Catalan Playing Cards
With a distinct history stretching back to the early middle ages, many Catalans think of themselves as a separate nation from the rest of Spain.
The Modern Spanish Catalan pattern
With about 16% of the Spanish population and a distinct language and culture of its own, Catalonia is one of Spain’s richest and most independent-minded regions. What is known today as the “Modern Spanish Catalan” playing card pattern (to avoid confusion with the French Catalan style) began to emerge with an identity of its own during the early 19th century and became fully developed by the end of the 19th century. It was primarily manufactured by makers in the Barcelona region (Bertschinger, Sebastian Comas y Ricart, Wenceslao Guarro, Giráldez, Juan Roura, etc) but is now regarded as a standard pattern throughout Spain and beyond. Packs usually contain 40 or 48 cards.
The design was exported to many South American countries (in particular Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay) and is also produced today as far afield as India and China.
Non-Standard Catalan playing cards
With a distinct history stretching back to the early middle ages, many Catalans think of themselves as a separate nation from the rest of Spain. During the last hundred years or so several ‘Catalan’ decks of playing cards were produced celebrating this independent national identity. Invariably these are Spanish-suited but with non-standard suit symbols associated with Catalan culture. More recently these have been tending towards a re-affirmation of Catalan people’s desire for independence (mainly the separatist Catalan Republican Left). A selection is shown below (click the ‘plus’ signs):
‘Visca Catalunya’ - 1935
‘Visca Catalunya’ playing cards, originally titled ‘Visca La Sardana’, designed by Lluís Vidal Molné
in 1935. Molné was particularly noted for his illustration work and these playing cards are inspired by traditional rural imagery.‘Baraja Catalana’
In ‘Baraja Catalana’ the four suit symbols are representative of the regional culture: barretinas (woolly hats or berets), castellers (towers), roses (Saint George) and mushrooms. Building human towers - castells - is a Catalan tradition originating in the 18th century which can be seen performed at local carnivals. Mushrooms are an important part in Catalan cuisine. The court cards show historical persons or attributes of the four suit symbols. The designs are slightly unusual in that there are no ‘pintas’, or border breaks, and no corner pips. Instead there are miniature outline maps of Catalunya in the corners.
‘Cartes Catalanes’ - 2006
Inspired by Catalan history and folk imagery, with court cards depicting historical figures and legendary heroes in a medieval style, this deck seeks to bring Catalan culture back to life. The suit signs are based on the Spanish-suited system but with non-standard symbols.
See also: La Baralla Catalana→
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
Woodblock and Stencil Queen of Clubs
A limited edition art print of the Queen of Clubs 1984 woodblock joker.
Woodblock and Stencil King of Diamonds
A limited edition art print of the King of Diamonds 1984 woodblock joker.
Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Hearts
A limited edition art print of the Jack of Hearts 1984 woodblock joker.
Woodblock and Stencil Joker
A limited edition art print of the 1984 woodblock joker.
Miniature spanish-suited playing cards
Pack of 48 miniature spanish playing-cards published by C R.
Manara: baraja de poker
Exotic illustrations by Italian comic book artist and writer Milo Manara.
Alice in Wonderland
Alice in Wonderland collector’s edition with illustrations of characters from the film, published by...
Women by Royo
‘Women by Royo’ erotic playing cards published by Heraclio Fournier, Spain, 2001.
Monuments de Paris
‘Monuments de Paris’ souvenir playing cards produced by Heraclio Fournier, c.1964.
B. Braun-Dexon®
Publicity pack promoting B. Braun-Dexon’s atraumatic needles, with non-standard courts and pips.
Bibaraja
Amusing designs of boys as circus performers by Alberto Muñiz Sánchez.
Peintres Latino Americains
Original artwork by 18 different Latin American artists.
Paco Lobo
Highly original and striking designs by Paco Lobo for the fashion house of the same name.
Loewe: Moda Europea Siglo XVII
Luxury pack for the Spanish fashion house Loewe, with 17th century costume designs by Margot Hamilto...
Toros: De El Cordobés a Espartaco
Publicity pack for the Spanish newspaper Ya with caricatures of famous bullfighters by Fernan...
Baraja de Alava
55 different paintings by Emilio Lope depicting the history and culture of Vitoria and the province ...
Postak – Las Postas
‘Postak - Las Postas’ playing cards commemorating the history of the Basque postal service, Spain, 1...
Tarot de Madrid
Black-and-white photographs of models whose faces are made up using elements found on the major arca...
Naipes de Personajes Granadinos
Forty famous men and women with links to Granada, on a pack designed by Rubén Garrido.
El Niño de las Pinturas
Forty-nine distinctive works by Spanish graffiti artist Raúl Ruiz.
Pere Pau Rotxotxo Puigdoura
Spanish national pattern by Pere Pau Rotxotxo Puigdoura (1766–1797).
Moorish Deck
Review of “Trzes’ Moorish Deck” facsimile published by Ulrich Kaltenborn, Berlin, 2023.
El Jueves playing cards
Caricatures of 52 famous Spaniards for the satirical magazine “El Jueves”.
Naipe Navarro
Historical figures and artefacts from Navarre with designs by M. Sinués for the Navarre Association ...
Bankunión playing cards
Ingredients and recipes for 24 dishes from different regions of Spain.
Souvenir Playing Cards of Egypt
55 different photographic views of Egypt in full colour.
Baraja Mística
‘Baraja Mística’ satirical playing-cards featuring revelling clergy published by Litografía Fernánde...
B.P. Grimaud pack for Bolivia
Spanish-suited pack made in France for sale in Bolivia, c.1880.
José Maria Durán
Spanish Catalan pattern by José Maria Durán, Barcelona, c.1870.
Spanish Political pack
Satirical playing cards manufactured by Francar y Cía depicting political situation, Barcelona, 1872...
José Cumplido
Raimundo García pattern produced by José Cumplido in Madrid, dated 1860 on the four of coins.
Juan Humanes y Cía
Raimundo García pattern published by Juan Humanes y Cía, Madrid, 1879.
Pou y Cía
Catalan pattern made by Pou y Cía, Madrid c.1860.
Nueva Baraja Taurina
'Nueva Baraja Taurina' designed by Pedro Maldonado, Madrid, c.1885.
Amorcillos
‘Amorcillos’ (Cupids), a masterpiece from the golden age of Spanish playing cards by Clemente Roxas,...
Félix Solesio e Hijos
Félix Solesio e Hijos - Real Fábrica de Madrid - Spanish National pattern for Venezuela
Four Empires - Clemente Roxas
‘Four Empires’ playing cards produced by Clemente Roxas, c.1805.
Llombart Costume Pack
Military-style costume pack made by Anton Llombart, Barcelona, 1815.
Juan de Brugada
Spanish National pattern by Juan de Brugada e hijo, Real Fábrica de Madrid, 1821.
Aluette by Dieudonné Jeune, Orléans, c.1850
Aluette game by Fabrique Dieudonné Jeune, Orléans, for Spanish market, c.1850.
Baraja Española de Pintores Murcianos
A Spanish-suited pack as conceived by 48 different artists from the region of Murcia.
Baraja Napoleónica
Re-edition of a French-suited Spanish pack from the Napoleonic era, with designs by J. Carrafa.
Baraxa Galega
Baraxa Galega designed by F. Perez Llamosas and published by Naipes Heraclio Fournier, 1983.
El Desnudo en el Arte
The Nude in Art / El Desnudo en el Arte, Spain, 1977 (reprint 1990)