1972 Hoi Polloi RWS deck

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 26 Jan 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Imagemaker	26 Jan 2004
I was cleaning out a closet and found a box with this RWS deck in it, published by Hoi Polloi, copyright 1972. The LWB is a large (5.5 x 8.5 in), thin booklet made of crispy parchment-like tan paper. The cards have intense colors in the foreground figures, most backgrounds are white, where my usual RWS decks have scenes. The corners of the cards are rounded. (I'd scan some to show, but my scanner isn't working.) I remember acquiring this back in my college days and setting tarot aside as too confusing for me. Wow, how times have changed--I'm a completely different person, totally involved in reading. Anyway, is this deck one of a million or is it anything to be pleased to find? I've added it to my bookshelf and gone back into the closet to look for more treasures!

Imagemaker	26 Jan 2004
Found this reference online and a link to pictures www.wicce.com/hoipolloipix.html Answered a couple of my questions, at least.

felicityk	26 Jan 2004
I think it's a good find! I wouldn't mind having one, though I haven't made a concerted effort to obtain it. I did bid on one on eBay several months ago, but it went out of my price range. Sorry I don't remember what it went for. Someone here can probably give you more information. Felicity

Cerulean	26 Jan 2004
Sorry, I really missed what you really meant--congradulations on your rediscovered treasure! My apologies. I was just notified of a second chance to buy the Hoi Poi deck, very good condition, for $15.00. I was very fortunate! And it is coincidental that I found that it could be mine the same day you rediscovered your 'first contact with the tarot'. Best wishes, Mari H.

Imagemaker	26 Jan 2004
I don't want to sell these, I like the momento to my first contact with tarot. I don't think I ever even shuffled them! Strange to find something like this come out of my distant past and arrive at my present tarot mania! Time folds on itself . . .

Le_Corsair	26 Jan 2004
Imagemaker, the Hoi Polloi is a good deck, if you loved the folk artwork of the late 60's/early 70's it is a great reminder of that time period. I have a copy, and I love it more than any other RWS clone deck that I own. The Hoi Polloi comes up regularly on Ebay, the going price seems to be around 20-25 dollars. It'll do better than that occasionally when someone really wants it. Bob :THERM

Sulis	27 Jan 2004
Wow, I'd be so chuffed if I found a forgotten deck like that. I really like this deck, it's one old deck I would really like. I've never particularyly looked for it though. Love and light Sulis xx

Astra	27 Jan 2004
Ah - one of my old favorites. I still have that deck - somewhere - but it got to the point where one more reading would be its last, and I stored it. I actually have scans of all the cards sitting around, if anyone is interested. The deck was a little yellowed by then, but it came out fairly well. Loved the colors and the artwork a whole lot more than the RWS. I was actually thinking of working with the images as a base to create a derivative deck, some few years ago, and the pentacles cards that are up in the Aeclectic Deck II are a couple of the more reasonable efforts.

Aerten	29 Jan 2004
Ahhh, I have (most of) that deck. My friend's uncle gave it to me. It's missing a few cards, though, but I'd love to be able to read with it.

Cerulean	22 Mar 2004
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3281149743&category=35837&sspagename=STRK%3AMEBWN%3AIT&rd=1#ebayphotohosting This one came to me for 9.00 with booklet and original packaging. I was looking for it with booklet and box, so traded away the set that lacked the booklet. It wasn't listed as the Hoi Polloi, so if you familiarize yourself with a set that you like through online scans, it will trigger your memory when you come across it... I'm happy. Mari H.

Rusty Neon	22 Mar 2004
I'm not enamoured with this deck. However, I couldn't NOT buy it when I saw it -- deck, longish box, and pamphlet, all in wonderful condition -- at a used bookstore for a great price. Oh no, that must make me a collector .... :) It's like owning a piece of Americana.

sunflowr	23 Mar 2004
I love that deck! :) My 1st tarot deck, always missed it, and I recently re-aquired it. :)

Kissa	31 Mar 2004
anybody followed the auction that ended yesterday for a hoi polloi? for how much was it sold? i watched some scans of it, liked it a lot but was quite surprised to see that the artist represented the queen of wands without the traditional black cat... omg!!!! she has the sunflower but no cat! unless it is very well hidden ?! was the artist a cat hater?? Kissa

Le_Corsair	31 Mar 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Kissa anybody followed the auction that ended yesterday for a hoi polloi? for how much was it sold? Kissa Yesterday's auction ended at $41.00, someone must have really wanted the deck, it usually sells for around 20 dollars, and a couple of times recently, went unsold for a lot less. Bob :THERM

baba-prague	31 Mar 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Kissa i watched some scans of it, liked it a lot but was quite surprised to see that the artist represented the queen of wands without the traditional black cat... omg!!!! she has the sunflower but no cat! unless it is very well hidden ?! was the artist a cat hater?? Kissa Maybe this artist simply couldn't draw cats? LOL

sunflowr	31 Mar 2004
Quote: Originally posted by baba-prague Maybe this artist simply couldn't draw cats? LOL wow, I never noticed this! Being a big lover of cats, I vote we boycott this deck!!! ;) haha!

Cerulean	31 Mar 2004
I got a Hoi Polloi for $15.00, no booklet or box, then gave it away in a trade and then saw it on Ebay and it was $9.00 with booklet and box. The last was a good deal. Mari H.

The 1972 Hoi Polloi RWS deck thread was originally posted on 26 Jan 2004 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.