How long do Tarot cards last for?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 27 Sep 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

IDN	27 Sep 2004
Hi, Just wondering- How old is you oldest deck? How long do decks last for with daily use? Regards, Ian

Jewel	27 Sep 2004
The oldest deck I have is probably about 15 years old. As for how long a deck will last you, it will depend on how good of care you take of it and how you shuffle it. Some of my decks show a little wear, but by no means are they on their last leg so to speak.

MeeWah	27 Sep 2004
My oldest deck is my first deck, Rider-Waite, published by Samuel Weiser & at least 34 years old. Although well-used & reserved only for personal readings now, I can see it lasting for many more years. I think cards with thicker cardstock such as this one & with care will last far longer than some of the thinner cardstock--the latter seem to show wear immediately.

TemperanceAngel	27 Sep 2004
My oldest deck is RWS at 15 years old, it was my first deck and came everywhere with me whereever I travelled in the world, wrapped in silk and in my backpack! I put it into retirement about 4-5 years ago, but no other decks have ever been able to take its place. So recently it came back out of retirement. I use it for reading professionally every week, it's wonderful. Very worn in as you could imagine, and little corners are starting to fall off. But I think it adds to the character of it all...

HudsonGray	27 Sep 2004
Probably about 15 years on my Robin Wood (excellent condition yet, but the box has all sorts of wear), I got that the first year it was available. The Cat People Tarot is older, but it wasn't used past the first year I had it. Most of the decks I've got only show a little wear on the edges where they frayed a tad. The professionally done ones hold up pretty good.

Little Baron	27 Sep 2004
My Rohrig is my oldest; probaby about nine years old, I think. Since I cut it down, any wear to the previous edges have now disappeared. As I have said before, I do like the look of an old and worn deck though. Yaboot

Umbrae	27 Sep 2004
Had one deck (RWS-US Games Systems) for 29+ years. It was well used. But still had life left in it.

Astraea	27 Sep 2004
My first deck, a RWS purchased in 1988, is still in excellent condition. If you take good care of your decks (especially while shuffling or mixing), even ones with thinner card stock will probably last for many years. To be on the safe side, if you find a deck that you really like, you might want to purchase a second one and alternate the two.

Orion	27 Sep 2004
My oldest deck happens to also be the very first one I ever purchased, The Rider Waite, and that is going on 11 years now. It is in excellent condition. I am very careful with my decks, from how I store them to how I shuffle.

VGimlet	28 Sep 2004
My oldest deck is nearly 32 years old, and while I don't use it anymore, it is still quite usable. The deck is a bit soft to shuffle with, like an old pair of slippers, but the cards are actually in pretty good shape. edited for spelling, as usual...

floracove	28 Sep 2004
Wow! That is so cool! My decks have been acquired thru trades, and I love them. So even though, they are new to me, they are not brand new. (not complaining, mind you...) I do have a question... You know how sometimes the cards get, tacky, kinda not so slick? They want to stick to each other, or something. When daddy used his playing cards and they got that way, he would give them a bit of dusting with talcum powder and they would shuffle, better. Can this be done with tarot cards that seem tacky?

SongDeva	28 Sep 2004
Yes, you can dust them. There is a whole thread on this. Umbrae will probably pull it up for you.

Majecot	28 Sep 2004
Hmmm I have several that are pretty old, I have one that is from the '70's I believe. My Legend and Enchanted are both 9 years old, my friend has a Thoth that is undateable.. we know that it is at least 32 years old, it was passed down to her mother, and it is unknown how old it was at that time. She still uses it. With care they obviously can last well over 30 years.

baba-prague	28 Sep 2004
I have some WWII Czech taroky cards in perfect condition. I also have a Hungarian tarot deck (produced for playing the game, not for divination) which is grimy and dusty but still wonderful and quite sturdy and "crisp" - and over a hundred years old. Of course, the technology was different then. I'm really not sure if modern decks will last a longer or shorter time. In the end, I'm sure a lot of it comes down to how they are treated.

ihcoyc	28 Sep 2004
My oldest deck is a Swiss 1JJ deck from approx. 1974. It is well used, and some of the cards are slightly dog-eared, but it is generally still usable. My RWS is slightly newer, and well preserved. I still have the original Swiss box; the RWS sits in a box I made, after which I got rid of the original box.

dadsnook2000	28 Sep 2004
Like Meewah and Umbrae, my Waite-Smith deck is over 30 years old and still in fine shape. It shuffles well, I have no bent cards, and it get used several times each month. It really has stood up well. All of my other decks are less than three years old. Dave. Oh yes, I store them in a wooden box, no bag.

Umbrae	28 Sep 2004
Quote: Originally posted by SongDeva Yes, you can dust them. There is a whole thread on this. Umbrae will probably pull it up for you. Forget the old link...go to Tannen's Magic and search for Fanning Powder (FANNING POWDER - A large supply in a dispenser can. This powder makes the oldest deck fan like silk. Puts new life in your old deck and makes a new deck handle much better Just sprinkle some on each card and rub it in. Item # R-155...Price $ 3.75). Mondo cool stuff...ya gotta have it if you love your decks. Now some folks have other opinions. My view is this. This stuff is designed for use for and by card professionals. Why settle for a substitute?

blackroseivy	28 Sep 2004
Certainly, you find those hundreds-of-years-old decks in museums - & there are a few more than a century, or even 2, old in private collections. So, who knows what'll happen to that old deck of *yours* someday when you're long gone!

The How long do Tarot cards last for? thread was originally posted on 27 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.