Buy the Book of Thoth or Etteilla Tarot in our esoteric shop
The Book of Thoth is a faithful reproduction of the very first tarot published in Paris and Amsterdam by Jean-Baptiste Alliette, known as Etteilla, between 1783 and 1787. This work marks a major turning point in the history of cartomancy, as it is the first tarot designed entirely for divination. The author presented it as a reconstruction of the original Egyptian tarot, inspired by the mythical Book of Thoth. This edition allows rediscovery of a deck that laid the foundations for the divinatory use of tarot in Europe.
An innovative structure imagined by Etteilla
Unlike traditional tarots, this 78-card deck offers an organization deeply transformed by its creator. The major arcana bear new titles, the numbering has been revised, and each card includes precise indications for reading both upright and reversed. This bold approach provides a clear and systematic reading framework, breaking with usual codes. With this work, Etteilla asserts his desire to give tarot an exclusively divinatory function, adapted to consultations and esoteric practices of his time.
The origin of the Grand Etteilla and its legacy
By publishing this deck, Etteilla inaugurates a tradition that will be continued and enriched by his successors. The term "Grand Etteilla" will be used to designate the various later editions, all derived from this founding model. This tarot is thus much more than a simple card deck: it represents the birth of a structured divinatory school, which will have a lasting influence on the history of occultism and cartomancy. With this reproduction, enthusiasts and collectors gain access to an essential piece of esoteric heritage, a witness to the invention of the first divinatory tarot published in the world.
