Umbrae
I cannot find where this has been discussed before.
All definitions of Tarot begin with the words “a pack of cards…” and then the writer wanders off to be lost in imagery.
However you need a medium to print upon before you can have a pack of cards.
You need paper.
Paper does not transport easily. Under Dark Ages conditions, shipping may have been difficult. Dampness destroys the paper, reverting it to pulp.
However most certainly some import/export of paper goods existed.
Papermaking was a closely guarded ‘secret’ art.
A good papermaker would produce paper for the local bureaucracy, the local clergy…sure the pays good…but what do you do with paper that comes out a bit poor? What if you need to raise some quick cash for new wire molds?
You print a game. You cannot make playing cards without paper.
NOTE ON TIMELINES ILLUSTRATED BELOW: Some dates of papermaking vary depending upon sources.
So I took Huck’s timelines and overlaid it to other timelines. Below is the result:
China – Papermaking origin
751 Papermaking begins in Samarkand
990 replaced parchment and papyrus in Arab worlds (having moved west to Baghdad, Damascus, Cairo, etc.
1056 possible in Moorish Iberian Peninsula
1119 Knights Templars established
1151 confirmed papermaking in Moorish Iberian Peninsula
1187 Jerusalem falls to Saladin
1209 – 1229 Albigensian Crusade
1255± Papermaking in Genoa
1269 Marco Polo Returns to Venice
1276 (1268)± papermaking moves from Iberian Peninsula to Fabriano in the marquisate of Ancona) Italy (dates vary per source)
1271 9th Crusade does little in Syria
1288 Perhaps some German references to cards
1291 Acre falls
1307 Templars Disbanded (forcefully)
1320± papermaking in Germany (Nuremberg )
1337 Marseille "Quod nulla persona audeat nec presumat ludere et taxillos, nec ad paginas ad eyssuchum". - This passage in the statutes of the abbey St. Victor in Marseille is debated in its value.
1337 Hundred years war begins.
1338 French monastery Papermaking begins.
1340 Papermaking in Florence, Bologna, Parma, Milan, Venice.
1348 Papermaking in Troyes, France.
1348 – 1370 black Plague reduces population by 1/3rd, resulting in fear-based isolationism.
1367 German prohibition against card playing – Prohibitions continue onwards suggesting an outbreak (plague) of card playing.
1369 Paris Ordinance forbade various games, but did not mention cards. A similar ordinance in 1377 included cards.
1375 Specific references to Playing Cards (“Newly arrived from the Islamic world” where apparently they were common.)
1375 – 1500 Cards Spread – becoming familiar objects
1377 Playing Cards – no doubt about it. Florence Italy
1377 Paris Ordinance forbade card games on workdays." Michael Hurst's entry to 1377 Paris (from Parlett and Dummett) is also given as:
"En tout cas, on trouve mention expresse des cartes en 1377, quand le Prévôt de Paris défend de jouer les jours ouvrables. « Paumes, boules, cartes, dés, quilles »"
Translation: - "In any case, explicit mention of cards is found in 1377, when the Provost of Paris forbade playing on working days 'Palms, balls, cards, dice, bowling'" (as source is given Gerard van Rijnberk, _Le Tarot, histoire, iconographie, ésotérisme_, (rpt. Trédaniel, 1981)).
Note Ross Caldwell: I still don't know the original source. D'Allemagne (1906) apparently doesn't know it.
1381 Marseille "On the 30th of August 1381, Jacques Jean, son of a Marseille merchant, about to embark for Alexandria, promises to abstain from games of chance (3) among which are cited cards: nahipi." ("La carte à jouer en languedoc des origines à 1800" (Toulouse, 1974) p. 7)."
1382 Lille An ordinance of the city of Lille, dated 1382, when Lille
belonged to France, forbade various games including dice and "quartes" (an early word for cards). (Simon Wintle) "Que nuls se ne soit si hardis, uns ne aultres quelz que il soit, qui depuis maintenant en avant en ceste ville jueche (joue) de jour ne de nuit as "dez, as taiules, as quartes ne a nul autre geu quelconques (S p. 63, refering to R. d'Allemagne II, p. 158).
1392 Paris Account book for King Charles VI, "Given to Jacquemin Gringonneur, painter, for three packs of cards, gilt and colored, and variously ornamented, for the amusement of the king, fifty-six sols of Paris." These are not the so-called Gringonneur cards, aka Charles VI cards, which are a late fifteenth-century Ferrarese Tarot deck. These three decks might be better compared to the 1440 Tortona deck. (K I:24; GT 65-66; P 37.)
1393 Paris An anonymous describes in "Menagier de Paris" the life and occupations of Roman women in old times by refereing to the occupations of noble women in his own time: ".. les unes divisans, les autres jouans au bric, les autres a qui fery, les autres a pince-merille, les autres jouans aux cartes et aux autres jeux d'esbatemens avecques leurs voisines ..." The reporting Schreiber (1937) refers to Pere Menestrier, Bibliotheque curieuse et instructive, Trevoux 1704, vol. II., p.174) (S p. 68)
1396 Paris "At the French court a hawker or maker of cases, Guion Groslet appears in the account books of 1396 for having sold an estuy for the cards of Queen Isabelle of Bavaria (Charles VI's wife)." (Ortalli 178) Schreiber notes, that the entry of Hemon Raguier reads: "A Guiot Groslet, gaingnier, un estuy (etui) pour mettre les cartes de la royne, le petiz bastonnez d'ivoire et les roolles de parchemin 12 sols parisins." (S p. 68.)
1397 Paris Prohibition against card playing. (K I:24.) This may be the same prohibition referred to by Ortalli, "when the prevot of Paris forbade the gens de metier from playing cards on working days." (Ortalli 178.)
Schreiber notes, that this passage is given by many French sources, but that he couldn't detect any, which gives the source for it. Although he himself controlled various possible sources, he couldn't detect it. He adds, that surprizingly in France there is no other card prohibition till 1541 (it seems, that Schreiber isn't aware of the entry to Paris 1377 and Lille 1382)(S p. 68/69).
1400 Franciscan order: According to Schreiber the Franciscan Oliver Maillardus (died 1502) writes in the 20th speech of the "Quadregesimale opus Parissii predicatum": "Videatis quod habetis in statutis vestris, nunquid anno 1400 fuit prohibitum quod omnes ludi chartarum et sic aliis expellerentur et comburerentur: et qui inventus esset solvere solid. par." (Schreiber notes: In the printed edition of the Sermones of 1503, Lyon, on page 123). Indeed, as Schreiber adds, in the chapter 7, § 30 of the "Statuta tribus ordinibus beati Francisci necessaria" is given: "Quicunque frater deprehensus fuerit tunicam, pecuniam vel res alias ludere ad taxillos vel cartas seu alearum ludos: pena carceris puniatur.", but Schreiber interpretes, that this edict is from begin of 16th century and he has doubts about the older rules in the order. (S p. 69)
1404 Langres The bishop of Langres, cardinal Louis de Bar (1396 - 1413) gave a careful game prohibition, in which also playing cards are considered: "Prohibemus clericis et viris ecclesiasticis, potissime in sacris ordinibus constitutis, et maxime sacerdotibus et curatis, ne omnino ludant ad taxillos, ad aleas, ad trinquetum, quod aliter nominatur ad punctum stacarii, neque ad CARTAS, neque ad stophum, dictum a la paulme, neque ad neque ad iactum lapidis, ad saltum, ad choreas, neque ad clipeum, neque cum fistula vel aliis musicalibus instrumentis ... non ludant etiam ad marellas, ad bolas, ad cursum vel currendum in campo .., ad iaculandum vel gladiandum, ... ad quillas, vel torneamenta seu iostas, ... in ludo quo dicitur charevari, ... ad ludom scatorum, nisi forsan raro (Laurentii Bochelli (Bouchel), Decreta ecclesia Gallicanae, Paris 1609, p. 1025). Schreiber adds, that Langres is at this time a selfadministrated bistum between Burgund and Lothringia (not belonging to FRance). (S 69/70)
1408 Orleans in an inventory of the Duke and Duchess of Orleans, listing "ung jeu de quartes sarrasines and unes quartes de Lombardie (‘one pack of Saracen cards; one cards of Lombardy’)". (GT 42.)(S p. 70)
Schreiber adds in a footnote (refering to V. Gay, p. 286), that Louis d'Orleans, brother of the French king Charles VI., must have been a "Spielratte allerersten Ranges" ("first class gambling rat"): In the possession of baron de Joursanvault (Catalogue des Archives de M. le bn. de J., Paris 1838, vol. I, p. 103 - 105) were various bills about gambling losses of the duke. 1394 he lost in the "jeu de la paume" 200 livres de tournois; 1396 in the "jeu de echaiz" "une aulmure de gris a chanoine, further 1200 fr. in the "jeue de la bille" and other sums; 1397 he paid back various sums, which were lend to play "aux tables" and "au glic", also he had to cover various sums and losses to various persons.
1408 Paris Court records describe con artists using cards in a simple scam "with a psychological resemblance to Three-card Monte." (Giobbi; P 73.)
1423 Angers (then belonging to the dukedom Anjou):
Bishop Harduin of Angers edicts synodal statutes "Prohibemus etiam universis et singulis subditis tam ecclesiasticis quam saecularibus ne ipsi ad taxillos, cartas et alios sortis ludos ludere et mercatoribus, ne taxillos et allos hujusmodi ludorum instrumenta vendere (Martene et Durand, Thesaurus novus anecdotum seu collectio monument. et diplom., Paris 1717, vol 4, sp. 528). The edict is of importance, as it names card playing as a game of luck and it notes, that card decks could be bought by traders. (S p. 70)
1420 Perhaps Tarot reference
1427 Tournai Two card producers are recorded in the city, Michel de Noel (1427 - 1442) and Phillippe de Bos (1427 - 1450). In the second half of the 15th century other names follow (partly relatives of the earlier producers), Tournay becomes a major playing card production location in Flemish countries. (S p. 64 and 134)
1431 Avignon First French playing card producer mentioned (after Gringonneur 1393)
1440’s a second type of card is mentioned, Triumphs. Indicates invention in 1430’s (Milan)
1441 Avignon Bishop Alanus of Avignon gives some statutes "... statuimus et ordinamus, quod si quis clericus vel ecclesiastica persona ad ludos taxillorum, alearum vel cartarum publice vel occulte ... ludere praesumbit". (S p. 70)
1442 Tarot Deck extant
1443 Hundred years war ends.
1444 Lyon First card producer in the city.
1449 Monselice / Isabelle de Lorraine Letter and parcel of the Venetian provvedittore Iacopo Antonoio Marcello to Isabelle of Lorraine (wife of Rene d'Anjou), in which he sends the Michelino deck and another Trionfi deck to France (complex article).
1450 Tarot Deck Most likely originated earlier. (O’Neill (paraphrased) – they were heirloom copies of what most certainly existed outside of the royalty (mundane) circles and (since tightly held) would not have influenced the evolution of the images. Suggesting – that the game was already in existence…already played.
1454 Maria of Anjou: J. Bochetel (royal secretary and treasurer) made some entries in the account books of the royal household of Maria of Anjou (wife of Charles VII. and Queen of France, mother of Louis XI. and sister of Renee d'Anjou - lived from 1404 - 1463): "a Guilleaume Bouchier, marchant da Chinon, pour 2 jeux des quartes et 200 espingles (playing jetons) delivret audit Seigneur (Charles VII. de France) pour jouer et soy esbatre 5 sols tournois." A little later: "A Guyon Sergent, mercier demeurant a Saint-Aignan, pour 3 paires (decks) de quartes a jouer 5 sold tournois". And: "A Colas Gresle, mercier suivant la Cour, pour 2 jeux de quartes delivrez a MdS (Charles VII. de France) pour jouer et soy esbatre 4. d. tournois." And: "A Guillemin Moreau, appothicaire de Chinon, pour 2 jeux des quartes et demier millier d'espingles delivrez a mad. dame (Madeleine de France) pour jouer et soy esbatre 5 sols 4 d." And: "pour deux autres jeux 3 s. 4 d" (Schreiber refers to V. Gay, p. 286) (S p. 71).
1457 Aix de la Provence: In the inventory of a recently died merchant are noted "Item sex doudenas (72) ludorum cartarum sive de juos de de Cartas ascendunt flrenum unum grosses tres" (S p. 71, refers to R. d'Allemagne II, p. 525)
1455 Gutenberg’s Bible
1458 Lille, Philipp le Bon: Philipp changes the older prohibition (from
1382) by declaring his "bien archier de corps" Guille de Soomont, dit le Mire, as "fermier des jeux de brelancq, tablez, boulletz, dez, quartes, quilles et autres jeux". Any citizen could get allowance - against a fee - to make this games at his home (S p. 64 refers to R. d'Allemagne II, p. 486).
1475 - 1500 French Stenciling?
1464 France Translation of St. Bernardine’s 1423 sermon adds mention of the game of 31, precursor to the modern game of 21. (P 80.)
1465 Toulouse "we can say, what is not surprising, that the game [Tarot] was not yet known in France in 1465, since the statutes [Statuta nayperiorum], drawn up in that year, of the earliest association of master cardmakers in the whole of France, that of Toulouse, speak of naips sive cartas but make no mention of triumphi.”
1469 Charlotte, Queen of France (wife of Louis XI.) Bill about "2 jeux des cartes pour esbatre nosd. dames 5 sols tournois" (S p. 71 refering to R. d'Allemagne, II, p. 525)
1476 Lyon, Rene d'Anjou: Rene buys "ung jeu de cartes de Lion pour Hellene", the price is 11 gros d'argent.
1482 France According to the Dictionnaire de l’ancienne langue française, “…the earliest recorded use of the word [triumphe] in French as the name of a card game dates from as early as 1482. Unfortunately, we cannot be certain that these references are to games played with the Tarot pack.” Dummett considers it likely that this reference does refer to Tarot, which would thereby have been in France by about 1480. Another probable early reference to Tarot in France is from Lorraine, 1496, and one of the earliest unambiguous mentions of Tarot in France is to their manufacture at Lyons, in 1507. (GT 84; TT 50.)
1495/96 Gambling results of Rene II. Bills of the Lothringian court for King Rene II: "Au Roy, le 29 avril pour jouer au triumphe a Vezelise (capital of the Kanton, Nancy) deux francs" "Encore audit seigneur roy le 1'er mai pour jouer audit triumphe a Vezelise deux florins d'ors".
Thoughts...?
All definitions of Tarot begin with the words “a pack of cards…” and then the writer wanders off to be lost in imagery.
However you need a medium to print upon before you can have a pack of cards.
You need paper.
Paper does not transport easily. Under Dark Ages conditions, shipping may have been difficult. Dampness destroys the paper, reverting it to pulp.
However most certainly some import/export of paper goods existed.
Papermaking was a closely guarded ‘secret’ art.
A good papermaker would produce paper for the local bureaucracy, the local clergy…sure the pays good…but what do you do with paper that comes out a bit poor? What if you need to raise some quick cash for new wire molds?
You print a game. You cannot make playing cards without paper.
NOTE ON TIMELINES ILLUSTRATED BELOW: Some dates of papermaking vary depending upon sources.
So I took Huck’s timelines and overlaid it to other timelines. Below is the result:
China – Papermaking origin
751 Papermaking begins in Samarkand
990 replaced parchment and papyrus in Arab worlds (having moved west to Baghdad, Damascus, Cairo, etc.
1056 possible in Moorish Iberian Peninsula
1119 Knights Templars established
1151 confirmed papermaking in Moorish Iberian Peninsula
1187 Jerusalem falls to Saladin
1209 – 1229 Albigensian Crusade
1255± Papermaking in Genoa
1269 Marco Polo Returns to Venice
1276 (1268)± papermaking moves from Iberian Peninsula to Fabriano in the marquisate of Ancona) Italy (dates vary per source)
1271 9th Crusade does little in Syria
1288 Perhaps some German references to cards
1291 Acre falls
1307 Templars Disbanded (forcefully)
1320± papermaking in Germany (Nuremberg )
1337 Marseille "Quod nulla persona audeat nec presumat ludere et taxillos, nec ad paginas ad eyssuchum". - This passage in the statutes of the abbey St. Victor in Marseille is debated in its value.
1337 Hundred years war begins.
1338 French monastery Papermaking begins.
1340 Papermaking in Florence, Bologna, Parma, Milan, Venice.
1348 Papermaking in Troyes, France.
1348 – 1370 black Plague reduces population by 1/3rd, resulting in fear-based isolationism.
1367 German prohibition against card playing – Prohibitions continue onwards suggesting an outbreak (plague) of card playing.
1369 Paris Ordinance forbade various games, but did not mention cards. A similar ordinance in 1377 included cards.
1375 Specific references to Playing Cards (“Newly arrived from the Islamic world” where apparently they were common.)
1375 – 1500 Cards Spread – becoming familiar objects
1377 Playing Cards – no doubt about it. Florence Italy
1377 Paris Ordinance forbade card games on workdays." Michael Hurst's entry to 1377 Paris (from Parlett and Dummett) is also given as:
"En tout cas, on trouve mention expresse des cartes en 1377, quand le Prévôt de Paris défend de jouer les jours ouvrables. « Paumes, boules, cartes, dés, quilles »"
Translation: - "In any case, explicit mention of cards is found in 1377, when the Provost of Paris forbade playing on working days 'Palms, balls, cards, dice, bowling'" (as source is given Gerard van Rijnberk, _Le Tarot, histoire, iconographie, ésotérisme_, (rpt. Trédaniel, 1981)).
Note Ross Caldwell: I still don't know the original source. D'Allemagne (1906) apparently doesn't know it.
1381 Marseille "On the 30th of August 1381, Jacques Jean, son of a Marseille merchant, about to embark for Alexandria, promises to abstain from games of chance (3) among which are cited cards: nahipi." ("La carte à jouer en languedoc des origines à 1800" (Toulouse, 1974) p. 7)."
1382 Lille An ordinance of the city of Lille, dated 1382, when Lille
belonged to France, forbade various games including dice and "quartes" (an early word for cards). (Simon Wintle) "Que nuls se ne soit si hardis, uns ne aultres quelz que il soit, qui depuis maintenant en avant en ceste ville jueche (joue) de jour ne de nuit as "dez, as taiules, as quartes ne a nul autre geu quelconques (S p. 63, refering to R. d'Allemagne II, p. 158).
1392 Paris Account book for King Charles VI, "Given to Jacquemin Gringonneur, painter, for three packs of cards, gilt and colored, and variously ornamented, for the amusement of the king, fifty-six sols of Paris." These are not the so-called Gringonneur cards, aka Charles VI cards, which are a late fifteenth-century Ferrarese Tarot deck. These three decks might be better compared to the 1440 Tortona deck. (K I:24; GT 65-66; P 37.)
1393 Paris An anonymous describes in "Menagier de Paris" the life and occupations of Roman women in old times by refereing to the occupations of noble women in his own time: ".. les unes divisans, les autres jouans au bric, les autres a qui fery, les autres a pince-merille, les autres jouans aux cartes et aux autres jeux d'esbatemens avecques leurs voisines ..." The reporting Schreiber (1937) refers to Pere Menestrier, Bibliotheque curieuse et instructive, Trevoux 1704, vol. II., p.174) (S p. 68)
1396 Paris "At the French court a hawker or maker of cases, Guion Groslet appears in the account books of 1396 for having sold an estuy for the cards of Queen Isabelle of Bavaria (Charles VI's wife)." (Ortalli 178) Schreiber notes, that the entry of Hemon Raguier reads: "A Guiot Groslet, gaingnier, un estuy (etui) pour mettre les cartes de la royne, le petiz bastonnez d'ivoire et les roolles de parchemin 12 sols parisins." (S p. 68.)
1397 Paris Prohibition against card playing. (K I:24.) This may be the same prohibition referred to by Ortalli, "when the prevot of Paris forbade the gens de metier from playing cards on working days." (Ortalli 178.)
Schreiber notes, that this passage is given by many French sources, but that he couldn't detect any, which gives the source for it. Although he himself controlled various possible sources, he couldn't detect it. He adds, that surprizingly in France there is no other card prohibition till 1541 (it seems, that Schreiber isn't aware of the entry to Paris 1377 and Lille 1382)(S p. 68/69).
1400 Franciscan order: According to Schreiber the Franciscan Oliver Maillardus (died 1502) writes in the 20th speech of the "Quadregesimale opus Parissii predicatum": "Videatis quod habetis in statutis vestris, nunquid anno 1400 fuit prohibitum quod omnes ludi chartarum et sic aliis expellerentur et comburerentur: et qui inventus esset solvere solid. par." (Schreiber notes: In the printed edition of the Sermones of 1503, Lyon, on page 123). Indeed, as Schreiber adds, in the chapter 7, § 30 of the "Statuta tribus ordinibus beati Francisci necessaria" is given: "Quicunque frater deprehensus fuerit tunicam, pecuniam vel res alias ludere ad taxillos vel cartas seu alearum ludos: pena carceris puniatur.", but Schreiber interpretes, that this edict is from begin of 16th century and he has doubts about the older rules in the order. (S p. 69)
1404 Langres The bishop of Langres, cardinal Louis de Bar (1396 - 1413) gave a careful game prohibition, in which also playing cards are considered: "Prohibemus clericis et viris ecclesiasticis, potissime in sacris ordinibus constitutis, et maxime sacerdotibus et curatis, ne omnino ludant ad taxillos, ad aleas, ad trinquetum, quod aliter nominatur ad punctum stacarii, neque ad CARTAS, neque ad stophum, dictum a la paulme, neque ad neque ad iactum lapidis, ad saltum, ad choreas, neque ad clipeum, neque cum fistula vel aliis musicalibus instrumentis ... non ludant etiam ad marellas, ad bolas, ad cursum vel currendum in campo .., ad iaculandum vel gladiandum, ... ad quillas, vel torneamenta seu iostas, ... in ludo quo dicitur charevari, ... ad ludom scatorum, nisi forsan raro (Laurentii Bochelli (Bouchel), Decreta ecclesia Gallicanae, Paris 1609, p. 1025). Schreiber adds, that Langres is at this time a selfadministrated bistum between Burgund and Lothringia (not belonging to FRance). (S 69/70)
1408 Orleans in an inventory of the Duke and Duchess of Orleans, listing "ung jeu de quartes sarrasines and unes quartes de Lombardie (‘one pack of Saracen cards; one cards of Lombardy’)". (GT 42.)(S p. 70)
Schreiber adds in a footnote (refering to V. Gay, p. 286), that Louis d'Orleans, brother of the French king Charles VI., must have been a "Spielratte allerersten Ranges" ("first class gambling rat"): In the possession of baron de Joursanvault (Catalogue des Archives de M. le bn. de J., Paris 1838, vol. I, p. 103 - 105) were various bills about gambling losses of the duke. 1394 he lost in the "jeu de la paume" 200 livres de tournois; 1396 in the "jeu de echaiz" "une aulmure de gris a chanoine, further 1200 fr. in the "jeue de la bille" and other sums; 1397 he paid back various sums, which were lend to play "aux tables" and "au glic", also he had to cover various sums and losses to various persons.
1408 Paris Court records describe con artists using cards in a simple scam "with a psychological resemblance to Three-card Monte." (Giobbi; P 73.)
1423 Angers (then belonging to the dukedom Anjou):
Bishop Harduin of Angers edicts synodal statutes "Prohibemus etiam universis et singulis subditis tam ecclesiasticis quam saecularibus ne ipsi ad taxillos, cartas et alios sortis ludos ludere et mercatoribus, ne taxillos et allos hujusmodi ludorum instrumenta vendere (Martene et Durand, Thesaurus novus anecdotum seu collectio monument. et diplom., Paris 1717, vol 4, sp. 528). The edict is of importance, as it names card playing as a game of luck and it notes, that card decks could be bought by traders. (S p. 70)
1420 Perhaps Tarot reference
1427 Tournai Two card producers are recorded in the city, Michel de Noel (1427 - 1442) and Phillippe de Bos (1427 - 1450). In the second half of the 15th century other names follow (partly relatives of the earlier producers), Tournay becomes a major playing card production location in Flemish countries. (S p. 64 and 134)
1431 Avignon First French playing card producer mentioned (after Gringonneur 1393)
1440’s a second type of card is mentioned, Triumphs. Indicates invention in 1430’s (Milan)
1441 Avignon Bishop Alanus of Avignon gives some statutes "... statuimus et ordinamus, quod si quis clericus vel ecclesiastica persona ad ludos taxillorum, alearum vel cartarum publice vel occulte ... ludere praesumbit". (S p. 70)
1442 Tarot Deck extant
1443 Hundred years war ends.
1444 Lyon First card producer in the city.
1449 Monselice / Isabelle de Lorraine Letter and parcel of the Venetian provvedittore Iacopo Antonoio Marcello to Isabelle of Lorraine (wife of Rene d'Anjou), in which he sends the Michelino deck and another Trionfi deck to France (complex article).
1450 Tarot Deck Most likely originated earlier. (O’Neill (paraphrased) – they were heirloom copies of what most certainly existed outside of the royalty (mundane) circles and (since tightly held) would not have influenced the evolution of the images. Suggesting – that the game was already in existence…already played.
1454 Maria of Anjou: J. Bochetel (royal secretary and treasurer) made some entries in the account books of the royal household of Maria of Anjou (wife of Charles VII. and Queen of France, mother of Louis XI. and sister of Renee d'Anjou - lived from 1404 - 1463): "a Guilleaume Bouchier, marchant da Chinon, pour 2 jeux des quartes et 200 espingles (playing jetons) delivret audit Seigneur (Charles VII. de France) pour jouer et soy esbatre 5 sols tournois." A little later: "A Guyon Sergent, mercier demeurant a Saint-Aignan, pour 3 paires (decks) de quartes a jouer 5 sold tournois". And: "A Colas Gresle, mercier suivant la Cour, pour 2 jeux de quartes delivrez a MdS (Charles VII. de France) pour jouer et soy esbatre 4. d. tournois." And: "A Guillemin Moreau, appothicaire de Chinon, pour 2 jeux des quartes et demier millier d'espingles delivrez a mad. dame (Madeleine de France) pour jouer et soy esbatre 5 sols 4 d." And: "pour deux autres jeux 3 s. 4 d" (Schreiber refers to V. Gay, p. 286) (S p. 71).
1457 Aix de la Provence: In the inventory of a recently died merchant are noted "Item sex doudenas (72) ludorum cartarum sive de juos de de Cartas ascendunt flrenum unum grosses tres" (S p. 71, refers to R. d'Allemagne II, p. 525)
1455 Gutenberg’s Bible
1458 Lille, Philipp le Bon: Philipp changes the older prohibition (from
1382) by declaring his "bien archier de corps" Guille de Soomont, dit le Mire, as "fermier des jeux de brelancq, tablez, boulletz, dez, quartes, quilles et autres jeux". Any citizen could get allowance - against a fee - to make this games at his home (S p. 64 refers to R. d'Allemagne II, p. 486).
1475 - 1500 French Stenciling?
1464 France Translation of St. Bernardine’s 1423 sermon adds mention of the game of 31, precursor to the modern game of 21. (P 80.)
1465 Toulouse "we can say, what is not surprising, that the game [Tarot] was not yet known in France in 1465, since the statutes [Statuta nayperiorum], drawn up in that year, of the earliest association of master cardmakers in the whole of France, that of Toulouse, speak of naips sive cartas but make no mention of triumphi.”
1469 Charlotte, Queen of France (wife of Louis XI.) Bill about "2 jeux des cartes pour esbatre nosd. dames 5 sols tournois" (S p. 71 refering to R. d'Allemagne, II, p. 525)
1476 Lyon, Rene d'Anjou: Rene buys "ung jeu de cartes de Lion pour Hellene", the price is 11 gros d'argent.
1482 France According to the Dictionnaire de l’ancienne langue française, “…the earliest recorded use of the word [triumphe] in French as the name of a card game dates from as early as 1482. Unfortunately, we cannot be certain that these references are to games played with the Tarot pack.” Dummett considers it likely that this reference does refer to Tarot, which would thereby have been in France by about 1480. Another probable early reference to Tarot in France is from Lorraine, 1496, and one of the earliest unambiguous mentions of Tarot in France is to their manufacture at Lyons, in 1507. (GT 84; TT 50.)
1495/96 Gambling results of Rene II. Bills of the Lothringian court for King Rene II: "Au Roy, le 29 avril pour jouer au triumphe a Vezelise (capital of the Kanton, Nancy) deux francs" "Encore audit seigneur roy le 1'er mai pour jouer audit triumphe a Vezelise deux florins d'ors".
Thoughts...?
I just discuss with Baba, that woodcut engraving did perhaps develop 1415, just requesting arguments which make the common dating ca. 1400 plausible, now you surprize us with a European woodblock process in mid of 13th century. Well, that's progress ...