Festa Major de Vilafranca 1988

Vilafranca del Penedès is situated in Catalonia between Barcelona and Tarragona. The festival held there at the end of August every year in honour of St Felix is considered to be of national importance. In this Spanish-suited pack which has the same designs in each suit, one can find gigantes (giants) on the Kings, castellers (pyramid builders), dancers, and el drac (a dragon representing the devil) on the Aces, generally in the appropriate number for each card. The human pyramids are particularly spectacular. Some of the suit symbols have had to be turned or moved from their regular positions in order to be accommodated, or omitted completely. The comodin or Joker depicts St Felix in black and white. Manel Baró is credited with the designs. See the box►

Above: Festa Major de Vilafranca 1988 playing cards designed by Manel Baró. Made by Heraclio Fournier, S.A., Vitoria, Spain, 1988. 48 cards + 2 (identical) Jokers in tuck box. Size: 61.5 x 95 mm.