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MINCHIATE
The Minchiate of Florence deck is a variation of the 78 card tarot (tarocchi) pack, but enlarged to 97 cards by the addition of 12 signs of the zodiac, four element cards, three theological virtue cards (Hope, Faith, Charity), and one cardinal virtue (Prudence). In place of the usual four tarot cards of II The High Priestess (or Popess), III The Empress, IIII The Emperor and V The Hierophant (or Pope), the Minchiate pack has only three imperial cards, The Grand Duke, The Western Emperor and The Eastern Emperor. Thus, the complete Minchiate pack in traditional format contains 41 trumps and 16 court cards in full length figures, and 40 pip cards. The first five trump cards are called papi, the first 35 trump cards have Roman numerals, and the next five unnumbered trumps are called arie and arranged in sequence of The Star, The Moon, The Sun, The World and The Last Judgment. The final trump is The Fool. No titles appear on any of the cards. The four suits each contain court cards of king, queen, cavalier (knight) and valet (page), plus ten pip cards in the suits of swords, staves (batons), cups and coins. Cavaliers in the black suits of swords and staves are represented by centaurs and in the red suits of cups and coins are shown as half human and half monster. Minchiate packs use Portuguese suits and frequently have either paper or faux wrap around edges on all cards.
Minchiate Uncut Sheets, circa 1725, Florence, maker unknown, 72 of 97 cards, copper engravings, 4 sheets each comprising two vertical rows of 7 cards and one row of four cards, uncolored, cards measure 3 15/16 in. (9.9 cm.) high by 2 1/4 in. (5.6 cm.) wide, Portuguese suits, Roman numerals, square corners, includes 41 trumps (I to to XXXV, Star, Moon, Sun, World, Last Judgment, Fool) 16 court cards (king, queen, cavalier and valet in each of swords, staves, cups, coins), and 15 pip cards (8, 6 to 1 swords; 2, 1 staves; 3 to 1 cups; 4, 2, 1 coins). This artistic deck made into playing cards is recorded at the Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris (printed on silk), British Museum in London, Museo Fournier in Vitoria and The Beinecke Library in New Haven with the arms of Medici printed on the backs and, in two instances, with the stamp and signature of Anton Molinelli, holder of the playing card concession in Tuscany from 1721 to 1731. Backs blank. Sheet size 18 3/4 in. (34 cm.) by 13 in. (33 cm.). Large margins, some foxing, one slight folding mark, small tears in the white margins, minimal crease at one sheet. Kaplan I, 52, II 256-267 var.
Details
Minchiate Uncut Sheets, circa 1725, Florence, maker unknown, 72 of 97 cards, copper engravings, 4 sheets each comprising two vertical rows of 7 cards and one row of four cards, uncolored, cards measure 3 15/16 in. (9.9 cm.) high by 2 1/4 in. (5.6 cm.) wide, Portuguese suits, Roman numerals, square corners, includes 41 trumps (I to to XXXV, Star, Moon, Sun, World, Last Judgment, Fool) 16 court cards (king, queen, cavalier and valet in each of swords, staves, cups, coins), and 15 pip cards (8, 6 to 1 swords; 2, 1 staves; 3 to 1 cups; 4, 2, 1 coins). This artistic deck made into playing cards is recorded at the Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris (printed on silk), British Museum in London, Museo Fournier in Vitoria and The Beinecke Library in New Haven with the arms of Medici printed on the backs and, in two instances, with the stamp and signature of Anton Molinelli, holder of the playing card concession in Tuscany from 1721 to 1731. Backs blank. Sheet size 18 3/4 in. (34 cm.) by 13 in. (33 cm.). Large margins, some foxing, one slight folding mark, small tears in the white margins, minimal crease at one sheet. Kaplan I, 52, II 256-267 var.