Perónist Political Packs from Argentina
La Baraja 'Popular', 1951
Perón and his wife Eva were a charismatic team loved by the working class, loathed by the rich. Perón shaped Argentine history, he embraced the working class and empowered trade unions. Perón drew power to himself: he quarreled with the Catholic Church. In 1955 the army moved against him and he was exiled to Spain. Allowed to return in 1973, he was elected president but died in less than a year. He was succeeded by his third wife, Isabel, but soon after the army stepped in again. (Wikipedia article in Spanish)
Above: eight cards from la baraja 'Popular', a 48-card pack featuring Juan Domingo Perón on all four 12s, issued at the time of Perón's election campaign in 1951. The reverse shows silhouettes of Juan Domingo Perón and his wife Evita. The symbolism in the pack reflects Perón's political agenda.
The back of the wrapper reads: "El naipe español es esencialmente usado por la mayoría de nuestro pueblo. A través de él, millares de personas dejan descargar alegrías y ansiedades. Es por eso que decidimos realizar esta serie llamada POPULAR, conteniendo modificaciones que no hacen a las posibilidades de juego, pero sí a darle mayor vivencia, a tratar de romper con lo monótono y fundamentalmente a que sean distintos."
Anti-Perón Pack
Above: four cards from original edition of anti-peronist playing cards deck, issued completely anonymously. Dire consequences would have befallen the author had they been identified. The ace of coins reads "Se Evita Nombrarlo" probably alluding the banning of the Peronist political party between 1955-1973. The barrel of films is a reference to Perón having forbidden films showing his wife Evita when she was an actress. All the coin symbols (tyres) show 'nafta' petrol rationing tokens in the centre. Perón himself is depicted with horns ('cornudo') because he was impotent or sterile ('cuckold'). (Wikipedia article in Spanish)
Above: four cards from the reproduction of the anti-peronist playing cards deck published by Juan José Ruiz . Further details of availability from Juan José Ruiz (jr) email: juanchiomdnew@hotmail.com
The 12 of batons shows Perón wearing a mask. The 10 of batons depicts a corrupt bandit-officer of the Perón administration. The ace of cups depicts victims of the 1944 earthquake and military personnel greedily hoarding money and property which had been intended to relieve the homeless victims of the earthquake. The 12 of coins shows an official loaded with gold grinning voraciously.
