Tarocchi Visconti di Modrone, XV Century
Also Known as: Cary - Yale Visconti
15th Century Italian Iconography, Commissioned by the Visconti Family
The original 67 Cards + Hand-Numbered Title Card
Booklet has 15 Pages of Historical Notes in Italian & English by Dr. Cristina Dorsini
A Special Edition, Limited to 400 Exemplary Sets
Il Meneghello: Publisher of this Historic Reproduction, April 2015
Card Size: 3.5" W x 7.25" L - 8.9 by 18.4 cm., 189 x 90 mm
Card Backs: Reversible Pattern (shown below)
Cardstock: Quality Grade, Matte Cardstock
Hand-Crafted Box by Osvaldo Menegazzi - World Card Fixed Atop w/ Signature Hot Wax Seal
Price: €85. Euro (U.S. $100.+ depending on exchange rate + P&H)

The Visconti di Modrone (aka Cary-Vale) has been reproduced expertly by il Meneghello. It is believed to have originally consisted of 86 cards. This offering is the incomplete set of the 67 remaining cards in existence, a handcrafted box and historical details in a booklet, (in both Italian and English), by Cristina Dorsini. No new cards were made to replace the missing ones as this is meant to be an accurate historic reproduction. The deck consists of 11 Major Arcana, 17 court cards & 39 numbered cards. A distinctive feature about Visconti di Modrone, aside from it's singular beauty, is the Court Cards. In addition to a King & Queen, each suit had both a male and female Knight, and a double set of Pages as well. Some of these cards were, sadly lost to time but the ones that survived are reproduced perfectly in this special edition.

The Visconti di Modrone has another unique feature; it presents all seven classic virtues in the Major Arcana: Charity (High Priestess), Faith (Hierophant), and Hope (the Star). And the four cardinal virtues of Fortitude, Justice, Prudence, and Temperance are believed to be: Strength, Justice, the Hanged Man (or possibly the Hermit), and Temperance. The original cards were hand painted with gold leaf for the Major Arcana & Court cards, while silver foil accents grace the numbered cards. The process consisted of overlaid sheets of cardboard, most likely pressed together in a mold, (like the other two Visconti family decks). The edges of the cards have a delicate pattern of soft pinks with tiny blue flowers.

The deck takes its name (Visconti di Modrone), from both the royal Milanese family that originally commissioned it and the 2nd owner who had purchased it back in 1947, when it was exported to the U.S. during WWII. B. Cary Jr. later offered it along with the rest of his collection, to the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library of Yale University, where the cards are still preserved today (known as Visconti Cary-Yale).

This deck was most likely commissioned by Filippo Maria Visconti. In all the Coin cards, evidence points to gold florin coins made for Duke Filippo Maria Visconti in 1442. An exact date for this deck is still an open controversy among scholars. Some argue this one is the oldest of the three Visconti family decks (more interesting details on this and other important historical research shared in the enclosed booklet).

il Meneghello has faithfully reproduced this exceptionally gorgeous deck from the 15th century for Tarot enthusiasts, historians and collectors so that we might have the powerful and exciting experience of holding this precious bit of Tarot history in our hands to enjoy and investigate further.

Major Arcana Cards Shown Below: Lovers, Chariot, Strength and Death

Next: Two of Coins, One of the  Knights of Wands, Queen of Wands and a Knight of Cups

(Shown Below) 4 Examples of Numbered Cards: 3 of Staves, 5 of Cups, Ace of Swords and 4 of Coins

The Hand Numbered Title Card (Limited to 400 Sets) & the Reversible, Patterned Back

il Meneghello storefront tantalizes with sets of  Visconti di Modrone in the display case (April 2015)

Osvaldo Menegazzi & Cristina Dorsini unveil this exciting new production of Visconti di Modrone while she
reads portions of the enclosed booklet to the Tarot Art & History Tour Members during a visit April 2015