Martín Fierro

Martín Fierro was created by José Hernandez (1834-1886) in 1872, and today ranks as the highest achievement in Argentinean romantic Gaucho literature and poetry. Rooted in popular oral poetry, it has become something like a national poem. Hernandez was involved in many spheres of activity during his life, including the newspaper industry, government, education and banking. Several passages of his epic poem are written in the local gaucho dialect: the narrative touches upon issues such as the fight for freedom against adversity and injustice, love for humanity, truth and integrity, all aptly expressed in the drawings and overall slightly sombre presentation in this deck of playing cards.

Above: Naipes "Martín Fierro", 48 cards + 2 jokers in presentation box. Anonymous manufacturer, made in Argentina, 2000. Artistically well-conceived design, plastic coated cards, rounded corners. Each card features a six-line stanza from the epic poem by José Hernandez, accompanied by illustrations of gaucho life and a miniature spanish-suited playing card in the top left-hand corner. The reverse design features mate gourds.

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By Simon Wintle

Member since February 01, 1996

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Curator 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.