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

Dark bad man. A soldier, an enemy, or one to be mistrusted.

A. E. Waite's Secondary Meanings

Upright

A lawyer, senator, doctor.

Reversed

A bad man; also a caution to put an end to a ruinous lawsuit.

Mme. Le Normand's Divinatory Meanings

Great happiness. A journey. A voyage on business. A happy life.

S. L. MacGregor Mathers's Divinatory Meanings

Upright

A Lawyer, a Man of Law, Power, Command, Superiority, Authority

Reversed

A Wicked Man, Chagrin, Worry, Grief, Fear, Disturbance.

P.R.S. Foli's Divinatory Meanings

Upright

A widower, an unscrupulous lawyer, impossible as a friend and dangerous as an enemy

Reversed

the desire to work evil without the power.

Mme. Le Marchand's Divinatory Meanings

you will be drawn into difficulty on account of politics; but you will be so fortunate as to save the life of a person high in station, who will advance you, and you will become prosperous and renowned.