Can you help identify this deck?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 08 Sep 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Nimbus	08 Sep 2004
If anyone can help me, I would really appreciate it! I have a deck I bought at a second-hand shop that is in mint condition. Only it has no box, LWB, or companion text. The reverse of the cards have a diagonally divided rectangle with a red field on the lower half and a black-and-white checker board on the upper half. In the centre is a large red rose on a gold background. There is blue trim around this as well as the same blue trim which forms the border of teh whole graphic. Here is a description of two cards: Magician: Full frontal nude of male who looks like Hermes with a winged hat. He holds a wand upward in his right hand with a sort of caduceus in the "as above, so below" pose. He stands on a hill in front of a large body of water. He is beside a rock that has a fire on top of it. Ace of Vessels: Green fish half out of the water balancing upon his back a large flask holding red liquid and a red heart from which springs a grape vine with big, fat grapes growing from it. The water recedes in the distance and there are banks with trees suggesting that the water flows into a larger body beyond the horizon. There are what appear to be the initials of RP of PR in the lower corner of each drawing. The suits are named: Vessels, Staffs, Coins, and Swords. The Courts are named: Lady, Knight, Queen and King (nice balance of the masculine and the feminine!). Would anyone have any experience with this deck? I find it appealing but can't quite explain why. Thanks in advance. I have really enjoyed this forum. Nimbus

Strange2	08 Sep 2004
Sounds like the Alchemical Tarot, by Robert M. Place. One of my favorite decks and Tarot artists. Here's a link to images posted on Aeclectic: http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/alchemical/ And here's a link to Robert M. Place's site: http://www.thealchemicalegg.com/

Little Baron	08 Sep 2004
Was looking at this one recently; it is used in the Greer 'Court' book. If it is the one that you have then what a great find. A nice deck. Best wishes Yaboot

WolfSpirit	08 Sep 2004
The Alchemical is a hard to find deck, so you are lucky to just find it like that :) I think it is sometimes sold for high prices on ebay. Enjoy your deck !

Nimbus	08 Sep 2004
Strange2, thats the one!! Thanks for pointing me in the right direction! Thanks also for the other comments...had no idea it can be a tough find. Sounds like I will have to check out the Greer Court book. Now I think I will use this deck as a bit of a comparative study in conjunction with my Universal tarot... so many cards, so little time! Thanks again for all of your help! Nimbus

The Can you help identify this deck? thread was originally posted on 08 Sep 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.