Good Books about Tarot History and Marseilles Tarot

Aster Breo

I'm looking for book recommendations in 2 different, but related, topics: the history of tarot and the Marseilles tarot (both reading it and how it fits into the broader history of tarot).

Any suggestions for either topic? Thanks!
 

Debra

Your best bet is Stuart Kaplan's Encyclopedia of Tarot volumes 1 & 2. There are books that are shorter, more recent, more detailed, etc. To my mind, Kaplan's first two volumes beat them all. I'm just re-reading Vol 1 and remembering all that I'd learned and forgotten the last time I read it. He's very knowledgeable about both tarot and the relevant art-historical context.

Volume 1 can be had cheap on Amazon. Volume II, not quite so cheap but keep your eyes open and grab it if you can.
 

Nemia

I'm absolutely no specialist on tarot history but here are some books I liked, found interesting and learned from.

I liked Robert Place's book "The Tarot: History, Symbolism, and Divination", and Cynthia Giles' "The Tarot: History, Mystery and Lore" which is a bit older but many newer books seem to be built upon it. Place's books are all excellent and well researched, far as I can see.

A very useful resource on Renaissance influences on the tarot is Brian Williams' companion book to his Renaissance tarot. I'm re-reading it and enjoying it. It gives the history of tarot images in the context of the Renaissance.

Mary Packard's "The Golden Tarot: The Visconti-Sforza Deck" is a good introduction to this historical deck (I bought the LoS deck many years ago and the book separately here on AT), and Yoav Ben Dov's "Tarot - the Open Reading" is helpful in reading the Marseilles deck.

That's it from my limited book shelf ;-)
 

lagomorph

i am certainly no expert (newbie here!), but for tarot history, i've read and enjoyed Paul Huson's Mystical Origins of the Tarot. i seem to see it referenced a lot by others, too.
 

Aster Breo

Thank you, everyone who replied. I've picked up a couple of the recommended books.

Still open to suggestions, if anyone has more ideas.

Thanks!
 

3ill.yazi

I found these essential.

http://www.lulu.com/shop/jean-michel-david/reading-the-marseille-tarot/ebook/product-20823176.html

http://www.tarot.com/tarot/robert-oneill/tarot-symbolism

And for reading with the TdM:

http://www.mindseyeview.com/marseilles-tarot.html

http://www.amazon.com/MARSEILLE-TAROT-TOWARDS-THE-READING/dp/8792633420

and Lee Bursten's book that comes with the Universal TDM box set, OOP but can be found on Ebay. isbn 9780738710419

If you can only find the deck, it's still good, because the LWB has a shortened version of that short book.
 

Teheuti

I'm looking for book recommendations in 2 different, but related, topics: the history of tarot and the Marseilles tarot (both reading it and how it fits into the broader history of tarot).

Any suggestions for either topic? Thanks!
In addition to other works already mentioned:

Mystical Origins of the Tarot by Paul Huson.
http://www.amazon.com/Mystical-Origins-Tarot-Ancient-Modern/dp/0892811900/

It focuses on the Marseille deck. I don't care for Huson's personal meanings for the cards (a brief paragraph at the end of each card discussion) but everything else is gold.

Also, the full-sized books that go with the decks by Brian Williams, especially The Renaissance Tarot (o.p.).