Unusual French Atouts

f. silvestris · 12-05-2005

Does anyone here know anything about the unusual atouts shown on pp 34-36 of A History of Playing Cards by Catherine Perry Hargrave?

They are, or were at the time of writing [1930] in the collection of the United States Playing Card Company in Cincinnati.

The approximate dating is early 18th century, and the cards themselves are very small [one and seven eighths inch x three and three eighths].

The sequence and titles of the atouts are as follows -
I Le Bateleur
II Le grandpretre
III La grandepretresse
IV Le Roy
V La Royne
VI L'amoureux
VII Le chariot
VIII La justice
IX L'ermite
X La roux de fortune
XI La force
XII La prudence
XIII
XIV La temperance
XV
XVI La maison dieu
XVII L'etoille
XVIII La lune
XIX Le soleil
XX Le jugement
XXI La monde

The untitled XV card is unmistakeably le mat, with a lion taking a chunk out of his leg.

The reproductions in my copy of the book are very indistinct, but Le grandpretre and la grandepretresse are both holding some long objects [palm leaves?]: she has some kind of wreath or garland atop her headdress. L’amoureux shows two lovers and a cupid. La force is armoured: I’m not sure of the sex. La prudence is standing on one leg, upturned pendu style: I think it is a genuine figure of Prudence, however, as there seems to be no sign of the noose around the ankle. La lune shows a heron-like bird, a stag, and a cow, Le soleil an adult man and woman under the sun head.

**Ross G Caldwell** · 15-05-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by f. silvestris

Does anyone here know anything about the unusual atouts shown on pp 34-36 of A History of Playing Cards by Catherine Perry Hargrave?

They are, or were at the time of writing [1930] in the collection of the United States Playing Card Company in Cincinnati.

The approximate dating is early 18th century, and the cards themselves are very small [one and seven eighths inch x three and three eighths].

The sequence and titles of the atouts are as follows -
I Le Bateleur
II Le grandpretre
III La grandepretresse
IV Le Roy
V La Royne
VI L'amoureux
VII Le chariot
VIII La justice
IX L'ermite
X La roux de fortune
XI La force
XII La prudence
XIII
XIV La temperance
XV
XVI La maison dieu
XVII L'etoille
XVIII La lune
XIX Le soleil
XX Le jugement
XXI La monde

The untitled XV card is unmistakeably le mat, with a lion taking a chunk out of his leg.

The reproductions in my copy of the book are very indistinct, but Le grandpretre and la grandepretresse are both holding some long objects [palm leaves?]: she has some kind of wreath or garland atop her headdress. L’amoureux shows two lovers and a cupid. La force is armoured: I’m not sure of the sex. La prudence is standing on one leg, upturned pendu style: I think it is a genuine figure of Prudence, however, as there seems to be no sign of the noose around the ankle. La lune shows a heron-like bird, a stag, and a cow, Le soleil an adult man and woman under the sun head.

Thank you for this list. Very interesting to know where the full publication is (I haven't read Hargrave, to my shame).

I think Kaplan's date is too early. Based only on internal evidence. Not only does there *seem* to be the influence of De Gebelin's theories, but even more importantly, only the trumps survive - or are all there ever was. Abandoning the rest of the deck in esoteric interpretation is a hallmark of the early occult theorists - with the notable exception of Etteilla. It is tempting to see this deck as a very early occult re-imagining of the Tarot de Marseille.

I wonder why the Devil is lacking? Or why the Fool takes his place? I would guess that the designer didn't like the Devil, but liked the number 21. And further, that XIII had to remain in its place. Therefore the Fool had to be put somewhere *after* XIII, and thus usurped the place of the Devil (Madness and Folly also being bad things, which form a symbolic association with this position).

It reminds me of Levi's putting the Fool between 20 and 21 positionally, but leaving it unnumbered. Another solution to the problem of dealing with Folly in the symbolic series (rather than leaving him outside the sequence as he is in the game).

Fulgour · 15-05-2005

Papus included both Marseille and Wirth majors in his book,
and Mathers had a complete Marseille. Waite's funny pamphlet
likely sold more copies just because people cut out the pictures.
I love imagining what creative lengths many have ventured to,
in order to have themselves a 'working' set of cards. Hooray for
each and every Tarot ever made, and by whatever means.

f. silvestris · 15-05-2005

I've got the best scans I can manage without actually breaking the book - this shows the lot in sets of 3

http://spaces.msn.com/members/invisi...&_c=photoalbum

fulgour, thank you

Fulgour · 16-05-2005

http://spaces.msn.com/members/invisi...&_c=photoalbum

f. silvestris · 17-05-2005

new url for the scans in case anyone still wants to see 'em:

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a58/invbks/blog001.jpg
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a58/invbks/blog002.jpg
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a58/invbks/blog003.jpg
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a58/invbks/blog004.jpg

f. silvestris Citizen Join Date: 11 Dec 2003 Location: Brighton, UK Posts: 142	Unusual French Atouts Does anyone here know anything about the unusual atouts shown on pp 34-36 of A History of Playing Cards by Catherine Perry Hargrave? They are, or were at the time of writing [1930] in the collection of the United States Playing Card Company in Cincinnati. The approximate dating is early 18th century, and the cards themselves are very small [one and seven eighths inch x three and three eighths]. The sequence and titles of the atouts are as follows - I Le Bateleur II Le grandpretre III La grandepretresse IV Le Roy V La Royne VI L'amoureux VII Le chariot VIII La justice IX L'ermite X La roux de fortune XI La force XII La prudence XIII XIV La temperance XV XVI La maison dieu XVII L'etoille XVIII La lune XIX Le soleil XX Le jugement XXI La monde The untitled XV card is unmistakeably le mat, with a lion taking a chunk out of his leg. The reproductions in my copy of the book are very indistinct, but Le grandpretre and la grandepretresse are both holding some long objects [palm leaves?]: she has some kind of wreath or garland atop her headdress. L’amoureux shows two lovers and a cupid. La force is armoured: I’m not sure of the sex. La prudence is standing on one leg, upturned pendu style: I think it is a genuine figure of Prudence, however, as there seems to be no sign of the noose around the ankle. La lune shows a heron-like bird, a stag, and a cow, Le soleil an adult man and woman under the sun head.

12-05-2005	Ask a Professional Tarot Reader Top #1

Fulgour Citizen Join Date: 10 Jun 2004 Location: slumbrin in the windrows of the hours... Posts: 7,828	thanks for this thread Papus included both Marseille and Wirth majors in his book, and Mathers had a complete Marseille. Waite's funny pamphlet likely sold more copies just because people cut out the pictures. I love imagining what creative lengths many have ventured to, in order to have themselves a 'working' set of cards. Hooray for each and every Tarot ever made, and by whatever means.

15-05-2005	Ask a Professional Tarot Reader Top #3

f. silvestris Citizen Join Date: 11 Dec 2003 Location: Brighton, UK Posts: 142	scans of atouts online I've got the best scans I can manage without actually breaking the book - this shows the lot in sets of 3 http://spaces.msn.com/members/invisi...&_c=photoalbum fulgour, thank you Last edited by f. silvestris; 17-05-2005 at 21:29. Reason: -

15-05-2005	Ask a Professional Tarot Reader Top #4

Fulgour Citizen Join Date: 10 Jun 2004 Location: slumbrin in the windrows of the hours... Posts: 7,828	May I...? http://spaces.msn.com/members/invisi...&_c=photoalbum

16-05-2005	Ask a Professional Tarot Reader Top #5

f. silvestris Citizen Join Date: 11 Dec 2003 Location: Brighton, UK Posts: 142	updated scans new url for the scans in case anyone still wants to see 'em: http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a58/invbks/blog001.jpg http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a58/invbks/blog002.jpg http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a58/invbks/blog003.jpg http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a58/invbks/blog004.jpg Last edited by f. silvestris; 15-07-2005 at 06:58.

17-05-2005	Ask a Professional Tarot Reader Top #6

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