Just days after celebrating its 125th anniversary, River added a new piece to its rich history. The Museum, Trophies, and History Department of the club announced the discovery of an unpublished crest from 1914, a symbol that until now remained unknown to members, fans, and researchers.
The institution announced the news through the social media of the River Museum, where it explained that the discovery is part of the survey and research work being carried out on the early years of the club. It is an emblem that had never been publicly disseminated and provides new information about the evolution of River Plate's visual identity.
The crest was found in a membership card belonging to Esteban Fortunati, River's member number 4 and a key figure in the institutional growth during the early decades of the 20th century. In addition to being one of the pioneers of the entity, he held various executive positions, including vice president, treasurer, and board member.
The membership card of Esteban Fortunati, member number 4 of River
According to the club, the discovered design features a circular shape and typography inspired by the Art Nouveau style, an artistic movement very popular in the early 20th century. The historical document was brought to the museum by Florencia Gilardón, Fortunati's great-granddaughter, who initiated a family investigation that ultimately contributed a valuable piece to the Millionaire's heritage.
The unpublished shield of River
Throughout its history, River has modified its visual identity several times. While the transformations of recent decades have been minor and maintained a recognizable aesthetic line, the early years were marked by designs that were very different from each other. This new discovery allows us to learn about a previously unknown chapter of that evolution and expands the historical archive of one of the most important clubs in Argentine football.
