Who has the fantasy showcase tarot?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 12 Jun 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Jenny-Li	12 Jun 2002
Hi guys! Here's one I've been looking at for a looooong time, I just love the images - although I suspect it wouldn't be one for reading with...! For me this might be one to just have and ... well, fantasize with, a creative inspiration deck! (I *love* the way there are so many completely different styles in this deck!) http://www.themysticeye.com/pics/fantasy.htm So does any one have this deck? (Wanna trade? You can have my Buckland for it... *blink, blink :D blink, blink*) What do you think of it? It has 84 cards, so I guess it's not a "real" tarot, does anyone know what the extras are? Jenny :)

Jeannette	12 Jun 2002
Jenny-Li: The Fantasy Showcase Tarot has an interesting background. It is listed in Kaplan's Encyclopedia of Tarot, vol. III, pp. 213, 215-220. The idea was conceived by a gentleman named Bruce Pelz who, I'm sorry to say, recently passed away. However, I had the good fortune to hear Mr. Pelz speak on the FST project back in 1990, while attending the World SF Convention, which was being held in The Hague that year. There is a great deal of background on the evolution of the deck in the LWB that is included with the cards. But to stick to the highlights: Mr. Pelz's goal was to compile a series of tarot illustrations that would grant exposure to the wide range of styles and talents of illustrators working in the F & SF community. In fact, at least two of those artists - Karen Kuykendall and James Odbert -- have subsequently gone on to create their own complete tarot decks. Mr. Pelz began soliciting artists for the project in 1969, but it was 1980 before the deck was completed and published. In his presentation at The Hague, Mr. Pelz stated that at one time, there had been negotiations with Stuart Kaplan regarding the publication of the FST tarot by U.S. Games. But when those negotiations did not "pan out," Mr. Pelz decided to publish the deck independently. Thus, it never had as wide of a distribution as it might have. As artists dropped out of the project, and new artists were added, there arose some confusion as to who was assigned to create which card. The resulting solution was to add some extra cards to the deck. Thus, the FST deck is a "real" tarot -- if one were to use it for readings, the additional cards could be taken out if the reader's preference was to avoid the use of "non-standard" cards. The extra cards include two additional majors -- "Separation" and "The Farrier" -- and an additional court card in each suit, referred to as the "Lady." Thus, the sequence of the court cards in this deck is: Page, Knight, Lady, Queen, King. I've not made scans of this deck for the Tarot Garden database yet, although since it is a collaborative effort, it is hard to select a "representative sample" of cards, because of the diverse imagery and styles included. Nonetheless, if anyone would care to see some scans from the FST, just let me know, and I'd be happy to post a few card images for review. Hope this helps. -- Jeannette http://www.tarotgarden.com

Jenny-Li	12 Jun 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Jeannette and/or Lori As artists dropped out of the project, and new artists were added, there arose some confusion as to who was assigned to create which card. The resulting solution was to add some extra cards to the deck. Thus, the FST deck is a "real" tarot -- if one were to use it for readings, the additional cards could be taken out if the reader's preference was to avoid the use of "non-standard" cards. The extra cards include two additional majors -- "Separation" and "The Farrier" -- and an additional court card in each suit, referred to as the "Lady." Thus, the sequence of the court cards in this deck is: Page, Knight, Lady, Queen, King. Jeannette: Thanks for all the information - that was really interesting! As you say, with so may different styles it would be hard choosing a few representative cards...! I like all of the ones I've seen, but all for different reasons...! :) (Just for clarification: I meant nothing negative when calling it not "real" tarot - I realized that must have had a very bad ring to it, that was not my intention! Hey, I'm the one wanting the deck...! ;)) Jenny :)

Jeannette	12 Jun 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Jenny-Li (Just for clarification: I meant nothing negative when calling it not "real" tarot - I realized that must have had a very bad ring to it, that was not my intention!...) Jenny: Not to worry -- I understood that nothing negative was meant (and if it was, so what? -- everyone's entitled to their opinion when it comes to tarot decks). My reply was intended to convey that the FST deck does include the full 78-card complement of "standard" tarot cards. I've noticed that we as tarotists often tend to refer to a deck as not being a "real" tarot when it doesn't generally include the "expected" 22 or 78 cards. So I just wanted to make sure that it was clear that all of the "basic" 78 cards are there, in addition to the extras. -- Jeannette http://www.tarotgarden.com

Jenny-Li	29 Nov 2002
...Well, soon I will...! I've finally got hold of it - or at least ordered (and payed for) it - and am eagerly waiting by the mailbox for it! Jenny :)

Cerulean	09 Feb 2004
and after about two weeks, it came with a free Chinese silk bag, with two compartments. I was so surprised to get a beautfiful red and black two-pocket bag for free and an out of print deck with instructions for $20.00. There are three left on the site...Thanks for letting us know, Jenny-Li. Anyway, I became like Eeyore of Winnie the Pooh, because my bequest tarot arrived as well, the Dreampower...both tarots and the small book for the Dreampower fit nicely and I was playing it, like the donkey with his red balloon... placing things in and out of the bag! I even took it with me to the gym and picture me on the exercycle, going 105 (nowhere fast for me), pulling things in and out....the bag is eyecatching, because someone plopped himself next to me even when all the other bicycles were free. He was eyeing that red bag and my Dreampower book. Tarot possessiveness being what it is, I slid the bag to the other side, pulled out the Fantasy Showcase booklet and began reading it. It's a good booklet and the deck is wonderfully fun. Unlikely companions that they are, I think they both will make for fun and evocative study for design and dreamlike readings... Can you tell I'm tickled with the bargain and my new decks? Thanks again! Mari H.

Gerbear	11 Feb 2004
I had planned to get one from Mystic Eye, as they had been out of them for a while, but a recent auction on ebay delivered one to me for less than $20. I enjoy the various styles of art. I have yet to try and read with it though.

lunakasha	11 Feb 2004
I got it!!! I just ordered mine from Mystic Eye for $20....can't wait to get it! I will let you know more when it arrives! :) Luna

Astra	12 Feb 2004
I have the original 1980 deck from the first sales at the WorldCon. Not used a lot - I tend to bring it out and gloat over it every once in a while, or pull one card when I'm looking for a very different viewpoint. It was originally printed by Morgan Press, who also did the original Aquarian Tarot printing. Sadly, they're out of business, and have been since the early 1990s. They specialized in fine art photo printing, and I don't know of any other decks that they published.

Cerulean	12 Feb 2004
and more. Hope you also get a free silk bag. That was a freebie that I didn't expect. The deck to me is a refreshing surprise, especially if I use it as alternative deck to draw every other card for a spread. The funny images with some beautiful ones actually work for me...but then, I'm in a place that could use laughter and silliness right now. Best wishes, Mari H.

lunakasha	13 Feb 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Mari_Hoshizaki Hope you also get a free silk bag. That was a freebie that I didn't expect. The deck to me is a refreshing surprise, especially if I use it as alternative deck to draw every other card for a spread. The funny images with some beautiful ones actually work for me...but then, I'm in a place that could use laughter and silliness right now. Me too!!! I can't wait to get it...I will post here with my initial reaction/thoughts. :) Luna

Shade	13 Feb 2004
I had to have this deck when I irst saw it because I'm always up for a deck with a sense of humor. I didn't really feel that the added cards fit in especially the majors but it's a great deck to have.

The Who has the fantasy showcase tarot? thread was originally posted on 12 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.