Oldest Tarot Card Decks Collection

Tarot cards, born as the Italian game “tarocchi” in the 15th century, have captivated hearts from Renaissance courts to modern mystics. These nine oldest tarot decks, steeped in artistry and enigma, offer a glimpse into their storied past. 

The journey begins with the Visconti-Sforza Tarot, crafted around 1425 for Milan’s elite. Hand-painted by Bonifacio Bembo with gold and silver foil, its 35 surviving cards shimmer with allegorical trumps inspired by medieval carnivals. 

Close behind is the Visconti di Modrone, or Cary-Yale Tarot, from 1441-1447, a 67-card masterpiece adorned with theological virtues like Faith and Hope, now preserved at Yale.

The Brera-Brambilla Tarot, born around 1463 for Francesco Sforza, dazzles with gilt details despite only 48 cards remaining, including trumps like the Emperor. 

The Charles VI Tarot, misnamed for a French king but made in Italy during the 1470s, boasts 17 gold-plated cards that reflect tarot’s growing allure. 

By 1491, the Sola Busca Tarot emerged as the oldest complete 78-card deck, its copper-engraved Roman and biblical figures inspiring the iconic Rider-Waite deck centuries later.

In 1725, Florence’s Minchiate Etruria deck expanded to 97 cards, weaving astrology and elements into vibrant, hand-colored designs. 

The Tarot of Marseilles, with roots in 1760s France, standardized tarot’s bold imagery through woodblock prints, shaping modern divination. 

The Soprafino Tarot, etched in 1835 Milan by Carlo Della Rocca, married neoclassical elegance with tradition, later reaching wider audiences via woodblocks. 

Finally, the 1909 Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot, designed by Pamela Colman Smith, revolutionized the craft with its richly symbolic, fully illustrated minor arcana, cementing its place as a global icon.

From gilded Renaissance treasures to occult trailblazers, these decks trace tarot’s evolution from aristocratic game to mystical art. Each card holds whispers of history, inviting us to unravel their timeless secrets.