In 1868, Heraclio Fournier, descendant of renowned master printers of Paris, established and founded a small playing card factory in Vitoria, Spain.
The business prospered quickly and Fournier had to move to a larger space.
In 1875, Fournier adopted new printing methods and new graphic designs for its playing cards. Two years later, Emilio Soubrier and the Vitorian painter Díaz de Olano requested the services of Heraclio Fournier and they created the designs of the emblematic Spanish deck of the company. This deck won first prize at the Universal Exhibition in Paris in 1889.
In 1889, Heraclio Fournier created the lithographic deck with 12 colours, with the distinct characteristic of his own face on the Ace of Coins. This deck won prizes at the exhibitions of Paris, Brussels, Barcelona, Madrid, Cairo, and others. Later, Augusto Rius would revise the design, giving to the cards their own definitive style, very similar to those we have today.
In 1916, Heraclio Fournier died in Vichy, but the company continued its expansion, run by his grandson Félix Alfaro, who replaced him as the head of the business. He was responsible for the great worldwide development of the brand and the international fame of the Spanish deck.
In 1948, Fournier Playing Cards had already become the national market leader. In order to respond to the increasing demand, the company moved to a new, larger factory incorporating the latest technological advances of the era and establishing the base of its international consolidation.
In 1993, Fournier Playing Cards moved to its current location to adequately attend to the quality requirements demanded internationally. This Company's modern facilities, with the latest technological advances, create a product unique for its quality and precision.