Fool - Tarot card
0, Fool
Other names: Matto, Mat, Ma, LeFol, Le Fol, Le Fous
Oldest appearances:
- Pierpont-Morgan-Bergamo
- Rosenthal-Visconti-Sforza (as falconer ?)
- Goldschmidt (as falconer ?)
- (Mantegna)
- (Sola Busca)
- (Boiardo)
- Charles VI.
- d'Este cards
- group printed sheets - in fragments
- Parisian Tarot cards
- Lombardy I (?)
Other Decks:
- Liechtenstein'sches Spiel (as pissing Under)
- Hofämterspiel (4 Fools, as Aces)
Folly, according to a common opinion, means acting without reason. Cesare Ripa has this to say in his Iconologia: “Non è altro l’esser pazzo, secondo il nostro modo di parlare, che far le cose senza decoro, e fuor dal comune uso de gli uomini per privazioni di discorso senza ragione verisimile o stimolo di Religione” (Being mad, according to our way of speaking, means nothing but doing things without dignity, and outside of the common use of men, due to lack of discourse without likely reason or the stimulus of Religion). In the Gospel, he who does not believe is considered a fool, and often figures of fools appear in the Bibles of the 15th and 16th Centuries, illustrating Psalm 52 “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God!”.
In a 16th century Bible, I found the same depiction of the Fool as in the Florentine minchiate (figure 1): a man dressed in rags, with feathers stuck in his hair, who walks riding a stick; in his hand, he holds a pinwheel, and children appear around him (figure 2). Ripa, again, provides an identical description: “Un uomo di età virile starà ridente e a cavallo sopra una canna, nella destra mano terrà una girella di carta istromento piacevole, e trastullo de fanciulli, li quali con gran studio lo fanno girare al vento” (A man of adult age will be laughing, and riding a reed; in his right hand, he will hold a paper pinwheel, a pleasant instrument and an amusement for children, who take great care to make it turn in the wind). The same author also tells us that “reputandosi saviezza nella città ad un huomo di età matura trattare de reggimenti della famiglia e della Repubblica, Pazzia si dirà ragionevolmente alienarsi da queste attioni, per esercitare giuochi puerili e di nessun momento” (In the city, it is held to be wisdom for a man of mature age to engage in matters of the family and of the Republic, hence it will be reasonably called Folly to abstain oneself from these actions, in order to play childish games, of no import). The laughter of the Fool, which we find on the card of the so-called Tarot of Charles VI and in that of Ercole I d’ Este, is “facilmente indicio di pazzia, secondo il detto di Salomone; però si vede che gli uomini reputati savii poco ridono e Christo N.S. che fu la vera saviezza, e sapienza, non si legge, chi ridesse giammai” (easily evidence of folly, according to the words of Solomon; however, one can see that the men considered to be wise rarely laugh, and of Our Lord Christ, who was true wisdom and knowledge, we never read that he laughed). An anonymous etching of the 16th century shows a fool laughing before an angel, who covers his eyes with his hands in order not to see such an unconscionable deed (figure 3).
On the illuminated card of the Visconti-Sforza Tarots, the Fool carries feathers on his head and a stick on his shoulder (figure 4). A similar figure was painted by Giotto in the Scrovegni Chapel in Padova, as an image of Stultitia (Foolishness) (figure 5). In this fresco, the Fool holds an object between his lips which virtually prevents him from speaking. The notion of folly which we find in this allegory is further increased by the presence of feathers on the head of the character. We must first of all consider that in ancient times wings, feathers and plumage were used as symbols of speed. Cartari in his work Imagini de gli Dei de gl’Antichi (Images of the Gods of the Ancients) of 1647 repeatedly mentions the attributes of Apollo-Sun. These include wings and feathers, signifying the speed of the wit of Apollo, and of the trail followed by the Sun. Regarding the plumage on the head of Mercury, the authors says this “Furono date le penne a Mercurio, perché nel parlare, di ché egli era il Dio, le parole se ne volano per l'aria non altrimenti, che se havessero l'ali. Onde Omero chiama sempre le parole veloci, alate e che hanno penne” (Feathers were given to Mercury, because, when speaking - as he was the God - his words used to fly through the air, as if they had wings. This is why Homer always spoke of words as fast, winged, and feathered). Sebastian Brant in his work Der Narrenschiff (The Ship of Fools) of 1494 in sonnet LVII “On Divine Providence”, has this to say about presumptuous fools “One can even find fools who claim to gild their quilt pen with words, and believe themselves to be wise...”. The feathers on the head of the Fool thus represent the very elements which the fool is lacking in, that is speed and intellect, besides suitable words. In fact, the padlock sealing the mouth of the fool, as painted by Giotto, takes on this function, since the Fool otherwise would only speak foolish words, as described in the words of the Bible, “The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself. The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness” (Ecclesiastes 10:12, 13).
A version virtually identical to that of the Fool of the Visconti-Sforza card is a model copied from the previous original, also dating back to the 15th century, derived from the same pack of Triumphs of which we already know the cards of the Sun, of the Knave of Swords and of the Lovers of the Amedeo Cocchi collection. (The other two cards of the same collection, that is the Five of Pentacles and the Two of Cups are of a slightly later date, and belong to another pack). In Ercole I d’ Este’s Tarots, the Fool appears nearly naked. Concerning this, Ripa writes that “La Stoltizia si dipinge ignuda perché il pazzo palesa i suoi difetti ad ognuno, senza vergogna” (Foolishness is depicted naked, because the fool shows his defects to all, without any shame). In the so-called Tarots of Charles VI, the Fool wears a cap with huge ass ears, thus showing his beastly nature, and wears underwear of an incredibly modern design (figure 6). The image is very much like that of a fool shown in a codex from Bologna dating back to the second half of the 15th century (figure 7) carrying the usual stick, but in a way that it seems to cut through the palm of his hand (an allegorical relation with the stigmata of Our Lord) as can be seen, in a clearer fashion, in a woodcut in the work, mentioned above, by Brant. The presence of a reed, which has the same function as the stick, is justified in this way: “Chi mercede illimitata vuol godere, l’appoggio di una canna potrà avere fragile” (He who wishes to enjoy without limits, will have but the support of a fragile reed) (Sonnet LVII).
An iconographic variant concerns the representation of the Fool to be found in the so-called Mantegna Tarots, where a dog attacks the thighs of a poor man (figure 8). This figurative typology will remain stable throughout the later production of tarots. A kind of burden will also appear on the top of the stick, supported against a shoulder. The presence of a dog near a poor wanderer is typical in Medieval art, and provides a touch of realism, since this animal would bark and often attack vagabonds approaching houses in order to beg for charity. A well known example can be found in the representation of the Prodigal Son (figure 9) and of the Path of Life in Bosch’s Hay Triptych. Regarding this, there is an extremely interesting 15th century etching by Israel van Meckenem (figure 10). The diabolical symbolism associated with wind instruments - pipe and bagpipe, contrasting with the “celestial” string instruments - shows the negative character of the etching. On the other hand, the presence of the dog relates the jester-fool with the poor, thus making a bridge between the two iconographical variants.
We must now consider another aspect of folly, this time associated with its mystical and sacred vision. The Letter to the Corinthians was very much in favour during the Renaissance. Some of its words reflect the relation which exists between Folly and the Divine: “For the word of the cross is to them that perish foolishness” (I, 1, 18); “Let no man deceive himself. If any man thinks that he is wise among you in this world, let him become a fool, that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God” (I, 3, 18-19). It is only by giving up material goods that man can reach God, according to Christian thought.
The Fool, because he possesses this prerogative, was at times seen as someone inspired, just a step away from the Divine. It is always Brant who satirizes about vainglorious fools: “They believe that God has benefited them, and has left them His gifts for ever” (Sonnet LVII). Concerning the divine nature of folly in relation to tarots, there is an enlightening manuscript by an anonymous 16th century author, which I discovered at the Este Library of Modena and later submitted to the attention of Pietro Marsilli. In order to conquer the heat of a lady at the court, a certain Mamma Riminaldi, the anonymous author found no better remedy than that of taking a card out a pack of tarots, the Fool “who is divine brain”. This is why the oldest known list of tarots, the Sermones de ludo cum aliis, places “El matto” (The Fool) next to “El mondo” (The World), that is God the Father.
Extract WWPCM, special Tarot motifs with related deck
Visconti Tarocchi
Deck * I Tarocchi dei Visconti Sforza - Italy, Dal Negro (reprint of original from after 1450)
Deck * I Tarocchi dei Visconti - Italy, Lo Scarabeo (remake of 1995)
Deck * Italy Tarot - Ukraine, unknown (2003) (no small arcana, additional great arcana)
Incomplete Visconti Tarocchi
Deck * Pierpont Morgan, Visconti Sforza - Switzerland, AGM (1975, reprint of ca. 1450)
Tarot de Marseille
Deck * VSS, Germany (2001, reprint of 1930/1748)
Deck * Grimaud, Tarot of Marseilles - France (1963, reprint of 1761 of Nicolas Convert)
Deck * Fournier, Tarot of Marseilles - Spain (1984, reprint of 18th century)
Deck * Tarot de Marseille, reprint AGMüller, Switzerland (1870)
Deck * Fournier, Le Tarot de Marseille - France (1992)
Incomplete versions of Tarot de Marseille
Deck * 1743, by Jean Payen, Tarot de Marseille / 1760 complete version of Nicolaus Conver, reprint of 1860
Deck * G.Drago, Tarot of Marseilles - Italy (ca. 1790)
Deck * Gorizia, Tarot of Marseilles (18th c.)
Deck * Berti, Tarot of Marseilles (18th c.)
Deck * Tarot of Marseilles - Italy, unknown (ca. 1830)
Deck * Gassmann, Tarot of Marseilles - Switzerland (1840 - 1860)
Tarot Besancon
Deck * 1920, probably older woodblocks from J.Jerger, "Renault", Tarot de Besancon
Incomplete versions of Tarot Besancon
Deck * 1748, reprint from ca. 1889 by "Grimaud" France, called "Ancient Tarot de Marseille" edition by Arnoult
Deck * Besancon Tarot, ca 1760, Goebl (Bavaria)
Tarocco Piemontese
Deck * Fabbrica di Vergnano, Tarocco Piedmontese, Italy ca. 1850
Deck * 1884, A. Viassione (Torino, Italy) Tarocco Piemontese
Deck * Dal Negro (Italy), Tarocchi Piemontese
Tarot Belgique
Deck * Tarot Flamand - Swiss, AGM (reprint from 1780, Vandenboerre deck)
Deck * 1831/1974, reproduction AGMüller (Suisse), Tarot
Deck * ca. 1870 "J.Gaudais" (Paris, France), deck "Tarot", (!!!) with Juno + Jupiter - pair
Egypt Tarot and variations
Deck * AGMuller, Switzerland) for USGS, USA, "Egipcios Kier Tarot"
Deck * Ibis Tarot (Egypt Tarot) - Russia, by Josef Machynka (modern)
Deck * Union Chernobil, "Egypt Tarot", Russia 2006
Rider-Waite-Smith and variations
Deck * Novosibirsk, Tarot of A.Waite - Russsia (1909/2001)
Deck * Universal Waite Tarot, AGMüller, Switzerland
Deck * The Golden Rider Tarot, AGMüller, Switzerland
Deck * De tarot in de Herstelde Orde - Holland, Servire (1995)(changed numbers)
Deck * since 2002, "Carta Mundi" (Belgium), publisher "Lo Scarabeo" (Italy), deck "Universal Tarot"
Deck * Tarot of the New Vision - Italy, Lo Scarabeo (2003)
Older decks with traditional number-row:
Deck * I Tarocchini - Italy, Dal Negro (reprint of 1665 Mitelli-deck)
Deck * Classical Tarot - Italy, Lo Scarabeo (2000, engravings from 1835)
Deck * Papus Tarot - Swiss, AGM (1989, original from 1889, small arcana from 1981)
Deck * Tarot of the Master (2002), remake of a deck of 1893, Lo Scarabeo
Deck * Cartomanzia Italiana, Solleone, Italy (19th/1983)
Deck * 1910 - 1912, Guglielmo Murari, deck "I Tarocchi"
Deck * 1922, Fratelli Armanino (Rome), Tarocchi
Deck * Crowley Tarot, AGMüller, Switzerland (1938-1944 / 1978)
Deck * Fournier, Spanish Tarot - Spain(1992)
Incomplete older decks with traditional number row
Deck * Tarot de Paris, 17th century, unknown reprint
Deck * Gumppenberg, Historical Tarock, Italy (1812)
Deck * ca. 1870, "Grimaud" (France) deck "Tarot"
Deck * 1885, Edoardo Dotti, Milan, Dellarocca Tarot
Deck * Venezian Tarock - Italy, Modiano (1964)
New Periode decks:
Deck * Aquarian Tarot - Swiss, AGM (1970)
Deck * Morgan-Greer Tarot - Swiss, AGM (1999 ?, first published 1979)
Deck * Hermetic Tarot - Swiss, AGM (1980)
Deck * I Tarocchi di Enzo Viviani, 1980/81, limited edition (no small arcana)
Deck * Hanson-Roberts Tarot - Swiss, AGM (1984)
Deck * Tarot Cat People - USA, USGS (since 1985)
Deck * Deva Tarot - Austria, Piatnik (1986)
Deck * Eclectic Tarot - Austria, Piatnik (1986)
Deck * Barbara Walker Tarot, 1986
Deck * Arcus Arcanum Tarot - Switzerland, AGMüller (1986)
Deck * Capital - I Tarocchi del Manager, artist Giorgio Ghidoli, 1986
Deck * Mythic Tarot, 1986 (1997 Chinese edition)
Deck * Mithological Tarot, KSP+, Russia (1986/1999)
Deck * Herbal Tarot - Swiss, AGM (1988)
Deck * 1988/1998 "Llewellyn Publications" (USA), deck "Gypsy Fortune Telling Tarot"
Deck * Gypsy Tarot, Russia 2005, reprint "Gypsy Fortune Telling Tarot" (1988/98)
Deck * Ansata Tarot - Switzerland, AGMuller (ca. 1988 ?) (no small Arcana)
Deck * Tarot of the Ages - Swiss, AGM (1988)
Deck * Art Nouveaux Tarot, Carta Mundi, Belgium (1989)
Deck * Enchanted Tarot - USA, St.M.Press (1990)
Deck * Haindl Tarot - Swiss, AGM (1990)
Deck * Tarot of the Origins, Lo Scarabeo, Italy (1991/2000)
Deck * Tarot of the Imagination, Lo Scarabeo, Italy (1991, 2000)(small Arcana incomplete)
Deck Lo Scarabeo, Tarocchi dei Celti, Italy 1991
Deck * Tarot of the Gold Dawn, Fair-Press, Russia (1991, 2001)
Deck * Tarot, Unisam, Russia (1992) (no small arcana)
Deck * Russian Tarot of St. Petersburg - Swiss, AGM (1992)
Deck * Egorov Tarot - Austria, Piatnik (1992)
Deck * Tarot of lovers, KSP+, Russia (1992/2000)
Deck * Tarot-93 - Russia, Mozaisk (1993)
Deck * Medieval Scapini Tarot - Swiss, AGM (1994)
Deck * Tarot of Ceremonial Magick - USA, USGS (since 1994)
Deck * Piatnik, Tarot, Austria (1995)
Deck * I Tarocchi Dell'Alba Dorata (Tarots of the Golden Dawn) - Italy, Lo Scarabeo (1995)
Deck * Tarot of the Gnomes - Italy, Lo Scarabeo (1995)
Deck * Illuminating Ancient Tarots - Italy, Lo Scarabeo (1995, based on Sola Busca from 1491)
Deck * Hudes Tarot, 1995, USA
Deck * 1995, "Carta Mundi" (Belgium) for "USGS" (USA), deck "Unicorn Tarot", Artist Liz Hilton
Deck * 1996, "AGMuller" (Switzerland), for "USGS" (USA), deck No.12.468 "Tarot of Gemstones and Crystals"
Deck * Rock Art Tarot, 1996
Deck * Old English Tarot - Swiss, AGM (1996)
Deck * Kalevala Tarot - Swiss, AGM (1996)
Deck * Kazanlar Tarot, AGMüller, Switzerland (1996)
Deck * Cosmic Tarot, AGMüller, Switzerland (1997)
Deck * RenaissanceTarot - Swiss, AGM (1997)
Deck * Diamond Tarot - Switzerland, AGMuller (1997)
Deck * "USGS" (USA), printed in China, deck "The Zerner&Farber Tarot", 1997
Deck * "Lo Scarabeo" (Italy), deck "The Fairy Tarots", 1998, publisher "Fair-press" (Russia), designed by Antonio Lupatelli
Deck * Tarot: Oracle of the Tsar Solomon - Lithuania, Calendar (1998) (additional great arcana)
Deck * Tarot of the Sephiroth Swiss, AGM (1998)
Deck * The Renaissance Tarot - USA, Fireside (1998)
Deck * Art Nouveau Tarot - Italy, Lo Scarabeo (1998)
Deck * The Goddess Tarot - Swiss, AGM (1998)
Deck * Tavaglione Tarot (Stairs of Gold Tarot) - Russia (1998 ?)
Deck * The Secret Tarots, Lo Scarabeo, Italy (1998)
Deck * Shapeshifter / Tarot of Transformations, Nirwana, Russia (1998/2001)
Deck * Baphomet, Tarot of the Underworld, Urania, Switzerland (1999) (no small arcana)
Deck * Fantastical Tarot - Swiss, AGM (1999)
Deck * The Celtic Dragon Tarot - USA, Llewellyn (1999)
Deck * Nefertari's Tarots - Italy, Lo Scarabeo (1999)
Deck * Workman Publishing, "Baseball Tarot", USA 1999
Deck * Transcendential Tarot "Key of Hermes", Russia, A.Zaraev (1999)
Deck * Tarot of Spiritual Evolution "Key of Hermes" Russia, A.Zaraev (1999)
Deck * One World Tarot, 1999
Deck * Votre Tarot, France 2000
Deck * Celtic Tarot - Belgium, Carta Mundi (2000)
Deck * Magic Tarot - Russia, KSP+ (2000)
Deck * Vedic Tarot - Russia, KSP+ (2000)
Deck * The Cosmic Tribe Tarot - Russia, KSP+
Deck * Ppus Tarot - Ukraine, Siromjatnikoff (2000)
Deck * Duerer Tarot - TarotClub(2000) (no small arcana)
Deck * Tarot of Casanova - Italy, Lo Scarabeo (2000)
Deck * The Crystal Tarot - Italy, Lo Scarabeo (2000)
Deck * The Vampire Tarot - USA, USGS (since 2000)
Deck * Animal Tarot - USA, Paula Gibby (ca. 2000)
Deck * The Blue Rose Tarot - USA, Paula Gibby (ca. 2000)
Deck * Union Chernobil, Cards of Tarot - Russia (2001)
Deck * Mirror of fate - Russia, unknown (2001)
Deck * Gregori Tarot, Russia, unknown (2001)
Deck * Secret Tarot - Belgium, Carta Mundi (2001)
Deck * Tarot of Third Millenium (Röhrig Tarot) - Russia, Tarot Academy (2001)
Deck * 2000, "Carta Mundi" (Belgium), for "USGS" (USA), deck "Whimsical Tarot", Artist Mary Hanson-Roberts
Deck * Tarot of the Sphinx, 2001, Lo Scarabeo
Deck * Decameron Tarot - Italy, Lo Scarabeo (2002)
Deck * Etruscan Tarot - Italy, Lo Scarabeo (2002)
Deck * Zinatne, "Latvian Tarot", Latvia 2002
Deck * Tarot of Nostradamus's dreams - Russia, Starcklight (2002)
Deck * Gold Tarot of doctor Paracelsus - Russia, KSP+ (2002)
Deck * Tarot of ancient wisdom (Old Path) - Russia (2002)
Deck * Universal Tarot (Connolly Tarot)- Russia, unknown (2002)
Deck * Tarot of Fortune - Russia, CPP (2002)
Deck * Round tarot of Woman Authority (Mother Peace 2) - Russia, North Scoop (2002)
Deck * Tarot Major Arcana - Russia (2002) (no small arcana)
Deck * Olympus Tarot, Lo Scarabeo, Italy (2002)
Deck * The Golden Tarot of the Tsar, Lo Scarabeo, Italy (2002)
Deck * Tarot of the Journey to the Orient (Marco Polo), 2002, Lo Scarabeo
Deck * Celtic Tarot, Russia 2003
Deck * Rocambol Tarot, Russia 2003
Deck * New Century Tarot, 2003, USA
Deck * Leonardo da Vinci Tarot, 2003 (Lo Scarabeo)
Deck * Cabbalistic Tarot G.O.M. - Switzerland, Aenigma (2003)
Deck * Manara Tarot - Russia, Avvalon (2003)
Deck * Osho Zen Tarot - Russia, unknown (2003)
Deck * Casanova Tarot - Ukraine, unknown (2003) (no small arcana, additional great arcana)
Deck * Russian Love Tarot - Ukraine, unknown (2003) (no small arcana, additional great arcana)
Deck * India Tarot - Ukraine, unknown (2003) (no small arcana, additional great arcana)
Deck * Tarot of Prague - Czech, A.Ukolov (ca. 2003)
Deck * Love Tarot 2 - Ukraine, unknown, (2003) (no small arcana, additional great arcana)
Deck * Tarot of Mermaids - Italy, Lo Scarabeo (2003)
Deck * The Matrix reloaded - Ukraine, unknown, (2003)
Deck * Magic Tarot, unknown (2003) (no small arcana, additional great arcana)
Deck * 2003, unknown (Ukraine), Tarot
Deck * 2004, unknown (Russia), Tarot
Deck * 2004, "Lo Scarabeo" (Italy), deck "Dragons Tarot", designed by Manfredi Toraldo & Severino Baraldi
Deck * 2004, "Lo Scarabeo" (Italy), deck "Tarot of Druids", designed by Bepi Vigna, Severino Baraldi, Antonio Lupatelli
Deck * 2004, "Lo Scarabeo" (Italy), deck "Fey Tarot", Artist Mara Aghem
Deck * Arkaim, Apollo Tarot, Russia 2004
Deck * Arkaim, Shakespeare Tarot, Russia 2004
Deck * Arkaim, Tales Tarot, by V. Trosinenko, Russia 2004
Deck * Arkaim, Bible Tarot by M. Parhetova, Russia 2004
Deck * Labyrinth Tarot, Spain 2005, by Luis Royo
Deck * 'Book World', Da Vinci Tarot, Russia 2006, reprint of "The Da Vinci Enigma Tarot", 2005
Deck * 2005 "Avvallon " (Russia) deck "Tarot of the 78 doors", reprint of "Lo Scarabeo" (Italy) edition designed by Pietro Alligo & Antonella Platano
Deck * Tarot Love, 2005, Russia
Deck * Union Chernobil, Silver Age Tarot, Russia 2006
Deck * Roberto Meiattini, Tarocco erotico dei giardini di priapo, designed by Amerigo Folchi
Deck * The Tarot of Durer - Italy, Lo Scarabeo (modern)
Deck * Russian Tarot - Russia, unknown (Victor Bakhtin ?)(modern)
Deck * Tarot of Magic Raven - Russia, unknown (modern)
Deck * Palladini Tarot - unknown (modern)
Deck * Mysterious Tarot of Egypt - Russia, Novosibirsk (modern)
Deck * Holy Tarot of Tot, Russia, Sofia (modern)
Deck * CPP, Tarot - Russia (modern)
Deck * Tarot of Aquarius's era - Russia, CPP (modern)
Deck * The New Orleans VooDoo Tarot - USA, Destiny Books (modern)
Deck * I Tarocchi - Italy, unknown (production time unknown) (no small arcana)
Deck * Tarot Floral (modern), Lo Scarabeo
Animal Tarot, complete
Deck * ca. 1790 Claude Rochais Animal Tarock
Deck * Daveluy, Animal Tarot - Belgium (19th/20th c. ?)
Deck * Animal Tarot, Geuens Seaux, Belgium
Deck * Adler Cego Tarot - Germany, ASS (1976), since 1931 (?)
Animal Tarot, incomplete
Deck * A. Göbl, Bavarian Animal Tarot - Germany (1750)
Deck * ca. 1780, Guilleaume Mann, Colmar (Germany), Bavarian Animal Tarot
Deck * 1790, J. M. Backofen, Bavarian Animal Tarot
Deck * 1795, J. de Porre (Belgium), Animal Tarot
Deck * J.G.Backofen, Animal Tarock, Germany (1800)
Deck * ca. 1800, unknown, (Luebeck, Germany), Baltic Tarot
Deck * Industrie-Comptoir, Animal Tarot - Germany (1810)
Deck * ca. 1815, Jacob Wokaun (Czechia), Upper Austrian animal Tarot
Deck * Sewera, Animal Tarock - Czechia (1849)
Deck * Uffenheimer - Animal Tarock (1837)
Deck * C.T.Sutor, Animal Tarock (19th c. ?)
Deck * CPP, Tarock with Animals - Russia (1920)
Military Tarot, complete
Deck * Piatnik, Soldaten Tarock - Austria (1918)
Military Tarot, incomplete
Deck * ca. 1785, Martin Boehme (?), Dresden Germany, Military Tarot
Deck * F.Eurich, Tarock - Austria (1816)
Deck * Glanz, Franz Josef, Military Tarock - Austria (1854)
Deck * Glanz, Franz Josef, Military Tarock - Austria (1858)
Deck * Glanz, Franz Josef Military Tarock - Austria (1865 or 63)
Deck * Glanz, Franz Josef, Military Tarock - Austria (1885)
Tarock with buildings, complete
Deck * Franz Xaver Milchram, Grazer Tarock, Austria 1825, reprinted by Piatnik 1995
Deck * Pittner, Graz Tarock - Austria (1870)
Deck * Piatnik, Tarot - Austria (1974, reprint of 19th)
Deck * S.Salomon&Co, Holmblads Spillekort Forretning - Denmark (ca. 1910)
Deck * Frommann&Morian, Ansichtentarock, Germany 1929
Incomplete Tarock with buildings
Deck * "J.G.Uffenheimer" Tarock (?), Germany c.1830
Deck * "J.G.Uffenheimer" Tarock, Austria (?) c.1830
Other decks (mainly Tarock for playing) - usually trumps and courts
Deck * Mythology Tarock, 1820, Hungary
Deck * Industrie-Comptoir, Tarock, Germany 1839
Deck * Piatnik, Industrie und Gluck Tarock - Austria (since 1843)
Deck * "Il Meneghello", deck "Tarocco Maria Stuarda", Italy 2004, reprint of c.1845 edition of "Fabrica Dotti" (Milan)
Deck * Glanz, Constitution Tarock - Austria (1848)
Deck * Piatnik, Habsburger Tarock, Austria 1850, reprinted 1993
Deck * Dondorf, Microscopic Tarock - Germany (1858-1933)
Deck * Piatnik, Can-Can Tarock, Austria, since c.1860
Deck * C.L.Wuest, Tarot - Germany (since 1890)
Deck * Catel, Jeu de Tarot - France (19th/20th ?)
Deck * Grimaud standard deck - France (groups of persons)(19th/20th ?)
Deck * Vannak, Szerencse Fel Tarock - Hungary (1901)
Deck * Joseph Glanz, Tarock No.1 - Austria (1906)
Deck * Modiano, Alan-Tarock - Italy (since 1910)
Deck * Alan Tarot - Italy, Modiano (since 1981, reprint of 1910)
Deck * Erste Slowenische Spielkartenfabrik, Tarock (1912)
Deck * Franz Adametz, Industrie und Gluck Tarock, Austria since 1930
Deck * Tarot des Regions de France - France, Grimaud (1986)
Deck * Fournier, Nuevo Juego del Tarot - Spain (1977)
Deck * 1991, Kolin (Czechia), Taroky
Deck * Jeu de Tarot, France, Heron (20th c. ?)
Deck * Tarocco, Modiano, Italy
Deck * French Tarock, ASS
Incomplete other decks (mainly Tarock for playing)
Deck * Sachsentarock, ca. 1778, Breitkopf - Leipziger Kartenfabrik
Deck * A.Goebl Tarock, Germany c.1780
Deck * 1800 J.D. Backofen, Tarock ?
Deck * 18th P.F. Ulrich, Tarock
Deck * J.C.DuPort, Tarock - Poland (18th c.)
Deck * C.F.Pfeiffer, Tarock - Germany (18th/19th c. ?)
Deck * Napoleon Tarock - France, unknown (1808)
Deck * Turkey - Germany. unknown (1810)
Deck * Estel, Chinese Tarock - Austria (1820)
Deck * Joseph Estel, Tarot - Austria (1823)
Deck * Mythology Tarock, 1825, Frankfurt
Deck * Bechstein - Tarock, Germany (1835)
Deck * Emil Hirschfeld, Tarot - Austria (1844)
Deck * "?" Austria "Chinese Tarock", c.1850
Deck * Kobitsch, Tarock - Germany (1855)
Deck * Piatnik, Hunter Tarock, Austria (1856)
Deck * Dondorf, Cego Tarot -Germany (since 1858)
Deck * C.Titze&Schinkay, Tarot (since 1859)
Deck * Joseph Glanz, Tarot - Austria (1865)
Deck * F.Pittner, Tarock - Austria (1865)
Deck * Piatnik, Fools Tarock, Austria (1865 or 55)
Deck * ca. 1890 "Grimaud" (France), deck "Classical Deities Tarot",
Deck * LeQuart, Classical Deities Tarock - France (1890)
Deck * Ceska Grafika, Tarock - Czechia (ca. 1890)
Deck * ca. 1890, "Willeb" (Paris, France), deck "Tarot"
Deck * Tarock - Austria, unknown (19th c. ?)
Deck * Dondorf, Tarot - Germany (19th c.)
Deck * H.F.Mueller, Tarot - Austria (19th/20th c.)
Deck * Grimaud, Tarot Francais des Fleurs - France (1902)
Deck * ASS, Proverbs Tarock - Germany (1920)
Deck * August Denk, Tarock - Austria (1925)
Deck * VSS, Tarock, Germany (1925)
Deck * Bielefelder Cego - Germany (1954)
Deck * Tarot Comedians Francaise, Heron, Dusserre, France
Tarocco Siciliano, changed row and motifs, 64 cards
- a special treasure, as till now there is not too much to the Tarocco Siciliano in the web. There is an article connected to the decks.
Deck * 19th century "Lorenzo di Lorenzo" (Italy), deck "Tarocco Siciliano"
Deck * 19th century "La Fortuna" (Italy) deck "Tarocco Siciliano"
Deck * since 1966, "Modiano" (Italy), deck "Tarocco Siciliano"
Deck * 18th century "Tuzzolino" (Italy), deck "Tarocco Siciliano"
Deck * 1930 - 1975 "Concetta Campione" (Catania, Italy) deck "Tarocco Siciliano"
Minchiate, changed row and motifs, 97 cards
Deck * Il Meneghello, "Minchiate Fiorentine", Italy 1986, reprint of design c. 1820 and first print after 1862
Deck * Al Leone, "Minchiate Fiorentine", (Bologna, Italy) c.1790, reprint by Edizioni del Prado/Ediciones del Prado, Madrid, Spain, 2004
Deck * "Carte di Etruria" (Italy), c.1725, reprint by "LoScarabeo" (Italy) as "Antiche Minchiate Etruria", 1996
Incomplete Minchiate
Deck * unknown, Firenze, Italy, "Florence Minchiate", c.1700 (?)
Etteilla Tarot, altered row
Deck * Esoteric Ancient Tarot - Italy, Lo Scarabeo (1997, based on Etteilla deck from 1870)
Deck * Grimaud, "Grand Etteilla", France, edition of 1910
Deck * "Rei Mundy" (Belgium) for Russia deck "Grand Etteilla", 2006 designed by V.Zaichenko
Incomplete Etteilla deck
Deck * end of 18th century, "Bezu" ? (France), "Grand Etteilla"
Deck * Egyptian Tarot, France - unknown(1845)
Deck * Delarue, Le Grand Jeu de l'Oracle des Dames, France 1870, together with a complete reprint of 2003 by Lo Scarabeo, "The Book of Toth"
Tarot cards
Tarot card Fool
Tarot card Magician
Tarot card Popess
Tarot card Empress
Tarot card Emperor
Tarot card Pope
Tarot card Love
Tarot card Chariot
Tarot card Justice
Tarot card Hermit
Tarot card Wheel of Fortune
Tarot card Strength
Tarot card Hanging Man
Tarot card Death
Tarot card Temperance
Tarot card Devil
Tarot card Tower
Tarot card Star
Tarot card Moon
Tarot card Sun
Tarot card Judgment
Tarot card World
Author's site
Tarot history
Tarot and Playing Cards Museum
Tarot Iconography
Fortune Telling
Iconography of Mantegna Tarocchi
Tarot card iconography of Andrea Vitali