Three survivors of Tarot de Marseille: Vieville, Noblet and Anonymous à Paris

Case : 183

A few early French decks exhibit certain curiosities. In two century after the creation, only four decks survived. The oldest French tarot preserved today is the Catelin Geoffroy deck, which does not take Latin-suit but their substitute signs Parrots, Peacocks, Lions and Monkeys, in Lyon in 1557. These signs are imitated the card game (without benefits) engraved in 1544 by German engraver Virgil Solis. It is also the only copy of the production of the 16th century. Three earliest others are in 17th century, all of Paris: an anonymous tarot says Tarot de Anonymous à Paris, Tarot de Jean Noblet and Tarot de Jacques Viéville, present the firsts Tarot of Marseille’s pattern. If the Noblet’s deck clearly demonstrates the Milanese influence, the Vieville’s deck seem to indicate specific characters to Bolognese one. It also remains the 17th century the oldest rule printed tarot deck, from the pen of Father Michel de Marolles and printed at Nevers in 1637.