Lo Scarabeo's reprint of Grimaud's Tarot de Marseille from 1890s: the box showing the Chariot card image, card backs with a reddish brown dotted design, and sample cards from left to right: Ace of Coins, Chariot, 10 of Coins, and Juno (instead of the Popess). The replacement of the Popess with Juno makes this a modern remake of the historical Besançon type tarots (from an even earlier historical moment when the Popess and Pope were replaced by Roman gods due to religious sensitivities).

Comparison of the Temperance card from the 1890s version (left) and a reprint of the 1930s version with darker blues and reds (now reprinted by Éditions Grancher as 'Le Tarot de Marseille, with really deliciously textured, waxy, high quality card stock) https://www.grancher.com/produit/365/9782733915677/le-tarot-de-marseille

Lo Scarabeo's reprint of the French publisher Grimaud's Tarot de Marseille from the 1890s. Later reprints became the most popular 20th-century TdM: Grimaud's Ancien Tarot de Marseille, with increasingly darker and more limited primary colours (see comment and alt text ⬇️) #TarotSky #HistoricalTarot

From left to right and top to bottom: the Popess card, tuck box decorated with Temperance vard image, title card, black and white card backs, Moon card, Devil card, and Ace of Cups. The cards have black line drawings on a warm beige background.

The Rosenwald Redux Tarot Kickstarter by @tarotkingofms.bsky.social arrived! Beautiful reconstruction of very important historic cards (15th-century sheets of uncut tarot cards decorated with woodcut illustrations). Sturdy linen finish card stock. I love the hairy Devil! #TarotSky #HistoricalTarot

The Temperance card, depicting the winged Virtue pouring water between two jugs.

From left to right, the box, beige card backs with a dotted design, Two of Batons card, and Empress card (showing the Empress seated on a throne and holding a shield upon which the double-headed eagle symbol of the former Habsburg dynasty is not-so-convincingly blacked out.

The 6 of Swords, Moon, and Ace of Cups cards from left to right. The cards are oversized, reproduce the aging and stains from the originals, and are printed in this 1994 French language edition on textured art card stock.

Edoardo Dotti's tarot from mid-19th-century Milan, republished by Laura Tuan/Editions de Vecchi. Dotti's tarots drew from the style of the earlier printer Gumppenberg's famous Soprafino tarot, but with the Habsburg eagle images removed, so as not to piss off Napoleon III #TarotSky #HistoricalTarot

Oooh, aaah!!! #TarotSky #HistoricalTarot

The Star card, depicting one of the Magi riding a galloping white horse. The star shines above him in a blue sky with fluffy clouds. He is wearing a red robe/long tunic trimmed at the shoulders with ermine fur and carrying a gold vessel in his hand.

The box, card backs (depicting a woman and labeled 'Etruria '), the title card more appropriately naming the deck as 'Antiche Minchiate Etruria'), and sample cards left to right: Hope, Water, and the Knight of Coins.

Three cards from left to right: Queen of Cups, 5 of Swords, and Capricorn. Minchiate pip cards are 9ften decorated with critters: here the middle card shows a dog or fox poking its head out of a hen house while indignant chickens look on from outside.

The Minchiate Etruria, printed in Italy in the early 19th century, using engravings from a century earlier. Out of print by Lo Scarabeo though sometimes found used/new on eBay for reasonable price! (This edition confusingly misnames it as Minchiate Fiorentine on the box) #TarotSky #HistoricalTarot

The artist of arguably the most famous tarot deck the world over, even recognisable to those who have never used tarot due to its frequent appearance in films and TV shows: the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot #TarotSky #HistoricalTarot

The Justice card, depicting a fierce woman in a bright, acidically green skirt, and holding a set of scales and a sword. A tablet of laws (labeled 'Lois' in French) leans against her chair.

The box (decorated with the Fool card image), card backs in muted red and green plaid, and sample cards from left to right: 8 of Coins, Juno instead of the Popess, 2 of Cups below, and the Empress on the right.

Three cards from left to right, in which the suspected green pigment is prominent in grass and textiles: the Knight of Swords, Ace of Cups, and Moon.

Pellerin & Cie's Épinal Tarot, reproduction copy by DeviantMoon

The 1860 original was printed near the end of the period of popularity of Scheele's and Paris Green pigments, both very toxic due to arsenic content. Unknown if original deck used this colourant, but possible #TarotSky #HistoricalTarot

print; playing-card | British Museum Complete pack of 78 tarot playing-cards. Hand-coloured woodcut Backs printed pink with a standing wreathed figure holding bunches of grapes (Fortuna?). Lettered at the bottom "Fab. In Trieste" Late ...

And here are images of an original printing of this deck from the British Museum. Ortmann's reproduction can often be found (used) for a very low price online (eBay, Abebooks etc) #TarotSky #HistoricalTarot #ArtHistory

www.britishmuseum.org/collection/o...

A close-up of the Queen of Swords, in pink, yellow, and blue pastel colours. She is wearing a crown, sitting on a throne, and holding a sword, with a gentle expression on her face.

From right to left: the King of Batons, 2 of Cups, and Hermit card. The Two of Cups card is printed with the words "Fabrica di Angelo Valla in Trieste".

The book and box (bound together), red and white flower-patterned card backs, and sample cards from the deck. The book cover states "Der Lombardische Tarot, Peter Ortmann, Mit historischem Kartendeck." The sample cards from bottom left to top right are: he Moon, Popess, Fool, and Two of Wands.

Reading tarot is an act of emotional and community care.

So for now, I offer you the gentlest and kindest faces in my historical tarot collection. A reproduction of the 1790 original, printed by Angelo Valla in Trieste. Republished by Peter Ortmann as 'Lombardische Tarot' #TarotSky #HistoricalTarot

Knight of Batons, and his skeptical-looking horse

The Moon and Strength cards (left to right)

The box and card backs (with an ermine-fur pattern) on the left, and a selection of cards: Popess, Two of Coins with their connecting ribbon stating the cartier's information (made in Lyon by Jean Dodal), the King of Wands, and the ornate Two of Cups again stating the maker's name.

Jean Dodal's TdM from 1701 reproduced (with some refreshment of colour) by Tarotgraphe. This version's pastel pinks and blues, and Dodal's canny faces, make this my favourite Marseille deck. Incredible, buttery-textured card stock. Historically important deck #TarotTuesday #TarotSky #HistoricalTarot

Oh oh oh! The V&A's video showcasing historical tarot decks in their collection! The Visconti, Soprafino, and Minchiate Etruria are divine #TarotSky #HistoricalTarot

www.youtube.com/watch?v=bd6G...

A close-up of the serene, smiling face of the Strength/Fortitude figure. She is holding a classical column in her lap.

The box, extensive guidebook, and sample cards.

Sample cards from top to bottom and right to left: Capricorn, Four of Swords (decorated with critters including a napping unicorn), the Knight of Batons as a human lion hybrid, Element of Water (showing a ship and sailors), the card backs presumably showing an image of Gaetano the printer and labeled with his sign (All Aquila, or by the sign of the eagle), and the Prudence card with her mirror and snake.

Le Tarot Minchiate restauré, a restoration of the 18th-century Italian Minchiate Gaetano/al Aquila (the printer's name/sign respectively) by Emmanuelle Iger and Isabelle Nadolny. Colours returned to original richness. The knights are human-animal hybrids! #TarotSky #TarotTuesday #HistoricalTarot

A close-up of the charioteer's handsome face in Pierre Madenie's Tarot de Marseille Chariot card. He is holding a staff and wearing a crown, as well as chest and shoulder armour. The spaulders protecting his shoulders are in the shape of human faces.

The card backs (with a royal blue and white all-over design), box, and three sample cards from left to right: 9 of Swrods, King of Batons, and Ace of Cups. The box says: El Tarot de Marsella, Marianne Costa, Libro y Tarot de Marsella, Original de Madenie (1709)

The Chariot and 2 of Coins cards from left to right. The chariot is pulled by two blue horses, and the two coins are connected by a ribbon with the cartier's information printed on it: Pierre Madenie Cartier du Prince 1709.

A facsimile of Pierre Madenie's Tarot de Marseille from 1709, by Marianne Costa. Madenie's tarot is known for the delicate, expressive beauty of its human faces and their curling hair, as seen in the Chariot card here. Very matte, slightly larger than normal card stock #TarotSky #HistoricalTarot

The wonderful Mascha from Musings by Mascha walks us through the Rosenwald Redux Tarot (link to ongoing Kickstarter in comment!), its history, and imagery. As she notes, the black ink will be darker and the backgrounds warmer and more vintage-y than in the review copy #TarotSky #HistoricalTarot #art

The Rosenwald Redux Tarot A close reimagining of the late fifteenth-century "Rosenwald Tarot" that respects its simple beauty, built for the modern reader.

#TarotSky #HistoricalTarot #ArtHistory #Illustration

The Rosenwald Redux Tarot: An Introduction Ever since I first laid eyes on the Rosenwald images in the first volume of Stuart Kaplan’s Encyclopedia of Tarot, I have been fascinated with their primitive, elegant simplicity; for me, they are …

I really hope this Kickstarter succeeds (link in comment)!!! Robby Fowler @tarotkingofms.bsky.social has created a usable and uniquely affordable version of the important Rosenwald Tarot/Minchiate deck from c.1500 (possibly the first tarot of its time made for the masses!) #TarotSky #HistoricalTarot

The tuck box (stating Edoardo Dotti Lombardy Tarot 1865, Deviant Moon Inc. and decorated with the Strength card showing a figure wrestling a lion) and card backs (with a yellow and blue geometric pattern and the text 'Milano'). Also three cards from left to right: The 5 of Cups, Queen of Swords, and Ace of Coins. The latter has the printer's name (Edoardo Dotti) and location (Milano) printed around the circumference of the coin.

Three cards from the Edoardo Dotti tarot deck from left to right: Justice, the Moon, and the Knight of Swords.

A tarot by Edoardo Dotti (1865 in Milan), reprinted by Deviant Moon Inc. Edoardo's father, Teodoro, took over Ferdinando Gumppenberg's print shop. Dotti tarots thus are derived from the Soprafino. Scrumptious dark pink and mallard green and blue colours! #TarotSky #HistoricalTarot #TarotTuesday

The Rosenwald Redux Tarot A close reimagining of the late fifteenth-century "Rosenwald Tarot" that respects its simple beauty, built for the modern reader.

A new recreation of the Rosenwald Tarot is on Kickstarter! This is the first known historical tarot deck made for the general public, around 1490-1500. Recreation is by Robbie Fowler and the campaign ends on Dec 14th #TarotSky #HistoricalTarot #ArtHistory

www.kickstarter.com/projects/tar...

Three cards from the deck from left to right: the armoured King of Swords on his throne, Two of Coins showing the printer's name and location (François Gassman, Geneva), and a very floral Two of Swords.

The black card box and card backs, above three cards from left to right: the Lovers, Queen of Cups, and Judgment (with clothed figures)

The Gassman Tarot facsimile by Vieux Monde Express (linen finish). Photos can't fully convey the deck's stunning beauty: colours seem to glow from within against the peachy background. At some point in history, someone also painted clothes on figures without! #TarotSky #HistoricalTarot #TarotTuesday

If you are interested in the medieval and Renaissance art history of the Seven Virtues in tarot (Temperance, Strength, Justice) and minchiate (cousin of tarot, also including Hope, Prudence, Faith and Charity), check out this Youtube video by Musings by Mascha!
#TarotSky #HistoricalTarot #ArtHistory

The Empress card, depicting a crowned woman in an ethereal white, Empire-style dress and blue cloak.

The card backs with a black and white X and dot design, the Magician, Moon, and Lovers cards, from left to right. The Magician and woman in the Lovers card are wearing early 19th-century clothing (the woman in an empire-waisted pink dress and the Magician in breeches and a stylish cocked hat), while the two men in the Lovers card are dressed in a 19th-century imagining of imperial and military ancient Roman dress.

Three pip cards: Ace of Coins, Knight of Cups (an ancient Roman cavalryman riding away from us), and Four of Swords

Tarot from the time of Jane Austen! The Tarocco Neoclassico from 1810, reprinted by Il Meneghello. Empire-style dresses, delicate engraving, beautiful pink tones. Originally printed by Ferdinando Gumppenberg in Milan. Gentle imagery but stern, accurate readings #TarotSky #HistoricalTarot #WitchAlt

The Strength card, showing a serene-faced woman in a red cloak and wide-brimmed hat, holding open the jaws of a yellow-maned lion that has huge claws.

The tarot box, decorated with the Star card and the publisher Il Meneghello's red wax seal, the beige card backs with a dotted black design, and the Justice, Moon, and Emperor cards (left to right).

The BEAUTIFUL 19th-century Tarocco Piemontese (Piedmont Tarot) major arcana by Il Meneghello Edizioni in Milan. The minty green, purple-blue, and pinky strawberry red colours are unique. Features Il Meneghello's pleasantly textured art cardstock #TarotTuesday #WitchAlt #TarotSky #HistoricalTarot

The Temperance card, showing a blue-haired angel pouring water between two vessels

From left to right: the Knight of Cups, Two of Coins (with the original publishing house, B.P. Grimaud's, inscription and two dates (1748 and 1930, the former presumably referring to the Arnoult card makers?)), and the King of Coins.

The box, card back with a delicate swirly blue-green pattern, and Moon, Four of Swords, and Nine of Coins cards (left to right).

Overdue #TarotTuesday post: Éditions Grancher's reprint of Paul Marteau's 1930 Ancien Tarot de Marseille. Gentler colours than more recent editions. Lovely buttery card stock and great price. Marteau's claim to antiquity aside, it gives really clear, insightful readings! #TarotSky #HistoricalTarot

The Moon card from Lo Scarabeo's Visconti-Sforza tarot recreation. Metallic paper imitates the gilding on the original card. #TarotTuesday #TarotSky #HistoricalTarot

The box of the deck, featuring Il Mago (the magician), the ornate card backs, and from left to right, the Justice, 4 of Coins, and Hermit (or rather Saturn/Time) cards. The pip cards includes the inscription of the motto, "a bon droyt" or "by good right"

From left to right and top to bottom: the Queen of Cups, Popess, Chariot, Knight of Swords, and 4 of Swords

Lo Scarabeo's recreation of a gilded Visconti-Sforza tarot deck from 15th-century Italy. A treasure of late medieval/early Renaissance miniature painting, as well as an impressive array of fabulous hats! My next post is a video capturing the gilded effect #TarotTuesday #TarotSky #HistoricalTarot

The beautiful Temperance card from the Tarocchi Marsigliesi Fratelli Recchi. This cardinal virtue is symbolised by a blue-haired angel wearing a green, blue, and orange dress, pouring water between two vessels at a gravity-defying angle.

Three cards from the Tarocchi Marsigliesi deck, from left to right: the Bateleur or street magician at his tricks table, the Two of Cups printed with the name of the printers (Fratelli Recchi), and Temperance.

The box, blue and white patterned card backs, and several cards from the deck (the Empress at the top right, the Four of Swords, and at the bottom left the King of Swords). All human figures have blue hair.

Lo Scarabeo's facsimile of Tarocchi Marsigliesi Fratelli Recchi (Turin, 1830). Preserves the fading of the original and the figures' blue hair, a detail that reappears in Paul Marteau's 1930 Tarot de Marseille and its Grimaud/Dusserre reprints thereafter! #TarotTuesday #TarotSky #HistoricalTarot

The box of the Jean Dodal tarot deck showing the Fool card, the card backs (with an ermine fur design/pattern), and three cards: the 2 of Batons, Chariot, and 2 of Cups from left to right

A few cards from the deck, from top left to bottom: Love, the Hanged One, the Popess, and the 2 of Coins with the inscription by the cartier.

Jean Dodal's Tarot de Marseille, printed in 1701 and recreated by Jean-Claude Flornoy. This is a quirky, wonderful tarot with rough-and-ready woodblock images and no-nonsense energy. The eagle-eyed will notice oddities in the original labels on some cards! #TarotTuesday #TarotSky #HistoricalTarot

The box of the Vachier Tarot showing the Judgement card

The Vachier Tarot box describing the deck's 1639 date and origin on Marseille

A surprise find from a games shop in Paris (Variantes): Yves Renaud's facsimile of the 1639 Vachier Tarot, the oldest surviving complete deck from Marseille. Features a beautiful purple instead of the familiar blue that came into use later! Shop links below ⬇️ #TarotSky #HistoricalTarot #WitchAlt

Five historical tarot deck facsimiles and recreations from top left to bottom right: Le Grand Etteilla by Editions Grancher, Le Tarot Minchiate Restauré, the Jean Noblet Tarot de Marseille, the Conver TdM, and the Jean Dodal TdM.

Historical tarot haul (1600s-1700s) from La Librairie de L'Inconnu in Paris ♦️♠️ Floor to ceiling shelves of tarot and oracle decks of all sorts! The blue box is Emmanuelle Iger's exquisitely beautiful facsimile of Nicolas Conver's Tarot de Marseille #TarotSky #HistoricalTarot #WitchAlt shop link ⬇️

And #HistoricalTarot