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Fournier’s Castilian pattern

Published July 03, 1996 Updated July 04, 2023

Designed by Emilio Soubrier, Ignacio Díaz and Augusto Rius during the 1880s as a new definitive national pattern.

1880 Spain Heraclio Fournier Hijos de Heraclio Fournier Augusto Rius Emilio Soubrier Ignacio Díaz Castilian Pattern Patterns and Suit Types

Designed by Emilio Soubrier, Ignacio Díaz and Augusto Rius during the 1880s as a new definitive national pattern, these medieval fantasy designs have become ubiquitous among Spanish playing cards of the twentieth century. Having been widely exported, they are widely plagiarised and copied in Latin America.

Naipe Opaco Marfil No.15 Spanish Castilian style playing cards made by Hijos de Heraclio Fournier for Maruẍa razor blades

Above: Naipe Opaco Marfil No.15 Spanish Castilian style playing cards made by Hijos de Heraclio Fournier for Maruẍa razor blades, early 1930s.

Naipe Español No.101 manufactured by Hijos de Heraclio Fournier (Vitoria) c.1940 Naipe Español No.101 manufactured by Hijos de Heraclio Fournier (Vitoria) c.1940

Above: Naipe Español No.101 (miniature playing cards) manufactured by Hijos de Heraclio Fournier (Vitoria) c.1940. This particular pack was exported to Argentina and has the Spanish exportation tax stamp on the five of swords.

No.1 Spanish Castilian style playing cards made in Spain by Naipes Heraclio Fournier for Palomino & Vergara Jerez Fabuloso, 1970

Above: 'Naipes Fibra Marfil' No.1 Spanish Castilian style playing cards made in Spain by Naipes Heraclio Fournier for Palomino & Vergara Jerez Fabuloso, 1970. Tax stamp on five of swords.

Naipes Fibra Marfil No.1 Spanish Castilian style playing cards made by Naipes Heraclio Fournier, Vitoria, Spain for Nivea

Above: 'Naipes Fibra Marfil' No.1 Spanish Castilian style playing cards made in Spain by Naipes Heraclio Fournier, Vitoria for Nivea, c.2002.

La baraja del Realmadrid club de futbol, 2004

Above: 'La baraja del Realmadrid club de futbol' Castilian style with custom coin symbols, Heraclio Fournier, 2004. Image courtesy Matt Probert.

See also:  No.1.E Castilian pattern, c.1935   Coopermatic, c.1983   Cerveza San Miguel, c.1988   Euskarar Araba c.1990   National Lottery Coupons, 2002   Carta Mundi Castilian pattern, 1995

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By Simon Wintle

Member since February 01, 1996

Founder and editor of the World of Playing Cards since 1996. He is a former committee member of the IPCS and was graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal for many years. He has lived at various times in Chile, England and Wales and is currently living in Extremadura, Spain. Simon's first limited edition pack of playing cards was a replica of a seventeenth century traditional English pack, which he produced from woodblocks and stencils.


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