My Latest Acquisitions!

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 26 Jan 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Phoenix	26 Jan 2003
Well, three decks have recently made their way to me...hehehe. First one is the Visconti Gold Tarot. I already made a post about this one and no one responded!! *sob* I really like the deck. I wish it was a bit bigger, and the card titles in one language, but overall it is a really nice deck. The next two I received in a trade from Jewel(Thanks Jewel!!!). The first one is the Art Nouveau Tarot by Matt Myers, and the other is the Tarot of the Ages. I really like these decks as well, but again they are kinda smallish. I really like the Ages one, because of it's multi-cultural aspect. Does anyone else have these decks? What do you think of them.

Macavity	26 Jan 2003
Hmmm, Slightly mixed feelings about MY Visconti Gold - Mostly because I (recently) got the Mark ONE version - Grrrr. Sadly I do rather notice some of the minors being inverted and the (albeit slight) style clash with the Devil and Tower (could be due to being forwarned?) Also I could file my nails on the card edges! But Hey, I know I'm far too picky! ;) Fwiw, I'lll probably remove the two "imposters", ditch the minors and call it a 36 card Majors + courts deck Heheh. Or maybe just frame 'em. Hmmm 36 has quite a few common factors: 6x6 4x9 3x12 etc. All is not lost! :D

zorya	26 Jan 2003
i have the visconti gold (2000 version). the devil and tower are my favorite cards in the deck, lol. in fact i've never seen a tower card i liked better! the upside down pips don't really bother me. perhaps they would if i read with reversals all the time. i think the pip cards are gorgeous. i would prefer the cards larger, but the tall, narrowness of them strikes me as being very elegant. ... and the deck really reads well for me. i find it to be perfect for those readings where objectivity might be a problem. the brown back of the cards are pretty in this version as well.

Lee	27 Jan 2003
I agree with Zorya about the Visconti Gold Mark One version. I have both versions and I prefer Mark One. It's true that it's smaller, that the edges aren't as smooth, that some of the pip cards are reversed. BUT... I vastly prefer the Mark One Devil and Tower cards to the Mark Two. Mark One's are interesting and different, and I find them much more stylistically in tune with the rest of the deck than Mark Two's. Also, I think they overdid it with the gold on the Mark Two. There's about twice as much gold on the cards, and it's distracting. They're gilding the lily, so to speak. Finally, the backs of Mark Two are a hideous shade of lime green. And I wasn't fond of the book which comes with the Mark Two, either. So I put the Mark Two deck and book back in their box and I continue to use Mark One. I like the Art Nouveau and the Tarot of the Ages to look at, although I can't say I read much with them. But I find them fun to take out and look at. Enjoy, Phoenix! :) -- Lee

Jewel	28 Jan 2003
I am glad to hear you are enjoying the two new decks :). Tarot of the Ages is very nice, I was actually surprised that I was willing to part with it *LOL*. Like Lee, I did not use those decks but did very much enjoy looking through them. Just a while back I got the Visconti Gold in trade (Mark One) I believe. I have not really looked to closely at it as I got it more for having a historical deck more than anything. Figured I could pull it out sometime while brousing one of the tarot ecyclopedias.

Phoenix	28 Jan 2003
I would actually like to purchase the other copies of the Visconti Tarots, once I can afford it! LOL!

felicityk	28 Jan 2003
Matt Myers' Art Nouveau Tarot actually has my favorite minors of any deck! I love that each suit tells a story, with all the cards featuring the same characters. I also like the stained-glass style. Felicity

Aerin	29 Jan 2003
The Art Nouveau is pretty isn't it? I think my neice would love it if she saw it (she's 6 and very much into Barbie). Aerin

Macavity	29 Jan 2003
I think whatever one's (my!) views (and I admit to a little mild "trolling" to discover exactly how one controls which version of the LS Gold one buys! :)) I would add that there would seem to be FEW other ways in which one could make such beautiful works of art available at such small cost - And 78 to choose from! My criticisms are of the few percent level - I'm still a blind lover at heart. Thanks Lee for the helpful information. They do indeed say (most of) those things of the Mark II version dont they... ;) Macavity

Cerulean	05 Feb 2003
Are you naming it after Mark Filpas first review of the Visconti Gold? I did a review of the Mark II, just my preference for more gold, the Devil/Tower designs, and the translated book...not for the slime green backs. I've looked again and again at the Matt Myer's Art Nouveau and the Lo Scarabeo art nouveau style tarots...pretty colors, interesting for colorful stories. It reminds me of the lovely Stained Glass Tarot, as well, by Scapini. Very soft, rich...I can see why these are considered lovely. But my guess is that I've pegged a preference for the art deco styles as similar to Thoth and Tarot Alan (22 trumps by Modiano with French suited pips)...others might consider them too dark or cartoonish...

felicityk	05 Feb 2003
From the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, the definition of "mark" includes: Quote: capitalized - used with a numeral to designate a particular model of a weapon or machine So Mark II is just another way of saying Version II. Felicity

The My Latest Acquisitions! thread was originally posted on 26 Jan 2003 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.