Hubby found a very interesting thing at the thrift store. It's deck of cards that is not in the same format as a traditional card deck, and it's not a tarot deck. The suits go from 1 to 7, then there are three face cards numbered 10 to 12. There are four suits just like this, so I think the missing 8 and 9 cards are intentional.
The deck was made in Spain, and the suits are daggers, clubs, glasses of wine, and coins. There's a card listing them as Oros - Navarra, Copas - Alava, Espadas - Vizcaya, and Bastos - Gulpuzcoa. The heading on this card is Barja Vasca.
The box is made of cork, and the printing on the box is Kartaetako Joku Bat. Which isn't Spanish, I don't think. Googling the phrase brought up nothing. There's a heraldic type symbol on the box and on the back of the cards, a red circle with a green X on top, and a white cross on top of it all.
Does this sound familiar at all?
My Oxford Dictionary of Card Games (What?) tells me that swords, clubs, cups, and coins are the standard suits in Spanish decks, and indicates that 7, 8, 9 can be omitted from standard decks.
It looks like there may be games using the national decks listed in here, but there is no index to find them readily. I will skim.
Skimming complete.
Might I suggest Briscola (Brisca in Spain), Primero, or Scopa, all Italian games?
Or, for a more authentic Spanish twist you could apparently play Hombre (Ombre in English) or Tute (that’s two syllables).
Those seem to be the only ones played with 40 cards (as much as I’d love to suggest Pip-Pip or Klaberjass).
Further poking around also tells me the face cards are King, Cavalier, and Valet.
the face cards are King, Cavalier, and Valet.
Interesting. The 10 card is a woman in these, and her clothes are similar to the youg man on the 11 card--17th-18th century style--but the 12 card is an older man with an outfit that has nothing to do with the others, ie, a fisherman when the other two are wearing festival clothes.
This deck has very good art on the front and back. This will be interesting to track down.
megan, strong congratulations on not-having a kidney stone! From my recent experience with one, I know how much pain one is avoiding by not having one....
I've got to take my car into the dealer to find out why the Check Engine light is on. Of course, we had an all-night snowstorm, so I'll have to clean it off before I can make my way through the commuter traffic, et cetera, and wait for however long in the waiting room... SIGH
A small amount of car-ma may be much appreciated that it's just some kind of loose connection that doesn't cost much to fix?
Stephen King bags on SMeyer. huh.
I read that this morning. While I generally find him a wee bit self-important on writing, I love that he flat out said she can't write worth a damn. He absolutely nailed the attraction of the series in terms of pacing and story and non-threatening sexuality.
I just did a show with that issue. The director found the Whizzinator disappointing. Between that and the actor not really taking the direction he was being given with regards the the peeing, the bit was cut.
Frankly I expect this to be the case. The actor is at most 5 feet from the audience. But you know how sometimes you have to do the thing because no one believes you....
I want a Whizzinator! Sometimes when you stand in line for a show for half a day and then are pinned by three opening acts "I could just pee my pants now" doesn't seem like such a bad thing.
Do they make girl ones?
A small amount of car-ma may be much appreciated that it's just some kind of loose connection that doesn't cost much to fix?
Last time I had a check engine light I replaced the gas cap with a genuine Nissan gas cap and had my mechanic reset the codes and that took care of it. Pretty cheap. I hope yours is like that.
