Papus Tarot...

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 02 May 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Wildwood	02 May 2003
Hello everyone... I've done a quick search to see whether there has been any discussion on this deck, but have come up blank (could be me!)... I got this deck in a sale (£5!) recently, but not really looked at it hard yet. I tried to do a bit of reading up on it, and read something that related it to "Tarot of the Bohemians" by Papus which appeared in book form a long time ago... The "system" behind it I find a little confusing at present...but I'll be working on it over the next little while.. In the meantime, does anyone use this deck? Do you like it? Strengths/weaknesses? I'm interested in your views, and/or any tips you might be able to give me....it seems a deck with a pretty low profile....or am I wrong? Many thanks, Wildwood

jmd	03 May 2003
This is a deck I do not have as a published deck, even though numerous editions have appeared in various languages since 1909. As the Waite/Colman-Smith and Crowley/Harris decks have especially been 'important' in English-speaking esoteric circles, so have Papus's and Wirth's in especially French ones. Often, even if the decks which arise bear little resemblence, they somehow echo in the background. I personally do not use this deck, but Papus's, Wirth's and Mouni Sadhu's books, each of which works out of a tradition somewhat different to the more well know Golden Dawn influenced ones, are worth the effort. At the least, they open new avenues (not just doors) to seeing Tarot in new clothes. Again, I sense the tyranny of distance when I hear that this deck can be picked up for five quid!

The Papus Tarot... thread was originally posted on 02 May 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.