The archaic “Classic Madrid” Pattern
Centralisation, Standardisation and Consolidation of the Spanish Card Tradition.
The ace of coins incorporates the royal coat of arms, displaying the blazons of Castile and León. It is usually accompanied by a two-line inscription above and below reading “FECHAS EN / MADRID”, signalling bureaucratic oversight of production and tax validation in Madrid, followed in most cases by the year of publication (which may also appear on the sota or knave of swords). In many examples, the double-headed eagle of the Habsburgs also appears, a feature that disappears sometime after the arrival of the Bourbons in 1700 and the wars of accession of Felipe V were finally resolved by 1714.
Between the two and the five of swords, the legend “CON LYCENCIA / DEL REY N. S.” is usually found, alluding to the required royal license, along with the date. This matter of the date must have been important – perhaps mandatory – as it is invariably repeated on several cards. However, all known examples are anonymous, suggesting an unwillingness to be identifyable, although on some an initial or anagram may appear which is difficult to attribute.
The pattern is generally more restrained than the Sevillian one. The knaves of cups and clubs are shown in profile, each supporting his suit symbol. The knave of swords holds his weapon vertically in his left hand, resting it on the ground; the sword is as tall as himself. Between the sword and his legs a banner is unfurled, bearing the supposed year of the pack’s publication.
Classic Madrid pattern 1648
Cards from the earliest known example of the "Madrid clásico" pattern, dated 1648. The inscription Fechas en Madrid is still partly visible on the ace of coins.
Classic Madrid pattern 1705
This example of the Classic Madrid pattern represents a mature stage in the evolution of the Franco-Spanish tradition. The court figures have become more monumental, its suit signs more decorative, and its overall design more refined, producing an accomplished expression of the Spanish playing-card tradition before the emergence of newer regional patterns.
Cards from an anonymous “Madrid clásico” set from two uncut sheets, dated 1705. Notable features include an indecipherable anagram on the ace of cups with no correlation to the other inscriptions on the cards, and the posture of the horse on the cavalier of coins, which is usually depicted facing away. As in all similar cases, the king of coins holds a small battle-axe. From the collection of Alberto Pérez González.
Classic Madrid pattern 1707
4 cards from the Classic Madrid pattern, dated 1707. WCMPC Collection see more →
The “Classic Madrid” pattern developed in the later seventeenth century, at a time when the “Seville” pattern was gradually losing its earlier dominance, though this does not imply that one replaced the other. The Madrid pattern evolved in a context of increasing centralisation, particularly through the growing influence of royal oversight over production and taxation, and the gradual consolidation of regulated manufacture in the capital. Nonetheless, this pattern remained in circulation for roughly a century, before being progressively superseded in the early eighteenth century by new Bourbon-standardised national designs.
Given that the kingdoms of Sicily and Naples were possessions of the Spanish Crown until the early eighteenth century (notably the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713), it is unsurprising that related patterns developed locally in both states, albeit with their own formats and characteristics. These survive in modernised form as the regional patterns still used today, following substantial revision and updating over time.
Four cards from a Sicilian "IL LEON" pack dating from the late seventeenth century by Antonio Monasta and based on the "Madrid Clásico" pattern. The colours are applied in the "Moorish" manner (i.e. with fingertips) and, in accordance with Italian custom, the reverse is folded over the face of the cards. see more →
References
WCMPC Collection : Classic Madrid Pattern, unknown maker, 1707 ►
Berry, John : Playing Cards of the World, Classic Madrid Pattern descriptive notes
Pérez González, Alberto : Las barajas de Madrid, La Sota 44, October 2015
Pérez González, Alberto: La baraja de Almagro, La Sota No.54, Asescoin, Madrid, October 2025, pp.43-52.
Note: back issues of LA SOTA can be ordered from Asescoin website ►
By Simon Wintle
Spain • Member since February 01, 1996
I am the founder of The World of Playing Cards (est. 1996), a website dedicated to the history, artistry and cultural significance of playing cards and tarot. Over the years I have researched various areas of the subject, acquired and traded collections and contributed as a committee member of the IPCS and graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal. Having lived in Chile, England, Wales, and now Spain, these experiences have shaped my work and passion for playing cards. Amongst my achievements is producing a limited-edition replica of a 17th-century English pack using woodblocks and stencils—a labour of love. Today, the World of Playing Cards is a global collaborative project, with my son Adam serving as the technical driving force behind its development. His innovative efforts have helped shape the site into the thriving hub it is today. You are warmly invited to become a contributor and share your enthusiasm.
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