"Della Rocca" (Il Meneghello)

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 20 May 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

punchinella	20 May 2004
I recently received this deck: http://www.spiritone.com/~filipas/Masquerade/Reviews/dellaroc.html from Alida (thank you Mark Filipas for the lovely review & scans :) ) I am a fan of 'sketchy', unfinished-looking artwork & to my mind this is one of the most lovely decks I've ever layed eyes on--particularly the pips (I'm not quite so crazy about the majors, they're a bit stiff compared to the originals on which they are based). My only real regret about this deck (& about Il Meneghello's 'Soprafino', as well) is that it's far too beautiful to ever so much as dream of using! It's not exactly designed for use (unlaminated, non-rounded corners & nothing at all printed on the backside). And, there's an odd blotch on the hand holding the Ace of Swords, which I'm curious about--is this unique to my deck, a printing error, or common to the whole edition? If you should already be fortunate enough to have this deck in your possession, I'm curious about your Ace of Swords--blotch or no blotch??? If you do not already own the deck, & you're open to the thought of purchasing an expensive Italian deck that you know in advance can never be used . . . I HIGHLY recommend it! Punchinella

Jewel-ry	20 May 2004
Hi there Punchinella, OOOOhhhh you've got the black and white one! I have to admit to feeling just a little envious. I have the Il Meneghello Soprafino that you speak of and I have an awful blotch on my Sun card, in fact its a definate brown stain. It bothers me sometimes, but then I tell myself that its a limited edition and wonder if the odd blotches could be a product of its production. I don't know. I am not worried because it adds to the beauty imo. I also have the dotti version, which is great for comparisons but I still prefer the Meneghello. If you are worried about using it, I can recommend the Classical (or is it classic) which is I think Lo Scarabeo and is based on the Della Rocca (I think!). There is a thread on these decks in which Mark Filipas talks about his alphabet masquerade. I don't know if you have read it but I include the link for you just in case. http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=24103&perpage=10&highlight=soprafino&pagenumber=1 I absolutely love these decks. They are so beautiful. A real treasure to anyones collection. :)

punchinella	20 May 2004
Thanks for the link Jewel-ry, I hadn't noticed that thread before :D Regarding the sun-card blotch in the Soprafino deck, I can picture it in my mind, which means my deck has it too! LS Classical is a useable alternative I know, but I really don't like the modern border they put around the image . . . 'Ancient Italian Tarots', also from LS, is a better reproduction imo as it's free of this border (although I think the court cards may have been changed--??) Alas, due to constraints of the pocketbook, I will have to wait some time before purchasing the user-friendly deck :) (p.s. --so do you actually use your soprafino???)

Cerulean	20 May 2004
The linen like paper absorbs color well. The tiny details in the faces will need small touch ups with microfine pens. I didn't find any odd blotches after painting the aces. I do not remember exactly why, but I did the Aces and World first--possibly because the blotches did irritate me. You might want to watch for details according to Mark Filpas alphabetic listing--the eye on Justice's necklace (I believe) to retain it's usability--even though its a reproduction, it seems to have many of the details he comments on in his website. Regards, Cerulean

crystal cove	20 May 2004
I love that deck, but then, I've never seen a black and white one that I didn't love! Hmmm. Maybe I'll consider it again.

Jewel-ry	21 May 2004
Hi there punchinella, Yes I do use them ... carefully but then I only read for myself and close family. I think they add something to the reading. I don't think I would use them for others. :)

Myrrha	21 May 2004
Wow! That is a very lovely deck. I like that much better than the two LS versions available or the colored Soprofino. Punchinella, what a treasure for your collection. --Myrrha

Chronata	21 May 2004
I used to have this deck...but I gave it away a number of years ago to someone just getting into the history of tarot. I remember, at the time, I too didn't find it to be very readable, because of the unlaminated cards, and the splotch...I believe mine was also on the Ace... Now I look back and go "What was I thinking...giving it away???!!!!" Sometimes, you just don't realize(or appreciate!) the treasure that you have!

punchinella	21 May 2004
Aah, okay--Chronata, you too had the splotch! You can't imagine how much better that makes me feel! Actually, the splotch wouldn't prevent me from reading with the deck, but I just can't figure out how to go about shuffling a deck with un-rounded corners . . . I would so love to do so, but how??? I only know one way to shuffle, by placing the two piles face-down on the table & using my thumbs to fan them into one another, generally corner-first, and, well, I just don't dare even try this, for fear of doing damage . . . Any shuffling methods better suited for such a deck (anybody)? (P.S. Cerulean, I can't believe you're painting this deck, you're too cool for words, I would never in a million years have the nerve . . . well, unless I had several spare copies, that is . . . :D )

Myrrha	21 May 2004
Quote: Originally posted by punchinella Any shuffling methods better suited for such a deck (anybody)? You could try dealing the deck into seven piles and then pick one pile and deal it onto the remaining six and so on until only two piles are left, which you put together. It is a meditative way to shuffle. If you don't want to go on and on you can just do the first step twice. --Myrrha

punchinella	21 May 2004
Oh Myrrha, that's nice, thank you! That does sound soothing & meditative, & it would enable me to use both this deck & my Soprafino for personal readings--You're the best! :*

The "Della Rocca" (Il Meneghello) thread was originally posted on 20 May 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.