Ediciones del Prado - La Campana - Mexico - 19th Century (Reproduction)
This review examines a facsimile printed in 2004. The original is housed at the Fournier Museum of Playing Cards in Álava-Spain. It is a Spanish-suited deck produced in Mexico in 1868 by F. Munguia under the name Naipes Finos de La Campana, with inscriptions detailing this information on the Ace of Coins and the 4s of Coins and Cups.
The original deck was made of linen paper, with woodcut prints hand-colored using stencils. While the 1982 Fournier Museum catalog classifies it as a Castilian pattern deck, it exhibits traits from other styles. A prime example is the inscription 'AHÍ VA' on the Knight of Cups—a feature typical of the Cadiz and Spanish National patterns.
The illustrations, though rather austere, are easily recognizable and evoke—if only fleetingly—storybook artwork. This aesthetic is enhanced by a somewhat muted yet pleasantly varied color palette. Combined with the artisanal production method, it creates a highly original set. Regrettably, to my knowledge there aren't many —if any— modern decks featuring this delightful style.
A striking detail is found in the court cards, though this time we must look past the iconography and focus on the indices. Instead of the standard 10, 11, and 12 for the Knave, Knight, and King, they are numbered 8, 9, and 10. While this makes perfect sense for a 40-card Spanish deck, it is a layout I cannot recall seeing anywhere else.
Being a reproduction deck intended primarily for collecting and display purposes, I will not dwell too much on its physical traits or handling, only pointing out that the card quality is decent if unexceptional, featuring a glossy finish and an adequate cardstock weight.
Coins
Cups
Swords
Batons
Card Back & Information Card
Tuck Box
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