This is the Cavalier of Espadas (Swords, equivalent to Spades in a common pack of playing cards) from a pack of Moroccan Spanish playing cards dated 1890. It belongs to a baraja Espanola (Spanish deck of cards with a traditional design). The suits are Copas (Cups / Hearts), Oros (Gold Coins / Diamonds), Bastos (Clubs) and Espadas (Swords / Spades). The suit shown here is Espadas (Swords, or Spades). The full deck consists of 40 cards because there are no 8s or 9s, and the first court card counts as number 10 (not 11). Packs of this kind, based on the Italian card system, have been around since the 15th century. The pack has a distinctive back design made up of a repeating pattern of crescents and horses' heads. Some of the cards include text in Arabic, but the manufacturer is unknown. Baraja (Spanish decks) are also used like tarot cards in fortune telling / cartomancy / divination. Vertical | Morocco | Design | Pattern | Old-fashioned
High Resolution JPEG Picture of This is the Cavalier of Espadas (Swords, equivalent to Spades in a common pack of playing cards) from a pack of Moroccan Spanish playing cards dated 1890. It belongs to a baraja Espanola (Spanish deck of cards with a traditional design). The suits are Copas (Cups / Hearts), Oros (Gold Coins / Diamonds), Bastos (Clubs) and Espadas (Swords / Spades). The suit shown here is Espadas (Swords, or Spades). The full deck consists of 40 cards because there are no 8s or 9s, and the first court card counts as number 10 (not 11). Packs of this kind, based on the Italian card system, have been around since the 15th century. The pack has a distinctive back design made up of a repeating pattern of crescents and horses' heads. Some of the cards include text in Arabic, but the manufacturer is unknown. Baraja (Spanish decks) are also used like tarot cards in fortune telling / cartomancy / divination. [528361949] stock photo
