The World of Playing Cards Logo

Silver Cards from Peru

Published July 03, 1996 Updated June 12, 2023

Spanish-suited silver cards, richly embellished and enamelled, from a former Spanish Viceroy in Peru, dated 1745.

1745 Latin America Peru Spain History Luxury Metal Spanish Suited

Playing cards engraved in silver from Peru, 1745

Playing cards engraved in silver from Peru Playing-cards engraved in silver from Peru

Wealthy card players have always enjoyed playing with - or perhaps just looking at - expensive luxury sets of illuminated, hand-painted and gilded cards, or cards printed from finely engraved plates.

The example of Spanish-suited silver cards shown here is embellished and enamelled. It came from a former Spanish Viceroy in Peru and is dated 1745. The ace of coins displays the arms of Castille and León and the two-headed imperial eagle. A similar set is said to be in the Museo de America in Madrid and yet another in Italy.

The first Viceroy in Peru was Blasco Núñez Vela from Ávila [wikipedia], who since 1530 had been bringing shiploads of silver and gold from Peru to king Carlos I in Spain. He was nominated as Viceroy in 1543 and charged with implementing new laws (Leyes Nuevas), but he soon entered into conflicts with local barons and was beheaded in 1546. His successor, Antonio de Mendoza, was appointed in 1549 and successive viceroy appointments were made until 1824, 40 viceroys in total.

The Viceroy of Peru resided in the city of Lima, in the sumptuous Palace of the Viceroys, surrounded by a brilliant court, in the midst of great luxury and riches, and a guard of honour.

Silver playing cards are recorded as having been used at the French court in the reign of Louis XV, probably not because silver was cheaper than paper or vellum! Engraved silver cards are said to have become fashionable as early as the end of the sixteenth century for inclusion in princely display cabinets and examples are known with French, German and Italian suits.

avatar
1,474 Articles

By Simon Wintle

Member since February 01, 1996

Founder and editor of the World of Playing Cards since 1996. He is a former committee member of the IPCS and was graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal for many years. He has lived at various times in Chile, England and Wales and is currently living in Extremadura, Spain. Simon's first limited edition pack of playing cards was a replica of a seventeenth century traditional English pack, which he produced from woodblocks and stencils.

Related Articles

1979 Naipe Vizcaino

Naipe Vizcaino

‘Naipe Vizcaino’ designed by Javier Urkiri and published by Industrias Gráficas Castuera and the Caj...

1865 Spanish pattern by Eugène Boisse

Spanish pattern by Eugène Boisse

Spanish pattern published by Eugène Boisse, Bordeaux.

1979 Baraja Turística del País Vasco

Baraja Turística del País Vasco

Basque poker deck of 55 cards published by Fournier with scenic views of the Basque Country.

1860 Catalan pattern by B.P Grimaud

Catalan pattern by B.P Grimaud

Standard Spanish Catalan pattern deck made in Paris by B.P Grimaud.

1979 Baraja Vasca

Baraja Vasca

Spanish Basque Country deck with original drawings by María Isabel Ibañez de Sendadiano.

2022 Baraja Cultura Española

Baraja Cultura Española

ASESCOIN pack for 2022 designed by M.A. Corella featuring famous Spaniards and notable buildings.

Laurenzo Propagine

Laurenzo Propagine

Spanish-suited cards made in Italy by Laurenzo Propagine.

2021 Jeu de 7 familles Les Dynasties d’Artisans Basques

Jeu de 7 familles Les Dynasties d’Artisans Basques

Long-standing Basque businesses represented in a traditional card game with illustrations by Odile A...

Archaic Franco-Spanish pattern

Archaic Franco-Spanish pattern

Archaic Franco-Spanish pattern by Guillaume & Jean Grossard (Bordeaux).

2006 La Baraja del Mundial

La Baraja del Mundial

“La Baraja del Mundial” satirical football deck published by Fournier for ‘Interviú’ news magazine. ...

Rouen Pattern  - Portrait Rouennais

Rouen Pattern - Portrait Rouennais

An attractive XV century French-suited design from Rouen became the standard English & Anglo-America...

1708 Archaic Spanish proof sheets

Archaic Spanish proof sheets

2 x uncoloured proof sheets of archaic Spanish-suited playing cards produced for “New Spain”, possib...

Hispania Romana

Hispania Romana

Educational card game depicting the Roman period in Spanish history.

QAIPES – cartas españolas

QAIPES – cartas españolas

Spanish-suited cards made in China inscribed “QAIPES” and “BAIPES”!

2019 Baraja de la Cocina Española

Baraja de la Cocina Española

A celebration of Spanish gastronomy, with designs by Silja Götz employing non-standard suits.

Ganjifa - Playing Cards from India

Ganjifa - Playing Cards from India

Indian playing cards, known as Ganjifa, feature intricate designs with twelve suits and are traditio...