The First Occult Tarot: as Envisioned by
Louis-Raphaël-Lucrèce de Fayolle,
comte de Mellet, in 1781
Before Aleister Crowley, before Arthur Edward Waite and Pamela Colman Smith, before the Golden Dawn, before Papus, Éliphas Lévi, and Etteilla, the first author to describe an occult version of the Tarot was Louis-Raphaël-Lucrèce de Fayolle, comte de Mellet, writing in Antoine Court de Gébelin’s, 1781, eighth volume of his monumental encyclopedia, Monde primitif.
The comte de Mellet associated the Tarot’s trumps with the Classical Ages of Man: the Age of Gold, the Age of Silver, and the Age of Iron. He correlated the Trumps with the letters in the Hebrew alphabet, he described the minor suits in detail, and he provided the earliest discussion of a divination technique for the Tarot. Now for the first time de Mellet’s vision for the Tarot exists as a complete deck, and book: The First Occult
As of today, November 22, 2023, they are in stock
The First Occult Tarot set is $60 plus shipping ($12 in the US, $32 for Canada, and $50 for other international orders). You may also order the deck alone for $40 plus shipping, or the book alone for $20 plus shipping. (There is no little book included with the deck)
To order email Robert M Place at:
alchemicaltarot@aol.com
US customers can use this Gumroad link to order the deck and book set
https://robertmplace.gumroad.com/l/feonu
US customers can use this Gumroad link to order the deck alone
https://robertmplace.gumroad.com/l/wtygr
US Customers may use this Gumroad link to order
https://robertmplace.gumroad.com/l/dplgw
“The First Occult Tarot” book and deck set are now out, and what an amazing masterpiece they both are. I’m only part way through the book, which is such a rich resource. Based on his years of work on tarot’s origins. Place is able to give a succinct yet notably accurate account of both the origins of tarot and of Le Monde Primitif’s monumental influence on the creation of an occult tarot. This is a notable work that any serious tarot scholar should have…………………..Mary K. Greer, November 29, 2023
I just got my copy of The First Occult Tarot from Watkins Book. What a marvelous project. I admit I was drawn by your research, but wasn’t really thinking that the deck would make for a practical working deck. I love how wrong I was. I absolutely love how you claim back what these authors were trying to do and give them due credit since they have been debunked and labeled Egyptomaniacs. Thank you………………………………Pedro Moitinho
I want to give a shout out to Robert Place. He makes incredible Tarot decks and is one of the world’s greatest scholars of the Tarot. I’ve been collecting his decks and studying his work for over 20 years, and I am so much wiser and richer for it. His work has nourished and enriched my calling as a professional card reader and Diviner, and it has vastly strengthened my efforts as a teacher.
I’m currently taking a class that he is running on the First Occult Tarot, and it’s fascinating. I strongly recommend that you consider looking into his work if you’re actually serious about Tarot………………………………………..Janus Sunaj
Read more about this deck in my blog post
https://robertmplacetarot.com/2023/07/01/who-was-the-comte-de-mellet/
https://robertmplacetarot.com/2021/03/19/the-first-occult-tarot/
https://robertmplacetarot.com/2022/07/25/more-news-on-the-first-occult-tarot/
Some of the Cards
The first and last trumps
The Sun and Moon
Death and the Hanged Man
The Chariot of War and the Lover
Jupiter and Juno
The Mountebank
The four knights
The Seven of Batons
The Three of Swords
The Three of Cups
The Five of Coins
The Knave of Coins
The Lady of Coins
The King of Batons
the card back
The 74th Restored Temple of Hermes newsletter was sent on November 25, 2025. If you did not receive yours, you may need to update your email address.