Last modified March 22, 2024
Franco Pratesi has an impressive list
of publications on the history of the tarot and playing cards generally that goes back to 1986, both in print
publications and on various websites, including his own at http://www.naibi.net/.
However, many of the most important, especially in the last ten years or
so, are in Italian
only. In an effort to make his research more widely available, I have
been translating selected essays and notes into English, essentially
using Google Translate and then correcting it by my understanding of
Italian grammar and reference to online dictionaries for the word that
fits the context best. Even then, I have sometimes gone to Franco
himself for advice on certain passages, especially in translating old
documents, the proportion of which increased dramatically in 2023 and
after. I have tried to make the English
conform as closely as possible to the original Italian, sometimes
resulting in awkward transitions in English but which in the development
of ideas
follow the Italian.
In each translation, there
are occasionally comments in brackets for the sake of clarification.
These are by me unless indicated otherwise (as Franco himself sometimes
uses brackets for comments). The numbers by themselves on the left
margins
are page numbers in Franco's pdf, for those who would like to consult
the Italian original or quote it. For safety sake, any quotations by
others of my translations should
probably include the original Italian, since I do not guarantee the
accuracy of my admittedly amateur work.
At the right of this introduction on the web-page is a list of years and then months. These are when I posted a particular essay. But the essays themselves are
arranged in the order in which Franco published them, on the internet or
elsewhere, going down from later to earlier. So for essays dated
earlier than those in a given month (when
I posted the translation), it is necessary to click on an earlier
month, until the desired note is found - or else use the link in this introduction.
I have written introductions to each translation, in most cases rather short. In one case, where I myself am quoted in the note, my introduction is longer, explaining how Franco and I got to that point. In many of the blog-posts, after the translation in the same post, I have put my own reflections on Franco's note, or posts I have written relating to the same theme. Both the translation and my comments originally appeared on Tarot History Forum, to which I give the relevant links in my introductions to the essays; but in some cases there are small revisions.
You will notice that some essays belong to a series of such essays. One is on the "Books of the Lily" (Florence's emblematic flower) and other arrest records for card-playing retained in the archives. Another "Playing cards in Europe before 1377?"; another is on the minor arts in relation to triumphal motifs on the cards, i.e. birth trays, marriage chests, Petrarch manuscripts, and civic processions, all beginning "Ca. 1450:...". A fourth type is that of tarot origins, including two in early 2016 on Milan and Florence and then another in Oct. 2016, reviewing a wide range of proposals.''
I
have resisted the temptation to put these groups together in the blog, instead
arranging them in order of publication, similar to Franco's own site at http://naibi.net/p/index.html,
but without his divisions into different print and on online places.
However, for those interested in particular topics, here is a list of
the five main topics. To get to the translation, click on the link after
the title in English. To get to the original Italian, click on the
title in Italian.
Information from inventory and other account records in Tuscany (6 entries)
"Florence 1472-1474. Worn-out naibi and triumphs in a bag" (Feb. 23, 2024), at https://pratesitranslations.blogspot.com/2024/02/introduction_14.html. Franco's original at 8/07. Firenze 1472-1474. Naibi tristi e trionfi in un sacchetto (23.02.2024).
"Pontormo 1479. Playing cards in a haberdasher's house" (Feb. 22, 2024), at https://pratesitranslations.blogspot.com/2024/02/blank_14.html. Original at
8/06. Pontormo 1479. Carte da gioco nella casa di un merciaio (22.02.2024).
"Florence 1426. Naibi in a large family" (Feb. 12, 2024), at https://pratesitranslations.blogspot.com/2024/02/blank.html. Original is at 8/05. Firenze 1426. Naibi in una grande famiglia (12.02.2024).
"Florence 1462: Playing Cards in a dry goods Store" (Dec. 2, 2023), https://pratesitranslations.blogspot.com/2023/12/florence-1462-playing-cards-in-dry.html. Original at "Firenze 1462: carte da gioco in una merceria" (02.12.2023)
"Florence - Three account books of the 1400s" (October 18, 2023), at https://pratesitranslations.blogspot.com/2023/12/october-18-2023-florence-three-account.html. Original at Firenze – Tre libri di conti del Quattrocento (18.10.2023).
"1499-1506: New information on Florentine cards" (April, 2015) http://pratesitranslations.blogspot.com/2016/02/april-2015-new-information-on.html (1499-1506: Firenze - Nuove informazioni sulle carte fiorentine. The Playing-Card, Vol. 44, No. 1 (2015) 61-71)
Information from the taxation system in Tuscany (6 entries)
"Florence 1743-1778: Licenses for games" (Jan. 20, 2024), https://pratesitranslations.blogspot.com/2024/02/jan-20-2024.html, Franco's original is at Firenze 1743-1778. Le licenze sui giochi (20.01.2024)).
"Florence 1843-1845. Foreign cards and bureaucracy" (Jan. 2, 2024) https://pratesitranslations.blogspot.com/2024/01/. Original at Firenze 1843-1845. Carte forestiere e burocrazia (02.01.2024).
"Florence 1814: Restoration, also for playing cards" (Jan. 2, 2024), https://pratesitranslations.blogspot.com/2024/01/jan-2-2024-florence-1814-restoration.html. Original at Firenze 1814: Restaurazione, anche per le carte da gioco (02.01.2024).
"Florence 1766 - Domenico Aldini under investigation (November 21, 2023), at https://pratesitranslations.blogspot.com/2023/12/november-21-2023-florence-1766.html. Franco's original is at Firenze 1766 - Domenico Aldini sotto inchiesta (21.11.2023) .
"Reform of the stamp duty on cards (October 31, 2023), at https://pratesitranslations.blogspot.com/2023/12/october-31-2023-reform-of-bolo-on-cards.html. Franco's original is at Firenze 1781: riforma del bollo sulle carte (31.10.2023).
"Cortona 1767-1781 - Playing Cards in Customs" (October 25, 2023), at https://pratesitranslations.blogspot.com/2023/12/october-25-2023-cortona-1767-1781.html. Franco's original is at at Cortona 1767-1781 – Carte da gioco in Dogana (25.10.2023).
Information from laws and crime records in Tuscany (6 entries)
"1377: Florence: sentenced as players of naibi" (Jan-March 2016) http://pratesitranslations.blogspot.com/2016/02/blank_62.html (1377: Firenze - Condanne ai giocatori di naibi." The Playing-Card , Vol. 44, No. 3 (2016), 156-163.)
"1426-1440 Florence: Convictions for card games in the Books of the Lily" (Nov. 26, 2016) http://pratesitranslations.blogspot.com/2016/11/nov-26-2016-1426-1440-florence.html (1426-1440: Firenze - Condanne per giochi di carte nei Libri del Giglio. (26.11.2016))
"1440-1450: Florence - Convictions for card games in the Books of the Lily" (Oct. 12, 2015) http://pratesitranslations.blogspot.com/2016/02/oct-12-2015-1440-1450-florence.html. (1440-1450: Firenze - Condanne per giochi di carte nei Libri del Giglio. (12.10.2015))
"1450, 1473, 1477: Florence: Laws on games" (Nov. 7, 2015) http://pratesitranslations.blogspot.com/2016/02/nov-7-2015-1450-1472-1477-florence-laws.html (1450, 1473, 1477: Firenze - Leggi sui giochi. (07.11.2015)
"1451: Siena - New law on games" (Oct. 31, 2015) http://pratesitranslations.blogspot.com/2016/02/essay-2.html (1451: Siena - Nuova legge sui giochi. (31.10.2015))
"1514: Florence: Law on games" (synopsis) (Nov. 21, 2015) http://pratesitranslations.blogspot.com/2016/02/nov-21-2015-1514-florence-law-on-games.html (11514: Firenze - Legge sui giochi. (21.11.2015))
Miscellanous playing card documentation in Tuscany (2 entries)
"1700s in Florence: Conversations in the Casino of St. Trinita" (Dec. 2, 2023), https://pratesitranslations.blogspot.com/2023/12/1700s-in-florence-conversations-in.html. Original at Settecento a Firenze: Conversazione del Casino di Santa Trinita (02.12.2023)
"Fourteen minchiate cards of the 1700s" (Aug. 18, 2023), at https://pratesitranslations.blogspot.com/2023/12/v-behaviorurldefaultvml-o.html. Original at 7/10. Quattordici minchiate del Settecento (20.08.2023).
Playing card documentation outside Tuscany (6 entries)
"Brescia 1786 - almanac on the tarot" (Aug. 20, 2023), at https://pratesitranslations.blogspot.com/2023/09/1.html. Franco's original is at Brescia 1786 – Almanacco sul tarocco (20.08.2023).
"1477 Bologna: Arithmetic for cards and triumphs" (June 9, 2014) http://pratesitranslations.blogspot.com/2016/02/blank.html (Carte da gioco a Firenze: il primo secolo (1377-1477). The Playing-Card , 19 No. 1 (1990) 7-17.))
"Comments on Islamic cards" (Feb. 8, 2016) http://pratesitranslations.blogspot.com/2016/02/feb-8-2015-comments-on-islamic-cards.html (Commenti sulle carte islamiche. (08.02.2016))
"The 3rd Rosenwald Sheet" (June 27, 2016) http://pratesitranslations.blogspot.com/2016/11/june-27-2016-3rd-rosenwald-sheet.html (Il terzo foglio Rosenwald. (27.06.2016))
"Assisi c. 1510: Complete deck of 48 cards" (Dec. 22, 2016) http://pratesitranslations.blogspot.com/2016/11/dec-22-2016-assisi-c-1510-complete-deck.html (1510 ca: Assisi - Mazzo completo di 48 carte. (21.12.2016))
"1501-1521: cards from Perugia and nearby cities" (Jan. 5, 2017) http://pratesitranslations.blogspot.com/2017/02/jan-5-2017-1501-1521-cards-from-perugia.html (1501-1521: Carte da Perugia e città vicine. (05.01.2017))
Triumphs and the minor arts (5 entries)
"ca 1450: Triumphs and birthtrays," (May 13, 2016) http://pratesitranslations.blogspot.com/2016/11/may-13-21016-ca-1450-florence-triumphs.html (1450ca: Firenze - Trionfi e deschi da parto. (13.05.2016))
"ca 1450: Triumphs and marriage chests," (Aug. 31, 2016) http://pratesitranslations.blogspot.com/2016/11/aug-31-2016-triumphs-and-marriage-chests.html (1450ca: Firenze - Trionfi e cassoni nuziali. (31.08.2016))
"ca 1450: Triumphs and Civic Processions" (Oct. 11, 2016) http://pratesitranslations.blogspot.com/2016/11/nov-10-2016-ca-1450-civic-processions.html (1450ca: Firenze - Trionfi e cortei cittadini. (10.11.2016))
"ca 1450: Triumphs and Triumphi" [i.e. illuminated manuscripts], (Oct. 15, 2016) http://pratesitranslations.blogspot.com/2016/11/oct-15-2016-triumphs-and-triumphi.html (1450ca: Trionfi e Triumphi. (15.10.2016))
"Siena 1438: From Angels to Love" (Dec. 7, 2016) http://pratesitranslations.blogspot.com/2016/11/dec-7-2015-siena-1438-from-angels-to.html (1438: Siena - Dagli Angeli all'Amore. (07.12.2016))
Earliest playing cards, by place (8 entries)
"Playing Cards in Europe Before 1377? Aragon" (June 21, 2016) http://pratesitranslations.blogspot.com/2016/11/translators-introduction-by-michael-s_6.html (Carte da gioco in Europa prima del 1377 ? Aragona. (21.06.2016))
"Various cards at Basel in 1377 or 1429" (April 26, 2016) http://pratesitranslations.blogspot.com/2016/11/april-26-2016-various-cards-at-basel-in.html (Carte varie a Basilea nel 1377 o nel 1429. (26.04.2016))
"Playing Cards in Europe Before 1377? Berne" (April 26, 2016) http://pratesitranslations.blogspot.com/2016/11/sept-24-2016-before-1377-berne.html (Carte varie a Basilea nel 1377 o nel 1429. (26.04.2016))
"Playing Cards in Europe Before 1377? Bohemia" (June 7, 2016) http://pratesitranslations.blogspot.com/2016/11/june-7-2016-before-1377-bohemia.html (Carte da gioco in Europa prima del 1377 ? Boemia. (07.06.2016))
"Playing Cards in Europe Before 1377? Buja" (June 15, 2016) http://pratesitranslations.blogspot.com/2016/11/translators-introduction-by-michael-s.html (Carte da gioco in Europa prima del 1377 ? Buja. (15.06.2016))
"Playing Cards in Europe Before 1377? Holland" (Jan. 18, 2017 and March 9, 2017) http://pratesitranslations.blogspot.com/2017/02/jan-18-2017-playing-cards-in-europe.html (Carte da gioco in Europa prima del 1377 ? Olanda. (18.01.2017) and Carte da gioco in Europa prima del 1377 ? Olanda. Addendum. (09.03.2017))
"Playing Cards in Europe Before 1377? Italy" (May 5, 2016) http://pratesitranslations.blogspot.com/2016/02/feb-8-2015-comments-on-islamic-cards.html (Carte da gioco in Europa prima del 1377 ? Italia. (05.05.2016))
"Playing Cards in Europe Before 1377? Poland" (June 2, 2016) http://pratesitranslations.blogspot.com/2016/11/june-2-2016-before-1377-poland.html (Carte da gioco in Europa prima del 1377 ? Polonia. (02.06.2016)
Poems, magic tricks, cartomancy, and other entertainment with cards (3 entries)
"Games played with tarocchi in the 1600s," at https://pratesitranslations.blogspot.com/2023/12/october-16-2023-games-played-with.html. Franco's original in Italian is at Giuochi che si fanno con le carte ‒ nel Seicento (16.10.2023) .
"More Lombard editions from Court de Gébelin" (Aug. 3, 2023), https://pratesitranslations.blogspot.com/2023/09/v-behaviorurldefaultvml-o_15.html. Franco's original in Italian is at Più edizioni lombarde da Court de Gébelin (03.08.2023).
"Ideas of an Egyptian - Cremona 1795" (July 5, 2023),https://pratesitranslations.blogspot.com/2023/07/. Franco's original in Italian is at Idee di un egiziano. Cremona 1795 (05.07.2023).
General reflections, mostly on trionfi (5 entries)
"Minchiate, Reflections on Design" (Dec. 2, 2023), at https://pratesitranslations.blogspot.com/2023/12/december-12-2023-minchiate-reflections.html. Franco's original is at Minchiate. Riflessioni sul design (02.12.2023).
"Other comments on the triumphs" (Jan. 11, 2016) http://pratesitranslations.blogspot.com/2016/02/jan-11-2015-other-comments-qabout.html (Altri commenti sui trionfi. (11.01.2016))
"Cremona 1441? Ruminations on the Visconti-Madrone" (Jan. 17, 2016) http://pratesitranslations.blogspot.com/2016/02/jan-17-2016-ruminations-on-visconti-di.html (Cremona 1441? - Elucubrazioni sui tarocchi Visconti di Modrone o Cary-Yale. (17.01.2016))
"Milanese and Florentine Triumphs" (Feb. 12, 2016) http://pratesitranslations.blogspot.com/2016/02/blank_22.html (Trionfi milanesi e fiorentini - ipotesi e commenti. (12.02.2016))
"Earliest Triumphs: Contrasting Proposals and Outlooks" (Oct. 4, 2016) http://pratesitranslations.blogspot.com/2016/11/oct-4-2016-earliest-triumphs_7.html (Primi trionfi, proposte contrastanti e prospettive. (04.10.2016))
"Imaginary origins of triumphs and minchiate" (Nov. 19, 2016) http://pratesitranslations.blogspot.com/2016/11/nov-12-2016-imaginary-origins-of.html (Genesi favolosa di trionfi e minchiate. (19.11.2016)
For another list of the translations through 2017, this time to their appearance on Tarot History Forum, sometimes with discussion by others, see http://forum.tarothistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=1100, graciously maintained by "Huck." Please let me know if links don't work or there are other errors. In most cases I can fix them.
A complete list of Franco's essays on playing cards, with links to their texts in the original language, is at http://naibi.net/p/index.html. Those originally published at trionfi.com, all but one originally in English, are online at that site. The one essay there in Italian only, "Atlante tascabile e minchiate" (Pocket atlas and minchiate) can be read in English via Google Translate, by entering the page's url (http://trionfi.com/minchiate-atalante-1779) into Google's search engine for websites and then clicking on "translate this page." The result is adequate English; just remember that the word referring to the manure of bulls when it appears in the translation is Google's translation for the Italian minchiate, of course referring to the game and not the product produced by bulls, commentators on tarot, etc. All of Franco's essays in the list on naibi.net indicated as "first published at trionfi.com" can be read in languages other than English by the same procedure, depending on the location of one's computer and its language setting. The essays on Franco's own site should be amenable to the same procedure, but all I have been able to do is download them to my computer and then have Google translate them as a "document" rather than a "website."