Faisán - Naipe Español Plástico

7/12/2026

Faisán - Naipe Español Plástico

Today, we’re looking at a Spanish-suited deck hailing from Mexico. It’s a rather 'complex' case—not because of any artistic prowess, but due to its murky history, a complete lack of documentation, and a glaring lapse in quality control.

This is the Naipe Español Plástico Extra under the brand Faisán—though we use the word 'brand' very loosely here, for reasons that will soon become clear.

To better understand its background, we must turn to Clemente Jacques y Cía., S.A., a major player in Mexican playing card manufacturing since the early 20th century. Specifically, we have to look at their flagship deck, 'Gallo', with designs heavily inspired by Heraclio Fournier’s classic Castilian pattern. And I say 'inspired' rather than 'plagiarized'—while the influence is unmistakable, Gallo carved out its own distinct identity, combining a certain sobriety in its linework with extravagantly dressed courts and remarkably vibrant pips.

It enjoyed massive commercial success, eventually becoming the gold standard for playing card design in the Mexican market. Today, although the company has evolved and undergone several name changes—operating somewhat interchangeably under the names 'Naipes y Loterías Gallo' and 'Pasatiempos Gallo'—its legacy remains fully active. They still produce their classic Spanish-suited line under the 'Don Clemente' brand.

The model we're reviewing features designs inspired by the aforementioned 'Gallo'—essentially working as a simplified iteration, though incorporating a few unique elements. The final result sits quite a few steps removed from its Fournier ancestry; yet, those original roots become apparent under just a little scrutiny.

Crucially, these designs are not exclusive to one manufacturer. Instead, they seem to belong to a sort of public-domain repository shared by numerous decks of varying quality—many of which lack a clearly identified maker. Consequently, the 'Faisán' name on the slipcase and the Ace of Coins is merely indicative, as it also appears on products from alternative sources. Various producers have seemingly co-opted the brand name; in fact, a website under the Faisán banner even displays a catalog featuring this exact model.

Why 'Faisán', then? This is pure speculation, but the original Clemente Jacques deck featured a rooster (gallo) at the bottom of the Ace of Coins. In later iterations closely resembling the current model, this bird was replaced by a pheasant (faisán)—likely to avoid legal trouble. To further reinforce the distinction, the inscription 'MARCA FAISÁN' was added in block capitals below, a detail that also pops up on generic decks from other manufacturers. The model under review thus represents one of the final stages—or at least a provisional stop—for a set of designs with a long history in the Mexican market.

Design-wise, the Ace of Coins stands out immediately. Instead of the traditional ornamentation found in standard Spanish decks, it features two large palm fronds flanking the central image: a coin depicting a profile view of a face. This detail, inherited from the original 'Gallo' design, instantly evokes a warm, tropical atmosphere.

Perhaps the most striking feature is the design of the court cards, specifically the knaves and knights. Moving beyond the androgynous look typical of the Castilian pattern, the knaves here are explicitly replaced by young women. Even more bizarrely, the knights feature clearly female faces sporting Salvador Dalí-style mustaches. The kings, however, remain more conventional, sticking closer to traditional Castilian pattern archetypes.

Their attire also diverges from the norm, being more flamboyant and colorful than usual, resembling carnival costumes rather than historical period attire. Together, these unique choices form a coherent and intriguing set of visuals that immediately invites closer inspection of the entire deck.

As for the pip cards, they opt for more conservative layouts, though they still retain that unusually vibrant color palette.

As a noteworthy detail, the area inside the pintas (border breaks) features a pale yellow background, contrasting with the white outer margins. This lends the set a generally warm tone that is pleasant to the eye and reduces visual fatigue during play. In similar models, this background color is variable, with versions featuring white or light blue fields.

Speaking of the pintas, we must point out a flaw that might be a dealbreaker for purists. Several cards feature border breaks that do not match their suits: the 12 of Coins displays the pintas of Batons, and the same error occurs from the 7 through the 12 of Swords. Other decks sharing this artwork lack that mistake, suggesting it can be attributed to this specific manufacturer or perhaps to this particular run. While it does not render the deck unusable, it is an unfortunate blunder that drops the overall package down a few notches from what would otherwise be a highly interesting set.

Finally, the card back design deserves a mention, as it is quite unusual. It features an attractive layout that can visually rival the faces of some cards: a dark green frame with decorative corner elements, centering two mirrored pheasant heads oriented vertically in a two-way layout.

The print quality is decent, though far from excellent, showing soft lines and slight color inconsistencies that likely stem from generational degradation. True to its name, the cards are made of plastic, featuring a subtle texture that aids fanning and provides a pleasant tactile feel, while also ensuring smooth handling when shuffling.

Ultimately, this is an interesting and visually appealing deck with a peculiar backstory. It could easily stand alongside products from more renowned manufacturers if not for the unfortunate issue with the pintas—a flaw one can only hope to see corrected in future print runs.

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