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The Visconti-forza tarot cards predate the invention of “regular” playing cards with their hearts, clubs, diamonds and spades. They appear originally have been for a game a little like whist, in which you must follow suit or play a trump, and in which you work with a partner to take tricks.
The pack shown here dates from the 1450s. It is incomplete: it does not have the 3 of swords, the Knight of Coins, the Tower or the Devil. In addition, six cards have been substituted from another pack: Fortitude, Temperance The Moon, The Star, The Sun and The World.
I did not scan these images, although I do own a fac-simile of the cards. They came from David Madore, with permission; see also David Madore’s site. The images themselves are in the public domain.
Title: Visconti-Sforza Tarot Cards
City: Milan
Date: 1455
Total items: 74
Out of copyright (called public domain in the USA), hence royalty-free for all purposes usage credit requested, or as marked.
![[picture: Ace of Staves.]](https://www.fromoldbooks.org/ViscontiSforza-TarotCards/wm/big/staves-01-ace-100x200.jpg "[picture: Ace of Staves.]")
![[picture: Deuce of Swords.]](https://www.fromoldbooks.org/ViscontiSforza-TarotCards/wm/big/swords-02-deuce-100x200.jpg "[picture: Deuce of Swords.]")
![[picture: King of Swords.]](https://www.fromoldbooks.org/ViscontiSforza-TarotCards/wm/big/swords-14-king-100x200.jpg "[picture: King of Swords.]")
![[picture: Seven of Batons]](https://www.fromoldbooks.org/ViscontiSforza-TarotCards/wm/big/staves-07-100x200.jpg "[picture: Seven of Batons]")
![[picture: Eight of Batons]](https://www.fromoldbooks.org/ViscontiSforza-TarotCards/wm/big/staves-08-100x200.jpg "[picture: Eight of Batons]")
The Visconti-forza tarot cards predate the invention of “regular” playing cards with their hearts, clubs, diamonds and spades. They appear originally have been for a game a little like whist, in which you must follow suit or play a trump, and in which you work with a partner to take tricks.
The pack shown here dates from the 1450s. It is incomplete: it does not have the 3 of swords, the Knight of Coins, the Tower or the Devil. In addition, six cards have been substituted from another pack: Fortitude, Temperance The Moon, The Star, The Sun and The World.
I did not scan these images, although I do own a fac-simile of the cards. They came from David Madore, with permission; see also David Madore’s site. The images themselves are in the public domain.
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