Half a Million for a Royal Spanish deck of Cards

A deck of cards, plated in silver, that belonged to the Spanish Royal Family and later to the President of Uraguay, Manuel Oribe, fetched $554,500 at an auction yesterday (October 19, 2010) at Christie's in New York.

The deck is the world's only silver deck which remains complete and in perfect condition, with its original 52 cards. Increasing the value, one of the cards is signed by the artisan who made the deck: Michael Frommer, Augsburg Germany, 1616.

The deck fetched more than double in auction then the auction house had expected, who had predicted a sale of between $150,000 and $250,000 converting the deck into one of the most expensive silver items ever auctioned.

The deck once belonged to the Spanish Royal Family and it was the Infanta Carlota of Borbón (1175-1830) who gifted the cards to Josefa Oribe and Viana de Contucci and Viana (ancestors of the person who up until the auction had been the owner). The Infanta Carlota was the wife of John VI of Portugal and Brazil (1767-1826) and daughter of Charles IV of Spain. Oribe, president of Uruguay from 1835-1838, kept the cards in his family until now.

The deck of cards plated in silver were popular items among nobles and merchants during the 16th century. They were often found on display in their cabinets, filled with valuable objects from works of arts to scientific instruments. Despite their wide popularity, only 5 silver decks are known to still be in existence, and the one auctioned yesterday is the only surviving deck with all 52 cards.

Check out the Spanish deck in the picture, known as a baraja española in Spanish. A deck of Spanish cards forms an integral part of many Spanish games. They are uniquely different to Anglo-American cards, you won't find cards like these in Las Vegas!