The Tarot de Marseille is the standardised French pattern that shaped European tarot. Its 56 minor arcana are pip cards, geometric arrangements of cups, coins, swords and batons with no narrative scene, which pushes the reader toward number, suit and combination rather than reading a picture. That is the single practical difference from the 1909 Pamela Colman Smith deck, where every minor arcana card is illustrated.

We print one Marseille deck: the Tarot de Marseille Vintage Edition, 78 cards with guidebook, cloth, bag and gift box, from $34.99.

If you are a complete beginner learning from books written around the 1909 images, start with a Pamela Colman Smith deck instead.