Juan Roura - La Hispano Americana

8/10/2026

Juan Roura - La Hispano Americana - Nº 21

INTRODUCTION & HISTORICAL CONTEXT

Today we examine a curiously elusive deck despite its undeniable pedigree—one that hails from one of the most renowned playing-card manufacturers in Catalonia, and indeed, all of Spain.

Founded in Barcelona in 1872, Juan Roura was one of the few card makers to remain operational following the Spanish Civil War, holding its ground alongside industry giants like Heraclio Fournier and Naipes Comas. The firm boasted a diverse catalog featuring brands such as La Legítima Loba, Dos Toros, and La Hispano Americana, producing playing cards for both domestic and export markets. This long run came to a definitive end in 1962, when the company ceased operations upon being acquired by Heraclio Fournier.

IDENTIFICATION DETAILS

Our copy corresponds to model No. 21 of the La Hispano Americana brand—one of the firm’s most successful lines—with its name stamped on the 4 of Coins. It also carries the official export tax stamp from the 1940–1961 period on the 5 of Swords as usual, placing its production within this time frame, with South America as the most likely destination.

The original paper wrapper is preserved, displaying the designation No. 1.E. The cause of this discrepancy between the wrapper and the cards remains unclear to me. It might be an internal code for export goods, though that is merely a conjecture I am unable to verify.

ICONOGRAPHY & DESIGN

It is a 40-card Spanish-suited pack conforming to the Castilian pattern, featuring artwork with somewhat coarser linework than typically seen in this style. However, rather than detracting from the overall aesthetic, it lends a captivating artisanal charm. This artistic direction runs through the entire pack, giving the court cards, aces, and pip cards a remarkable cohesion and a very distinct character.

While the courts follow the Castilian standard quite faithfully, there are subtle variations, most notably on the Knight of Swords. Instead of the usual static pose, the horse is shown galloping or rearing up, bringing a striking dynamism to the composition. Also noteworthy is the Knaves' and Knights' attire: despite wearing the typical medieval fantasy garb, their clothing features elements reminiscent of 17th- or 18th-century European military uniforms.

Additionally, the jokers warrant mention, as their presence in a 40-card pack is a rather uncommon feature, and in this particular case could be considered as title cards. They forgo illustrations that match the overall aesthetic and linework, featuring instead an elaborate engraving of the La Hispano Americana brand surrounded by decorative scrollwork, with the maker's signature along the bottom margin.

MATERIALS & FINISH

The printing technique appears to be chromolithography, evidenced by the solid color rendering and the irregularity and size of the stippling, which further enhances the handcrafted feel described above. Given that this copy dates to the early 1940s at the earliest, it would be among the last decks produced using this method. The cards feature a matte finish and are treated with a varnish that gives them a very pleasant tactile feel—one that has barely yellowed or degraded despite its age.

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