Brian Williams' Renaissance Tarot

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 23 Jun 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Jenny-Li	23 Jun 2002
Hi! Have stumbled on a great bargain for this deck, and what I have seen of the pictures I think they are beautiful, it's definitely a deck I want to own. But this fab deal I've found seems to be without the book (otherwise its an AMAZING deal...!), so I'm wondering... Do you need the book to work with the deck, or can you figure it out for yourself? Any other comments on this deck? Does anyone of you use this for reading? What's it like? Or is it more of a beautiful art-deck...? Thanks for your thoughts and input! Jenny :)

truthsayer	23 Jun 2002
i have the deck and book-both bought separately. since this is an italian historical deck, brian did it w/ an old italian deck as a guide. the pips are numbered cards w/ some images but not the rws. the colors of the cards are colored nicely in pastels. i think the book is quite helpful in reading the cards as the cards use roman mythologic stories and images. the book is full of other italian tarot decks that brian prob used to guide him in creating the deck. the book can also be used w/ interpreting other decks. the book concentrates on tarot history, major arcana(extensive) and minors. the reading section includes 2 spreads other than the celtic cross. i think you could probably read the deck intuitively but i like the comprehensive picture the book presents. the book is interesting imo and not dry. even if you don't want to buy the book, buy the deck b/c brian williams died only in april of 2002. his minchiate deck IS unreadable w/o the book b/c it's not a true tarot. you could get by w/ the ren b/c it is tarot. i collected both in honor of brian wms. if you want to learn more about his work, there was a website by him that someone here may have. there is also a commemoration to him at passages. solandia has a good aeclectic review here of the ren.

All Is One	23 Jun 2002
Hi, Jenny-Li; I went to Amzon to buy this deck, based on what Solandia wrote and the stunning art work, and I also am completely, embarrassingly without even one old world- style deck *hangs head in shame, slinks out of the post* *remenbers what was so important... rushes back in* Where do I find a deal on this deck? Amzon wanted a lot for it... it was a close call~ they are charging either your first born child, or (I think) around $35 or $40 ? Too much for me right now- just ordered about six decks. Did you get a one-time find? ****I 'd rather have a bargain on any beautiful deck w/out book- think of how many more decks you can get... BTW: how do you like the feel, and can you read w/it? :TAS ;) :T8W

Jenny-Li	24 Jun 2002
Quote: Originally posted by All Is One Where do I find a deal on this deck? Amzon wanted a lot for it... it was a close call~ they are charging either your first born child, or (I think) around $35 or $40 ? Too much for me right now- just ordered about six decks. Hi! Well, the deal I had my nose on was from a Swedish Internet bookstore, so that wouldn't do you much good unless you want to pop over to collect your cards here... And most of all, I discovered that I was wrong the deal wasn't for the deck but the book... (Stupid me, sometimes I've just got more optimism than brains...!) The normal prices for the deck + book set ranges from about $47 to $72 (although I don't reckon the latter bookstore will sell many of them...!) plus postage, and I might be able to find the deck alone for $18. So if what you looked at on Amazon was the set, their deal isn't so bad after all. And the prices are the only reason I'm thinking of getting the deck with out the book, but then that might be foolish too... Truthsayer: thank you so much for your review, you definitely sold that book to me, since I don't have any Italian (or related) decks (yet), it sounds interesting to learn a bit about them generally. Hm. I will definitely get it, I love the art work, but since I think I want to buy it with the book, it might wait a little while... Thank you! Jenny :)

truthsayer	25 Jun 2002
if you're interested in brian williams tarot works follow the links in mary k. greer's website. she and a few other tarot friends who took brian's italian tarot tour wrote pieces about him, italy and tarot. really fascinating reading about the "renaissance man" of tarot. i really wish i could have taken one of those italian tours. they sound fabulous and w/ brian gone it's doubtful to happen again. :( i think if you read about him knowledge about the italian influence on tarot you'll be even more curious about old world style decks. i know i was. i like learning about history, other cultures and ppls via tarot. http://home.pacbell.net/mkgreer/

Jenny-Li	10 Jul 2002
Quote: Originally posted by truthsayer if you're interested in brian williams tarot works follow the links in mary k. greer's website. she and a few other tarot friends who took brian's italian tarot tour wrote pieces about him, italy and tarot. really fascinating reading about the "renaissance man" of tarot. i really wish i could have taken one of those italian tours. they sound fabulous and w/ brian gone it's doubtful to happen again. :( http://home.pacbell.net/mkgreer/ Thanks for the link! I've only just nosed through the text very briefly, but I couldn't agree more, that would have been a trip of a life time! I will read and learn all I can from that link! Thanks! Jenny :)

The Brian Williams' Renaissance Tarot thread was originally posted on 23 Jun 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.