Æsop’s Fables tarot

French-suited tarot titled “Feine Tarockartes mit Doppelten Fuiguren Leipzig Industrie Comptoir” on the wrapper, c.1800-1825. The 22 trumps, with large roman numerals at top and bottom of each card, illustrate some of Æsop's well-known fables and other short stories that feature animals with human-like qualities and convey moral lessons. This is a new artistic development from the normal Animal Tarots of the 1750s which aligns with trends in cartomancy and tarot - all new ideas eventually blend and influence each other. Even the court cards are in a new, modern style of costume compared with older models. The only card representative of the old emblematic tarots is the double-ended fool or unnumbered card.

Reference may be made to number II which illustrates the fable of “The Boy who cried Wolf” • V represents “The Rabbits of Fontaine” • VI “The Fox and the Pitcher” • VII “The Fox and the Crow with the Piece of Cheese” • X The Stag and the Stream • XI The Wolf and the Crane • XII The Fowler and the Wolf • XIII The Gourd and the Pine • XIV The Stork and the Frogs • XVI The Men and the Bear • XVIII The Frog and the Well • XXI The Dog and his Shadow • the unnumbered card,, or Fool, is a bust of a harlequin holding cymbals.

Above: French-suited Æsop's fables tarot by Leipzig Industrie Comptoir, hand-coloured lithograph, backs printed in dull red with a pattern of stars and dots, circa 1800-1825. Hand-coloured lithograph, 108x58mm. © The Trustees of the British Museum • Museum number 1876,1014.1211-1288►

References

Willshire, W. H.: A Descriptive Catalogue of Playing and Other Cards in the British Museum, Trustees of the British Museum, 1876, reprint 1975. (German 273).