Mythological tarot by Michael Schatzberger

This French-suited, double-ended tarock pack, crafted by Bavarian card maker Michael Schatzberger, features mythological and fanciful themes on its trumps, with no titles. Notable details include Trump II displaying the arms of Bavaria and a tablet with the inscription: “Von Michael Schatzberger bürgl. Karten Fabric. in Passau”. All the picture cards (trumps, courts and aces) are framed inside ornamental borders, the pip cards are plain.

The 19th century German card-makers competed to produce innovative or novel trump card imagery. The earlier animal or natural history tarots evolved into various sub-genres such as costumes, fables, oriental scenes, or mythology,

Above: the unnumbered Fool card charmingly plays a flute, and the ace of hearts bears a duty stamp used in Bavaria from approximately 1816 to 1826.

The 16 court cards

Above: cards from Mythological tarot by Michael Schatzberger, Passau, Bavaria, early 19th century. 54 cards; the number of pip cards is reduced by the omission of the first six in the suits of spades and clubs, and the last six in those of hearts and diamonds. © The Trustees of the British Museum • Museum number 1896,0501.194►

References

O’Donoghue, Freeman M: Catalogue of the collection of playing cards bequeathed by Lady Charlotte Schreiber (German 175), Trustees of the British Museum, London, 1901 [digital version here]

Endebrock, Peter: playing-card pages: Tax Stamps from German States►