Marseille Desk Reversed Or Not Look The Same

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 07 Jul 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Nadia	07 Jul 2004
GOT CARDS WHEN OPENED MOST MINOR ARCANA JUST HAS NO REVERSED SIDES LOOK THE SAME PENTAKLES OF 5,10,THE ACE OF PENTACLES SO ON!SOME ONE KNOW WHAT TO DO?

Dark Inquisitor	07 Jul 2004
Sometimes there will be a tiny stamp on one end of the cards that isn't noticeable at first that might be a guide . If the card backs are not one way, then I guess you will have to choose and mark them in some manner if you want to. I have been pondering this myself for certain cases. I thought maybe of getting a tiny, tiny stamp of a design to imprint on the cards to make it easier. But even just a pencil dot would do.

Jewel-ry	07 Jul 2004
Hi there Nadia, It may help if you tell us which deck you have. If its the Hadar, I can tell you which side is up. I made notes when I first opened my deck. If its a different deck someone else may be able to help you. :)

The 78th Fool	04 Aug 2004
I can sympathise here! However, if you want to read reversals with a deck such as the Marseilles (without illustrated minors), you are best going for either the Swiss 1JJ or the Fournier edition of the Tarot de Marseilles. These both have an extra roman numeral in the bottom right hand corner of each card. It's very easy to tell if the card is reversed therefore. As for myself, It's stopped being a problem since I stopped using reversals! I started to follow Juliet Sharman Burke's teaching method; she encourages you to see both the positive and negative aspects of any given card whenever it appears. As a result, I've found my readings have become much more three dimensional. Give it a go! Chris. xx

Rusty Neon	04 Aug 2004
Quote: Originally posted by The 78th Fool I can sympathise here! However, if you want to read reversals with a deck such as the Marseilles (without illustrated minors), you are best going for either the Swiss 1JJ or the Fournier edition of the Tarot de Marseilles. These both have an extra roman numeral in the bottom right hand corner of each card. It's very easy to tell if the card is reversed therefore. In that regard, the Jodorowsky-Camoin deck and the Grimaud deck are good: you can find out which side is up with the aid of the copyright markings on the front of each card. As well, in the case of the 1760 Conver (Héron) deck, the 1701 Dodal (Dusserre) and 1930 Marteau (Dusserre), you have the assistance of the museum ownership stamps on the front of each card (although sometimes the museum does err in determining uprightness of a card :)).

The Marseille Desk Reversed Or Not Look The Same thread was originally posted on 07 Jul 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.