Animal Tarot by Johann Jobst Forster

Published May 02, 2024 Updated May 02, 2024

French-suited 78-card animal tarot deck of the Bavarian type.

Germany Johann Jobst Forster Tarot Tarock

By the mid 18th century Tarot packs with French suit signs were being produced in France, Austria, Switzerland and Germany. Packs usually contained 78 cards with trumps displaying whatever appealed to the maker's fancy, such as popular imagery, oriental imagery, dancing, folklore or historical scenes instead of the older emblematic designs. Animal-themed Tarots were very popular in Germany and were used to play the game called Tarock.

There is a border around each card and the trumps have large Roman numerals at each end.

Animal Tarock by Johann Jobst Forster, Nuremberg, 18th century. © The Trustees of the British Museum Animal Tarock by Johann Jobst Forster, Nuremberg, 18th century. © The Trustees of the British Museum Animal Tarock by Johann Jobst Forster, Nuremberg, 18th century. © The Trustees of the British Museum

The Court Cards

The court cards are in Bavarian style, adapted from the French ‘Paris’ pattern with the addition of cavaliers or horsemen. The knave of clubs bears the name “Joh. Jobst Forster”.

Animal Tarock by Johann Jobst Forster, Nuremberg, 18th century. © The Trustees of the British Museum

Above: Animal Tarock by Johann Jobst Forster, Nuremberg, 18th century. 78 cards, hand-coloured woodcut, backs marbled, edges gilt, 59x110 mm. © The Trustees of the British Museum • number 1896,0501.212

References

Beal, George: Playing Cards and Tarots, Shire Publications, 1988.

Hargrave, Catherine P.: A History of Playing Cards, Dover Publications, 1966, 2000.

O’Donoghue, Freeman M: Catalogue of the collection of playing cards bequeathed by Lady Charlotte Schreiber (German 153), Trustees of the British Museum, London, 1901 [digital version here]

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By Simon Wintle

Member since February 01, 1996

Founder and editor of the World of Playing Cards since 1996. He is a former committee member of the IPCS and was graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal for many years. He has lived at various times in Chile, England and Wales and is currently living in Extremadura, Spain. Simon's first limited edition pack of playing cards was a replica of a seventeenth century traditional English pack, which he produced from woodblocks and stencils.

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