... and in the begin were only 14 Trionfi cards ...

1457, 21 July – payment to Gerardo di Andrea da Vicenza

"Maestro Girardo de Andrea da Vizenza dipintore de avere adi 21 de luglio per sua fatura et spesa d'oro fino, coluri, de avere depinto para due de carte grande da trionfi, che sono carte 70 per zogo, le quale sono mese d'oro fitamente, et fate tute de coluri fini et brunide, et depinte de roverso uno paro rosa, uno paro verde. Le quale ebe Piedro de Schiveto per uxo de lo Signore ; de quale dito dimanda ducati 8 del paro, a soldi 56 per ducato, fano lire 22, soldi 8 ; et Galioto li tasa lire 28. Se n'abate soldi 2 per lira, sono 2, soldi 16; resta suo credito…L.25.4."

"Maestro Gerardo di Andrea da Vicenza, painter, having the 21st day of July, for his making and expense in fine gold, coloured, for having painted two packs of big triumph cards, which are 70 cards per deck, covered thickly with gold, and made entirely of colours fine and rich, and painted on the reverse one pack red, one pack green. The which had Piedro de Schiveto for the use of the Lord; the which said [Gerardo] asked 8 ducats per pack, at 56 soldi per ducat, totalling 22 lire, 8 soldi; and Galeotto the tax 28 lire. Subracting 2 soldi per lira, which is 2, 16 soldi; remains to his credit … L. 25. 4."

This entry is of great importance for the 5x14-theory cause of the mentioned "70-cards". When we detected the existence of this document, final doubts about the theory droped from the table. I've had heard from "70 cards" in Ferrara, but had imagined, that the entry was from aroud 1445. When it turned out, that the note was as late as 1457 all my imaginations about the state of the early Trionfi decks turned out to be true.

In July 1457 Galeazzo Maria Sforza (13 years old) visited Ferrara. From here he wrote a letter to his father, that they played cards and visited the tennis court, the weather was bad, so they enjoyed indoor activities. The document is of some importance to the history of tennis, Galeazzo became a sponsor of the sport later.

Visits of young princes with chances to get the title of her father later were taken very seriously. Good and friendly relations might guarantee good political conditions in the future.

Probably the card production noted above relates to the preparations for this visit.Ross Gregory Caldwell researched the Galeazzo visit : Pizzagalli informs, that Galeazzo Maria left Milan on the 19th of July. The next day (20th) he wrote his father from Pavia, asking if he could take two French books with him. Then followed a two-day journey to Ferrara. He must have arrived the 22nd or 23rd of July. He stayed until September 8, so just under seven weeks [Tra due dinastie 164-168].
The Guardaroba entries (Franceschini I,823m-s) mention a good deal of artistic preparation for Galeazzo's visit, mostly by Gerardo di Andrea da Vicenza. Two packs of trionfi cards are recorded (see above), with security related to his visit.

At the 21st of July 1457 the 70 big trionfi cards are paid (document 16). It are 70 cards, not 78. This means: It were 5x14-decks.

Till 1457 a "22" never was mentioned in context with Trionfi cards.