Oriental Scenes tarock
Trumps have oriental scenes on one end of the card, and mermaids, mermen, assorted sea serpents and monsters on the other end.
The double-ended trumps have oriental scenes with groups of people on one end of the card, and mermaids, mermen, assorted sea serpents and monsters on the other end. The juxtaposition of these two themes on the trump cards adds amusement value to the set. The borders are zig-zag inside parallel lines.
Sometimes known as “Land & Sea” tarot, “Fish-tail” or “Baltic” tarot, these are known in several versions.
Above: there is a duty stamp on the ace of clubs with "13 Avril 1880".
The Court Cards
The 16 court cards read “B.P. Grimaud France”.
Above: Oriental Scenes tarock published by B P Grimaud & Chartier, Rue de Lancry 54, Paris,1880. 78 cards with French suit-marks in tuck-box. Chromolithograph; size = 10.5 x 5.5 cm; backs printed in black with alternating black and white boxes which form a pattern of diagonal lines.
The case is lettered “B.P. Grimaud Tarot Ancien 78 Cartes. B.P. Grimaud & Chartier, 54 Rue de Lancry, Paris”. Inscribed in pen and ink on the case “Bought at Vitteaux where I saw the game of Tarot being played. Summer 1926 R.Steele” • See the box►
By Simon Wintle
Member since February 01, 1996
I am the founder of The World of Playing Cards (est. 1996), a website dedicated to the history, artistry and cultural significance of playing cards and tarot. Over the years I have researched various areas of the subject, acquired and traded collections and contributed as a committee member of the IPCS and graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal. Having lived in Chile, England, Wales, and now Spain, these experiences have shaped my work and passion for playing cards. Amongst my achievements is producing a limited-edition replica of a 17th-century English pack using woodblocks and stencils—a labour of love. Today, the World of Playing Cards is a global collaborative project, with my son Adam serving as the technical driving force behind its development. His innovative efforts have helped shape the site into the thriving hub it is today. You are warmly invited to become a contributor and share your enthusiasm.
Related Articles
Saarberg 79
Saarberg mining pack for 1979, with designs by Fritz Ludwig Schmidt.
Tarock Nr. 71 by Ferd. Piatnik & Söhne
Special tarock deck for the Tyrolean game Droggn.
Magyar Tarot
Hungarian fortune-telling cards with surreal and unconventional designs.
Ministère des Postes et Télécommunications
Famous figures connected with the French postal service, with designs by Henri Simoni.
Animal Tarock by J. G. Pichler
Baroque tarock cards from the late 18th century.
Jeu Buffon
Illustrations of different birds from works by Buffon to celebrate the bicentenary of his death.
Pathé Marconi
Special promotion pack for French record company Pathé Marconi.
Archaic Spanish-suited pattern from Bayonne
Archaic Franco-Spanish pattern from Bayonne by a manufacturer with the initals M.V.
Tarot Beirut
A beautiful Arabic Tarot : a mystical tool for positive guidance and well-being.
Caisse Mutuelle d'Assurance et de Prevoyance
Insurance propaganda pack for Caisse Mutuelle d'Assurance et de Prevoyance with humorous artwork by ...
Jeu Révolutionnaire
Court cards and aces from a French Revolutionary pack by Pinaut, Paris, c.1794.
French Revolutionary cards by Pinaut
Seven cards from a French Revolutionary pack by Pinaut featuring characters from classical antiquity...
Tarot de las Coscojas
Historical playing card design, tarot symbolism and an almost psychedelic medieval surrealism.
Tarot de Valverde de la Vera
A series of 24 surrealist engravings by Mexican artist Claudio Favier in which archetypal Tarot alle...
Austrian Tarock by S.D. Modiano
Modiano’s Austrian Tarock with country scenes has been in production for over 100 years.
Never Mind the Belote
Limited edition Belote pack with designs by a collective of 24 street artists.
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 28 days
