The Makers

On the base of the pedestal of the King of Cups, the initials "Dn C. R." appear, referring to Clemente Roxas, a cardmaker active in Madrid during the early nineteenth century. Roxas published decks on a variety of themes, using both the Spanish and French suit systems.

The Cards

The Spanish suits of Clubs, Coins, Cups and Swords are depicted here on the pip cards in quantities representing the value of each card. The court cards, however, show geographical distinctions, with the full-length characters of the rey, caballo and sota representing figures from various regions of the Spanish Empire as it then stood. On Clubs are represented North Africas, on Coins South American Indians, on Cups inhabitants of the Holy Roman Empire and on Swords the European colonists of America. On the Ace of Coins the the arms of Castile and León are shown surmounted by crown, with a lion grasping a sword and a globe beneath it.