Tarocco delle Collezioni
(Puppet Tarot, 78 Card Deck)
Creators: Osvaldo Menegazzi & Giovannino Scarsato
Limited, Numbered Edition 0f 2000 (Italy) and 500 (U.S.)
Size: 2.36 '' x 4.33 inches, 6 x 11 cm., 60 x 110 mm.
Publisher: Il Meneghello, 1979
Sorry, Out of Print
The Tarocco delle Collezioni (collections) is a full 78 card tarot deck
printed on sturdy card stock and made up of colorful marionettes, and rare,
valuable theatrical collectibles spanning many years of Italian stage and opera, sometimes dating as far back as
the Renaissance period. Objects such as vases, masks, watches, statues, and other stage props share the
limelight along with the many styles of puppets. Notes written sideways on some of the cards indicate what
production that particular puppet was in and other such relevant information.
The cards are numbered in large, black Roman numerals in the Major Arcana. Justice is card VIII and Strength is
XI, following the Italian tradition. The Minor Arcana also showcase collectibles, though cards 2-10 of each suit
essentially depict the same image of the appropriate suit icon. The aces in each of the four suits
(Bastoni/Batons, Coppe/Cups, Spade/Swords, and Denari/Coins) feature a clown, harlequin, or court jester.
The King of each suit displays a different antique looking pistol. The Queens feature different carved masks.
The Knights show different types of antique toy vehicles, such as a chariot, train, motorcycle,
and car. And three of the four Pages feature a carved collector's pipe, except for the Page of Coins, which
has an image of a man with the words "Francia 1800 - Radica policroma" besides it.
The cards are narrow and slightly smaller than standard size. They are printed on a thick cardstock and the
fronts have a glossy finish and the backs are an unfinished soft green color and are reversible.
The edges are rounded. A folded sheet is included with general card interpretations of the
Major Arcana (in Italian) that comes standard with many of the decks published by Il Meneghello.
The box (of the U.S. version) is a sturdy slip cover style, with inner sleeve. The Italian version is a slip
cover book-style box, tied with ribbon. The U.S. distribution of this deck is is a numbered, edition of 500,
while the Italian version has 2000 copies. It is out of print and hard to obtain.
