Serravalle-Sesia Tarot
Serravalle-Sesia Tarot published by Fratelli Avondo, c.1880.
This beautiful and inspiring late 19th century tarot set was produced by an anonymous artist and published in Serravalle-Sesia, Italy in 1880. The publisher is believed to be Fratelli Avondo. The designs are inspired by an earlier pack created in 1835 by the Lombard engraver Carlo Dellarocca. The cards have fine detail with plenty of old world charm, and the colouring, costumes and backgrounds are all richly detailed, which makes them very attractive for card readers. The numbers on the Trump cards are shown in all four corners, with the lower right numbers upside-down to aid in interpreting reversals.
Above: Serravalle-Sesia Tarot originally published by Fratelli Avondo, c.1880; facsimile edition by Lo Scarabeo, 2000. The card titles are in Italian. The Ace of Coins has the Italian duty stamp which reads: "Cartiera Italiana, Serravalle-Sesia". Size = 106x58 mm.
See also: “Tarocco Neoclassico” c.1810 • Carlo Dellarocca's “Tarocchino Lombardo” 1835 • Mitelli Tarocchini • Tarocco della “Corona Ferrea” • Tarocco Piemontese • Matarelli Transformation • Tavaglione Stairs of Gold Tarot • Minchiate • "Etruria" Minchiate • Tarocchi di Mantegna • Tarocco Bolognese • Visconti Tarocchi.
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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