Naipes Criollos
“Naipes Criollos” Gaucho playing cards, 1995.

Gaucho playing cards with non-standard suit symbols and court cards wearing traditional gaucho attire, including ponchos, bombachas and gaucho hats. The jokers depict Argentine Payadors - gaucho folksingers. The legend “Un Peso Fuerte en Union y Libertad”, inscribed around the ace of coins, is Argentina’s national motto. The central “Sol de Mayo” [radiant yellow sun] is a national emblem.



Above: Gaucho playing cards with allegorical suit symbols, unknown artist, Published by BEAS, Argentina, 1995. 48 cards + 2 jokers.

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.