Oldest Tarot Books

Teheuti

ETA: There's also Tarot of the Magicians by Levi
Actually, Tarot of the Magicians (English translation) is by Oswald Wirth. Originally published in 1926, it is a summation of his work since his 1889 deck was published.

There's also The Tarot by MacGregor Mathers (1888) - largely based on Etteilla.
 

rwcarter

Actually, Tarot of the Magicians (English translation) is by Oswald Wirth. Originally published in 1926, it is a summation of his work since his 1889 deck was published.

There's also The Tarot by MacGregor Mathers (1888) - largely based on Etteilla.
Thanks Mary. I have no idea where Levi came from. Looking at my database, Tarot of the Magicians clearly says Wirth.... :bugeyed:
 

coredil

Greetings,

I would like to find out what are the oldest books on or descriptions of the Tarot that were either originally written in English or that have been translated into English.

Thank you for your assistance.

- Philalethes
You could have a look to this thread where I transcribed the original french text of one of Etteilla's book:
"Manière de se récréer avec le jeu de cartes nommés Tarots - Troisième Cahier"
and where AT member MikeH made a complete english translation!
http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?p=3229956#post3229956

And in this thread:
http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?t=185573
MikeH added the "Supplément au troisième cahier" that I do not own.

BTW I would like to take the opportunity to add that MikeH attempt to translate Etteilla's very heavy and obscure style was a great effort and a great contribution for english speaking people who are interested in early original text about Tarot.
 

Teheuti

You could have a look to this thread where I transcribed the original french text of one of Etteilla's book:
"Manière de se récréer avec le jeu de cartes nommés Tarots - Troisième Cahier"
and where AT member MikeH made a complete english translation!
http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?p=3229956#post3229956

And in this thread:
http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?t=185573
MikeH added the "Supplément au troisième cahier" that I do not own.

BTW I would like to take the opportunity to add that MikeH attempt to translate Etteilla's very heavy and obscure style was a great effort and a great contribution for english speaking people who are interested in early original text about Tarot.
Yes, MikeH's contribution here on aeclectic is a great gift to the Tarot world. Etteilla probably had the greatest influence on the divinatory Tarot, which often goes unrecognized by English-speakers.
 

Teheuti

Donald Tyson's English translation of de Gébelin as a *pdf* can be found by googling:
Tyson Gébelin Tarot