Marcolini, Francesco.

*

[note: in reference to the picture in the articles]

If we read "said to be" as meaning only by popular tradition,
and "transcript" as being just a second-hand copy, then does
it matter all that much, beyond the curious way of such things?

The Folklore of Playing Cards

DIAMONDS (Coins)

King. A man of very fair complexion; quick to anger, but soon appeased.
Queen. A very fair woman, fond of gaiety, and a coquette.
Knave. A selfish and deceitful relative: fair and false.

Ten. Money. Success in honourable business.
Nine. A roving disposition, combined with honourable and successful adventure in foreign lands.

Eight. A happy prudent marriage, though rather late in life.
Seven. Satire. Scandal. Unpleasant business matters.

Six. Marriage early in life, succeeded by widow-hood.
Five. Unexpected news, generally of a good kind.

Four. An unfaithful friend. A secret betrayed.
Trey. Domestic troubles, quarrels and unhappiness.

Deuce. A clandestine engagement. A card of caution.
Ace. A wedding ring. An offer of marriage.

*

HEARTS (Cups)

King. A fair, but not very fair, complexioned man: he is good natured, but rather obstinate, and, when angered, not easily appeased.
Queen. A woman of the same complexion as the king; faithful, prudent, and affectionate.
Knave. An unselfish relative. A sincere friend.

Ten. Health and happiness, with many children.
Nine. Wealth. High position in society. The wish-card.

Eight. Fine clothes. Pleasure. Mixing in good society. Going to balls, theatres.
Seven. Many good friends.

Six. Honourable courtship.
Five. A present.

Four. Domestic troubles caused by jealousy.
Trey. Poverty, shame and sorrow, caused by imprudence. A card of caution.

Deuce. Success in life, position in society, and a happy marriage, attained by virtuous discretion.
Ace. The house of the person consulting the decrees of fate.

*

SPADES (Swords)

King. A man of very dark complexion, ambitious and unscrupulous.
Queen. A very dark complexioned woman, of malicious disposition. A widow.
Knave. A lawyer. A person to be shunned.

Ten. Disgrace: crime: imprisonment. Death on the scaffold. A card of caution.
Nine. Grief: ruin: sickness: death.

Eight. Great danger from imprudence. A card of caution.
Seven. Unexpected poverty caused by the death of a relative. A lean sorrow.

Six. A child. To the unmarried a card of caution.
Five. Great danger from giving way to bad temper. A card of caution.

Four. Sickness.
Trey. A journey by land. Tears.

Deuce. A removal.
Ace. Death; malice; a duel; a general misfortune.

*

CLUBS (Wands)

King. A dark complexioned man, though not so dark as the king of spades: upright, true, and affectionate.
Queen. A woman of the same complexion, agreeable, genteel, and witty.
Knave. A sincere, but rather hasty-tempered friend.

Ten. Unexpected wealth, through the death of a relative. A fat sorrow.
Nine. Danger caused by drunkenness. A card of caution.

Eight. Danger from covetousness. A card of caution.
Seven. A prison. Danger arising from the opposite sex. A card of caution.

Six. Competence by hard-working industry.
Five. A happy, though not wealthy marriage.

Four. Danger of misfortunes caused by inconstancy, or capricious temper. A card of caution.
Trey. Quarrels. Or in reference to time may signify three years, three mouths, three weeks, or three days. it also denotes that a person will be married more than once.

Deuce. Vexation, disappointment.
Ace. A letter.

The "van Eyck" story was solved in the 1970s by Detleff Hoffmann; the painting is held to be by Lucas van Leyden, and the engraving first appeared in the Magasin Pittoresque in the 1840s.

You can compare the two images here
http://www.angelfire.com/space/tarot/leyden.html

(I scanned the engraving from a copy of the Magasin Pittoresque, and the original painting from Lhôte's "Jeux de société")

Dummett published Hoffmann's findings in "Game of Tarot" in 1980, and noted that the painting seems to show a game of cards, whereas the engraving is made to seem more like divination.

You will note also that the *original* engraving in French merely speaks about "Philippe le Bon", whereas the English version makes him Archduke of Austria! This is clearly some English person's misunderstanding of which Philippe was being shown.

We had a long thread about this very thing at TarotL in late July of 2002; all of the details are there.

You can see the original engraving in the Magasin Pittoresque at
http://visualiseur.bnf.fr/CadresFenetre?O=NUMM-31425&I=328&M=pagination&Y=Image
(if you don't get the right page, go to page 324 in the Magasin)

Ross G Caldwell said:

You can see the original engraving in the Magasin Pittoresque at
http://visualiseur.bnf.fr/CadresFenetre?O=NUMM-31425&I=328&M=pagination&Y=Image
(if you don't get the right page, go to page 324 in the Magasin)

Click to expand...

I realize this link doesn't work... so if you're interested enough to see the original 1842 Magasin Pittoresque engraving based on Lucas van Leyden's original painting in Nantes, go to
http://gallica.bnf.fr

from there click on "recherche" on the top bar;

in the "Mots du titre" field, type - magasin pittoresque (no quotes, no plus signs);

you will get one response - click on "voir la liste des fascicules", and then click on 1842;

(you must have acrobat reader - if you get an error message, just refresh the screen) - when the PDF file comes up, it will be full-screen; you want to have a page selection, so click on "pagination" at the top of the Acrobat window;

(if you get an error message, just refresh the screen again)

the pagination will be on the left side, so scroll down to page 324, and click on it.

Note: in 1842, they attributed it to van Eyck, and they thought it represented Philippe le Bon (Duke of Burgundy), getting his cards read. However, today it is unanimously held to be by Lucas van Leyden, and it seems to be neither Philippe le Bon nor a card-reading.

The most interesting thing about the webpages with the "Philippe le Bon" engraving is the mention of William Rowland's "Judiciall Astrologie, Judicially Condemned. Upon a Survey and Examination of Sr. Christopher Heydons Apology for it, in Answer to Mr. Chambers, and of Will. Ramsey's Morologie in his Pretended Reply (called Lux Veritatis) to Doctour Nathanael Homes his Demonologie...." from 1652.

"When the art was introduced into England is unknown; probably, however, the earliest printed notice of it in this country is the following curious story, extracted from Rowland's Judicial Astrology Condemned: 'Cuffe, an excellent Grecian, and secretary to the Earl of Essex, was told, twenty years before his death, that he should come to an untimely end, at which Cuffe laughed, and in a scornful manner entreated the soothsayer to shew him in what manner he should come to his end. Calling for cards, the soothsayer intreated Cuffe to draw out of the pack any three which pleased him. He did so, and drew three knaves, and laid them on the table by the wizard's direction, who then told him, if he desired to see the sum of his bad fortune, to take up those cards. Cuffe, as he was prescribed, took up the first card, and looking on it, he saw the portraiture of himself cap-a-pie, having men encompassing him with bills and halberds. Then he took up the second, and there he saw the judge that sat upon him; and taking, up the last card, he saw Tyburn, the place of his execution, and the hangman, at which he laughed heartily. But many years after, being condemned, he remembered and declared this prediction.'"

If that quote could be verified, it would probably be the earliest mention of cartomancy extant.

According to http://members.aol.com/apynyr/MSSp6.htm ,

Henry Cuffe was executed in 1601. This would put the cartomantic anecdote around 1581.

"March 1601: A warrant was given from the Commissioners for the execution of Sir Gelley Mayrick and Henry Cuffe at Tyburn, and for the beheading of Sir Christopher Blount and Sir Charles Danvers at Tower Hill.

Feb.: The Earl of Essex with many of his friends- perhaps the Arnolds were among them- were committed to the Tower. On the 19th the Earl and Southampton were condemned at Westminister, whilst Sir Gelley Meyrick and Cuffe were hanged, drawn and quartered at Tyburn."

Is there somebody with access to this book by Rowland, who relates the anecdote? There are apparently three copies in the British Museum...

Anybody live in or near London?

There is also one at UCLA (University of California at Los Angeles), for any Californians on the list who could get interlibrary loan (or who live in LA).

Author [Rowland, William]
Title: Judiciall astrologie, judicially condemned. Upon a survey and examination of Sr. Christopher Heydons apology for it, in answer to Mr. Chambers, and of Will. Ramsey's morologie in his pretended reply (called Lux veritatis) to Doctour Nathanael Homes his Demonologie. Together with the testimonies of Mr. W. Perkins resolution to the countrey-man; Mr. John Miltons figure-caster; and Dr. Homes his demonologie, all here exhibited against it, seconded and backed by 1. Evident scripture ... 7. And the wicked practises of astrologers themselves.
Publisher London, Printed by Roger Daniel for Joseph Blaik-locke, 1652.
Description [6], 314 p. 17 cm.
Note Preface signed: William Rowland.
Language English
Subject Astrology.
Format Book
Library UC Los Angeles All

UC Los Angeles
Clark QB26 .R88j Circ status * Stacks

1540 ?

Ross G Caldwell said:

If that quote could be verified, it would probably be
the earliest mention of cartomancy extant.

Click to expand...

(as per above) according to the following article:

The earliest work on cartomancy was written or compiled by
one Francesco Marcolini, and printed at Venice in 1540.
THE FOLKLORE OF PLAYING CARDS

Its object is simply to disclose—
probably for the first time in print—
the method or system of divination
by playing-cards...


But as for Cuffe, how shall we verify the verification?

Ross G Caldwell said:

Note: in 1842, they attributed it to van Eyck, and they
thought it represented Philippe le Bon (Duke of Burgundy),
getting his cards read.

However, today it is unanimously held to be by
Lucas van Leyden, and it seems to be neither
Philippe le Bon nor a card-reading.

Click to expand...

[note: we seem to be talking about two different pictures]

Artist and date of composition not withstanding,
this is definitely a card reading being shown here.

She is reading the cards.