Jean Noblet Tarot de Marseille
Jean Noblet: the oldest known ‘Tarot de Marseille’ deck, Paris, c.1650.
Believed to be the earliest example of the ‘Tarot de Marseille’, this deck produced by Jean Noblet of Saint Germain, Paris, in around 1650 is highly esteemed by historians and experts due to its beauty and elegance of design. The whole composition, including serene facial expressions and neat colouring, is beautifully executed. It represents an original source of all later Tarot de Marseille decks in which the symbolism has not yet been corrupted.
Above: cards from the Tarot de Marseille by Jean Noblet, Paris, c.1650, preserved in the Bibliothèque nationale de France. 78 cards: stencil coloured woodcut; 9.2 x 5.7 cm. Name and address on the two of cups, monogram "I. N." on the crest of the Chariot, another mention of address on the two of coins: "Iean Noblet Dm.t Av Favbovr St Germain". Source gallica.bnf.fr / BnF • Jeu de tarot à enseignes italiennes dit "tarot Noblet"►
Further Reading
Christine Payne-Towler: The Continental Tarots►
By Simon Wintle
Member since February 01, 1996
I am the founder of The World of Playing Cards (est. 1996), a website dedicated to the history, artistry and cultural significance of playing cards and tarot. Over the years I have researched various areas of the subject, acquired and traded collections and contributed as a committee member of the IPCS and graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal. Having lived in Chile, England, Wales, and now Spain, these experiences have shaped my work and passion for playing cards. Amongst my achievements is producing a limited-edition replica of a 17th-century English pack using woodblocks and stencils—a labour of love. Today, the World of Playing Cards is a global collaborative project, with my son Adam serving as the technical driving force behind its development. His innovative efforts have helped shape the site into the thriving hub it is today. You are warmly invited to become a contributor and share your enthusiasm.
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