suggestions for a Historical Deck

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 14 Jun 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Phoenix	14 Jun 2002
Hey all, I am thinking about getting one of the really historical decks, but don;t know which one to get. There the Visconti decks, as well as the Marseille, and I am so confused. What is the difference between the Visconti's and are there more than one version of the Marseille?? A little help would be appreciated.

Andryh	14 Jun 2002
I don't know if you are interested in a more recently created historical deck, but if you are, check out Tarot of the Master. It was created in 1893, before the Thoth or Rider-Waite came along. Just got it last week, and I am really enjoying it. I usually don't like "classic" decks, but this one is very attractive. This is the deck featured this week on Aeclectic, and Solandia has chosen some good scans. Check it out!

Phoenix	14 Jun 2002
Thanks, but I am not sure if that appeals to me. It looks too much like the Marseille. I might go with one of the Visconti decks.

Jeannette	15 Jun 2002
Another deck you might find worth looking into is the Ancient Englightened Tarot, a.k.a. the "Sola-Busca" Tarot. This historical deck is particularly interesting because, according to Stuart Kaplan in the Encyclopedia of Tarot, vol. III, the Sola-Busca contains the earliest-known examples of illustrated pip cards in a tarot. Kaplan later goes on to say that tarot researchers have noted a striking similarity between the designs of some of the Sola Busca cards and the tarot illustrations of Pamela Coleman Smith, leading to speculation that Smith may have had the opportunity to observe a copy of the Sola Busca cards, and subsequently modelled some of her cards after them. The potential "downside" of the Sola-Busca is the fact that the majors are out-of-sequence in relation to those of modern "standard" tarots. Also, the correspondences between some of the Sola-Busca majors and those with which we are more familiar with today is not always easily grasped on first glance. For scans of the Sola-Busca, you can use this link: http://www.tarotgarden.com/database/dbsearchengine.php?view_title=sola+busca Hope this helps. -- Jeannette http://www.tarotgarden.com

jmd	15 Jun 2002
To consider when making your decision is that, though beautiful, and despite its modern appelation by its publishers, the beautiful Sola-Busca is not a Tarot deck, but one of the many kinds of decks (such as the Montegna) around at that time. It is definitely worth having, if for no other reason than for its historical correlation and influence on the Waite-Smith deck. I would personally recommend the Visconti-Sforza if you do not like the look of any of the Marseilles decks currently available (the Conver, Dodal, Marteau-Grimaud, and my favourite, though recent, the Camoin).

Kaz	15 Jun 2002
have a look in the marseille studygroup, most cards of mentioned decls are posted as attachements there. compare and maybe that helps in making a decision. i like the soprafino deck btw.....plugging my own ancient deck choice here kaz

Lee	15 Jun 2002
Click here to read a recent thread about the various Visconti decks. -- Lee

Phoenix	15 Jun 2002
Thanks all!! I think I might buy the Cary-Yale VIsconti Tarocchi deck. It is the one that appeals to me the most.

Keslynn	15 Jun 2002
When I first read the title of the thread, I thought it would talk about a deck using historical figures to illustrate it. *lol* How silly! But then again, perhaps not a bad idea...Sarah Ovenall used some real people as courts in the Victoria Regina.

Violet Gargoyle	15 Jun 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Keslynn When I first read the title of the thread, I thought it would talk about a deck using historical figures to illustrate it. *lol* How silly! But then again, perhaps not a bad idea...Sarah Ovenall used some real people as courts in the Victoria Regina. Maybe they should create the Elizabeth I themed deck next. I would go nuts! If I have two points of historical interests, it would be in the Victorian/Industrial and the Elizabethan/Tudor Ages...

The suggestions for a Historical Deck thread was originally posted on 14 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.