Hoi Polloi: precise ref?

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

Kissa	20 May 2004
Hi, i know very little of this deck. It was published in the early 70's under the name "The Tarot" and then it gained its nickname "Hoi Polloi"... Is this exact? Who was the publisher? Any ISBN? Anything that could help me in my search? Thanks VERY MUCH in advance for any info!!! Blessings, Kissa I just read that it is referenced in Kaplan's Encyclopedia: "See Kaplan vol. I, page 259" which of course i don't have ;) Could someone extremely nice quote me the most important info from Kaplan?? I would be very grateful, really :)

Island Dreamer	20 May 2004
Hi Kissa, I have a Hoi Polloi deck which I purchased from a UK book club in the early 1970s. It says copyright 1973 Reiss Games Inc on the booklet which is eight and a half inches by five and a half. Sorry, I don't have an ISBN number for it. It's an RWS clone but many of the cards have plain white backgrounds instead of landscapes which is rather odd. Island Dreamer

Le_Corsair	20 May 2004
I have two copies of the deck, a reading deck and a spare. The words Hoi Polloi are on the copyright line that is in tiny print on each card, and is also shown larger on one of the extra cards that come with the deck, one being a blank and the other showing simply the title of the deck, The Tarot made in usa by HOI POLLOI INC. New York City, New York 10011. The box that the deck came in identifies the publisher as Reiss Games, Inc. of NY, NY, 10001. Graphics by Jason Peterson. There is no ISBN data on my deck, I think it was published before ISBN numbering began? Anyway, it's OOP, you aren't going to find it available anywhere except used in various states of condition. Bob :THERM

Kissa	20 May 2004
Thanks to both of you! I am well aware that the deck is very hard to find. I have been outbid 3 (yes THREE) times in the last weeks on ebay. Two times for $0.50 and the last one for $1... I am in Europe, the sellers and most of the buyers are in the US so the sellers who are really interested can fight till the end. I just put a maximum bid and go to bed only to find the next morning that i was outbid :( So i will try to get a used copy from a bookstore... I am sure the info you provided will help me in my search. I didn't even know who drew the cards... I will keep posted here if i am lucky enough to get my hands on a deck! Kissa

Sulis	20 May 2004
Hi Kissa, Have you tried Abebooks.com or .co.uk. They often have that deck. You can register your interest and they'll let you know when they get a copy. Love Sulis xx

The Hoi Polloi: precise ref? 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.