Real Fábrica de Macharaviaya

Real Fábrica de Macharaviaya (Málaga)

Félix Solesio

Revenues from the sales of playing cards in Central and South America had been a state monopoly since 1552, in the reign of Felipe II, who had issued a decree setting out the terms by which it was to be regulated. Packs were to be sold in paper wrappers tied with string and officially stamped. Officers were appointed to be in charge of ensuring the business was run correctly. To begin with cards destined for the Americas were manufactured solely in Mexico but due to irregular production as well as illegal imports (probably Italian) new orders were given that they should be produced in Spain.

The Real Fábrica de Madrid had been in existence since at least 1755, but in 1776 a Royal Letters Patent was issued authorising Don Félix Solesio to establish the Real Fábrica de Macharaviaya to supply playing cards to the Americas and particularly to Mexico - “Para las Indias”. The new factory was quickly built and was of benefit to the local community in terms of employment opportunities, urban development and cultural enrichment. It is recorded that in September 1777 15,000 decks produced in Macharaviaya were shipped to Mexico. Solesio was a distinguished name in the playing card industry, and as it happens, Félix Solesio's brother Lorenzo had been appointed master craftsman in the Portuguese Real Fábrica de Cartas de Jogar in 1769. The Macharaviaya factory ultimately closed in 1815 due to lack of local raw materials, competiton from smuggled cards and the loss of its main market (Spain’s American colonies were fighting for and winning their independence).

Above: an odd ace of coins having the arms of Spain on the suit-mark, above and below which are scrolls bearing poorly spelled inscriptions: 'Real Fabrica Macharaviaya por D. Felix Solesio e hijos.' © The Trustees of the British Museum

Above: cards from a pack by Don Félix Solesio destined for Mexico or South America, dated 1786 on the Ace of Cups. This was the factory's golden age (1776-1791) before problems began to arise with production costs and terrible roads. The two of Coins has the legend “Para las Indias”; in other examples this might be “Para Caracas” or “Para La Havana” showing that the packs were destined for Spanish colonies in Central (‘West Indies’) or South America. This is the official Spanish National pattern of the 18th century. Design and production was controlled from Madrid as a source of national or regional revenue. The factory was located in the town of Macharaviaya, in the province of Málaga►

Above: the former playing card factory at Macharaviaya. Photo credit: Marilo Marb.

Above: the former playing card factory at Macharaviaya. Photo credit: © 2017 Diputación de Málaga.

More Examples

Above: Spanish National pattern, Félix Solesio, Real Fábrica de Macharaviaya, 1809.

Several derivatives of this design have survived in various parts of the world, such as French ‘Aluette’ cards, ‘Parisian’ Spanish pattern (used in Uruguay) and cards used in North Africa.

REFERENCES

Ferro Torrelles, Víctor: “Real Cédula aprobando el establecimiento de la Fábrica de Naipes de Macharaviaya” in La Sota Nº 16, Asescoin, Madrid, March 1997, pp.67-75

Pérez González, Alberto: “A Todos Alumbra”, facsimile of Baraja Carlos IV, Punto Verde, Benalmádena, 2006  here →

Wikipedia : Real Fábrica de Naipes ►