Tarot De Marseille - Isis Version

It seems to have been a loooong time since my last post here (shame on me) - and believe me it has nothing to do with a lack of material I want to share, because I've got a fair lot of new acquisitions.

So for my new post in over a month I choose this new TdM deck straight from Japan. The creator of this deck professor Tadahiro Onuma made with this Conver revamping (with some Camoin-Jodorowsky thrown in among other influences) a deck that might attract new people to the TdM with its colours that are both bright and lively, it's many natural facial expressions (watch those eyes they do add an extra spiciness to the personages portrayed) it even has a sense of space and dimension in it compared to the 'original' flat TdM cards. It is not what purist would call an 'authentic' deck but rather a Marseilles for the 21st century sensitiveness and tastes.

Professor Onuma isn't what you call a novice in esoteric subjects, he finished a doctoral course of the ancient Greek philosophy at Tokyo University, he also worked with Philippe Camoin in the past and  is also an Archpriest of the Fellowship of Isis (FOI).

Published in 2009 as a majors only this deck was printed in 2011 as a 78 cards deck for all to enjoy by ISIS (Institute of Study on Initiation and Symbolism) (this is the edition I posses) you can see their site here or order directly from professor Onura by mail (he accepts Paypal and is very fast)

Tarocchi Minchiate "Al Leone"

Nice decks, interesting decks ones with historic importance do not always need to be expensive, proof of that is one of my latest find of mine. During my daily overview on eBay I stumbled upon this historic reprint (unaltered or corrected - thus looking exactly like it was printed a few centuries ago) published back in 2004.

This deck is a photo reproduction of a Florentine Minchiate deck (circa 1790) from an original contained in the collection of the "FOURNIER" cards museum located in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain, owned by the Excma. Diputacion Floral de Alava.The cards measure a nice sized 115mm x 60mm printed on lightish stock, with round corners but unfortunate gloss finish what takes away some of the authenticity, yet it remains an interesting deck for collectors and all those interested in historic decks.

Tarot Taré by Olivier Texier

I have a lot of decks in all kinds and genres but this one is among the bizarre ones I’ve got (and that’s not an understatement!) For those wondering what the title means Tare is a slang word meaning mad insane ‘out-of-their mind’ a title well chosen when you look at these 22 cards.

It was published last may by “Le Dernier Cri” (where it is still available) who specialize in strange creations and in recently also published a tarot by Marcel Reujters, and that is now sadly Out Of print – it has in common with that deck that they are both published in a limited edition (this one has only 200 decks) both are hand screened, have similar sizes and have a similar flap-thingy that contains them. Thus far what the similarities go.

The “people” that populate this deck are strange weird, freaks, monsters and mutants but in whom the artist tried to pass some human essence through a look a hand movent or some other detail - it's definitely NOT for the faint or weak at heart 

Well worth the effort of to look into it I’d say 

Jean-Claude Flornoy passed away on 24th of may

Jean-Claude Flornoy passed away on 24th of may  - a very sad thing, a great loss for the world in general and the world of tarot specifically. My thoughts go also out to his life companion Roxanne.

 Jean-Claude, you are and will be missed - peace to you.


So all who didn't yet know about him, or want to be a bit closer to him in their minds you can always visit his website or read his blog



I'm a bit lost for words right now, so I'll quote Khalil Girban wit these great words:

For what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind and to melt into the sun?
And what is it to cease breathing, but to free the breath from its restless tides, that it may rise and expand and seek God unencumbered?

Only when you drink from the river of silence shall you indeed sing.
And when you have reached the mountain top, then you shall begin to climb.
And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance.

Polish Tarot / Jasniak Tarot by Aleksandra Jasniak & Anna Galuszka

It's always good news when a deck comes back into print, especially when it's one i didn't have in my collection yet.
First published in 1995 and then in 1998 this lush colorful deck is at it's third printing now (the 2011 version is now called “The Polish Tarot”)  and i'm sure it has many years and potential in his future.It is a deck that has personality and dares to stand out of the crowd, like that eccentric aunt we all loved, that everyone was looking at and that loved the attention!

Subtly hinting towards the TdM, non-scenic pips, (almost) psychedelic effects, golden borders bilingual titles (Polish & English) what's not to like in it - I love it!

It's available at Tarot Garden

  

Mondo Bizzarro Gallery Tarot

The Mondo Bizzarro Gallery in Rome Italy held an tarot related exhibition this year (today is the last day - it ran from 30 march 2011 till 18 may 2011), they invited 20 artists from the Italian underground art scene to interpret the 22 major arcana cards into their own style. The result is a varied as the artists themselves are, ranging from the sweet over the comical or serious to the bizarre. The whole exhibition was under the guidance of it's organizer Alessia De Filippi who researched the tarot among other sources from Paul Foster Case's"Introduction to the study of tarot


The deck, that was published in a small edition of only 200 decks  by  Mondo Bizzaro in collaboration with  Elsewhere Factory Lab, consists of a Tarot deck of 22 cards plus 3 information cards, edition is already nearing the point of being sold out.


 You can see the cards here
Although the decks is not on sale in their shop you can mail them about it - and yes they accept Paypal

For these interested in names, here are the artist who collaborated and what card they created: Hogre (The Magician), Antonio Guzzardo (the High Priestess), Valeria Crusade (The Empress), Simone Tso '(The Emperor), Jb Rock (The Pope), Nike Alghisio Brass (The Lovers), Infidel (The Chariot), PU: RE (Justice), Paul Petrangeli (The Hermit), Diamond (The Wheel), Alessandra Fusi (Strength), Elena Rapa (The Hanged Man), Bafefit (Death), Mark Rea (The Temperance), Michele Guidarini (The Devil), King of the Herring (The Tower), Saturno Butto '(The Star), Luisa Catucci (The Moon), Genuine (The Sun), Luisa Montalto (The Judgement), Francesco D'Isa (World), Gaetano Leone (The Fool).

Tarot of Physics by Dan Horn & Corrine Kenner

Who said tarot and 'hard' science don't mix? well lo behold and  rejoice science AND tarot loving geeks and nerds (and no I didn't use those terms in a denigrated way) because here is the Tarot of Physics, all science all tarot and that 78 cards long.

Clean schematic minimalists images on pale yellow/beige background, that remind of high-school science textbooks, are used to link a different theory or application from physics to a tarot interpretations . In sync with the theme the suits have been renamed to Energy, Space, Time, and Matter.
As a special feature for those who want to use them the cards are only laminated on the backs so one could add notes, colors or anything you want to them.

The decks can exclusively be obtain from the Tarot Garden
you can also look it up on it's website or on Twitter (but sadly none of those are often updated)

Peacock Tarot by Peter Grahame

Somewhere near the end of last year I obtained this majors only deck by the Albuquerque based self-taught artist Peter Grahame, but somehow I forgot to post it here, blame it on my moving at that period because it is a creation that deserves being shared with you all.In 2009 it was published in a very limited edition of only 50 decks housed in a relatively big cardboard box

The Peacock tarot was created by mixing real persons  in 21st century dreamlike settings with digital collage and editing techniques without making each card overly heavy or worked upon, yet giving it a very rich and strong look. Set up as a meditation deck for those studying the tarot and also to be used for tarot readings this 22 cards deck gives a contemporary look to the age-old Tarot archetypes.

Twilight Rabbit Tarot by Jessica Clayman

There are many animal themed decks out there both self published or by big companies, featuring all kinds of animals but decks with rabbits there are few (as a matter of fact this is only the 2nd one I found and bought).

The artist has worked 5 entire years on this deck  of anthropomorphic rabbits featured in images that are interesting renderings of the WCS-tarot but seen through rabbit eyes. The cards echo at some places classical works of art, general culture or ancient mythology  (doesn't that empress remind you of a certain Venus and that 3 of cups made me think of Alice in Wonderland...) there is even place for my favorite Egyptian deity.

The deck is for sale at miss  Clayman's Etsy shop in 2 versions an 78 cards one and one with 83 cards where the 5 extra cards are Thoth-tarot versions of The Emperor, The Star, Lust and Adjustment (Balance) and also an Happy Squirrel card.

But wait there is more for those who doesn't get enough of this rabbit-o-rama there is the website wwww.twilightrabbit.com Fitting the theme the suits have been renamed to Clover (= Wands), Passions (= Cups), Carrots (= Swords)  and Stone (= Pentacles). The court cards became : Throne, Jack, Queen and King 

The Hive I & II Tarot's

Tarot has become mainstream and can be found in all kind of applications, milieus and supports, from the most commercial to the highest art. As a system to work around with many artist it's perfect and many collaborative decks have been created by artist, here it's the Hive gallery  from Los Angeles that has gathered artist around it and has produced 2 majors only decks (even if both projects counted 78 cards) out of it. Although both times the WCS served as a base for the project, the artist deviated from it, and somethimes even radically!

The first Hive tarot was produced in 2009 in a limited edition of only 100 decks.

The second deck came out in 2011 as the previous one in a limited edition of 100 decks

I hope these 2 will be the start of a long running tradition at the Hive gallery with may more decks published on a yearly base.


Entries for previous editions are to be found here:

• The Hive III Tarot
• The Hive IV

Association for Tarot Studies - April newsletter

The April edition of the ATS is out now and contains an extremely interesting article on the Xultun Tarot.

Sara Pulver's ACEO Tarot Deck

Etsy has become an interesting source for tarot decks these last few years, directly from passionate artists making small print runs or even individually handmade decks and sharing those on their shop.

One of these is Sara Pulver who during the year 2010 created each card in no particular order and beginning of this year she started selling the 22 majors as an ACEO-set printed on very light cardstock and each card put into acid free cellophane envelopes.

The deck is mad, irreverent and even chaotic (but in a good way, at least that's my opinion of them)
You can visit her shop here  

A Tarot Titkai by Zsófia Lázár & Katalin Szegedi

It's always nice when a deck you search and that was Out-Of-Print comes back available.Back in 1991 Hungarian painter Katalin Szegedi created a wonderful majors only deck accompanied with a book written by Zsófia Lázár the deck hence known as the "Szabo/Szegedi - A Tarot", has sadly has been OOP since a loooong time, even before I seriously started collecting.

But o joy last year a new edition was published as "Tarot Titkai", the images remain unchanged but the printing quality was upgraded to be more luminous and in better contrast than the original. It can be ordered from the artist site  for 3 980 Ft (approximately € 15,03 or $ 21,31), you can also email her

Reference original edition: Manteia 6, p. 43

Tarocchi Minchiate "Al Leone"

Interesting decks with historic importance do not always have to be expensive or hard to find, proof of that is this interesting find I did on eBay during one of my daily overviews hunting down interesting decks to add to my collection.

The deck in question is a photo reproduction (thus looking excacly like it was printed a few centuries ago) of a Florentine Minchiate deck (from circa 1790) from the original found in the collection of the "Fournier cards Museum in Alva, situated in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain and published in 2004.The cards measure a nice115mm x 60mm on printed upon lightish stock, round corners with a gloss finish that take a bit away from it's authenticity. An interesting deck that enriches the historic section of my collection (there are still some left on eBay at a nice price)

Tarot Noir by Robyn Tisch Hollister

I do love many perhaps even all (or perhaps almost all) modern renditions or reincarnations of the good old Tarot de Marseilles pattern, and this one is among my favorite ones i must admit.

Robyn Tisch Hollister who also goes by the handle of Chronata on different forums and has created a few other decks has unleashed her talents upon the TdM.She gifted us here with a sweet and humorous looking deck, yet firmly based and following the TdM format, created in white upon a black background.The border-less cards are small sized and fit perfectly in the hand.
The deck is self published in a limited hand-made edition of only 100 decks packaged in a  little black handmade folder box , sadly for the moment her shop seems for the moment out-of stock.

Here are links to the deck and her web-shop

Pre-order the Tarot Lovers' Calendar 2012

Lo and behold, spring is here so it's once again the pre-order period for the Tarot Lovers' Calendar 2012 celebrating it's 10th anniversary this year (o what does time fly swiftly).

On the publishers site we can read: "Now in its 10th year, the limited edition Tarot Lovers' Calendar is a spiral bound, high quality printed showcase of the most talented artists and writers working with tarot in the world today. Since the second edition every calendar features sample images from 12 different independently produced tarot decks, some still in progress; 12 brand new tarot spreads; the world's major religious holidays; the moon phases; and solar/lunar eclipses all packaged as a highly practical calendar. Many people have built collections that they refer to time and again, finding that the Tarot Lovers' Calendar provides useful information and a view of the 'tarot zeitgeist' for the year."  

A nice must have item for tarot lovers, users and collectors alike - I allready ordered mine.


For those wondering, yes the person publishing this calendar is the same one who created Major Tom's Tarot of Marseille.

Tea Tarot by Marcia McCord (pre-order info)

Marcia McCord who also created the Picture Postcard Tarot, the Art Postcard Tarot and the Victorian Trade Card Tarot is now at this very moment (March 2011) working on a new deck.

Once again it will be in the familiar style of her 3 other decks vintage and antique images from a period we imagine to be sweeter and more innocent than ours, and this time there will be a theme tea-related images, ads from tea companies, photos of tea-related antiques...something worth looking into for all tarot readers and/or collectors especially those who like a hot cup of tea.
The deck shall have rounded corners and have the same size and cardstock as her other decks.
 

You can find more information and how to pre-order on her blog

Victorian Trade Card Tarot by Marcia McCord

I did not always post about my new decks as soon as they arrive, this one even slipped my mind, shame on me because it is so much worth mentioning!

The Victorian Trade Card Tarot was published and sold at the same time as the Art Postcard Tarot and also in a limited edition of only 100 decks, both with 79 cards, the extra card being the happy squirrel (of these 2 decks only of the later a few are left, the others are all sold out by now - good work Marcia!)

This deck, as both her other decks, are created by use of vintage images here these where the trade cards mentioned in the decks title.
Trade cards can be seen as the forerunners of today's busyness cards, where merchants or businesses announced  themselves to (potential) clients to announce their trade, or line of business, on one side they featured an image and on the other side space for the business with full advertising text, details or location, and where very popular in the period 1870 to 1900.

More information about Marcia's  decks can be found on her blog

Association for Tarot Studies - March newsletter

Association for Tarot Studies

The new edition of the ATS is out, and once again it's filled with interesting news and information go and have a look!

Heiri Steiner Tarot by Mary Steiner-Geringer & Heiri Steiner

Decks done in a naive art-style aren't a modern thing, there where many published in the previous century yet few have had a lasting appeal with collectors as this one. Published in 1968 by Rene Simmen in Zurich (Switzerland) as a majors only deck accompanied by the book 'Das Tarot: Die Welt als Spiel' (The Tarot: The World as a Game).

Just looking at it you can see why it became wanted by collectors, the simple childlike images are printed upon a black backgrounds in lively strong colours, no question about it this deck has personality. The cards seem to take their inspiration from the TdM model and also a bit upon the Papus deck.

The only thing I'm not enthusiastic about are it's backs that are well true '60ies but in a bad way (if you see what I mean)