Another very early (1654) reference to cartomancy in the Spanish play El lindo don Diego by Moreto. Translation and original below. Scans here: http://europeana.eu/portal/record/2022701/CF1B2B39E8F820357A61D863CF630CE7275B07D3.html?start=5&query=el+lindo+don+diego&startPage=1&rows=24 DOÑ...

Thanks for the detailed and informative answer, Huck. That explains the mystery. Still, it would be nice to have access to the full Ottone deck, especially to some of the majors that are also in Sforza Castle.

More similarities between Sforza Castle and Ottone:

Notice the horse saddle:

The restoration of the Ottone tarot published as Spanish Tarot by Fournier seems to keep some elements that can be traced back to the Sforza Castle cards. Notice in these cards the two circles in the front of the horse and the rhomboid pattern on the knee of the rider. http://s22.postimg.org/9jltfxa...