Gumppenberg circa 1812

[OnePotato]

Here are some photos of Mr & Mrs OnePotato's new crown jewel...
An original circa 1812 Ferdinando Gumppenberg Tarocchi Fini.

77 of 78 original cards present.
The King of Cups is a modern replacement.
(If anyone knows where to find an original vintage replacement, please let me know! )

Condition is quite excellent.
Just a few dirt spots, and light wear.

The deck has a faint smell of old age.
Hard to describe, but I can remember it from my grandmother's house, long ago.

It's fairly small, at 10.6 x 5.2cm, and tightly trimmed.
This small size adds to the jewel-like miniature qualities of the deck.
The finely detailed engraving and hand coloring is marvelous!
Card faces are varnished, or "polished", for a very nice surface quality.
Even after 200 years, this deck has an aura of top quality production about it that shines through.
(GumpMajors.jpg)

Tax stamp on the Ace of Swords is for Italy under French rule, valid 1807-1815.
The Ace of Coins has an ink smear, obviously from the manufacture.
I've noticed something very interesting about the signature on the Ace of Cups.
(04GumpAces.jpg)

I don't know if the box is original, or later.
I don't really have any particular reason to doubt it, but it seems too good to be true.
Note the incorrect spelling of "Gumppenberg" on the front.
Has anyone ever seen or heard of a box for this deck?
(01GumpBox.jpg)
02GumpBox.jpg)

Backs appear to be red letterpress "flowers".
(You can see that the image is lightly pressed into the paper.)
(05GumpCourts.jpg)

This is one fine deck.
Bravo, Master Gumppenberg!

 

[Papageno]

congratulations Mr & Mrs. OnePotato

what a coup!

thanks for the pictures, the box in itself is glorious

edited:

that might not be a spelling error, it's very possibly a dialectic preference.

for the (contemporary) Veneziani by Maria Cristina Venditti....the card titles purposely reflect the Venetian dialect, rather than the Roman tongue

 

[The crowned one]

Thank-you for sharing that, what a wonderful find and a deck to be proud of. I am envious! Closest I ever came was "Ancient Tarot of Lombardy". And I sent that one to Italy.

 

[uwe]

I would love to own a "Real Ancient" deck like this one.
Thanks for sharing your treasure.

Congratulations..

 

[le pendu]

I consider this one of the most beautiful decks ever created.

I'm so envious that I can only feel slightly better knowing that it (almost!) couldn't have found a better home.

Congratulations and thank you VERY much for sharing. It's breathtaking.

 

[OnePotato]

congratulations Mr & Mrs. OnePotato

what a coup!

thanks for the pictures, the box in itself is glorious

edited:

that might not be a spelling error, it's very possibly a dialectic preference.

for the (contemporary) Veneziani by Maria Cristina Venditti....the card titles purposely reflect the Venetian dialect, rather than the Roman tongue

Thanks Papageno.
I'm glad you like it.
The box was actually a surprise. It wasn't mentioned in the sale description.

I don't know enough (anything!) about Italian dialects to have a clue about it!
I suppose it's possible, or maybe it's just the lax spelling standards of the time.

(PS: I LOVE the Veneziani!)

 

[OnePotato]

Crowned One and Uwe, I'm glad you liked it!

I consider this one of the most beautiful decks ever created.

le pendu,
I agree, it's really an original design, and a beautiful thing.
But his Soprafino is still out there somewhere, calling....

 

[Elven]

That is beautiful!
I hope Im in as good a condition at that age .. oppps! too late ...
I've never really looked at the cards - the Hanged Man is intruiging - what muscular legs he has ... and his facial features ... his pose .. WOW!!
Congratulations on your new baby! Well done!!

 

[Papageno]

or maybe it's just the lax spelling standards of the time.

that's most likely the case, whoever made the box probably pronounced it that way himself so that's how it got printed on the box ....seems arbitrary but perfectly plausible.

 

[Papageno]

But his Soprafino is still out there somewhere, calling....

it has your name written all over it