Minchiate Fiorentine, 17th C.
17th century Minchiate cards reprinted from the original woodblocks.
Minchiate originated in Florence in the early 16th century. It is an enlarged version of a tarot pack, containing 41 trumps instead of 22, including the twelve signs of the Zodiac, the four Elements and four Virtues. The Cavalli are either centaurs or half-human creatures. 97 cards in total.
Above: cards from a 17th century set of Minchiate reprinted from the original woodblocks as a limited edition facsimile by Vito Arienti, Edizioni del Solleone, Lissone (Milan), 1969.
Two later cards
The Minchiate Fiorentine represents perhaps the most ambitious tarot variant ever made, expanding the sequence to 97 cards with the Zodiac, Elements, and Virtues. Very few Minchiate trumps survive in private hands, so even two single cards with a charming back pattern offer an unusually rare glimpse into this intellectual and artistic expansion of tarot.
Above: 2 Minchiate cards, c.1820, from the collection of Vicky Visagie.
By Simon Wintle
Spain • 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.
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