El Cid 9th centenary
Playing cards commemorating the IX centenary of the death of ‘El Cid’ designed by Vicente S. Algora.
El Cid Campeador
El Cid playing cards, commemorating the 9th centenary of the death of popular Spanish hero ‘El Cid Campeador’, were manufactured by Heraclio Fournier in 1999 for the Caja de Burgos. Playing cards have enjoyed great popularity in Spain for centuries, and the superb medieval artwork in this pack, by Vicente S. Algora, portrays historical persons on the court cards, with El Cid himself (Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar) dignified as the King of Coins. Alfonso VI is portrayed as the King of Cups, who rose to the throne after the death of his brother, Sancho II, who appears on the King of Swords. Pedro I of Aragon, a friend and ally of El Cid, appears on the King of Clubs. The four Cavaliers are nobles from the epic poem, and the ‘Sotas’ (Jacks or Infantry) are Christian and Muslim soldiers, with a minstrel on the Sota of Cups. The coin suit symbols also feature silhouette portraits of El Cid and his faithful wife Doña Jimena.
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
Baraja Turística del País Vasco
Basque poker deck of 55 cards published by Fournier with scenic views of the Basque Country.
Baraja Vasca
Spanish Basque Country deck with original drawings by María Isabel Ibañez de Sendadiano.
Baraja Cultura Española
ASESCOIN pack for 2022 designed by M.A. Corella featuring famous Spaniards and notable buildings.
Laurenzo Propagine
Spanish-suited cards made in Italy by Laurenzo Propagine.
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 by Guillaume & Jean Grossard (Bordeaux).
La Baraja del Mundial
“La Baraja del Mundial” satirical football deck published by Fournier for ‘Interviú’ news magazine. ...
Archaic Spanish proof sheets
2 x uncoloured proof sheets of archaic Spanish-suited playing cards produced for “New Spain”, possib...
Hispania Romana
Educational card game depicting the Roman period in Spanish history.
Grunwald 1410 – The Battle of Tannenberg
Details from the famous painting of the Battle of Grunwald (1410) by the Polish painter Jan Matejko....
Piatnik’s 200th Anniversary
A special philatelic souvenir for Piatnik’s 200th anniversary, combining playing cards an...
QAIPES – cartas españolas
Spanish-suited cards made in China inscribed “QAIPES” and “BAIPES”!
Baraja de la Cocina Española
A celebration of Spanish gastronomy, with designs by Silja Götz employing non-standard suits.
Deportivo Alavés 1921-2021
Drawings by Guillem Bosch of famous Alavés footballers in celebration of the club’s centenary.
Naipes Kukuxumusu
A 52-card Spanish-suited advertising pack for a clothing company in Pamplona.
Euskal Herriko Mitologia
Important figures from Basque mythology, named in four languages.