Mas Reynals (Suministros Jimasa) - Baraja Española Barcelona "Colección"

8/14/2026

Mas Reynals (Suministros Jimasa) - Baraja Española Barcelona "Colección" - Ref. 1204

INTRODUCTION & IDENTIFICATION DETAILS

After reviewing the first installment in Suministros Jimasa’s Colección series, we now examine the second pack in this pair of modern reproductions. It is another prime example of how the former Mas Reynals catalogue quietly breathed new life into Juan Roura’s original designs without making the slightest commercial splash.

Following in the footsteps of its Castilian pattern sibling, which we reviewed previously, this deck revives the artwork of a La Hispano Americana pack by Juan Roura, this time showcasing the Catalan pattern. Bearing reference number 1204, it carries the generic title "Baraja Española" on the tuck box, even though the company's official catalogue lists it as "Baraja Española Barcelona".

ICONOGRAPHY & DESIGN

Much like the Castilian version, we find a remarkably faithful reproduction of Roura’s original deck. However, a direct comparison reveals two notable caveats. On the one hand, Jimasa’s color palette comes across as somewhat darker, a shift readily attributable to batch-to-batch differences in period print runs. On the other, the card back does not match my own copy; however, it's identical to a pack housed in the Fournier Museum (dated circa 1960), which curiously mirrors the back design used on the Castilian-pattern version we examined previously.

Once again, the original inscriptions have been replaced with references to the current maker, though this deck’s adaptation features a rather unusual artistic decision. On the 4 of Cups, the lovely illustration of the La Hispano Americana trademark (two planets flanked by columns) has been preserved, while rewriting the original legend to read "NAIPES DESDE 1985 OPACO MARFIL". Yet, they decided to remove the traditional anchor motif from the 4 of Coins, a hallmark feature of the Catalan pattern.

Lastly, the jokers warrant special mention. Being a later addition not found in the original 48-card pack, Jimasa devised their own solution: creating them through a vertical layout of the four suit pips—extracted from the deck itself—enclosed in an oval frame. An understated, minimalist, and elegant design choice that blends perfectly into the set.

PRINTING & FINISH

Regarding the printing process, this deck behaves identically to what we broke down in the previous entry—featuring the distinctive halftone screening of modern offset in Jimasa’s reissue versus the overlapping solid colors of Roura’s vintage deck—so I refer back to that analysis to avoid repeating myself.

However, examining the historical Roura deck under magnification reveals a fascinating technical detail. Unlike other period decks, there are no noticeable (or at least none I could locate) pigment micro-accumulations along the edges of the color fields, which are typically characteristic of traditional lithography. This raises the question of whether we are looking at an exceptionally refined lithographic execution or the use of early offset techniques, where the uniform pressure of the rollers might have softened or eliminated these tiny artifacts.

LEFT: Suministros Jimasa - RIGHT: Juan Roura

DECK STRUCTURE & FINAL THOUGHTS

Unlike Ref. 1205—where the absence of eights and nines in the original forced the manufacturer to construct them digitally—the historic deck in this case already possessed the complete 48-card structure. Consequently, there was no need to 'create' any cards, and aside from the modern addition of the jokers, we are presented with an intact, unadulterated, and faithful reproduction of the original design.

Ultimately, this is a pack of remarkable aesthetic and documentary value within contemporary mass-market playing cards. A piece that successfully recovers the legacy of Juan Roura's Catalan pattern.

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