Gaucho Naipes
‘Gaucho’ Spanish-suited deck, anonymous manufacturer, made in Argentina, 2001.
Gaucho Spanish-suited deck made in Argentina, 2001. The four suit symbols represent characteristic items from Argentine culture, such as the mate gourd and the facón, whilst the name 'Mandinga' for the 2 jokers is a synonym for the devil in Argentinean folklore. The sun shown on the ace coins is the sun found on the Argentinean national flag and represents the first coin minted after Independence of the United Provinces of the River Plate in 1812, a symbol of national identity.



Above: ‘Gaucho’ spanish-suited deck, anonymous manufacturer, made in Argentina, 2001. 48 cards + 2 jokers in box. The name 'Mandinga' for the 2 jokers is a synonym for the devil in Argentinean folklore.

By Simon Wintle
Member since February 01, 1996
View ArticlesCurator 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.