decks with pips

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 29 Apr 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

emily2otters	29 Apr 2002
i'd like to find a deck that has basically R/W/S symbolism for the majors, and pips for the minors. can anyone make a recommendation? thanks in advance!

kayne	29 Apr 2002
Hmmm... Can't help you E2O... I normally go out of my way not to get a deck with pips... Just curious... what is it about pips that you prefer to illustrated minors? :D

dolphingirl	29 Apr 2002
Hi I am curious also about why you are looking for pips spec (I usually go out of my way to not get pips) but if you have your heart set on pips it kind of depends why you want them. Do you want to use a deck that is historical? Or is your only concern that they are pips, if that is the case I recomend the Pagan 2000 deck as the artwork is lovely. Sam

Lee	29 Apr 2002
Hi, I'd recommend the BOTA deck. It's a black and white deck, meant for you to color. The Majors are very much influenced by the R-W-S, and the Minors are pips. It's not very expensive, I think you can order it from BOTA's website (Brotherhood of the Adytum is what it stands for). Sorry, I don't know their website offhand, but if you search for BOTA you should find it. -- Lee

Mojo	29 Apr 2002
Like many users here, I prefer decks with images for the Minors instead of pips. However, when I find a deck that I really like, I will buy it pips or no pips. I have two in particular that I highly recommend. One of them is Spanish, the Tarot de Pumariega. The artwork is slightly absurd, yet very intriguing. And the pips are designed so that the card can be easily differentiated between upright and reversed, which is one of the reasons I couldn't resist it. The other, and probably my favorite pipped deck is called Il Tarocco Bizzarro. The artwork is done by Franco Bruna, who is Italy's most famous political cartoonists. The imagery has a very Alice-in-Wonderland feel to it and some of it is quite outrageous. But it is a fun deck to read with, particularly at parties. Both of these decks are fairly rare, but I know you can buy them from Alidastore in Italy (San Marino, actually). I know a lot of people don't like to buy things internationally, but I will vouch for Alidastore. The service is wonderful and dependable, even if the Italian postal system isn't!

Zhritza	30 Apr 2002
I highly recommend the Crystal Tarot by Elisabetta Trevisan. The artwork is absolutely stunning, the majors are pretty RWS-based, and the pips, while being probably the prettest pips I've ever seen, are indeed pips. Lo Scarabeo publishes this deck and Llewellyn distributes it in the US.

jmd	30 Apr 2002
The Major Arcana of the (Rider) Waite-Smith deck and, as Lee recommends, those of the BOTA deck are very similar... the two significant differences to be aware of are: The Death and Sun cards of the Waite-Smith have a horse, whereas the BOTA reverts to the more 'usual' depictions. If you decide to get a BOTA deck, make sure the minor arcana is included. Most BOTA decks available are Major Arcana only.

Umbrae	30 Apr 2002
Marseilles deck or IJJ deck.

Sorceress_Jade	30 Apr 2002
My suggestion is to take a look at the Adrian Tarot. The Major Arcana is Rider-Waite and Thoth based, it seems to me. Beautiful digital artwork. Minor Arcana is pips. Plus it's go something unique about it... background images w/ specific layout, really neat. The pips are the exact reason I can't read with this deck, but imo it's really pretty.

emily2otters	30 Apr 2002
thank you for all the suggestions! keep 'em coming! i'm interested in "pip-decks" because i'm trying to get more abstract with the tarot, more basic. i want to be able to look at relationships between number and suit without being led by the artist's interpretation. the suit of swords is the most problematic for me, as i choose not to use "conflict" as an alternate interpretation to "ideas". the R/W/S images are very conflictual, and it's awfully distracting. :) i'm checking out the suggestions you all have made... some of these decks are gorgeous!

Liliana	30 Apr 2002
Yeah Adrian is cool, Ive always liked it but the pips were the reason I didnt get it. I really like the weird abstract shape imposed on all cards. Sacred Circle is also another one I really liked but didnt like the pips. Its all photographic. Medieval Scampi is also supposed to be a nice pip deck, with the pips more decorated than most pip decks. :THP

Kissa	30 Apr 2002
the old english deck has nice traditional minors and pips, only illustrated at the bottom of the card with an artistic design, vaguely related to the meaning of the card. For example, Cups cards all offer pictures of musical instruments or ppl dancing. Here are pics : http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/oldenglish/index.html http://www.wicce.com/oldenglish.jpg worth checking out, the deck is really pretty. Kissa

Liliana	30 Apr 2002
Yeah Old English is another pip deck I like

emily2otters	30 Apr 2002
does anyone own either the ukiyoe (http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/ukiyoe/index.html) or the renaissance tarot by lyle and jones (http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/renaissance2/index.html)? i'm charmed by the art of the ukiyoe (and i like the rice bowls :) ), but i'm afraid the japanese theme might wear thin after a while... and i'm drawn to the simplicity of the renaissance tarot. it seems to be just what i'm looking for. a review i read said that the cards were flimsy and tended to stick together... true?

emily2otters	30 Apr 2002
i agree, the old english is very sweet. how does it read?

Diana	30 Apr 2002
edited

Kissa	01 May 2002
Quote: Originally posted by emily2otters i agree, the old english is very sweet. how does it read? I haven't read with it yet. I am learning and Robin Wood is my fave, it is so clear, especially the pictures on the minors ;) !!!! Someone wrote somewhere that s/he uses OE as a secundary deck if supplementary info is needed during a reading. I guess it reads well, I mean it is really pleasant to watch at, not overly positive yet not frightening. My only advice is watch many pics from different decks and make your choice calmly ... ;) I had to make a pro/con list before getting my Robin Wood, I spent many nights surfing to see pics and finally ordered it from the US (you have to wait 4-6 weeks to get it from europen amazons) and that was the best choice I could ever have made, even if some two months ago, I didn't like the pics at all ... Kissa

Kissa	01 May 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Diana It's a bit like the difference between watching a movie on TV or having someone tell you the story without having the pictures shoved before your eyes. Brilliant comparison !!! For the moment, I'll still stick with my minors pictured decks but you sure know how to make your point, Diana ... In many decades, when I know a bit more about tarot, I'll probably will give pip decks a try, and I might even do more than just watching this pretty Old English I bought myself ... Kissa

Lee	01 May 2002
Hey, emily2otters, here's another one for you: the Stone Tarot, a self-published deck that can be purchased from the author. It's on Aeclectic: http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/stone/index.html And review at Tarot Passages: http://www.tarotpassages.com/stone.htm Another review: http://www.spiritone.com/~filipas/Masquerade/Reviews/stone.html Groovy colors! :) -- Lee

Diana	01 May 2002
edited

Kissa	01 May 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Diana I'm so glad I got my point across. Come on, we're not THAT dull ;) !!! :) thanks for the nice words in your message :) Kissa

Kissa	01 May 2002
Check this one out, E2O, very different from the Old English but pips are pure pips, no pic at all. I like the artwork. There you go : http://www.wicce.com/destinytarotpix.html $17.95 at Barnes and Noble, not listed at amazon. Kissa

Sorceress_Jade	01 May 2002
Well, anyone interested in seeing a little more of the Adrian Tarot http://www.geocities.com/sorceress_jade/cards.html Nearer the bottom. I need to take some better pictures, but you can see the background images, and a little of the pip cards.

The decks with pips thread was originally posted on 29 Apr 2002 in the Tarot Decks board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Tarot Decks, or read more archived threads.