The World of Playing Cards Logo

The English Playing Card Society

EPCS Logo

Promoting research into English card history since 1984. Members receive the EPCS magazine three times a year.

Join from £10/year

El Monoplano

Published November 09, 2013 Updated June 20, 2022

María González Rizzo (1926-1940) followed in her father's business producing Spanish-suited brands such as “Los Dos Tigres”, “La Española” and an Anglo-American style deck titled “El Monoplano”

1926 SpainMaría González RizzoMonoplano

El Monoplano

María González Rizzo (Cádiz)

ne of the last playing card manufacturers based in Cádiz (Southern Spain), María González Rizzo (1926-1940) followed in her father's business producing Spanish-suited brands such as “Los Dos Tigres”, “La Española” and an Anglo-American style deck titled “El Monoplano” (shown here, it is actually a bi-plane). The business was finally taken over by Heraclio Fournier in 1940.

The back design is similar to one of USPCC's ‘War Series’ Bicycle backs produced around 1918 featuring instruments of war. The court cards are a copy of Goodall's courts, and the Joker is a copy of Goodall's with a redrawn head, plus a reference to USPCC Jokers with ‘OS’ instead of ‘US’ in the indices. The Ace of Spades is anonymous.

El Monoplano by María González Rizzo (Cádiz) c.1926

Above: square cornered edition of 'El Monoplano' playing cards produced by María González Rizzo (Cádiz) c.1926. A Spanish-suited pack with the same name and a patience size version were also produced. Later editions had rounded corners. 52 cards + 2 Jokers. Images courtesy Ken Lodge.


REFERENCES

Dawson, Tom & Judy: The Hochman Encyclopedia of American Playing Cards, U.S. Games Systems Inc., 2000 (see page 90).

Pérez González, Alberto: Los Naipes de Cádiz, in LA SOTA no.13, Asescoin, Madrid, October 1995.

avatar
1,494 Articles

By Simon Wintle

Spain • Member since February 01, 1996

I am the founder of The World of Playing Cards (est. 1996), a website dedicated to the history, artistry and cultural significance of playing cards and tarot. Over the years I have researched various areas of the subject, acquired and traded collections and contributed as a committee member of the IPCS and graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal. Having lived in Chile, England, Wales, and now Spain, these experiences have shaped my work and passion for playing cards. Amongst my achievements is producing a limited-edition replica of a 17th-century English pack using woodblocks and stencils—a labour of love. Today, the World of Playing Cards is a global collaborative project, with my son Adam serving as the technical driving force behind its development. His innovative efforts have helped shape the site into the thriving hub it is today. You are warmly invited to become a contributor and share your enthusiasm.

Activity for El Monoplano

Sign in to comment or save this article.


Related Articles

Miniature spanish-suited playing cards

Miniature spanish-suited playing cards

Pack of 48 miniature spanish playing-cards published by C R.

1860 José Cumplido

José Cumplido

Raimundo García pattern produced by José Cumplido in Madrid, dated 1860 on the four of coins.

1460 XV Century Spanish-suited playing cards

XV Century Spanish-suited playing cards

XV Century Spanish-suited playing cards with moorish influences

1820 Llombart pattern

Llombart pattern

The Llombart pattern originated in Spain during the early 19th century.

1584 Toledo, 1584

Toledo, 1584

Archaic Spanish-suited deck with 48 cards made in Toledo in 1584.

1682 Navarra Pattern, 1682

Navarra Pattern, 1682

Navarra pattern produced for the Pamplona General Hospital Monopoly in 1682.

Cádiz Pattern playing cards

Cádiz Pattern playing cards

A popular Spanish playing card pattern widely exported to Spanish-influenced markets.

1999 Mas-Reynals Catalan Pattern

Mas-Reynals Catalan Pattern

Mas-Reynals standard Catalan pattern comes in several slightly different versions.

1800 Pedro Rotxotxo

Pedro Rotxotxo

Standard Spanish National pattern by Pedro Rotxotxo, Barcelona, late 18th century.

Xilografías de Mallorca

Xilografías de Mallorca

Spanish National pattern re-printed from original woodblocks which are preserved in the monastery at...

1920 Luis Guarro, c.1920

Luis Guarro, c.1920

Luis Guarro’s “El Caballo con Manta” Catalan pattern by Fabricantes de Naipes de España, c.1920.

Navarra, XVII Century

Navarra, XVII Century

Facsimile of 17th century Spanish-suited playing cards produced by Erregeak, Sormen S.A., Vitoria-Ga...

1830 Maciá Pattern

Maciá Pattern

The Maciá Pattern which was originally produced by a Barcelona cardmaker in the 1830s and subsequent...

1840 Sanmartí, 1840

Sanmartí, 1840

Sanmartí, 1840.

Heraclio Fournier S.A.

Heraclio Fournier S.A.

Founded in 1868, today it is part of Cartamundi.

1900 Fló Hermanos y Compañía, importers of playing-cards, Argentina, 1860-1910

Fló Hermanos y Compañía, importers of playing-cards, Argentina, 1860-1910

Fló Hermanos y Compañía, importers of playing-cards, Argentina, 1860-1910.

Spanish Playing Cards ~ La Baraja Española

Spanish Playing Cards ~ La Baraja Española

Spain has played a pivotal role in the history of playing cards in Europe and Latin America.

1932 Significado de los Naipes Españoles

Significado de los Naipes Españoles

Cartomantic meanings of Spanish playing cards by Benita the Witch (XVI century), published by Chocol...

1930 Baraja Boxeo

Baraja Boxeo

Baraja de Boxeo, c.1930.

About Heraclio Díaz

About Heraclio Díaz

Heraclio Díaz lives in the Canary Islands (Spain).


Sign in with Google