Mantegna Tarot...who has it???

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 01 Mar 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

lunakasha	01 Mar 2004
I just recently discovered the Mantegna Tarot while visiting the local Borders...but did not purchase it (kicking myself...ouch). After looking at it again online, and reading the reviews, I am more curious about it...my understanding is that the cards are embossed with silver, as opposed to most "metallic" decks which are gold....I also noticed that it is a 50-card deck and does not follow the traditional tarot structure of 22 Majors and 56 Minors. If anyone has this deck, or knows of it, your input would be greatly appreciated! Thanks, :D Luna

Scorpion	01 Mar 2004
Hi, Lunakasha! I recently acquired this deck and it is truly gorgeous. Yes, that is silver foil on the cards and each is delicately tinted. However, as you say, it is not what I've come to think of as a true tarot deck and the way it is intended to be used is rather different. As I understand it, you lay a certain amount of cards out and play a game which reduces them drastically in number and then the reading consists of contemplating the cards you have left. It looks quite interesting but I haven't tried it yet. The cards are divided into different social structures and that is where the background tinting comes in: haven't got the deck to hand at the moment, but say Class A has a pink tinted background and relates to the upper classes. Off the top of my head, I believe the virtues etc are in there, so it reminded me rather of a Minchiate deck too. To make up for the lack of cards, LoS have printed smaller reproductions 2 to a card with a keyword in several different languages for each in addition to the core full-sized cards. If you'd like to know any more or see something in particular, let me have your e-mail address and I'll scan things in for you or try to explain a bit better!

wavebreaker	01 Mar 2004
I have both the Lo Scarabeo Mantegna (the silver one) and the Meneghello Mantegna (a reproduction of the original Mantegna). I don't use them, I only bought them because I thought they were very beautiful.

lunakasha	01 Mar 2004
Thanks Scorpion! I would love some scans of this deck...I will PM you with my email address! :) Luna

Scorpion	01 Mar 2004
OK, Luna - i'm just shutting down for the night but let me know what you want to see and I'll get it organised tomorrow.

zorya	01 Mar 2004
this deck is carried by tarotgarden; http://www.tarotgarden.com/database/dbsearchengine.php?view_title=mantegna more scans can be seen here at aeclectic; http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/mantegna this is a copy of a review i wrote for the mantegna, hope it helps :) This deck, reproducing 15th century engravings, has helped me to get in touch with my creative self, in a way no other deck has before. Not only that, but it is one of the most gorgeous decks available. You have to see the actual deck to get an idea of it’s luxurious beauty, as it does not scan well. The black color in the background, is actually bright, shiny, heat-printed silver. The silver is embellished with a softly colored filigree pattern. The silver and soft colors, give the cards a light, gentle yet rich feel. This is not technically a tarot deck, although a few of the cards will be familiar to the tarot reader. Instead, five groups, of 10 cards each, describe The Human Conditions, Apollo and the Muses, The Arts and Sciences, The Geniuses and Virtues, and The Planets and Celestial Spheres. The deck works very well with standard tarot spreads, but I was most impressed with the game/spread found in the accompanying pamphlet. In a kind of solitaire game, the cards are laid out in checkerboard type pattern. Cards are removed by their group, in order. When you can no longer remove cards, those that remain are read and/or meditated on, based on their locations on the checkerboard. The reading tells you how you can improve, avoid problems and look for new opportunities in many aspects of your life, such as health and spiritual life, your family, work and more. The accompanying fold-out pamphlet gives short meanings for each card. Also included with the deck are 25 additional learning cards, each depicting and giving brief meanings of two cards. Where I have found the Mantegna to be uncannily accurate, are those readings in which I asked for help with my creative projects. They have helped me through artist’s and writer’s blocks as well as inspired me, by giving me a direction to work from. I highly recommend this truly gorgeous deck!

Kaz	01 Mar 2004
my wishlist is not very long, but this one is on it...

lunakasha	01 Mar 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Scorpion OK, Luna - i'm just shutting down for the night but let me know what you want to see and I'll get it organised tomorrow. Thanks Scorpion!!! Hmmm, lets see.....I guess I am not sure what I would like to see, exactly....since the cards are grouped into 5 "subcategories", how about two cards from each section, your choice? If there is a "Moon" card, I would love to see that one ;) I am sure if you show me some of your favorites, that would be wonderful! Thanks again...I am putting this one at the top of my wish list! :D Luna

lunakasha	01 Mar 2004
Thanks Zorya for the review....ooh, I am getting even more excited about this deck!!!! I especially love the idea of using the cards to break through creative blocks...and the spread you described sounds very interesting and unusual! Can you tell me a little more about the "additional" 25 cards??? What are they like? Are they as stunning as the other cards and are they silver-embossed also? I am slightly confused...I thought there were only 50 cards in the deck (from what I've read)...are you saying that there are actually 75??? Sorry if that sounds like a stupid question, I am just wondering how the 50+25 cards all fit together.... Thanks Scorpion and Zorya for helping me figure it all out! :) Luna

Rusty Neon	02 Mar 2004
Hi ... Here are links to two detailed articles about the Mantegna cards: http://www.levity.com/alchemy/mantegna.html http://www.levity.com/alchemy/prink-ma.html

zorya	02 Mar 2004
Quote: Originally posted by lunakasha Can you tell me a little more about the "additional" 25 cards??? What are they like? Are they as stunning as the other cards and are they silver-embossed also? I am slightly confused...I thought there were only 50 cards in the deck (from what I've read)...are you saying that there are actually 75??? Sorry if that sounds like a stupid question, I am just wondering how the 50+25 cards all fit together.... no the additional 25 cards are not silver embossed. they are not part of the working deck but extra 'teaching cards'. each of them contains (small) colored pictures of two of the cards and key phrases in six languages. the top half has one pic and its key phrase(s), and if you reverse the card, you see another pic and it's key phrase(s). for example, the card venus says "evaluate the pleasures of life". this is different than what it says in the little white pamphlet for venus. the pamphlet says "sensuality. use sex without being a slave to it." reverse the same card and you get 'sol' and its key phrase. honestly, i am not sure why there are extra cards. perhaps it was to bulk up the deck? maybe riccardo(ls) can shed some light on this for us? :)

lunakasha	02 Mar 2004
Thanks, zorya! That's too bad that the extra cards are actually duplicates of the original deck...oh well! I am still very anxious to get my hands on these cards :D Rusty Neon: Thanks for the links....I am going to read them now! :) Luna

Huck	02 Mar 2004
A Cologne Mantegna Tarocchi edition from late 16th century (complete): http://trionfi.com/01/j/mant

ros	02 Mar 2004
Thanks for the thread. I wanted something different & I like silver so I'm anxious to get these cards also. I should have them by the middle of March!

lunakasha	02 Mar 2004
Quote: Originally posted by ros Thanks for the thread. I wanted something different & I like silver so I'm anxious to get these cards also. I should have them by the middle of March! I love silver too, ros.....LOVE IT!!!! I love all of the golden decks too, but I am so happy to have discovered this one! I too hope to have mine very soon..... Thanks Huck for the link...that is really gorgeous!!!! :D Luna

The Mantegna Tarot...who has it??? thread was originally posted on 01 Mar 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.