Old English, Medieval Scapini or Russian Tarot of St. Petersburg??

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 24 Apr 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Summerdream	24 Apr 2002
For my next purchase in the distant future (lol) I'm considering Medieval Scapini, Old English and Russian Tarot of St. Petersburg. They all seemed more old fashioned which is what I like about them. Which of these 3 would you purchase 1st and why? I love hearing everyone's opinions.

rostie	24 Apr 2002
i don't have one of them, but i always loved the old english tarot. it looks beautifull, nice colours, it's just my first choice... looking forward to know what will be your choice...

Tarotbear 2	24 Apr 2002
The Scappini tarot is beautiful, but some of the images do not 'correspond' to the traditional Rider-- you should try to see the entire deck before you buy it. The St. Petersburg tarot is gorgeous, traditional imagery with a Russian twist ( The Devil is Joe Stalin!), BUT - all the images are on a black background, even cards with a 'day' sky - so it can take a little getting used to seeing the shining Sun against a black background. Don't know the English deck-- is the Five Pents two lovers sitting in a bower or the usual two figures in a snowstorm? I'd say get the Russian Tarot ( and it's book) first, IMHO.

Umbrae	24 Apr 2002
Russian St. Petersburg is my Fav deck, followed by the Scapini. The “Old English” is a very subtle deck, great for blue haired ladies, and folks who think the Tarot is evil (the devil and death are cute). The illustrations have little to do with the traditional illustrations, so if you need them for mental reminders, you will hate the deck.

Liliana	24 Apr 2002
Id go with Russian because it is the only one to have illustrated minors instead of pip cards. That,andit is an incredible piece of art, knowing that the cards were painted actual size, not made bigger and shrunk down, sometimes taking a paint brush with a single hair on it. :THP

Temperance413	24 Apr 2002
I just bought the Russian St. pete's deck and really clicked with it. It is a beautiful deck full of meaning, and lots of things to find out about. The Scapini was one that I had high hopes of being THE deck, but for some reason it gave me a headache everytime I tried to read with it. I have a few that do that to me. I never saw the Old English, so i guess my vote is for Russian St. Pete deck. Check it out you will be amazed. The pictures actually tell you their meaning, I don't even have to use a book for them. And to tell you the truth I was becoming a bit book dependant. Give them a try, you won't be disappointed.

Zhritza	24 Apr 2002
The Scapini has illustrated minors! As a matter of fact, they feature unusually complicated scenes, and since the Scapini was my first deck, this is why I think I have so much trouble with minors in other decks. The Scapini is gold-backed and very beautiful if you like classic-style decks, although it does have a fair amount of Christian imagery in it, and some people dislike that (but if you're Christian you may find it very helpful). Many of the majors' images are based on the Marseille rather than the RWS. The other two I know through online images only, and I think they would both be a bit harder to read with than the Scapini; but for sheer attractiveness I would also choose the Russian as the best of the three.

faunabay	24 Apr 2002
Out of the three, I only have the Scapini. But I love it. The minors are kind of a cross between pips and illustrated. They have the number of (say) cups like the pips, but have illustrations drawn around the cups. (If that makes any sense. LOL) The Old English is on my wishlist though too. :) Sorry don't have the Russian deck, so can't comment on that one. Other than to say the pictures I've seen on the web look very pretty and intricate.

MystiqueMoonlight	24 Apr 2002
Even though I have no RW type decks (I'm devoted to Thoth) I have to say the Russian St Pete. deck. If this is the one that is gold with the black background and the intricate artwork. For some reason this deck appeals to me. It can't be the religious thing..but it seems to have this "oomph". I think it would be a really wonderful deck to work with especially if you are into that type of symbolism. Good luck and let us know what you decided.

Kissa	25 Apr 2002
Hi, I have the Old English. It is the *prettiest* deck in my collection. Wonderful colors, original drawings IMO much better than the medieval ones they were inspired by. But definitely NOT an easy deck to read with. Pips are number with a small charming drawing at the bottom of the card. For example : "Four of Coins" has two oxes/cows drawing a plow on which are two baskets full of vinegrapes. In the back, a huge castle. Not exactly the same feeling than with 4 of Pentacles in RWS or Universal Waite. I read somewhere in a review that the author probably made this deck more like a piece of art than a readable deck, more like something to please her wish as an artist and not necessarily to fullfil the requirements of a tarot deck. Don't get me wrong, I love this deck, but more as a collectible item than a "useful" one. I read somewhere else too that someone was using it as "second deck" for readings when more details might be needed. Kissa

Bings	25 Apr 2002
I have the Russian deck. When I list decks that I have I usually forget about this one. (Bad Me) My sister gave it to me and I loved the book. It is so interresting!!! But I just can't click with the deck. I have just been holding on to it until I could find someone who wanted it. Momof3girls, would you like it??? I don't have the box it came in. But the deck is in wonderful condition. I have the LWB and the bigger 326 page book. Dianne

Summerdream	25 Apr 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Bings I have the Russian deck. When I list decks that I have I usually forget about this one. (Bad Me) My sister gave it to me and I loved the book. It is so interresting!!! But I just can't click with the deck. I have just been holding on to it until I could find someone who wanted it. Momof3girls, would you like it??? I don't have the box it came in. But the deck is in wonderful condition. I have the LWB and the bigger 326 page book. Dianne Hello Dianne, You've got mail...lol!! I'd love that deck.

Summerdream	25 Apr 2002
Bings, Check your private messages. Blessings,

Aure	29 Apr 2004
This is exactly my problem at the moment... I am heading out to the tarot shop today and I am still undecided between Old English, Medieval Scapini and Russian Tarot of St. Petersburg. Last time I went to the shop they only had one Russian Tarot deck and book set left but several Old English and Medieval Scapini. I'm thinking if they still have the set, I might buy that one. Unfortunately they have overpriced the set, if I remember correctly it was somewhere around 50 € ... :eek: This is a tough choice to make, ofcourse if I had loads of money to spend I'd buy all three without blinking but... I have given myself a couple of options, either the Russian set or then Old English and Scapini. The third one is to buy either the Old English or Scapini with a miniature RWS. And because I know pocket Universal Waite is coming I might forget the miniature RWS. Someone help me please!!!

Summerdream	29 Apr 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Aure This is exactly my problem at the moment... I am heading out to the tarot shop today and I am still undecided between Old English, Medieval Scapini and Russian Tarot of St. Petersburg. Last time I went to the shop they only had one Russian Tarot deck and book set left but several Old English and Medieval Scapini. I'm thinking if they still have the set, I might buy that one. Unfortunately they have overpriced the set, if I remember correctly it was somewhere around 50 € ... :eek: This is a tough choice to make, ofcourse if I had loads of money to spend I'd buy all three without blinking but... I have given myself a couple of options, either the Russian set or then Old English and Scapini. The third one is to buy either the Old English or Scapini with a miniature RWS. And because I know pocket Universal Waite is coming I might forget the miniature RWS. Someone help me please!!! Hi Aure! Well I have owned all 3. My favorite of the three is the Russian. I have the Old English and like that one alot too. However I had the Medieval Scampini and ended up trading it. I just didn't care for the way the pips looked. Let me know which one you get. By the way, I have the book for the Russian too and it is full of history and fabulous. Momof3girls:)

Jewel	29 Apr 2004
I have owned all 3, and I would say that the Rusian is the prettiest by far and as noted has illustrated minors. I did not get it with the book, so I missed a lot by not having the history. The Medieval Scapini has always been a sentimental favorite deck for some strange reason (even if I do not read with it) I just used to like having it. I found the Olf English to be full of light, and as someone mentioned one that would be good to use as a tarot example with those who think Tarot is evil. Both of these decks have what I call "moody-minors" they are pips with partial illustrations. As this is my favorite type of minors I never had any issues with not being able to understand them. I would recommend the Medieval Scapini or the Tarot of St. Petersburg (with the book) over the Old English. Just my two pearls in this discussion.

Aure	29 Apr 2004
I just got home with my new Russian Tarot... :) I looked at the two other decks as well but they didn't feel right. Maybe later... I also saw Visconti deck there but somehow I was surprised how it looked like it had the pictures glued to the surface (what's the word... the things little girls collect?), not as nice as I had expected. It felt like a sign when I found the deck and book set on the shelf, it was the only one left. I felt like it had waited for me there!!! I just browsed through the cards and I love them! The black background doesn't bother me, I like it. It feels like this deck makes you really concentrate on the cards, like there's a special atmosphere where the black background fits perfectly. The set contained a spread poster that looks like it was done by Mary Hanson-Roberts, quite nice but doesn't really feel right with this deck. I doubt that I would use one anyway but something in a similar style as the deck would have been nice. I think I'll go and read the book, it seems really interesting! :) I'm so happy happy happy!! I don't know if my deck fever has been cured or not, we will see... Atleast now I can settle down and wait for future releases... P.S. Amazing, I have one tarot bag that fits this deck perfectly! It is made of black chinese silk with black dragon embroideries on it...

Summerdream	29 Apr 2004
Congratulations Aure on your new purchase. Enjoy! Momof3girls:)

Emily	30 Apr 2004
Hi Aure, The Russian Tarot of St Petersburg is a favourite with me too - I love the effect of the colours against the black background and the fact that it is so closely based on Rider Waite that it is easy to read. I didn't get round to getting the book either, it was out of stock on Amazon, but when I get round to using the deck properly instead of just looking at the pretty pictures then I might get the book. :)

contrascarpe	30 Apr 2004
Out of the three, my favorite is the Scapini. I find the images to be so different that they are appealing. I also own the Russian and it is beautiful - I just wish the cards were larger. I feel that any deck that has such intricate borders should compensate for that by enlarging the cards. The Old English is one I have held in my hands a couple of times, but it has never appealed to me. I think you will enjoy the Russian, Aure. Plus the book is nice as well. Dan

zorya	30 Apr 2004
congratulations momof3 and aure, on your new decks! my favorite is the russian st. pete's too. the reason the images are so tiny is that they were actually painted that size! it's amazing how much detail is held in them. making them larger would lose the effect. the black background makes the colours glow. the scapini is my second favorite. i think they are kind of like a combination of the visconti with scapini's interpretations of numerology and i suppose very loosly, rider waite style pictoral pips. the artwork is wildly original and at times wonderfully humourous. the old english never really appealed to me.

Shalott	30 Apr 2004
Hi Momof3, Just wanted to straighten out a myth...the Old English pips aren't unillistrated or not meant to be read with, they actually do correspond to RWS...but they are from a very obscure source(The Luttrell Psalter). I did some research: http://www.geocities.com/rmelizabeth01/OldEnglish.html?1082260547734 Medieval Scapini looks gorgeous if you like the ancient Italian style, but I understand it doesn' correspond to ANY traditional system. Can't comment on the Russian, don't know it at all. Your Old English Freak, Shalott

The Old English, Medieval Scapini or Russian Tarot of St. Petersburg?? thread was originally posted on 24 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.