Golden Tarot of Marseille

Golden Tarot of Marseille (Burdel) - the Burdel version with gold foil on every card

The Tarot of Marseille by Claude Burdel from 1751 is considered one of the most influential versions of the Marseille tradition. Lo Scarabeo has restored the original woodcuts and applied gold foil to all 78 cards. The result is a deck that combines historical imagery with a lustre that brings the symbolism forward.

The cards are printed on sturdy cardstock in a standard format of 66 x 120 mm. The gold foil appears not only on the Major Arcana, but on every card in the Minor Arcana as well. That makes this deck visually richer than most other Marseille editions.

What sets the Burdel version apart

Claude Burdel's 1751 design has its own colour palette and a specific line quality that distinguishes it from other Marseille decks of the same period. The colours are bright and saturated. The lines are strong.

The addition of gold foil in this edition is not merely decorative. The gold highlights details in the clothing, the attributes and the borders of the cards. Under changing light, your attention shifts to different elements each time.

The Marseille tradition works with a different symbolic language than the Rider-Waite system. The Minor Arcana show no scenes, only numerical arrangements of wands, cups, swords and pentacles. That calls for a different way of reading, more rooted in numerology and position.

How this deck behaves in practice

Marseille cards give direct answers. The symbolism is less psychological than in the Rider-Waite system, more archetypal. That makes them well suited for questions that call for a clear, unvarnished response.

The gold draws attention during a reading. Many people use this deck for larger spreads where the visual hierarchy of the cards helps to identify patterns. The shine also works well under candlelight or indirect light.

Pull one card and place it under natural light. Wait a few minutes and look at it again from a different angle. The gold foil will bring out different details.

About Claude Burdel and this edition

Claude Burdel was a Swiss cardmaker whose work from 1751 is still regarded as one of the purest examples of the Marseille tradition. His version has been the basis for countless later editions.

Lo Scarabeo has digitally restored the original woodcuts and recalibrated the colours to match the 18th-century prints. The gold foil was applied in a separate print run.

Specifications

• Number of cards: 78 (22 Major Arcana, 56 Minor Arcana)
• Card size: 66 x 120 mm
• Finish: Gold foil on all cards
• Cardstock quality: Sturdy, high-quality cardstock
• Guidebook: Multilingual (English, French, Italian, Spanish)
• Publisher: Lo Scarabeo
• Traditional basis: Claude Burdel, 1751
• Packaging: Luxury box

Questions we often get

How does the Burdel version differ from other Marseille decks?
The colour palette and line quality are specific to Burdel. His version has brighter colours than, for instance, the Conver or Dodal versions, and the lines are slightly stronger. This edition adds gold foil to all 78 cards, which you rarely see in other Marseille decks.

Is this deck suitable if you have never worked with Marseille cards before?
The Marseille tradition requires a different approach than the Rider-Waite system. The Minor Arcana show no stories, only symbols and numbers. If you are willing to learn that symbolic language, this is an excellent deck to start with. The gold foil helps to direct attention to important details.