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TAROT
Tarot decks traditionally contain 78 cards comprising 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana or Lesser Arcana divided into four suits, each with 14 cards. In addition to a king, queen and valet or page (jack), each suit contains a fourth court card called the cavalier or knight that is situated between the queen and valet. The remaining 40 pip cards are numbered 10 to 1 (ace) in each suit of swords, batons (or staves), cups (or chalices) and coins (or pentacles). One theory suggests that these suits were derived from the four divisions of the populace or four "states" of humanity in medieval Europe: swords representing the aristocracy, nobility and knights, batons for peasants, laborers and the lower class, cups for the clergy and ecclesiastical groups, and coins for tradesmen, merchants, and the commercial class.
The 22 Major Arcana cards of the tarot pack are symbolic images and much has been written about the intent of the artists who created them. Theories contend that they are representations of the carnival processionals preceding Lent, depictions of the ducal families of Northern Italy, secret occult teachings, theosophical doctrines, symbols drawn from medieval Europe, or representations of life's daily fateful events.
The titles and numbering used for most tarot decks, with some variants, are as follows in English, French and Italian: 0 (or unnumbered) The Fool -- Le Mat, Le Fou, Le Fol -- Il Matto; I The Magician, The Juggler -- Le Bateleur -- Il Bagatino; II The High Priestess, Popess, Female Pope, Junon -- La Papesse, Junon -- La Papessa, Junon; III The Empress -- L'Imperatrice -- L'Imperatrice; IIII The Emperor -- L'Empereur -- L'Imperatore; V The Hierophant, Pope, Jupiter -- Le Pape, Jupiter -- Il Papa, Jupiter; VI The Lovers -- L'Amoureux -- L'Amore, Gli Amanti; VII The Chariot -- Le Chariot -- Il Carro; VIII Justice -- La Justice -- La Giustizia; VIIII The Hermit -- L'Ermite -- L'Ermita, L'Eremita, Il Gobbo, Il Vecchio; X The Wheel of Fortune -- La Roue de Fortune -- La Ruota, La Ruota della Fortuna; XI Strength -- La Force -- La Fortezza, La Forza; XII The Hanged Man -- Le Pendu -- Il Penduto, L'Appeso, Il Traditore, L'Impiccato; XIII Death (or untitled)-- La Mort -- Il Morte, Lo Specchio; XIIII Temperance -- La Temperance -- La Temperanza; XV The Devil -- Le Diable -- Il Diavolo; XVI The Tower, The Lightning Struck Tower -- La Maison de Dieu, Le Foudre -- La Casa del Diavolo, La Torre; XVII The Star -- L'Etoile -- La Stella, Le Stelle; XVIII The Moon -- La Lune -- La Luna; XVIIII The Sun -- Le Soleil -- Il Sole; XX Judgment -- Le Jugement, L'Ange -- L'Angelo, Il Giudizio, La Trompete; XXI The World, Universe -- Le Monde -- Il Mondo
The Major Arcana in most early fifteenth and sixteenth century tarot packs have no titles on the cards, although some cards have identifying numerals. Tarot packs in the 18th and 19th centuries usually have titles and numerals on the Major Arcana, except XIII Death which often is untitled. In some tarot decks, especially decks published in the twentieth century, cards numbered VIII and XI have been switched to VIII Strength and XI Justice as popularized by several authors, notably Arthur Edward Waite.
LOMBARDY TAROT
Lombardy Tarot, circa 1830, Milan, Ferdinando Gumppenberg, 78 of 78 cards, woodblock printed and stencil colored, wrap around paper edges, king of bastoni contains tax stamp of the Kingdom of Lombardy under Austrian rule, 70 centesimi (valid 1823-1840) and F. GUMPPENBERG MIL. Major Arcana and courts are full-length figures, Italian card titles, Roman numerals, Italian suits, two indices, square corners, 2 of coppe reads, FABBRICA DI MILANO. Backs are woodblock printed decorative panel above MILANO in blue and yellow. Size 4 3/16 in. (10.6 cm.) high, 2 3/16 in. (5.5 cm.) wide. Slightly worn. Kaplan I, 154.
Details
Lombardy Tarot, circa 1830, Milan, Ferdinando Gumppenberg, 78 of 78 cards, woodblock printed and stencil colored, wrap around paper edges, king of bastoni contains tax stamp of the Kingdom of Lombardy under Austrian rule, 70 centesimi (valid 1823-1840) and F. GUMPPENBERG MIL. Major Arcana and courts are full-length figures, Italian card titles, Roman numerals, Italian suits, two indices, square corners, 2 of coppe reads, FABBRICA DI MILANO. Backs are woodblock printed decorative panel above MILANO in blue and yellow. Size 4 3/16 in. (10.6 cm.) high, 2 3/16 in. (5.5 cm.) wide. Slightly worn. Kaplan I, 154.