Phelippe Ayet, 1574

Facsimile of Archaic Spanish-suited playing cards.

Above: facsimile cards of archaic Spanish-suited pattern, printed from woodcuts by Phelippe Ayet and and Pierre Pepin, dated 1574. Phelippe Ayet was a card maker living in Valencia. Pierre Pepin was a French card maker who operated in Seville and who was known by Miguel Cervantes. A total of 49 assorted cards by these different makers were found hidden in the lintel of a doorway, in an old building in Toledo, during demolition, and are now preserved in the the Museo de Santa Cruz de Toledo. Size: 57 x 98 mms, reverse blank. Another similar pack has been discovered in Madrid by the same maker, who was recorded as residing in the Valencia region at that time. Cards from facsimile edition by Naipes Comas, 2002. The set includes 2 explanatory cards→

The archaic Franco-Spanish pattern was produced and used in both France and Spain and several of the court card postures have survived in other regional patterns. The king of coins brandishing an axe recurs in several former French regional patterns and survives today in the king of hearts (‘suicide king’) in modern poker packs. In the example illustrated below, the ace of coins carries the coat of arms of the Catholic Monarchs, as well as the double-headed eagle of the Habsburgs topped by the crown of the empire of Charles V.

Above: 48-card Franco-Spanish pattern deck produced by Diego del Campo, Toledo, c.1540. Diego del Campo is believed to have been a Frenchman who travelled to Spain in the mid-16th century fleeing political and religious wars in France. Along with a group of card makers, he settled in Spain, moving through cities like Logroño, Burgos, Valladolid and Segovia, before reaching Toledo, the capital of the Empire at the time. However, these playing cards are not solely attributed to Diego del Campo, as Guillermo Moreo is also credited on several cards.

References

Lopez, Nacho: Descubierta la baraja más antigua del mundo, que fue fabricada en Castilla-La Mancha en 1540 in El Digital de Albacete 16 octubre, 2023►

Martín Carrillo, Alejandro: La baraja de cartas española más antigua del mundo se hizo en Toledo y data del 1540 in cadenaser.com 21/10/2023►

Denning, Trevor: The Playing-Cards of Spain, Cygnus Arts, London, 1996 - see p.46.

Anonymous uncut sheet dated 1587

On the three of clubs (first row second from the right) is the inscription F.T° that refers to Toledo. The same letters are repeated on the card with the 4 of chalices (second row fourth from the left) and on the next card at right the three of chalices is the year 1587. The profiles of the Catholic kings (Isabel and Ferdinand) on the three of coins and the coat of arms of Castilla and Leon and Aragon (partly trimmed from bottom) form the two of coins.

Above: on the 3 of clubs and 4 of cups are the initials F.T°. (Toledo), and the date 1587 appears on the 2 of cups. The 4 of coins bears a merchant's mark, the 2 has the arms of Leon and Castile, and on the 5 is the usual coin with two heads. Woodcut, hand coloured using stencils. © The Trustees of the British Museum • Museum number 1896,0501.1346►