Okay... what is this deck?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 28 Aug 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Trogon	28 Aug 2004
... And... should I buy it? The cards are relatively thin (such as you get with some of the small-press cards (like the Light and Shadow Tarot, for example). The backs show a rendering of the Tarot de Marseilles 7 of Wands (I think... might be Swords?). The Majors are fairly colorful and seem to be a blending of the Marseilles styles and RWS styles. And... here's the real odd part... the minors blend the Marseilles style "pips" with RWS style illustrated minors. The Wands and Coins are all at least partially illustrated in the RWS style. The Swords and Cups are simple pip type cards. I've seen this deck at a local used-book store. The box is plain white, except for one side which pictures that Marseilles style 7 of Wands. There is no book with it. Does anyone know what this deck is? Just kind of wondering...

Chronata	28 Aug 2004
hmmmm... This sounds a lot like the Barnes & Noble Tarot, by Shirley Barker and Jonathan Dee... Although mine came with a book. It's a rather strange hybrid of a deck. There is definately a mix of elements from both the RWS and Marseilles type decks. The most annoying part is that the pips are mostly unillustrated. With the exception of the suit of wands which has some illustration...as if they started with wands and then just gave up. I was interested in using it, because I liked the mix of elements, but it has proven to be a frustarting deck to use. If I could find a link, I'd put it up here!

fyreflye	28 Aug 2004
Here's the Barnes & Noble Deck http://www.wicce.com/barnes&noble.jpg

Lee	28 Aug 2004
http://www.tarotpassages.com/bursten5.htm http://www.tarotpassages.com/rush1.htm -- Lee

The 78th Fool	28 Aug 2004
I bought this last year as a deck and book set in a discount bookshop in England. Yes it's odd, no it certainly isn't my favourite deck but yes you can pick one of these up new on Ebay at any time for a couple of dollars. I'm glad I've got it because it's more than worth a few dollars of anyone's money!! Chris. xx

diane drizzy	28 Aug 2004
Well, I have this deck too. One of those impulse buys-but I must admit I do have a fondness for them. I guess it's the simplicity of these cards that I like. Plus the nonillustrated minors force me to learn as a study process.

Kiama	28 Aug 2004
Aaah! Where I come from you can buy that deck at Sainsbury's and Tesco's (local food supermarkets) for about £4. We fondly call it the Tesco's Tarot. It's been around for years, though it's packaging constantly changes. First time I saw it was when I was 14... but it may have been out before then. (That was 6 years ago.)# Kiama

fyreflye	28 Aug 2004
It's my theory that this is the real Occult Tarot, sent down from Atziluth by the Ascended Masters who've disguised it in humble wrappings and distributed it through unlikely outlets to be discovered only by those Initiates who are sufficiently advanced to Truly Understand. A study group should be formed immediately for this deck and its clones The Target Tarot, The Wal-Mart Oracle and whatever they call that deck you assemble from cut-outs on the backs of cereal boxes.

magpie9	29 Aug 2004
ROLF Good one, fyreflye !!

WolfSpirit	29 Aug 2004
Next time I am in the UK I will look for the Tesco's Tarot. Hope it is not too far away from the Vegemite :D

Trogon	29 Aug 2004
Ah... thank you all. I checked the links provided and yes, that is the deck I saw at the used-book store; the Barnes & Noble/Wal-mart/Target/Tesco/Osco/Walgreens/etc... Tarot. From the sounds of it, it wouldn't surprise me to pull into the "new-age fuel stop" and get it free with a chakra fill-up. :rolleyes: To be honest, I've looked through the deck about 3 times now and haven't been much drawn to it at all. The artwork doesn't really "do anything" for me and the choppy attempt to blend the minors of the RWS and Marseilles decks just doesn't work at all. I reckon it's going to stay on that shelf for a while yet. Thanks again! :D

fyreflye	29 Aug 2004
Quote: To be honest, I've looked through the deck about 3 times now and haven't been much drawn to it at all. The artwork doesn't really "do anything" for me and the choppy attempt to blend the minors of the RWS and Marseilles decks just doesn't work at all. I reckon it's going to stay on that shelf for a while yet. Once it goes out of print you'll be searching for it desperately on eBay.

Trogon	29 Aug 2004
Quote: Originally posted by fyreflye Once it goes out of print you'll be searching for it desperately on eBay. ROFL!! Very likely... but this one, since it doesn't have the book or even the entire packaging, probably wouldn't be worth the effort of trying to sell it. :joke:

The Okay... what is this deck? thread was originally posted on 28 Aug 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.