J. Deluy c.1490s

The cardmaker’s name can be read on the knave of cups. The pack contains standing kings and queens (queens instead of cavaliers which are usually found in Spanish-suited packs), and the queen of coins carries a pet dog. If the French suit system was invented in circa 1480, the question arises what type of cards were the French using before that invention? If the answer is cards like these, then Spanish-suited cards were not exclusively used in Spain. France shared certain territories with Spain during the XV century and before. This would also be consistent with the fact that Spanish-suited cards are still used in certain parts of France for the game of Aluette.

Above: 2 fragments of uncut proof sheets of archaic Spanish-suited cards produced by J. Deluy c.1490s. Stencil coloured woodcut, no border-breaks. Source gallica.bnf.fr / Bibliothèque nationale de France • Planches de cartes d'un jeu à enseignes latines►