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Tarot History - An Interesting Tarot Mold from the Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris

I was looking through images on the Bibliothèque nationale de France site, and came across a very interesting TdM mold.

This is what the site says about it (In French):

cote cliché:RC-A-47517
légende:Moule en bois des figures d'un tarot : coupes et bâtons (cartes à jouer)
département:Estampes et photographie
cote du document :RES KH-382 (19)
partie de:Jeu de cartes
folio, pagination:Numéro 19
catégorie:Objets d'art et d'artisanat
descripteur(s):jeu de cartes

Unfortunately, I can't find a higher res version, so had to blow it up in photoshop to really get a look at it. I wish I had a better version to work with; but even starting with this there are some very interesting details to notice. The first thing that strikes me is that the cards are an interesting mix of "TdM I" and "TdM II". Most of the time, they look very similar to the Jean Dodal, but now and then I notice similarities to the Nicholas Conver. Where it gets interesting is that sometimes, the images seem clearer to me than either of them; and that's rather interesting. Now, some of the details show what I would call an "Italian" origin. These are subtle details that I've noticed on decks like the Giuseppe Drago Tarot. I find the similarities and differences very fascinating, and I hope you will to. I'll post some images for comparison.

The Queen of Coins

I'm going to start with my favorite, the Queen of Coins. Poor dear, she's even been compared to Uncle Fester from the Addams Family.

Here she is from Jean Noblet, Jean Dodal, and Nicholas Conver:

Now here she is on the BnF Mold:

WHOA! It seems our Queen has been visiting some Hollywood surgeons! No longer the frumpy Queen, our gal is now the sexpot of the court cards! Va Va Voom! In many ways, this card is most similar to the Jean Dodal. The baton in her hand does not have the fleur de lys on the tip. I'm struck by the clarity of many of the lines, especially in her dress. I'm also delighted to see the pillow that her feet are resting on. Notice her foot sticking out from under her gown. I double checked the Giuseppe Drago, and sure enough, the neckline is similar to the BnF mold.

The Queen of Batons

Here's the Queen of Batons, and the Giuseppe Drago version:

Jean Noblet, Jean Dodal, Nicholas Conver:

Not too many differences here. I do notice that the lower left corner has some strong blocks in it. I'm not sure if that is a plant on the lower right, if so, she might be outside. Again, it's the clarity that strikes me. Notice the lines in her puffy sleeves. It looks like she too has a beauty mark on her cheek like the sexpot, I mean, Queen of Coins. I love the "guards" on her forearms.

The Queen of Cups

Up next, the Queen of Cups

BnF Mold and Giuseppe Drago:

Jean Noblet, Jean Dodal, François Chosson :

Not much difference here. I notice details behind the Queen but still can't figure out what is supposed to be shown. The "drape" in front of her is similar to the Giuseppe Drago and Jean Dodal, squared rather than curled.

The Valet of Cups

BnF Mold and Giuseppe Drago:

Jean Noblet, Jean Dodal, Nicholas Conver:

Okay, right away I'm struck by the cup. In a thread on AT, we discussed the cups being covered or not, as well as what is in the Valet's other hand.
Again this mold and the Giuseppe Drago agree... the cup is BOTH open and half covered!
Another very important feature is to notice that the mold and the Giuseppe Drago do not have titles on their Valet!
The ground is very similar to the Jean Dodal and Jean Noblet.
His hair is very similar to the Nicholas Conver.

The Valet of Coins

BnF Mold:

Jean Noblet, Jean Dodal, Nicholas Conver:

Now this one is interesting. Jean Noblet, Jean Dodal, and Nicholas Conver all disagree on which way the Valet faces. Jean Noblet looks away from the Coin, Jean Dodal looks straight ahead, Nicholas Conver looks toward the Coin.
In many ways, this figure seems like a combination of the Jean Dodal and the Nicholas Conver. The face is similar to the Nicholas Conver; but just sort-of looking at the coin. Long blond hair falls down his back.
The background is plain, like the Jean Noblet and the Jean Dodal.
Differing from all of them, this Valet has buttons running down the front of his coat. I like the detail in his sleeve, notice on the right side how the coat seam winds around under his arm? The others don't do this.
Oddly, his "skirt" doesn't have the same detail that the others offer.
Once again, no title.
Unfortunately, the Giuseppe Drago card is missing, so I can't make a comparison.

The Valet of Cups

BnF Mold and Giuseppe Drago:

Jean Noblet, Jean Dodal, Nicholas Conver:

Here the relationship between the BnF mold and the Giuseppe Drago is extremely clear. Both wear a round helmet with some sort of shield coming down the back. Looking at the the "V" shape on their back, they both have a line going up the middle which intersects the V. They both also hold the club with a similar twist to their hand. Like the Jean Noblet and the Jean Dodal, the club has two sawed off branches. Again, neither of them have a title.
The Jean Noblet, Jean Dodal, and Nicholas Conver all seem to see a curve at the bottom of the hanging wrap/cape.

The Knight of Batons

I think this is probably the most striking card of the bunch. For a long time I've complained about the representation of this Knight on the Nicholas Conver, but have never been happy with it on the Jean Dodal or Jean Noblet either. I've pointed out before in a comparison how much I prefer the Giuseppe Drago version.
Here again, the BnF Mold basically agrees with the Giuseppe Drago

BnF Mold and Giuseppe Drago:

Jean Noblet, Jean Dodal, Nicholas Conver:

The Jean Noblet, Jean Dodal and Nicholas Conver, to me, all seem "confused" about how to draw the bottom of the horse. Nicholas Conver's horse looks like it is wearing a "blanket" that is covering almost the entire horse. Jean Dodal seems to know that one of the legs should be raised in the front, but the art looks like something from the 1930s! Jean Noblet handles it best of the three, clearly showing two front legs, and two back legs.
It's interesting to look at the mold and the Giuseppe Drago, and notice that it is actually the other front leg, the one closest to the viewer, that is raised in their version. The front of the horse has a large flower shape, and a similar shape is also found on the knee of the Knight. Nicholas Conver clearly also has the flower shape, Jean Dodal is very close, it's different on the Jean Noblet and missing on the Giuseppe Drago.
Nicholas Conver is the only one to show a "cap" on the hat.
The Mold and the Giuseppe Drago agree with the style of the Jean Noblet and Jean Dodal for the way the ground is presented.
The branch in the Knights hand is pretty similar in all depictions, Nicholas Conver having the least distinction where the two branches are cut off.
Jean Noblet, Jean Dodal, and Nicholas Conver all see a floral pattern on the Knights coat. The Mold and the Giuseppe Drago see buttons.
I find the Knight of Batons to be one of the most interesting cards for comparison.

The Knight of Coins

BnF Mold and Giuseppe Drago:

Jean Noblet, Jean Dodal, François Chosson:

Some interesting things here indeed. At first glance, the Mold image seems very similar to the François Chosson (and Nicholas Conver). The cap, the hair style, even the baton in his hand is rounded like on the François Chosson .
Yet, looking at the ground, we see the similarity to the Jean Dodal, Jean Noblet, and Giuseppe Drago.
The Giuseppe Drago has the very interesting detail of a sword on the Knights side which doesn't show up in any of the others (well, kind of on the Jean Dodal). There is a line there on them which seems to be part of the horse's "gear", but it is interesting to consider if somehow the Giuseppe Drago deck maintained something the others lost.
The Giuseppe Drago, Jean Noblet and Jean Dodal all have a very squared armor for the front of the horse, but the Mold and François Chosson have curved armor.
Jean Noblet's horse is the only one completely in profile. The others agree that there is a circular ornament on the horse's forehead.

The Knight of Cups

BnF Mold and Giuseppe Drago

Jean Noblet, Jean Dodal, François Chosson:

On this card, the differences in the horse's front feet again have much to tell.
The Mold and the François Chosson have much in common. They both indicate one foot on the ground and the other one raised. Surprisingly, this is different from the Giuseppe Drago which shows both feet raised, as does the Jean Noblet. The Jean Dodal seems to have both feet raised, but the position is yet again different. The François Chosson also has similar gear for the horse, curved in the front, like the Mold, unlike all the others.
The ground is similar to the Giuseppe Drago, Jean Dodal, and Jean Noblet.
Some of the horses again share a circular object on the forehead.
The Knight himself is fairly consistent throughout the cards.

The King of Cups

BnF Mold and Giuseppe Drago:

Jean Noblet, Jean Dodal, François Chosson:

Not much to say here. Like the Giuseppe Drago, the Mold is missing the object next to the cups seen on the other cards. The missing object could be a clasp on the King's cape, the lid of the cup, or the tip of the back of the throne.
The floor is pretty similar to the François Chosson . The object with the tassel is next to the kink. There are buttons running up his coat.
It seems half the skull cap is missing, as on the Nicholas Conver. The rest, at least, imply it.
Overall, I like the clarity of the lines.

The King of Batons

BnF Mold and Giuseppe Drago:

Jean Noblet, Jean Dodal, François Chosson:

This is a great card.
The BnF Mold is clearly related to the François Chosson (and therefore Nicholas Conver). To begin with, on the right side of the card the Throne is clearly shown. On the Jean Noblet and Jean Dodal, the area appears as a "hump". The Giuseppe Drago has lot it completely.
What's fascinating to me is that the left side of the card also shows the throne, much more clearly than any other TdM card. The area under the king's upraised arm is very clearly defined.
The armor on the Kings shoulder is also very similar to the François Chosson , and in fact, is more detailed in places.
Jean Dodal seems to have lost one of the kings hands, maybe it is hiding behind his back? :)
I can't decide if there is additional detail above the top of his Baton or not?
Is there something on his chin?
The floor is similar in all but the Jean Noblet, who has a pattern on the floor.

The King of Coins

BnF Mold and Giuseppe Drago:

Jean Noblet, Jean Dodal, François Chosson:

This was a surprise. When I first glanced at the Mold, I noticed "TdM I" (Jean Noblet, Jean Dodal, Jean Payen - style) iconography right away. One of the "tell tale" signs of TdM I for me is always the King of Coin's "Fish Hat". It's always struck me as a little odd that Jacques Vieville, who usually shares a lot in common with the Jean Noblet and Jean Dodal, has a regular curved hat. Also, considering how similar most of the Giuseppe Drago cards have been, I was certainly expecting a fish hat. Alas... no fish hat!
I still can't quite figure out what is supposed to be happening under the hat, beside the King. Most of the other images imply a skullcap. There seems to be something pretty heavy in the Mold image. Looking at the Jean Noblet, it could be a ball of grayed hair; but it still looks more prominent to me.
It's interesting that the Giuseppe Drago is the only image to show a coin floating beside the King.
Most of the other images imply some sort of buttons on his coat, the Mold has three very prominent ones.
Running beside the buttons is a rope like trim which seems (to me at least) to imply the area that has been pulled over to close his cape. It is a bit odd.
Overall, I love all the details in this image; the patterns in the chair, the patterns in the clothing. His crossed leg seems somewhat peculiar.
I've often wondered about the curved lines under the Giuseppe Drago King. Is is possibly more information about his throne? It's possible to imagine some similar lining under the Jean Dodal. It's always struck me as very odd that we can clearly see the legs on the right of the throne, but not on the left; indeed, the King on the Jean Noblet looks like a master of balance!