Mamluk Turkish Playing Card Deck Fragment

About the Deck

Found by Leo Mayer in 1942, this deck provides a crucial link between the patterns of the East and those of the West. It has distilled the Persian/Indian suits down into suits very similar to those used still today in Mediterranean Europe. These are the same suits used in most Tarot decks today.

Provenance

Turkey, c1400.

According to Many Schools of Thought

Papus's Divinatory Meanings

Duration of hatred.

A. E. Waite's Secondary Meanings

Upright

An ecclesiastic, a priest; generally, a card of bad omen.

Reversed

Good ground for suspicion against a doubtful person.

Mme. Le Normand's Divinatory Meanings

Successful voyages. Commercial enterprises. Faithfulness. Illusions. Flirtations.

S. L. MacGregor Mathers's Divinatory Meanings

Upright

An Ecclesiastic, a Priest, Conscience. Probity, Good Faith, Integrity

Reversed

Wise distrust, Suspicion, Fear, Doubt, Shady character.

P.R.S. Foli's Divinatory Meanings

Upright

A bad omen, news of failure or death

Reversed

loss of one near and dear by death.

Mme. Le Marchand's Divinatory Meanings

temptation to infidelity; the temptation is withstood.