The “Minchiate Etruria” deck was originally published in Florence around 1725, printed from copper plate etchings and hand coloured with water colours. Minchiate was a late-medieval card game employing a specially extended pack of 97 cards, related to Tarot but including 12 zodiac signs, 4 virtues (faith, hope, charity, prudence) and 4 elements (fire, water, air, earth). Some scholars believe that these cards may have served as teaching aids, because several trump allegories (Virtues, Elements, Zodiac signs) belong to categories upon which classical learning was based at that time. These beautiful cards are handmade and have an elegant old world look and feel. The cars have a semi gloss finish with square corners. The decks come packaged in a sturdy 2 part box with the sun card affixed on the top with the makers wax seal. The decks are sealed and the user will receive a title card with the limited edition number inside the box.The Minchiate Etruria is a beautiful and fascinating deck - An early derivative of the Tarot but with a unique character all its own. Specs Name: Minchiate Etruria 1725 Publisher: il Meneghello Second limited edition of 2,000 Deck Type: Early Italian Minchiate Deck - an extended form of Tarot consisting of 97 cards Cards: 97 with a Semi Gloss finish - square corners Card Dimensions cm. 9.5 x 5.5 Deck Tradition: Minchiate Card Back: Not Reversible Interesting Facts: Old cards manufactured in Italy like the Minchiate Etruria usually had a fanciful decoration on the backs, the paper folded over to the front to form a border. Many modern decks still imitate this effect. the horse cards in this deck are hybrid figures - half man and half horse or other figure. Card number 30 carries the seal of the Medici family.
