Course on the Book of Thoth

The lower third of the page is obscured by a paper flap or overlay, covering the bottom portion of the diagram.

TABLE original: "Tableau"

Of the Plates original: "Lames." Etteilla uses the term blades or plates to refer to the cards of the Tarot deck. of the Book of THOTH

A rectangular engraving titled "TABLE of the Plates of the Book of THOTH" depicts a numbered schematic layout for Tarot cards. The diagram is enclosed in a double line border with corner ornaments. The layout features a central cluster of numbered rectangular cells. A top horizontal row contains seven cells numbered 7, 6, 5, 1, 4, 3, and 2. Below this is a row of five: 12, 11, 8, 10, and 9, where 12, 11, 10, and 9 are shaded with cross hatching. A central row of five consists of 17, 16, 15, 14, and 13, with 15 being shaded. This row has a wing of two cells on the left (22, 23) and a shaded wing of two cells on the right (37, 36). A lower row of four contains 21, 20, 19, and 18. This row also has wings: boxes 24 and 25 on the left, and shaded boxes 39 and 38 on the right. Near the bottom center is a cell containing the number 0, with box 35 to its left and a shaded box 49 to its right. The central structure is surrounded by a border of cells. The top border row contains 62, 61, 60, 59, 58, 57, 56, 55, and 54. The left border column is shaded and contains 48, 47, 46, 45, 44, and 43. The right border column is shaded and contains 34, 33, 32, 31, 30, and 29. In the upper corners of the inner frame are circular symbols. The left contains a small circle or dot. The right contains a vertical arrow pointing upwards. The bottom edge of the diagram and the lower border are hidden behind a blank paper flap.

Table original: "Tableau": A systematic arrangement or chart used to organize information visually.

Plades original: "Lames": The term Etteilla used for the individual cards of the Tarot. While usually translated as blades, it refers here to the printing plates or the cards themselves.

Book of Thoth original: "Livre de Thoth": The name given to the Tarot by 18th century occultists. They believed the cards were remnants of an ancient Egyptian book of wisdom.

Etteilla: The professional pseudonym of Jean-Baptiste Alliette. He was the first to popularize Tarot for divination and created his own revised deck.

Tarot: A deck of cards used since the mid 15th century for games and later adapted for fortune telling.

Cartomancy original: "Cartomancie": The practice of using a deck of cards to gain insight into the past, present, or future.

Esotericism original: "Esotérisme": Spiritual or philosophical traditions intended for a small group of initiated students.