CBD Tarot de Marseille - restoration of the 1760 Conver deck
The Marseille tradition has many reproductions. Some are grainy, others too smoothed over. This version is different. Yoav Ben-Dov restored the 1760 Nicolas Conver deck with respect for the lines and colours of the original woodcuts, but with a clarity that makes the symbolism readable again.
The result is a deck that feels like a historical document but functions as a contemporary tool. The cards are printed on sturdy black-core cardstock with a slight gloss. The format is 66 x 120 mm, compact enough to shuffle without the images becoming too small.
What you see on the cards
The visual language is that of the woodcut: graphic, with flat colours and thick lines. No soft transitions, no shadows. What you see are shapes that draw their power from recognition, not from realism.
The minor arcana show wands, cups, swords and pentacles in geometric patterns. No human figures except on the court cards. That makes them more abstract than in a Rider-Waite deck, and that asks more of the reader. You project meaning yourself rather than reading it off.
A special feature is the 79th card: the carte blanche. A blank card, white, without any image. It stands for the unknown, for what has not yet manifested. Some readers use it during a reading to indicate that a question has no answer yet or that a situation is completely open.
How this deck works in practice
The Marseille style asks for an active approach. The cards do not give ready-made stories. Instead they offer symbols you must activate yourself. That makes this deck suitable for those who have patience and are not afraid to experiment.
The 56-page guidebook is multilingual and contains explanations of the symbolism, both upright and reversed. It is a practical booklet, not a philosophical essay. You get starting points, not dogmas.
Draw one card each morning and let it sit for a day. Look back in the evening: which detail stayed with you, and why? Marseille cards unfold slowly.
About Yoav Ben-Dov
Yoav Ben-Dov (1957-2016) was a physicist, philosopher and teacher. He grew up in Israel and worked for years with the Marseille tradition. His passion lay in making this system accessible without compromising its essence.
His restoration of the Conver deck is internationally recognised as one of the most balanced reissues: faithful to the source, but with an eye for readability. After his death in 2016, this deck remains his legacy.
Specifications
- Number of cards: 79 (including carte blanche)
- Card size: 66 x 120 mm
- Card quality: black-core cardstock with slight gloss
- Guidebook: 56 pages, multilingual (including English)
- Packaging: sturdy storage box
- Publisher: Lo Scarabeo
- Restoration: Yoav Ben-Dov
- Based on: Tarot de Marseille by Nicolas Conver (1760)
Questions we often get
How does this deck differ from other Marseille reproductions?
Ben-Dov's restoration has refreshed the lines and colours without changing the essence. That makes details more visible than in grainy old reproductions, but the aesthetic remains that of the woodcut.
Does this deck work for beginners?
Yes, provided you are willing to work with symbolism that does not immediately explain itself. The guidebook offers starting points, and the clarity of the images makes this deck more accessible than many other Marseille versions.
