There are many myths surrounding the origin of the Tarot and the theories that the cards were invented in ancient Egypt, India or China are often expressed. These ideas owe more to a sense of romance or wishful thinking than to any hard evidence. One popular myth expounded in Le Monde Primitif 1781 by Court de Gebelin is that the cards were brought from India by the Gypsies who, as their name suggests, were originally thought to have come from Egypt. The true origin of the Tarot cards remains a mystery, but what is known is that cards similar to those we have today first appeared in Italy and France in the late 14th century.

Get the most that you can from the Tarot with these excellent books.

Tarot History

The earliest known cards still in existence date from 1392 and, of these, only 17 remain. It is believed that they were painted for Charles VI of France by Jacquemin Gringonneur, but it is possible that they are actually less ancient and are Tarocchi of Venice cards from the middle of the 15th century. The earliest surviving full deck was painted in 1422 by Italian artist Bonifacio Bembo. This is known as the Visconti deck after the family name of its commissioner, the Duke of Milan.

Tarot Decks

The standard modern deck consists of 78 cards split into two sections, the 22 cards of the Major Arcana which is the archetypal Tarot cards, such as the Lovers, Death and Judgement,etc. and the 56 cards of the Minor Arcana which consist of four suits of fourteen cards, each comprised of cards numbered from one to ten, and four court cards. This structure is a derivation of the Venetian or Piedmontese Tarot, but early decks were of several types with varying numbers of cards.

Mystery Of The Tarot

The Tarot has experienced resurgence in the past two decades and has become especially popular recently, with newly minted modern Tarot decks coming out frequently. There are now dozens of decks from which to choose, representing themes from Egyptian and Celtic to Native American and Feminist.

The Pictorial Key to the Tarot - $12.99
Click Picture for Details STOCK:4623	The Pictorial Key to the Tarot Enter Quantity, Click

Intuitive Tarot - $10.95
Click Picture for Details STOCK:CMUSGBK112	Intuitive Tarot Enter Quantity, Click

Guide to The Tarot of the Sephiroth - $10.00
Click Picture for Details STOCK:CMUSGBK207	Guide to The Tarot of the Sephiroth Enter Quantity, Click

The Book of Tarot by Gerulskis Estes - $9.95
Click Picture for Details STOCK:CMUSGBK42	The Book of Tarot by Gerulskis Estes Enter Quantity, Click

The Encyclopedia of Tarot, Volume I - $30.00
Click Picture for Details STOCK:CMUSGBK4	The Encyclopedia of Tarot, Volume I Enter Quantity, Click

The Encyclopedia of Tarot, Volume II - $35.00
Click Picture for Details STOCK:CMUSGBK5	The Encyclopedia of Tarot, Volume II Enter Quantity, Click

The Encyclopedia of Tarot, Volume III - $45.00
Click Picture for Details STOCK:CMUSGBK6	The Encyclopedia of Tarot, Volume III Enter Quantity, Click

The One World Tarot, Astrology, Tarot, and the New Age - $10.00
Click Picture for Details STOCK:CMUSGBK210	The One World Tarot, Astrology, Tarot, and the New Age Enter Quantity, Click

The Tarot Handbook by Banzhaf - $17.95
Click Picture for Details STOCK:CMUSGBK113	The Tarot Handbook by Banzhaf Enter Quantity, Click

Hanson Roberts Tarot Companion - $9.95
Click Picture for Details STOCK:CMUSGBK179	Hanson Roberts Tarot Companion Enter Quantity, Click

Contact  Legal Stuff Book Mark Us! Shopping Cart Shipping Charges Home Page Printable Order Form Ninja-Gear Affiliate Page SEARCH!!!   Martial Arts Gear Martial Arts Gear 2415 Verot School Road Lafayette, LA 70508 Call 1-337 984 6014 1-800-369 GEAR (For U.S. Only) 1 337 984 6026 (fax) mag@martialartsgear.com (email)