Mas Reynals - Ref. 201A

7/19/2026

Mas Reynals - Ref. 201A

As mentioned in a previous post, Mas Reynals was renamed Varitemas S.L. back in 2003. However, they've rebranded once again and currently operate under the name Suministros Jimasa S.L., based in Barcelona. I don't know the reasons behind these changes, but for our purposes, it's of little importance, other than the potential confusion when searching for them.

To make matters even more confusing, several combinations of all three names appear on both the tuck boxes and the cards themselves. Because of this, I've decided that in this and future posts, I'll refer to them simply as Mas Reynals. If there are any exceptions, I'll point them out when necessary.

Today we'll review their ref. 201A model. The tuck box labels it as Baraja Española, while the manufacturer's catalog refers to it as Baraja Española Diseño ‘Vintage’ (Vintage Design Spanish Deck). It's a rather interesting Catalan-pattern deck, and although I could hardly call it "pretty", I can certainly say that what it lacks in beauty, it more than makes up for in character.

The artwork is what one would expect from this pattern, featuring simple drawings that are somewhat reminiscent of Fournier's No. 39, especially on the aces, though without falling into what could be considered a "copy".

However, the court cards do feature original designs, quite different from other Catalan decks, and in my opinion, they're the highlight of this model. Their faces, with somewhat strange expressions, are particularly noteworthy, as is the slightly irregular linework on their garments. As mentioned earlier, they aren't necessarily stunning, but for some reason, I can't look away, and they have an almost hypnotic quality that gives a lot of personality to the whole set.

The inclusion of small pip symbols below the card indices is another distinct detail, akin to what is seen on standard Anglo-American playing cards. While this addition might prove useful in certain games, it's bound to be distracting in others, meaning the experience will vary depending on the game and the player.

The quality is far better than expected, especially considering their price tag of around €2 in local discount shops, stationers, and toy stores. However, I must point out that the hue of yellow used—highly prominent in the coins suit—is rather unpleasant. It has a slight greenish tint that gives it a "highlighter-like" look; had they used a warmer tone, the deck could've been vastly improved.

To wrap up, this manufacturer is on a fast track to becoming one of my favorites as of late, with interesting offerings, affordable prices, and outstanding quality for the price (depending on the model). If anything, I'd love to see them reissue some of their out-of-print decks, which I'll also cover in future posts.