Tarot History Forum

First there was a report of Franco Pratesi
VENETIAN TAROT IN THE 16TH CENTURY − EVIDENCE FROM SPECIFIC LITERATURE
(Italian Cards - New Discoveries 7.) Franco Pratesi – 17.06.1988
https://naibi.net/A/15-VENETAR-Z.pdf

The collection contains not only that, what interest us. The description of the Barzeletta (Barzeletta means "jokes") starts at the middle of the 3rd page of the article.

The first edition, Barzeletta / nova qual tratta del gioco / del qual ne viene insuportabili vitii / a
chi seguita ditto stile gionge / a inreparabile morte. is without date and place; nevertheless, since at
the end of the text one finds Per Paulo Danza, there can be little doubt on its Venetian origin. The
language is Italian with some Venetian graphical characteristics.
The date which may be suggested is about 1528, since the engraving on the frontispiece seems to
be copied from a book of 1525. (4) On the other hand, we have some general information about the
printer; for instance: ‘Danza was an author of popular tracts, a bookseller, and apparently an
occasional printer. Few books printed by him have survived; they are nearly all vernacular works of
a popular or practical character. The earliest recorded dated work is 1511 Pronosticatione... (5)
Most of his works were printed in the 1520s and a few ones later, up to 1534 or 1536.
A copy, again from the Landau Finaly collection, is now preserved, as N.A.U. 468, in Biblioteca
Riccardiana, Florence. The second edition is still from Venice, (6) whereas the third is from
Bologna. (7) Thus, both the number of editions − even more could have existed, beginning with the
Veronese one, mentioned in the title of the last work − and their dates, covering several decades,
confirm the interest of the composition, which probably was read and listened by a large number of
people. I could check the text in the three cases; apart from many slight differences in spelling −
rather poor in any case, also due to the mentioned popular character of the works − a relevant
difference for the present discussion may be considered the substitution of Frati e Preti, as common
players of trionfeti de la ventura, with giovenetti in the third edition: Trent council had not passed in
vain. Further changes will be outlined below, after reporting as an example the most relevant parts.

Then comes a longer quote of the text, which is somehow the text in the earlier Brescia document text. Then Franco adds ...

The work has remarkable interest for the general history of cards since it quotes tarot and other
games, earlier than most of the known Italian lists of card games. It contains an introductory sonnet
followed by the sextets of the Barzeletta; an invective-refrain is inserted between the sextets and
repeated each time. As usual in literary texts, the author regrets his bad luck and his losses in
gambling as well as the consequent poverty. The quoted card games are: Raus, Bassetta, Tarocho,
Ronfa, Trapola, Trionfeti, Trentauno, Primiera, Crichetta, Crica Grande, Crica Mezana, and
Sequentia Soprana. Then board and other games are mentioned. In the Bolognese edition Raus is
substituted by Trenta. Evidently, the former game was there out of place, or else meanwhile
forgotten. From the comments on the games some peculiar information can be derived. Let us limit
ourselves to tarocho and trionfeti: a whole sextet is devoted to common tarot; another to the
interesting trionfeti de la ventura, see below.
As far as tarot is concerned, its very name may be of interest and how its spelling changes in the
successive editions: it is first Tarocho, then Terocho, and finally Tarocco in the Bolognese edition.
From the text, we again obtain the mention of a few triumphs, in this case, the most useful for the
game, since the gambler regrets never to have obtained them while playing. Namely, we find the
highest triumphs, Mondo, Giustitia, Angiol and the low ones which count, Bagatella, Mato, as in
the play typical of other places and of following centuries. As expected, Justice is inserted among
the highest triumphs, being Venice the location; however, Justice is no more mentioned in the
Bolognese edition: apparently, because its location in Bolognese tarot was not so high, as
compatible with the order which is known to have been followed there in later times.

And Franco adds a few texts more (see the text at the link above).

Thierry Depaulis published in The Playing Card, Volume 37, No. 2, Oct - Dec 2008, pages 89-102
Entre farsa et barzelletta : jeux de cartes italiens autours de 1500
This article contained the information of the word "Tarocho" in Brescia in 1502 (?).

We overlooked the article of Depaulis till 2020.
viewtopic.php?p=21571#p21571

The article was then also found in the web:
https://www.academia.edu/30444973/_Entr ... 8_p_89_102

Recently the perspective appeared, that the date 1502 might be too early. So I took a closer look:

• BARZELETTA NVOVA, || qual tratta del gioco, del qual ne || uiene insuportabili uitii, a chi || seguita ditto stile gion- || ge a increpabil ||
morte.
Au-dessous, xylographie avec légende : [hi]s docet exemplis nato [sic] mala vita parentvm
6. (Deux hommes et un enfant contemplent un jeu de cartes et des dés
sur une table.)
A la in, verso f. 4 : il fine.
Brescia : Bernardino Misinta, [c. 1502].
8° ; 4 ff. n. ch. ; car. rom. ; texte sur 2 col. ; 30 vers par col.
Parme, Biblioteca Palatina, Inc. 893/4

... at page 92
Depaulis had the name of a printer: Bernardino Misinta in Brescia

I checked the web for the name: I found ... https://tw.staatsbibliothek-berlin.de/q ... ffices.xql
Bernardino Misinti is listed as printer in 1492-93 connected to another printer Caesar Parmensis (Cremona, Offizin 2)
Bernardino Misinti is listed as printer 1490-1502 Brescia (Offizin 11/12)
Well, if this is all, then there was once a reason to assume, that Bernardino Misinti must have produced his work in 1502.

Depaulis adds more texts (page 92+94):

Que cette Barzeletta nuova, imprimée à Brescia, ne soit pas vénitienne n’est pas le plus important. Nous venons de voir que cette édition dépend d’un original : rien n’interdit de penser que Bernardino Misinta ait copié une impression venue de Venise. En outre, ce typographe paraît avoir été assez itinérant. Libraire et éditeur à Pavie, il se fait imprimeur à Brescia, puis, brièvement, à Crémone et à Vérone, où il travaille tantôt seul tantôt en société.. Revenu à Brescia en 1501, il exerce jusqu’en 1509 (dernier livre daté connu). Si l’aire d’activité de Bernardino Misinta n’est clairement pas Venise ni son arrière-pays, on n’oubliera pas que, depuis la paix de Lodi (1454), Brescia et Bergame font partie du territoire de la République et que Vérone est depuis longtemps vénitienne.

translated

The fact that this Barzeletta nuova, printed in Brescia, was not Venetian is not the most important thing. We have just seen that this edition depends on an original: nothing prevents us from thinking that Bernardino Misinta copied a printing from Venice. Furthermore, this typographer seems to have been quite itinerant. A bookseller and publisher in Pavia, he became a printer in Brescia, then, briefly, in Cremona and Verona, where he worked sometimes alone and sometimes in partnership. Returning to Brescia in 1501, he practiced until 1509 (last known dated book). If Bernardino Misinta's area of ​​activity was clearly not Venice or its hinterland, we should not forget that, since the Peace of Lodi (1454), Brescia and Bergamo had been part of the territory of the Republic and that Verona had long been Venetian.

It looks, as if Bernardino Misinta had chances to publish his work for the first time till 1509. In my personal evaluation a later date looks more probable than the early 1502.

*********
The pictures appeared in the Depaulis article. Both authors (Pratesi and Depaulis) presented parts of the texts. The early parts of the text (vers 1-44) are only in the picture, but I've problems to read them correctly.
I've arranged an automatic translation of the Depaulis text (45-128). I assume, that 128 is the end of the text. The translation is by far not very good, even myself can see this. I would like, if somebody with more translation talent could improve the text.

Maladetto sia il giocar. 45 ............................. Cursed be the game. ...............................45
Hor intendist’ sta altra parte ......................... Now you understand this other part
Se intender te diletta, .................................... If you like to understand,
Se giocar i uoglio a carte ............................... If I want to play cards
Dico a raus alla bassetta .............................. I say to raus at the bassetta
Chiamo re, mi uien lunetta 50 ...................... I call king, I get the moonshot ................50
Per ben farmi desperar. ................................. To make me despair.

Maladetto sia il giocar. .................................... Cursed be the game.
Si a tarocho ho gia giocato ............................. If I have already played tarot
Mai mi uien el bagatella, ................................. Never did the bagatelle come to me,
mai el mondo, mãco el matto 55 ................... Never the world, but the fool .............. 55
Ne giustitia meschinella, ................................. Nor wretched justice,
Langiol mai con sua fauella ............................ Never the angel with his fawn
Non mi uien a uisitar. ...................................... Never came to visit me.

Maladetto sia il giocar. .................................... Cursed be the game.
Vna volta in una sala 60 .................................. Once in a hall .......................................... 60
Io giocaua alla baletta (?) ................................ I was playing at the balletta
Per mia sorte e hora mala ............................. By my luck and now bad
Persi tutta mia moneta ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, I lost all my money
Mi spalai la spalla dritta ................................. I shoveled my right shoulder
Per la balla ribecar. 65 ....................................To re-beak the baletta. ............................. 65

Maladetto sia il giocar. .................................... Cursed be the game.
Se a ronfa ho gia giocato ................................ If I have already played at snoring
Rare uolte mi uien asso .................................. I rarely win a bet
E si a trapola ho gia fato ................................. And if I have already played at trapola
Le lunette me hanno casso 70 ...................... The lunettes have ruined me .................. 70
Rouinato son al basso .................................... I am ruined at the bottom
Non mi gioua lamentar, ................................. It does not help me to complain,

Maladetto sia il giocar. ................................... Cursed be the game.
Se per sorte un carlino ................................... If by chance a carlino
Per disgratia ho guadagnato 75 .................... By misfortune I have won ...................... 75
Ho poi perso un iorino .................................... I then lost a iorino
Quãto in borsa me o trouato ......................... How much I found in the stock market
Tal ch’io sono disperato .................................. So much so that I am desperate
Quando al gioco i uo pensar, ......................... When I think of the game,

Maladetto sia il giocar. 80 ............................... Cursed be the game. ............................. 80
Ho giocato a trionfeti ....................................... I have played at triumphs
dico a quelli della uentura .............................. I say to those of the world
doue gioca frati e preti .................................... where friars and priests play
Senza hauer nissun paura, ............................. Without having any fear,
Io meschin per mia sciagura 85 ..................... I, wretched one, to my misfortune ......85
aliudeo me han fatto andar. ........................... they made me go

Maladetto sia il giocar. ..................................... Cursed be the game.
I ho giocato al trenta uno ................................ I played thirty-one
A primiera non te dico, .................................... I won't tell you at first,
Cosi ne fusse io degiuno 90 ............................ If it were so I would fast ......................,90
Che romasto son mendico .............................. I am a beggar in Rome
Non me trouo piu un crico .............................. I no longer have a basket
per uolermi sostentar, ..................................... to support me,

Maladetto sia il giocar. ..................................... Cursed be gambling.
S’io t’hauesse qui narrato 95 ........................... If I had told you here .......................... 95
Tutti i giochi in sto conino ................................ All the games in this little bag
Seria troppo el mio trattato ............................. My treatise would be too serious
perche in da piccolino ....................................... because when I was a little boy
Cominciai ahime meschino .............................. I began, alas, miserable
Molti giochi a imparar 100 ................................ Many games to learn ........................100

Maladetto sia il giocar. ....................................... Cursed be gambling.
Questa e pur una gran cossa ............................ This is a great thing
De sto gioco maladetto ...................................... Of this cursed game
Che nissun laudar si possa ................................ That no one can praise
Credo el Diauol in effetto 105 ........................... I believe the Devil in effect ..............105
Tal dinari in un sachetto .................................... Such money in a little bag
All’inferno habbi a portar, ................................. He should carry to hell,

Maladetto sia il giocar. ....................................... Cursed be gambling.
A crichetta ho gia giocato .................................. I have already played chess
Crica grande e la mezana 110 .......................... Big chess and medium chess ..........110
Ogni gioco i haggio fatto, ................................... I have played every game,
E a sequentia* soprana ...................................... And the super chess
Tal ch’io li lasciai la lana ...................................... So much so that I left the wool
per sto gioco seguitar ......................................... to continue this game

Maladetto sia il giocar. 115 ................................ Cursed be the game. .....................,115
I mi son poi ricordato ......................................... I then remembered
Che alli scachi molte uolte ................................. That many times I have played chess
In mia uita ho gia giocato ................................... In my life I have already played
Bon e fu mai me ricolte ...................................... Good and it was never collected
Scacomatto molte uolte 120 .............................. Cursed chess many times ..............120
Me tocca per mal guidar. .................................... I have to drive badly.

Maladetto sia il giocar. ........................................ Cursed be the game.
Ho giocato a tauoliero ......................................... I have played chess
Tocca dillo e Sbaraglino, ..................................... I have to tell the truth and Sbaraglino,
Altro gioco assai piu iero 125 ............................. Another game much more serious 125
Eccellente auditor ino .......................................... Excellent auditor ino
Si uo terno el uien diuino .................................... If you are a god, you are a terno
Mai non posso guadagnar ................................... I can never win

Good point, about the conflicting data. It is only from Sander, who was correcting an even earlier dating of "ca. 1500", that we have "ca. 1502." Perhaps it would be better to say "sometime between 1490 and 1509, probably later rather than earlier" for the first publication.

Here this part of the poem is again (of course the first 44 lines remain untranscribed), my suggestions in bold. The identifications of games are from Depaulis in the article. But much remains insecure.

Maladetto sia il giocar. 45 ............................. Cursed be games. .....................45
Hor intendist’ sta altra parte ......................... Now you understand this other part
Se intender te diletta, .................................... If you like to understand,
Se giocar i uoglio a carte ............................... If I want to play cards
Dico a raus alla bassetta .............................. I say at raus, at bassetta [card games]
Chiamo re, mi uien lunetta 50 ...................... I call king, little moon comes to me..........50

"Little moon" (or half moon, or crescent moon) would seem to be some low card, perhaps the deuce.

Maladetto sia il giocar. .................................... Cursed be games.
Mai mi uien el bagatella, ................................. Never did the bagatella come to me,
mai el mondo, mãco el matto 55 ................... Never the world, not even the fool .............. 55
Ne giustitia meschinella, ................................. Nor wretched justice,
Langiol mai con sua fauella ............................ Never the angel with its speech
Non mi uien a uisitar. ...................................... Comes to visit me.

Maladetto sia il giocar. .................................... Cursed be games.
Io giocaua alla baletta (?) ................................ I played at little ball
Per mia sorte e hora mala ............................. By my luck now bad
Persi tutta mia moneta ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, I lost all my money
Mi spalai la spalla dritta ................................. I mucked up my right shoulder
Per la balla ribecar. 65 ....................................Returning [?]the little ball. ..................... 65

Maladetto sia il giocar. .................................... Cursed be games.
Se a ronfa ho gia giocato ......................... If I have already played at ronfa [a card game]
Rare uolte mi uien asso .................................. I rarely win a bet
E si a trapola ho gia fato ................................. And if I have already played at trapola
Le lunette me hanno casso 70 ...................... The lunettes have ruined me .................. 70
Rouinato son al basso .................................... I am ruined at the bottom.
Non mi gioua lamentar, ................................. It does not help me to complain.

Maladetto sia il giocar. .................................... Cursed be games.
Se per sorte un carlino ................................... If by chance a carlino [small currency]
Per disgratia ho guadagnato 75 .................... By misfortune I have won ...................... 75
o poi perso un iorino .................................... I then lost a florin [?]
Quãto in borsa me o trouato ......................... As much as in my purse or found
Tal ch’io sono disperato .................................. So much that I despair
Quando al gioco i uo pensar, ......................... When I think of the game.

Maladetto sia il giocar. 80 ............................... Cursed be games........... 80
Ho giocato a trionfeti .......................... I have played at triumphs [game with four suits]
dico a quelli della uentura .............................. I say to those of chance[?]
doue gioca frati e preti .................................... where friars and priests play
Senza hauer nissun paura, ............................. Without having any fear,
Io meschin per mia sciagura 85 ..................... I, wretched one, to my misfortune ......85
aliudeo me han fatto andar. ........................... they made me go [to God]

Or maybe "to the Devil", as I remember Andrea telling me that sometimes either was meant.

Maladetto sia il giocar. ..................................... Cursed be games.
I ho giocato al trenta uno ................................ I played at thirty-one
A primiera non te dico, .................................... At primiera [card game] I won't tell you
Cosi ne fusse io degiuno 90 ............................ If it were so I would fast ......................,90
Che romasto son mendico .............................. I have remained a beggar
Non me trouo piu un crico .............................. I no longer have a gang [cricca?]
per uolermi sostentar, ..................................... that wants to support me.

Maladetto sia il giocar. ..................................... Cursed be games.
A crichetta ho gia giocato .................................. I have already played little cricca [card game]
Crica grande e la mezana 110 .......................... Big cricca and medium cricca ..........110
Ogni gioco i haggio fatto, ................................... I have done every game,
E a sequentia* soprana ...................................... And high sequentia
Tal ch’io li lasciai la lana ...................................... So much so that I left the wool [my coat?]
per sto gioco seguitar ......................................... to continue this game.

Maladetto sia il giocar. ..................................... Cursed be games.
S’io t’hauesse qui narrato 95 ........................... If I had told you here .......................... 95
Tutti i giochi in sto conino ................................ All the games in this little bag
Seria troppo el mio trattato ............................. My treatise would be too serious
perche in da piccolino ....................................... because when I was a little boy
Cominciai ahime meschino .............................. I began, alas, miserable
Molti giochi a imparar 100 ................................ Many games to learn ........................100

Maladetto sia il giocar. 115 ................................ Cursed be games. .....................,115
I mi son poi ricordato ......................................... I then remembered
Che alli scachi molte uolte ................................. That many times I have played chess
In mia uita ho gia giocato ................................... In my life I have already played
Bon e fu mai me ricolte ...................................... Good and was never caught
Scacomatto molte uolte 120 .............................. Checkmated many times ..............120
Me tocca per mal guidar. .................................... It touches me [?] from being badly guided.

Maladetto sia il giocar. .....................................Cursed be games.
Ho giocato a tauoliero ....................................I have played backgammon [or other board game]
Tocca dillo e Sbaraglino, ..........................Toccadillo [board game] and Sbaraglino [board game],
Altro gioco assai piu iero 125 ............................ Another game much more serious 125
Eccellente auditor fino .......................................... Excellent fine listener
Si uo terno el uien diuino .................................... If a divine triple comes to me
Mai non posso guadagnar ................................... I can never win.