Spanish-Suited Playing Cards: A Photographic Archive

A Gallery of Regional Playing cards and Standard Tarot Decks

SPANISH-SUITED PLAYING CARDS
Derived directly from the original Arabic system, suits are coins and cups (short), and swords and clubs (long). Here, clubs are always of natural, unworked wood, often knotted and shaped like cudgels or truncheons, or otherwise resemble a branch taken directly from a tree. In either case, these distinctive features ensure clear identification. The shape of cups varies considerably. Court cards are King, Knight, and Knave; the latter are sometimes female (or unclear sex). On the numeral cards, size of suit symbols varies by quantity, being larger when few and smaller when many. At other times, long suits are depicted full-length, intersecting diagonally to form a grid. Decks, which exclude '10' (replaced by Knaves), consist of 40 [A234567JCK] or 48 [A23456789JCK] cards, mainly full-length.
A=Ace | J=Jack | C=Cavalier/Knight | K=King
SPANISH NATIONAL PATTERN
INFOBOXSometimes described as Morocco pattern.
single-headed only Spanish National-style playing cards
11
CADIZ PATTERN
INFOBOXPrimarily an export pattern.
single-headed only Cadiz-style playing cards
15
CATALAN PATTERN
INFOBOXThe Catalan national pattern.
single-headed only Catalan-style playing cards
33
VALENCIA I PATTERN
INFOBOXA form of the Catalan pattern, as recognised (and so named) by Asescoin. Ended ∼1950.
single-headed only Valencia-style playing cards (type I)
1
VALENCIA II PATTERN
INFOBOXA form of the Catalan pattern, as recognised (and so named) by Asescoin. Popularized by Durà. Note the snakes on the cups. Ended ∼1950.
single-headed only Valencia-style playing cards (type II)
1
CASTILIAN PATTERN
INFOBOXAlso known under generic name of Spanish pattern.
single-headed Castilian-style playing cards double-headed Castilian-style playing cards, double-headed
31
variants & alternatives Castilian-style playing cards, all-female courts
16
MEXICAN PATTERN
INFOBOXNational version of the Castilian pattern.
single-headed only Mexican-style playing cards
9
FRENCH-CATALAN PATTERN
INFOBOXUsed in the Catalan-speaking areas north of the Pyrenees (France).
single-headed only French-Catalan-style playing cards
4
«ALUETTE» PATTERN
INFOBOXCards used along the French Atlantic coast.
single-headed only 'Aluette' playing cards
9
IBERO-PARISIAN PATTERN
INFOBOXPrimarily an export pattern.
single-headed only Ibero-Parisian-style playing cards
5
SARDINIAN PATTERN
INFOBOXAlso known as «Roxas» pattern.
single-headed only Sardinian-style (or 'Roxas) playing cards
4
PIACENZA PATTERN
INFOBOXLeading member of the Middle Italy family. Currently the only pattern in the Spanish system used exclusively as double-headed. Used in Rome.
single-headed Piacenza-style (or Piacentine) playing cards, full-length figures double-headed Piacenza-style (or Piacentine) playing cards
28
VITERBO PATTERN
INFOBOXHybrid between the Piacenza and Romagna patterns. Member of the Middle Italy family. Ended ∼1953.
single-headed only Viterbo-style (or Viterbesi) playing cards
2
ROMAGNA PATTERN
INFOBOXMember of the Middle Italy family.
single-headed only Romagna-style (or Romagnole) playing cards
11
PERUGIA PATTERN
INFOBOXLocal variant of the Romagna pattern, and therefore also known as "Romagna II". Member of the Middle Italy family. Ended ∼1940?
single-headed only Perugia-style
5
NAPLES PATTERN
INFOBOXFormerly also known as Bari pattern. Leading member of the Southern Italy family.
single-headed Naples-style (or Neapolitan) playing cards double-headed (modern) Naples-style (or Neapolitan) playing cards, double-headed
18
SICILIAN PATTERN
INFOBOXMember of the Southern Italy family.
single-headed only Sicilian-style playing cards
12
SICILIAN TAROT PATTERN
INFOBOXMember of the Southern Italy family.
court cards Sicilian Tarot: court cards trump suit Sicilian Tarot: the trumps
3
FRANCO-SPANISH PATTERN
INFOBOXA pre-19th-century pattern. Here, a restored version.
single-headed only Franco-Spanish-style playing cards
1
PORTUGUESE PATTERN
INFOBOXAlso known as "Dragon" pattern, after the distinctive aces. A later exogenous version elevated the female card to the rank of queen. Double-headed only. Ended ∼1920.
spanish ranks Portuguese-style playing cards french ranks Portuguese-style (French ranks) playing cards
5
TURNHOUT SPANISH PATTERN
INFOBOXA Belgian pattern for export. Ended ∼1930.
single-headed only Turnhout-Spanish-style playing cards
1
«LLOMBART» PATTERN
INFOBOXFormerly also described as "plumed hat" pattern. Ended ∼1900.
single-headed only 'Llombart' playing cards
1
MADRID PATTERN
INFOBOXAlso known as «García» pattern. Ended ∼1895.
single-headed only Madrid-style (or 'Garcia') playing cards
1
PAMPLONA PATTERN
INFOBOXA pattern with French elements. Ended ∼1885.
single-headed only Pamplona-style playing cards
+1
ROME PATTERN
INFOBOXAttempt to introduce a new pattern for the Capital. Only ∼1973.
single-headed only Roman-style playing cards
2
ABRUZZO PATTERN
INFOBOXSince 2010, an initiative to introduce a new pattern for the region, on Neapolitan lines.
single-headed only Abruzzo-style (or Abruzzesi) playing cards
1
SALENTO PATTERN
INFOBOXSince 2013, an initiative to introduce a new pattern for the region, on Neapolitan lines.
single-headed only Salento-style (or Salentine) playing cards
1
All other decks (by country):
ARGENTINA sample Argentine playing cards, Spanish suits
3
BELGIUM preview Belgian playing cards, Spanish suits
1
ITALY sample Italian playing cards, Spanish suits (1)
8
MEXICO sample Mexican playing cards, Spanish suits
4
SPAIN sample: «Baraja Mudéjar» Spanish playing cards, 'Baraja Mudéjar'
34
sample: «Baraja Nacional» Spanish playing cards, 'Baraja Nacional'
19
gallery: reproductions Spanish playing cards, Spanish suits, Guarro reproduction
14
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Spanish-Suited Playing Cards: A Photographic Archive

A Gallery of Regional Playing cards and Standard Tarot Decks

 
A Visual Archive of Standard Patterns
SPANISH-SUITED PLAYING CARDS

LAST UPDATED: 16 SEP 2026

Selected deck:
A Castilian pack made by Guarro
INV 2899 | A Castilian pack made by Guarro

Main conventional patterns
single-headed
double-headed
pattern name
Spanish National-style playing cards
Spanish national pattern

Sometimes described as Morocco pattern.
Spanish national pattern [11]
Cadiz-style playing cards
Cadiz pattern

Primarily an export pattern.
Cádiz pattern [15]
Catalan-style playing cards
Catalan pattern

The Catalan national pattern.
Catalan pattern [33]
Valencia-style playing cards (type I)
Valencia (I) pattern[ENDS ∼1950]

A form of the Catalan pattern, as recognised (and so named) by Asescoin.
Valencia (I) pattern [1]
Valencia-style playing cards (type II)
Valencia (II) pattern[ENDS ∼1950]

A form of the Catalan pattern, as recognised (and so named) by Asescoin.
Valencia (II) pattern [1]
Castilian-style playing cards
Castilian-style playing cards, double-headed
Castilian pattern

Also known under generic name of Spanish pattern.
Castilian pattern [31] | Variants & alternative versions [16]
Mexican-style playing cards
Mexican pattern

National version of the Castilian pattern.
Mexican pattern [9]
French-Catalan-style playing cards
French-Catalan pattern

Used in the Catalan-speaking areas north of the Pyrenees (France).
French-Catalan pattern [4]
'Aluette' playing cards
«Aluette» pattern

Cards used along the French Atlantic coast.
"Aluette" pattern [9]
Ibero-Parisian-style playing cards
Ibero-Parisian pattern

Primarily an export pattern.
Ibero-Parisian pattern [5]
Sardinian-style (or 'Roxas) playing cards
Sardinian pattern

Also known as «Roxas» pattern.
Sardinian pattern [4]
Piacenza-style (or Piacentine) playing cards, full-length figures
Piacenza-style (or Piacentine) playing cards
Piacenza pattern

Leading member of the Middle Italy family.
Piacenza pattern [28]
Viterbo-style (or Viterbesi) playing cards
Viterbo pattern[ENDS ∼1953]

Hybrid pattern between Piacenza and Romagna.
Member of the Middle Italy family.
Viterbo pattern [2]
Romagna-style (or Romagnole) playing cards
Romagna pattern

Member of the Middle Italy family.
Romagna pattern [11]
Perugia-style
Perugia pattern[ENDS ∼1940?]

Also known as "Romagna II" pattern.
Member of the Middle Italy family.
Perugia pattern [1]
Naples-style (or Neapolitan) playing cards
Naples-style (or Neapolitan) playing cards, double-headed
Naples pattern

Formerly also known as Bari pattern.
Leading member of the Southern Italy family.
Naples pattern [18]
Sicilian-style playing cards
Sicilian pattern

Member of the Southern Italy family.
Sicilian pattern [12]

Conventional tarot patterns
court cards
trump suit
pattern name
Sicilian Tarot: court cards
Sicilian Tarot: the trumps
Sicilian tarot pattern

Member of the Southern Italy family.
Sicilian tarot pattern [3]

Other conventional patterns
single-headed
double-headed
pattern name
Franco-Spanish-style playing cards
Franco-Spanish pattern[PRE-19TH CENTURY]

Here, a restored version.
Franco-Spanish pattern [1]
Portuguese-style playing cardsPortuguese-style (French ranks) playing cards
Portuguese patterns[ENDS ∼1920]

Also known as "Dragon" pattern, after the distinctive aces. A later exogenous version elevated the female card to the rank of queen.
Portuguese patterns [5]

Spanish ranks  
French ranks  
Turnhout-Spanish-style playing cards
Turnhout spanish pattern[ENDS ∼1930]

A Belgian pattern for export.
Turnhout Spanish pattern [1]
'Llombart' playing cards
«Llombart» pattern[ENDS ∼1900]

Formerly also described as "plumed hat" pattern.
"Llombart" pattern [1]
Madrid-style (or 'Garcia') playing cards
Madrid pattern[ENDS ∼1895]

Also known as «García» pattern.
Madrid pattern [1]
Pamplona-style playing cards
Pamplona pattern[ENDS ∼1885]

Lacking in the collection.
A pattern with French elements.
Pamplona pattern [+1]
Roman-style playing cards
Rome pattern[ONLY 1973]

Attempt to introduce a new pattern for the Capital.
Roman pattern [2]
Abruzzo-style (or Abruzzesi) playing cards
Abruzzo pattern[SINCE 2010]

An initiative to introduce a new pattern for the region, on Neapolitan lines.
Abruzzo pattern [1]
Salento-style (or Salentine) playing cards
Salento pattern[SINCE 2013]

An initiative to introduce a new pattern for the region, on Neapolitan lines.
Salento pattern [1]

All other decks (by country)
With suit variations, as long as the membership remains recognisable.
sample
sample
country (A-Z)
Argentine playing cards, Spanish suits
Argentina

Argentina [3]
Belgian playing cards, Spanish suits
Belgium

Belgium [1]
Italian playing cards, Spanish suits (1)
Italian playing cards, Spanish suits (2)
Italy

Italy [8]
Mexican playing cards, Spanish suits
Mexico

Mexico [4]
Spanish playing cards, Spanish suits (1)
Spanish playing cards, Spanish suits (2)
Spain

Spain [34] | Fournier [19] | Reproductions [14]