Baraja Mística
‘Baraja Mística’ satirical playing-cards featuring revelling clergy published by Litografía Fernández, Madrid.
This 40-card Spanish-suited pack features comical designs satirising the Spanish clergy. On the coins cards we see churchmen worshipping and gloating over gold coins and moneybags, and the suit of cups shows monks, nuns and church officials partying, enjoying plenty of alcohol, with a nun holding a guitar. The clubs and swords suits show further caricatures of religious people in unholy attitudes.
Above: ‘Baraja Mística’ satirical playing-cards published by Litografía Fernández, Feijóo 3, Madrid, c.1885-1890. Backs printed with a small blue pattern of mitres and birettas. © The Trustees of the British Museum • Baraja Mistica►
Along the bottom of the ace of cups is printed the legend “Lit Fernandez, Fiejóo 3 Madrid” and an extra ace of cups, possibly a title card, is printed “Baraja (misspelled Babaja) Mística. Precio. 2 Pesetas”. The wrapper is labelled “Baraja Mistica. Venta en todas las Librerias”.
Further References
O’Donoghue, Freeman M: Catalogue of the collection of playing cards bequeathed by Lady Charlotte Schreiber, Trustees of the British Museum, London, 1901 (Spanish 11) [digital version here]
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.
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