Nicolas Conver Tarot - reproduction of the 1760 masterwork
Some decks are influential. Others form the blueprint for an entire tradition. The Nicolas Conver Tarot from 1760 falls into the second category. This is not an interpretation of the Tarot de Marseille. This is the Tarot de Marseille.
Nicolas Conver worked as a master cardmaker at the royal factory in Marseille. His 1760 design is considered by historians to be the most refined and complete representation of the Marseille style. This edition from Artisan Tarot brings back the original woodcuts, colours and French titles, without embellishment.
What you see on the cards
The imagery is clear and geometric. Primary colours dominate: red, blue, yellow, green. No hatching, no gradients. The lines are sharp, the compositions tight. This is eighteenth-century craftsmanship, faithfully reproduced.
The Minor Arcana show patterns of wands, cups, swords and coins. No scenes, no stories. Only the symbols themselves, in clear arrangements. This forces you to look at direction, number, position. The meaning sits in the structure.
On many cards, figures point at each other, look away, or stand still. Those details are not accidental. They reveal connections between cards in a reading, once you learn to see them.
How you work with it
This deck is built on numerology and elemental theory. The Minor Arcana contain no illustrative scenes as in the Rider-Waite system. That makes it less immediately accessible for beginners used to story cards, but well suited for anyone who wants to learn to work with number symbolism.
The cards are printed on 320gsm casino-grade cardstock with a black core. That means solidity without show-through, and a snap that returns the cards directly to shape. They are made for daily use.
During a reading, watch the eye direction of the figures. Where they look often reveals the relationship between different positions in your spread.
About Nicolas Conver
Nicolas Conver worked in eighteenth-century Marseille and combined artistic craftsmanship with a sharp understanding of symbolism. His 1760 design has become the gold standard for the Tarot de Marseille. This reproduction retains the original French titles and linework.
Specifications
- Number of cards: 78 (Major and Minor Arcana)
- Size: 70 x 120 mm
- Cardstock weight: 320gsm casino-grade with black core
- Finish: Smooth coating
- Language: French titles (as per 1760 original)
- Packaging: Sturdy tuck box
- Publisher: Artisan Tarot
- Original creator: Nicolas Conver (1760)
Questions we often get
Does this deck come with a guidebook?
No. This deck is aimed at readers already familiar with the Tarot de Marseille, or those who want to learn the tradition through this deck. Any standard work on the Marseille tradition will serve as a guide.
Why are the titles in French?
Because this is a historically faithful reproduction of the 1760 original. The French titles are part of the authenticity of this design.
