Henrí, Burdel, Joerger, Laurent, Feautrier, Gassman, Payden, Rochias, Rolichon, Vachier, Chosson - WHICH ONE TO GET?????

[AtelierCarousel]

Hi all,

 

I'm ready to venture into TdM and have seen someone online selling all these TdM decks. 

 

I've tried to check out individual cards to see which version I like best, but I had to give up. They are all beautiful and interesting. 

 

I was tempted to just get the replica of the olderst, but that one has rough printing quality, wich is beautifully preserved in the modern copy of course, but the younger ones are possibly easier to read with because they are a. bit clearer, also the coloring of the clothes and objects is better, which is important for the interpretation, as I have already learned in my beginner studies. Tough choice.

 

Which one would you recommend getting? I just don't know enough yet to decide. Whuaaaaaa. 

 

François Chosson 1672

Philippe Vachier 1639

Pierre Cheminade 1742

Claude Rochias 1754

Pierr Madenié 1709

Jean Pierre Payden 1713

Jaques Burgel 1813

François Gassman 1840

Joseph Feautrier 1762

Jean Pierre Lauren 1735

Jacob Joerger 1801

Claude Burdel 1751

François Herí 1718

 

And I guess I don't have to get just these from this particular vendor. I'm not even sure if I should get a regular TdM or a Swiss JJ one. Whuaaaaaaaa. 

 

Help, I'm lost in a sea of French Tarot cards. 

 

Thank you for any input. 

 

[Raggydoll]

This is just a personal preference, but for me it helps if there are expressive and well drawn facial features because it aids in my readings (I take into consideration what a character is looking at or turning away from). I particularly like the Pierre Madenie for that. The Burdel is similar as well. 

[gregory]

Of those I'd run with Madenie, too. But - tastes differ.... you might hate it.

[Ferrea]

Check Youtube for flip-throughs. Maybe you have a particular preference regarding facial features or colourways. I'd go with what you find visually pleasing. 

[dancing_moon]

If this is your first TdM, I'd go with a regular French one, not Swiss, and make it the oldest that speaks to you. Chosson is lovely, and I second (third?) Madenie. But you're right - it is a tough choice 🫣

[Pio2001]

On 12/5/2025 at 5:53 PM, AtelierCarousel said:

Hi all,

 

I'm ready to venture into TdM and have seen someone online selling all these TdM decks. 

 

I've tried to check out individual cards to see which version I like best, but I had to give up. They are all beautiful and interesting. 

 

I was tempted to just get the replica of the olderst, but that one has rough printing quality, wich is beautifully preserved in the modern copy of course, but the younger ones are possibly easier to read with because they are a. bit clearer, also the coloring of the clothes and objects is better, which is important for the interpretation, as I have already learned in my beginner studies. Tough choice.

 

Which one would you recommend getting? I just don't know enough yet to decide. Whuaaaaaa. 

 

François Chosson 1672

Philippe Vachier 1639

Pierre Cheminade 1742

Claude Rochias 1754

Pierr Madenié 1709

Jean Pierre Payden 1713

Jaques Burgel 1813

François Gassman 1840

Joseph Feautrier 1762

Jean Pierre Lauren 1735

Jacob Joerger 1801

Claude Burdel 1751

François Herí 1718

 

And I guess I don't have to get just these from this particular vendor. I'm not even sure if I should get a regular TdM or a Swiss JJ one. Whuaaaaaaaa. 

 

Help, I'm lost in a sea of French Tarot cards. 

 

Thank you for any input. 

 

Hello, 

Choosing a tarot de Marseille is tough. I've got 13 different ones and none of them is perfect in my eyes. There is always a little something that seems odd.

 

The Pierre Madenié 1709 is indeed a major deck in tarot history. It is the grandfather of modern Tarot de Marseille, that gave birth to the Nicolas Conver deck (the father), that in turn gave birth to many others.

The faces drawings are among the finest, but it is an old deck with worn cards, and the "artist" doing the colours couldn't have cared less. There are several modern reproductions. The last one by Yves Reynaud 2022 is too light (compare the first and third pictures here (scroll down to october 21) : https://www.thetarotforum.com/forums/topic/17583-tdm-11-different-page-of-coins/#findComment-301381)

There are also redrawn versions of the Madenié, but none of them managed to convince me. Modern artists don't have the skills of Pierre Madenié.  

 

The François Gassman 1840 is one of my favourites. It is a great historical tarot for reading. I've got the 2020 version by Yves Reynaud. You can also see the page of coins in the above link.

 

 

Edited Sunday at 02:33 PM by Pio2001
typo + link not leading to the right message

[AtelierCarousel]

@Pio2001 Thank you so much for your information and the link to that incredible page! That is fantastic. Looking at the Oct 21 image right now. I see what you mean.

 

I read Fred Gettings "Tarot, how to read the future" as one of the first study resources to get into the TdM, and he talks a lot about the colors red and blue, indicating passive and active forces. Not sure how accurate he is, but that is the lens through which I look at the decks right now, and there are not many that have that red and blue coloring. Hmm. The Gassman has it. It really is wonderful. 

 

I tried to write to Yves Reynaud about his decision to change a dark bluish green to a light yellow green in his Vachier 1639 recreation, but his website scripts are broken. Note even newletter subscription works, unfortunately. It seems that until I figure out that blue-green mystery, I can't move forward with what TdM to buy. 

 

Ah well, I splurged and got myself the large, silver edition of the Tabula Mundi, hihi. Now I also have to learn the Toth system *eyeroll*. 

 

Thanks a lot for this great resource page. I'm sure I will come back to it often. 

 

 

[gregory]

His email is on his website - I'll PM it to you.