Visconti-Sforza Tarot Cards (page 1/8)

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.