1420-1460 - Tarot de Marseille deck of Cary-Yale Visconti
This is the first known Tarot. It is a beautifully crafted deck made with gold leaf for one of the most powerful families in northern Italy. Three specific cards are missing from the major arcana: Faith, Hope, and Charity. That is to say, the three theological virtues that become in classic Tarot de Marseille: LA JUSTICE (Justice), TEMPERANCE (Temperance) and LA FORCE (Strength).
1460-1650 - For a period of almost two centuries, we cannot find any complete Tarot, or even any Tarot of Marseille. The mystery remains unsolved and no serious explanation has been provided for this disappearance.
There is an incomplete Tarot de Marseille deck, of which the name is Catelin Geoffroy. This deck was made in 1557 in Lyon (only 38 cards have been discovered). Another deck is a Parisian Tarot, called Anonymous Tarot at the beginning of the seventeenth century. These two Tarot decks are too fancy compared to the tradition of the Tarot de Marseille to be properly regarded as the "missing link."
1650 - Tarot de Marseille deck by Jean Noblet and by Jacques Viéville
1701 - Tarot de Marseille deck by Jean Dodal
Jean Dodal has made its first Tarot de Marseille in Lyon. His principal “master” was Jean Payen, who also made a Tarot de Marseille. He was working in Avignon. These Tarot de Marseille decks were the basis of the Tarot de Marseille deck made latter by Nicolas Conver.
1760 - Tarot de Marseille deck by Nicolas Conver
Nicolas Conver is the first maker of a Tarot de Marseille deck who actually worked in Marseille.
1780 - Tarot de Marseille deck by Joseph Fautrier
Joseph Fautrier was also a Tarot de Marseille deck maker working in Marseille.
19th century - Tarot de Marseille decks
A huge number of "adjustments" of the Tarot de Marseille occurr during this time with more or less successful variations of colors and designs.
Some of these variations are a big success. Such was the case of the deck of Miss Lenormand and of the deck called Grand Etellia.
CONTEMPORARY TAROT DE MARSEILLE DECKS
1905 – Tarot de Marseille deck by “Muller” or "Fournier"
This Tarot de Marseille deck is created using sources from Jean Dodal and Nicolas Conver decks.
1930 - Tarot de Marseille deck by Paul Marteau (pictued on this page)
The Tarot de Marseille deck of Nicolas Conver inspired this Tarot de Marseille deck. It is noticeable that this Tarot de Marseille deck was regarded for a long time as the “true” Tarot de Marseille.
Paul Marteau changes the whole color palette. He retains more specifically a deep dark blue and a deep dark red. For a long time, many people were thinking this Tarot de Marseille deck was the only true Tarot de Marseille deck coming from the past.
Today, the monopoly of this deck is not recognized. The research of several Tarot de Marseille experts are still seeking the true old classic Tarot de Marseille decks.
1996 - Tarot de Marseille deck by Kris Hadar
He finds his inspiration in the Tarot de Marseille deck of Nicolas Conver. This work is of high quality despite a "restricted" diffusion.
1997 - Tarot de Marseille deck by Camoin and Jodorowsky.
We still see the influence of Nicolas Conver, but this restoration was often criticized because there is some doubt about the accuracy of the sources used in order to make this new Tarot de Marseille deck.
2005 - Renovation by Jean-Claude Flornoy of Tarot de Marseille deck by Jean Noblet and Tarot de Marseille deck by Jean Dodal.
As the word implies renovation is not a "reconstruction" of the ancient Tarot de Marseille deck. Jean-Claude Flornoy's intention was to come back to the original state of these decks.
2010 - Tarot de Marseille deck by Fournier Made in Spain
This Tarot de Marseille deck uses the deck by Muller-Fournier in design, but adds a host of colors possibly for an aesthetic purpose.
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