The Jean-Baptiste Madenié 1739 Tarot is a rare Tarot de Marseille deck produced in Dijon, France, and part of the extended Madenié lineage. Created by the son of Pierre Madenié—whose 1709 deck is considered one of the foundational Marseille models—this edition offers a valuable glimpse into the evolution of early French tarot.

Printed shortly after his father’s deck, the 1739 Madenié reveals a more expressive engraving style, with a softer, more fluid visual character while preserving details already lost in earlier, more worn woodblocks. These retained elements make it an especially compelling reference point for collectors and readers interested in the transmission of Marseille imagery. The court cards are particularly notable for their clarity and balance, offering a calm and visually engaging presence.

This deck represents an early Type II Tarot de Marseille, a classification used by historians to identify a distinct family of Marseille decks defined by shared visual features and evolving figure styles. The Madenié 1739 reflects this developing style while still retaining elements of earlier Marseille forms.

The cards include subtle heraldic details associated with the House of Condé, reflecting the regional identity of Burgundy where the deck was produced. These elements offer a glimpse into the cultural and political context surrounding early tarot production. The 1739 Madenié also stands as an important link in the Marseille tradition, with its imagery influencing later cardmakers such as Claude Burdel (1751), whose decks helped shape the more standardized Marseille style familiar today.

This edition by Yves Reynaud and Valentin Reynaud has been carefully reconstructed from multiple surviving originals, balancing historical fidelity with clarity and usability. Limited to just 500 copies, it stands as both a scholarly reproduction and a deeply engaging working deck.

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