Iohann Christoph Hes Tarot c.1750
Facsimile of Tarot de Marseille by Iohann Christoph Hes, Augsburg, c.1750.
The game of tarot was introduced to German countries from France during the 17th and 18th centuries, in the form of the “Besançon Tarot” and “Marseille Tarot” with French inscriptions. A splendid facsimile of a Marseille style tarot by Iohann Christoph Hes, Augsburg, c.1750 is shown here.
The original cards are preserved in the British Museum, and have been reproduced faithfully in all details.
Right: two of the original cards © The Trustees of the British Museum
Museum number 1896,0501.191 online here►
The facsimile is printed on high quality card and presented in a beautifully designed box with informative booklet.

The Box and Booklets
The reproduction is printed in a limited edition of 900 copies, each one numbered and signed, accompanied by a booklet “Tarot in the German countries from the 16th to the 18th century” by Giordano Berti. In the booklet Berti reports new documentary evidence relating to the spread of Tarot in German regions (paintings, poems, handbook for tarot players, etc.). The deck comes in a fine box designed by Letizia Rivetti and includes a guide to cartomancy by Giulia Orsini.

The Facsimile Cards
The Hes Tarot has been reproduced with meticulous accuracy in all details including colours, dimensions and back of the cards, by Rinascimento Italian Style Art►


Above: the facsimile edition of a Marseille style Tarot by Iohann Christoph Hes, Augsburg, c.1750. 78 cards + extra warranty card + booklet + cartomancy leaflet in box. The booklet includes two appendices: "Map of the Tarot Factories in Europe in the 18th century", which shows the spread of these cards in the Germanic area, and "Mozart and the Tarot", which tells the great musician’s passion for this game.

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.
Related Articles

Tarock Cards by NIL Spielkartenfabrik
A deck of tarock cards from the eastern end of the ending Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Tarot hiéroglyphique égyptien
The design of the cards draws inspiration from various religious and philosophical traditions merged...

Alan Tarot Deck
Reprint of a Tarock pack originally designed by Argio Orell for the Austrian Lloyd shipping company....

Tarot Baraja Egipcia
Curious Tarot with Egyptian-style trumps issued by Franco Mora Ruiz from Mexico.

Le Tarot de Sète
Reinterpretation of the Tarot de Marseille by Julien Labat, an artist from Sète.

Tarot Philatélique
Tarot game pack with French postage stamps on all the courts, aces and trumps.

Il Tarocco del Mondo Nuovo
Imaginative Tarot card designs by Amerigo Folchi relating to Columbus and the New World.

22 Artisti Liguri in 22 Arcani
Collaborative set of major arcana devoted to Christopher Columbus and his voyages of discovery.

The Tarot of Meditation – Yeager Tarot
Marty Yeager’s original Tarot of Meditation from 1975, republished later by U.S. Games Systems, Inc....

Engel-Tarot
Set of major arcana designed by Alois Hanslian depicting angels throughout.

Virgil Solis
Remarkable pack of 52 animal-suited playing-cards designed and etched by Virgil Solis.

Tarot Actuel 1984
Major arcana to cut out, issued with the French magazine Actuel, using photographic images.

Politiker-Skat by Bubec
Caricatures of world leaders, including many German politicians, by the artist Bubec.

Le Poker Politique
French politicians and various world leaders caricatured by the German artist Bubec.

Mountain Dream Tarot
Groundbreaking Tarot created by Bea Nettles, using photographs and photo montage.

Il Tarocco Mitologico
Fully pictorial Tarot designed by Amerigo Folchi with figures mainly from Greek mythology.
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 28 days