco Pizarro, a Spanish soldier, set sail from Panama with 180 men and 37 horses to conquer Peru for its gold. Huge amounts of silver were extracted from Peruvian mines during the 16th and 17th centuries and shipped back to Spain. At the same time gambling increased. Indeed, archaeological excavations in the Lower Rimac Valley near Lima have unearthed dice and fragments of 16th century Spanish playing cards made in Seville. Thus Peru was supplied with playing cards manufactured in Spain since the 16th century.

Sheets of playing cards were already being produced and sold in Peru by the mid-sixteenth century, but in 1553 their production was prohibited. The first printing press in Peru appeared in 1594, primarily for the purpose of printing Christian doctrine to support evangelism. Others soon followed and output was controlled by the Spanish crown to guard against subversive doctrines. Most of the images were religious and produced in Spain following fashions and tastes of the day. Ornaments include double-tailed mermaids, fish, semi-humans, demons, dragons, etc. At some point local woodcutters or engravers were employed; by 1618 an accusation was made that Francisco del Canto had made counterfeit playing-cards. Clandestine playing card industry was established at an early date.

Above: cigarette cards for "La Mutua" tobacco company printed by Litografía Fabbri, c.1900 using the Spanish Cadiz pattern.

The Spanish Cadiz pattern has been used in Peru since before 1900 and has become a sort of Peruvian National Pattern. The Castilian and Catalan patterns are seldom seen. For many years foreign-made cards were imported, including those made for the Estanco de Naipes del Perú, until Peruvian printers began to produce their own.

The Estanco de Naipes del Perú was first established in 1781 and administered by Spanish authorities as a sort of monopoly. Cards were produced in Spain at the Real Fábrica de Macharaviaya. Subsequently the Estanco was devolved to the Peruvian Congress who controlled the playing cards industry until the Estanco de Naipes was finally abolished in 1967.

Above: discoveries in archaeological excavations.

Above: playing cards engraved in silver, 1745.

Above: Fabrica de Cigarrillos Roldan y Cia, c.1890.

Above: cards for export to Peru made in Spain.

Above: Cádiz pattern made in Peru.

Above: Naipes Pavias, c.1990.

Above: Van Genechten for the Estanco de Naipes del Peru and Cigarrillo Holiday, c.1965.

Above: publicity pack for Laboratorios Magma, Lima, c.1990.

Above: Cefacidal by Offset Cecil S.A., Peru, c.1975.

Above: Coca-Cola themed deck for Ripley Depertment Store, anon manufacturer, c.2000.

Above: Vistas de Lima, c.1910.

Above: Vistas del Perú, c.1920s.

Above: Cusco Inca Souvenir.

Above: Peruvian Souvenir by Jan Mer S.A.C., c.2000.

Above: Peru Rail souvenir playing cards "exploring the land of the Incas" published by Peru Rail.

Above: Inka Culture playing cards, Peru, c.2000.

Above: “Líneas de Nazca” souvenir playing cards, Peru, c.2008.

Above: Fenno souvenir playing cards, Peru, c.2009.

Above: Ramses II Tarot, Peru. c.1975.

Above: TU DESTINO Cartomancy Cards by Zandrox Producciones, Miraflores, Peru, c.1975.

Above: El Reloj card game by Imprenta Lecaros.

Above: “Amos del Universo” superhero card game published by Litografía Goicochea Hnos, S.A., Lima, Peru, c.1980.