suggestions for small deck?

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

sarahbellum	27 Sep 2004
I am looking for a smallish deck to carry around with me--you never know when you might need to do a reading, right?--and I am looking for suggestions and feedback. I have seen the teeny tiny keychain ones and don't want that. I mean something about halfway between a normal deck and those little stamp-size ones. I have seen a mini Rider and a mini Motherpeace but don't exactly resonate with either one. Anybody know about a deck that fits nicely into a pocket or purse and that they resonate with? I am a HUGE fan of Kazanlar, Tarot of Prague, and Medieval Scapini, but none of those comes in a mini version.

Lianne	27 Sep 2004
The Hanson-Roberts deck is a small, RWS style deck that is very popular. It's small enough to carry around anywhere, but large enough to see the images clearly and not have any problems shuffling. Some people think it's a bit "cute," but I think it's a very nice deck and has given some very straightforward, no holding back readings as well. Edited to add, I don't know if you're into goddess type tarots, but the Goddess Tarot also comes in a small yet workable version, and the cards are beautifully drawn.

Cerulean	27 Sep 2004
If you go to The Tarot Garden and type 'mini' in the search field, three pages come up. I am thinking of ordering the Mini Secrets and Visconti Tarots from Lo Scarabeo. These decks will be available soon---you can preorder. Of all their minis, I so far like the Mini Ancient Egyptian (Alasia) and the Universal (Di Angelis). The Universal by Di Angelis is featured in some of the Tarot Topics series and I just like sometimes using Tarot Tells the Tale and Tarot and Dreams books with the exercises.... I ordered the Mini Egyptian from Tarotgarden.com and when a flaw in the first shipment of the Seven of Staves was discovered, they sent me the new card very quickly. I use the Mini Egyptian with the book that came in the book-deck set titled "Ancient Egyptian Tarot". Hope that helps. Cerulean

xviiirkna	28 Sep 2004
I recently got the pocket edition of the Universal Waite, which comes in a really sturdy slip case box. It's bigger than the mini-Rider...lots bigger than that tiny keychain size, but small enough to discreetly tuck into a spare corner of your handbag. ISBN: 1572814748 Amazon has it for $10.50 right now. I think it's perfect travel deck size. I always carry the Transformational Tarot with me in my purse - it's playing card size (although 26 cards thicker), but unfortunately out of print. The Zerner Farber deck is another deck of this size...Amy Zerner's fabric collage images without the big borders of the Enchanted Tarot. Blessings, Sally Anne

WolfyJames	28 Sep 2004
I have the Tarot Nova is my bag. You can find it at many sizes, and the many sizes are all small. It's quite a whimsical deck.

Sulis	28 Sep 2004
The Spiral is quite small - not exactly a mini deck but it's definately small enough to fit into a purse or handbag. Love Sulis xx

Little Baron	28 Sep 2004
Now I have cut my Thoth from the Small (blue) box, it fits inside my wallet. However, there is another mini version of the deck as well. Yaboot

SongDeva	28 Sep 2004
Nowicki's Shakespearean Tarot is quite small.

baba-prague	28 Sep 2004
Quote: Originally posted by sarahbellum I am a HUGE fan of Kazanlar, Tarot of Prague, and Medieval Scapini, but none of those comes in a mini version. We have actually considered doing a miniature version, as I think that it might be popular for visitors here. But unfortunately it isn't currently all that likely. Apart from anything else, the cards are very detailed and so we would probably have to redo the images - when we did that (in a less extensive way) for the mass-market second edition of the deck it took ages. so the thought of doing it for a miniature version is a bit daunting. But one day, one day... Meantime, well I have the miniature WorldTree (produced by Astra, who is an AT member) and like it very much - the images are quite bold and hold up well at a very small size. You might consider that? It's a bit of a rarity to do a miniature self-published deck, and it definitely has a lot of character as a result. It's also well produced so quite sturdy for carrying around.

Waterlily	28 Sep 2004
The Alida site lists several decks as "Mini", but they don't specify their size. They also have some called "Micro" which seem to be the key-chain sized ones - too small. The Mini ones might be worth looking into.

Gardener	28 Sep 2004
I can't wait to make my mini-thoth, Yaboot. I am torn between making the tiny one by cutting down the regular Thoth, or a larger one from cutting down the large Thoth. Can't decide, so I haven't started. But I signed on to this thread to mention that when I cut down the regular sized Haindl, the resulting deck is an absolutely delightful size, it feels very good in the hands. It is quite small, probably a little bigger than the minis that are mentioned here, but a little smaller than the usual Lo Scarabeo sizes. It just feels GREAT to hold and fiddle with. It's the perfect fidget size. It's also a rather strange deck, which is something I hadn't realized until I cut away the borders. Without the keywords, the images float free of meaning, and I find them much more elusive than the images of many decks.

Little Baron	28 Sep 2004
My Thoth was the small blue boxed one so now it is VERY small. I have the large Thoth, which I havn't cut up and use quite regularly at the moment, but the cut one is carried around and always there if I have a fidget moment, also. I saw the Handl keywords the other day and I think I would trim them without a second thought. I bet the deck looks great like that. Do you have any scans of the new look one? Yaboot

April	29 Sep 2004
The Shakespearian (Nowicki), the Zerner-Farber (not the Enchanted, I hear that's huge), and the Wonderland all fit nicely into my purse. I think cutting off the borders on larger cards is a great idea, but I just can't bring myself to do it. Peace, April

yve	29 Sep 2004
The African tarot is small, and has cute, cartoon-like images...

sarahbellum	29 Sep 2004
Wow! So many possibilities! There are several decks mentioned that I had never looked closely at before, but now I want to buy about 10 new decks (groan). And I may get out my scissors and start trimming some rarely-used decks too. Thanks to everyone for the great suggestions.

Emily	30 Sep 2004
The small decks from Lo Scarabeo are nicely sized - I've been carrying the mignon (sp?) Universal tarot which is a Rider Waite clone but then I also went out and bought the larger version too :) - The pocket sized Rider Waite and Thoth are also good sizes to carry around. :)

lark	30 Sep 2004
There is a box deck/book set called Tarot To Go. It has a nice little Hanson Roberts deck in it. That's the one I carry in my purse. I see them a Barnes and Nobel all the time. Goes for around $8.00.

Fulgour	01 Oct 2004
Quote: Originally posted by xviiirkna I recently got the pocket edition of the Universal Waite, which comes in a really sturdy slip case box. It's bigger than the mini-Rider...lots bigger than that tiny keychain size, but small enough to discreetly tuck into a spare corner of your handbag. ISBN: 1572814748 I'd never even heard of this before yesterday ~ found it at Borders. What a jewel... this deck is worth it's own thread here on the forum! :)

Sulis	01 Oct 2004
Fulgour, it has had it's own thread: http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=21564&highlight=pocket+universal+waite And another : http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=31034&highlight=pocket+universal+waite Love Sulis xx

xviiirkna	01 Oct 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Fulgour I'd never even heard of this before yesterday ~ found it at Borders. What a jewel... Hi Fulgour, Isn't it great? USGames really should consider packaging more decks, both standard and pocket size in those nice slipcase boxes. Quality AND efficiency...what a concept! I'm still waiting on the "Waite-Smith Tarot" that Kaplan promised at the World Tarot Congress a couple of years ago. Original color, true to the orginal edition, the beautiful (non-plaid) roses and lilies print on the backs...a deck size edition of PKT, all compactly encolosed in a red heavy board box with a lift off lid. And I hope they won't put a big shiny gloss on the cards either. Has anybody heard if this is actually in the works, or is he hoping that maybe we've all forgotten? Blessings, Sally Anne

Fulgour	01 Oct 2004
Here's a look at the specs: The Universal Waite Tarot deck by Mary Hanson-Roberts is now available in a 2 1/4” x 3 1/2” pocket size. Universal Waite Pocket Edition The slip-top box is 2 5/8 x 3 5/8 and very strudy. It also comes with the standard "little white book." Usually around $12 to $15 it's so much better than the tiny Mini editions, and the cards are beautiful! ISBN: 1572814748 :) Fulgour

MSC	31 Oct 2004
I've got several decks in my collection, a few inside my tarot case (along with books on study and a piece of silk) to do my professional readings. For personal use - when I'm at home - I prefer my Goddess Tarot Deck on "full size". But as I'm really tuned with its art and roots , I'll buy a small one, to use outdoors. Kris Waldherr is very professional and talented artist and her images always have a top quality on colour and details. There's no danger of missing signals on mini sized arcanes ... P.S. - And till it comes, I'll be dreaming on my Lover's Path, of course ... Mafalda

cjtarot	31 Oct 2004
Hi, RubyRedSlipper introduced me to this deck. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=0880882492/ref=nosim/aeclectic/ it's 2 x 3-1/4 Small, but readable in a pinch and I really like it Good luck in your search CJ

HudsonGray	26 Nov 2004
I knew the Hanson Robert RW Universal tarot deck came in standard and semi-small size, but the 'mini' I just saw on ebay is a little taller than the size of a quarter. I had no idea it was that tiny! I've never noticed that one before. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=35837&item=5536996235&tc=photo Current photo of it next to the quarter.

NightWing	30 Nov 2004
I just got the Pocket edition of the Universal Waite for precisely this purpose. So now I have a nice, smallish deck with standard RW imagery, suitable for travel, coffee shop tables, and so on. It even comes in a great little slipcase box! I think it is the perfect size for packing around, especially in that it is not overly small and doesn't challenge my aging eyes too much. By contrast, I really like the miniature WorldTree as a collectable, but the images are a bit small for my eyes and the cards a bit small for my hands. (There are also a few other pocket-sized tarots; the Pocket Goddess stands the downsizing very nicely, as does the mini Connolly deck.) Cheers!

Keslynn	30 Nov 2004
This isn't a mini deck but the Marita Liulia Tarot is smaller size, I'd say about playing card size. A version is also available for use on Nokia mobile phones. If that's not portable then I don't know what is. ;) The artwork is photo collage, but it's very well done. Good luck finding one you like (or should I say narrowing down all the choices). :) Kes

Osher	30 Nov 2004
OK, not a Tarot deck, but the Answer Deck comes in a small size, in little boxes sold in bookstores, such as Waterstones

The suggestions for small deck? 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.