Visconti-Sforza Tarot Cards (page 1/8)

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The Visconti-forza tarot cards predate the invention of “regular” playing cards with their hearts, clubs, diamonds and spades. They appear originally have been for a game a little like whist, in which you must follow suit or play a trump, and in which you work with a partner to take tricks.

The pack shown here dates from the 1450s. It is incomplete: it does not have the 3 of swords, the Knight of Coins, the Tower or the Devil. In addition, six cards have been substituted from another pack: Fortitude, Temperance The Moon, The Star, The Sun and The World.

I did not scan these images, although I do own a fac-simile of the cards. They came from David Madore, with permission; see also David Madore’s site. The images themselves are in the public domain.

Title: Visconti-Sforza Tarot Cards

Author: unknown

City: Milan

Date: 1455

Total items: 74

Out of copyright (called public domain in the USA), hence royalty-free for all purposes usage credit requested, or as marked.

Some sample images

[picture: Ten of Coins]

Ten of Coins

coins-10 [$]

[picture: Seven of Coins]

Seven of Coins

coins-07 [$]

[picture: Trump 21: World.]

Trump 21: World.

Major Arcana (trumps): World [$]

[picture: Knave of Swords.]

Knave of Swords.

swords-11-knave [$]

[picture: Trump 14: Temperance.]

Trump 14: Temperance.

Major Arcana (trumps): Temperance [$]


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cards colour games occult tarot

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The Visconti-forza tarot cards predate the invention of “regular” playing cards with their hearts, clubs, diamonds and spades. They appear originally have been for a game a little like whist, in which you must follow suit or play a trump, and in which you work with a partner to take tricks.

The pack shown here dates from the 1450s. It is incomplete: it does not have the 3 of swords, the Knight of Coins, the Tower or the Devil. In addition, six cards have been substituted from another pack: Fortitude, Temperance The Moon, The Star, The Sun and The World.

I did not scan these images, although I do own a fac-simile of the cards. They came from David Madore, with permission; see also David Madore’s site. The images themselves are in the public domain.


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