New Palladini Tarot - WOW

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

Tarot Sparrow	27 Oct 2004
I came across this striking and lovely deck on sale at Hastings (book/music/video superstore), and after viewing some online images I couldn't WAIT to get back an purchase it. I got it for $12 on sale and I couldn't be more happy with it. I'm surprised there isn't more buzz about this deck...in my opinion the artwork is just exquisite. It's a deck that I probably overlooked the first few times I saw it--I'm one of those people who goes for the all out gorgeous artwork and some of the prettier themed decks, and when I see a deck with regular old people these days I'm not too intrigued by it--in fact I think they're plain. But there is just something about this deck that I totally connected with when I actually gave it a chance. The colours are vibrant and incredibly rich, but not overwhelming; the artwork has a very subtle feel and is full of different styles and textures. The people are drawn simply but it is the little things in their expressions and body language and style of dress that make them memorable. The minors and the court cards are as beautiful as the majors, and I especially like the silhouette images of the King and Queen of Pentacles. Even the backgrounds add a lot to these cards--they are wonderfully drawn and not excluded from the main image. Many of the backgrounds are a black night sky with tiny stars and a crescent moon encompassed in clouds that really help accentuate the brightness of the figures. In addition to all this, I find the cards very evocative and extremely easy to read and learn with. I have a feeling that this is going to be one of my favourite decks in the years to come, not only for its art but for study as well. Does anyone else here work with the Palladini? I'd be interested to hear some other opinions on it. I'm surprised more people don't use this deck...I feel lucky to have stumbled upon it. If anyone's interested the entire deck can be viewed here: http://www.gambler.ru/sukhty/decks02/d00746/d00746.htm

Mesara	27 Oct 2004
I liked this deck too when I saw it in the store but the cards are too small for my taste. If they ever make a larger edition I would definately buy it. How does this deck differ from the old Palladini?

paradoxx	28 Oct 2004
for what seems such simple artwork, there is a great amoutn of detail. The colors do it justice, and the contrasts of the background (sometimes cloudy, sometimes just plain white, man times a night sky) make for some intersting readings. The maroon back is also worth mentioning. the cards have the abiliyt to draw you into that world, the color depth is amazing.

Mesara	28 Oct 2004
Just saw the whole deck with the link Deadstar provided. Im even more impressed now than I was before. Still, I wish they made this deck in a larger size.

Hermgirl	28 Oct 2004
I have been toying with the idea of getting this one. It was done by the guy who did the Aquarian deck, which had nice artwork, if a little severe. I kind of have a mental thing about the Aquarian--even though I am a collecter, I don't think I'll ever get it because a former friend used to use this one exclusively, and it might bring up bad memories. I was looking at the New Pallidini as a way to renew my relationship with that artist's work, because I do think it is very good.

Emily	28 Oct 2004
I think he did the Aquarian first then the Palladini later - I prefer the artwork of the Palladini but its the Aquarian that reminds me of the Morgan Greer for some reason. I too looked at getting the New Palladini and it does remain on the wishlist. It looks like a bright vibrant deck, its got a nice feel about it - maybe time to investigate further. :D

Tarot Sparrow	29 Oct 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Mesara I liked this deck too when I saw it in the store but the cards are too small for my taste. If they ever make a larger edition I would definately buy it. How does this deck differ from the old Palladini? As far as I know there is no 'old Palladini' :D I think David Palladini just called it that because he first made the Aquarian and was known for that, but this was his "new" deck. I could be wrong but that's my guess anyway :) As for card size...the cards are the same size as most normal tarot decks, maybe even slightly larger than some...my Spiral Tarot cards that I also just bought are tiny compared to these ones...they're slightly over 4.5 inches tall and 3 inches wide. Very easy to work with. Do you prefer oversized decks, or something? :D

Mesara	29 Oct 2004
Thanks for clearing that up for me Deadstar! :) I was thinking the New Palladini was a new edition with slight revisions and brighter colors. My bad. (Im obviously not that familiar with Palladini. Ive heard of the aquarian and have seen a few sample cards but thats about it). I do prefer larger, oversized decks. Even my Russian Tarot of St. Pete's is a tad too small for me, but I think it is larger still than the New Palladini. Maybe I will have to go back and give it a second look. I think I will eventually buy it because the artwork is so striking.

HOLMES	29 Oct 2004
i have it as one of my mains, it think because of the colour. the aquarian was one of my first decks but for me the new palladini outshines it . see what 20 years difference can make :)

Tarot Sparrow	29 Oct 2004
How interesting Holmes. Don't think I've ever known which decks you use :D As far as I know there are at least two editions of this deck--a U.S. Games edition and one that was later remade by AGM AGMueller, which is what is shown on the site, but they are both entitled the New Palladini, so I'm guessing my previous assumption about the name is still correct. If anyone's interested, the deck I have is the U.S. Games edition, and the cards and colours in this deck are just as beautiful as those in the AGM deck shown. I know sometimes U.S. Games doesn't have very good colours for some reason but this one is an exception :)

Le_Corsair	30 Oct 2004
I used to really love the Palladini, but the reptilian chain armor of the various characters got to be off-putting, especially in the Hierophant, who looks as if he is the spawn of a lizard. Somebody also pointed out the pissed-off hamster in the 2 of Cups, and that image has stuck in my head. Yet another peeve is the suit of Wands, in Palladini's deck they resemble celery sticks too much for my comfort. His older deck, the Aquarian, was my very first deck, and is still a favorite; I have a new copy with French titles, which is appealing. Fans of Palladini's tarot art should search out the rare Linweave Tarot, which was not so much a tarot deck as a card publishing company's portfolio of cardstock and art examples; one of the artists commissioned to do work on this project was Palladini. This deck is out of print, and averages on eBay for $80 US. Bob :THERM

WolfSpirit	30 Oct 2004
LOL Bob - now I really can't look seriously at this deck anymore. It's that pissed-of hamster that did it :D

Le_Corsair	30 Oct 2004
Quote: Originally posted by WolfSpirit LOL Bob - now I really can't look seriously at this deck anymore. It's that pissed-of hamster that did it :D I think that particular card was pointed out by our beloved hippie, Sulis. Bob :THERM

Moongold	30 Oct 2004
Dead Star _ I tossed up between the New Palladini and the Morgan Greer two years ago when I wanted an alternative to the RWS. Morgan Greer won but only just. I think MG is a great deck and love the fact that it has no borders. Ingigo Rose did a reading for me with the New Palladini a few months ago whivh awakened my interest. I've now downloaded all the images and use then as a deck in my Orphalese Tarot. I think some of the images have the most fragile beauty and I like the colours.

Myrrha	30 Oct 2004
This is a wonderful deck for people who love the night. It is a "dark deck" not in the sense of twisted or violent imagery but in the sense of darkness and night as peace and respite from the harsh light of the sun and the constant noise of human activity. --Myrrha

darwinia	31 Oct 2004
I just bought a new copy of the Aquarian and love it, it reminds me very much of the Hudes, I think they complement each other well--those cold, expressionless faces. The art is gorgeous--I love the Ace of Wands which I consider one of my seven personal cards. I don't like the New Palladini--too much detail like he was trying too hard. Just a personal reaction, which doesn't mean it's a bad deck. In fact, I like this thread, I like to hear about people coming across an older deck and having it light them up. Such discovery is a great feeling.

Tarot Sparrow	31 Oct 2004
Quote: Originally posted by darwinia I just bought a new copy of the Aquarian and love it, it reminds me very much of the Hudes, I think they complement each other well--those cold, expressionless faces. The art is gorgeous--I love the Ace of Wands which I consider one of my seven personal cards. I don't like the New Palladini--too much detail like he was trying too hard. Just a personal reaction, which doesn't mean it's a bad deck. In fact, I like this thread, I like to hear about people coming across an older deck and having it light them up. Such discovery is a great feeling. Interesting. The Hudes was my first deck, I still love it, but we differ in that at the same time I do not really care for the Aquarian and I really like the New Palladini :D Personality things I suppose. Thanks for all the posts guys!

darwinia	01 Nov 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Dead Star Interesting. The Hudes was my first deck, I still love it, but we differ in that at the same time I do not really care for the Aquarian and I really like the New Palladini :D Personality things I suppose. Could be personality, could be colour and pattern though. The Hudes has that lovely marbling and other intriguing patterns. The Star card in the Hudes is my favourite of all my decks. I waited almost a year to buy the Symbolon and then had to trade it because the colours made me sick--too much gold and brown--something. Sometimes the subtleties of colour really make a difference.

Sulis	01 Nov 2004
I used this deck when I first started to learn tarot - it was the nicest RWS style deck I could find at the time. I haven't used it for ages but it has a special place in my heart. Not so sure about the King and Queen of Pentacles - could never work them out. Love Sulis xx

paradoxx	08 Dec 2004
WolfSpirit wrote: LOL Bob - now I really can't look seriously at this deck anymore. It's that pissed-of hamster that did it :D It could be worse, much much worse http://www.greymatter.org/satanichamsterdance/ make sure your speakers are not too loud The deck does have a cartoonish, jovial sense to it even where it seems distracting (the lions head looking like a hamster. Actually in that card, the woman on the left gives me the creeps, it looks like she is a seductor of sorts as she looks at the snakes of the cathedus, ah, lizards indeed.) The Queen and King of pentacles indicate the worlds that lie within worlds, all of existence wrapped in the body of knowledge and ability.

bodhran	08 Dec 2004
I too, love the New Palladini. I started using the Hanson-Roberts, but kept searching for something else. The deep colors of the NP drew me in, and it is the main deck I use now for my daily readings. The only card I don't care for is the World; it just seems sort of washed out compared to the rest of the deck. Of course now I'll have to go in search of that hamster you guys keep talking about.... :-) Bodhran

northsea	08 Dec 2004
It's many more the RWS clone than the Aquarian, but a few cards are not so good, like the NP Chariot. I think he really overplays the close-up AND profile angle on this one. ( I sometimes wonder why the clones have a fetish for those close-ups as they often lose many symbolic details.) I much prefer the Aquarian Chariot.

Tarot Sparrow	09 Dec 2004
darwinia wrote: The Star card in the Hudes is my favourite of all my decks. It's one of my favourites too! bodhran wrote: The only card I don't care for is the World; it just seems sort of washed out compared to the rest of the deck. Bodhran I agree with you on that one Bodhran but I still like it. The hamster does look somewhat fierce but doesn't bother me; I'm sure it was meant to be in more of a protective sense (angel wings); and the snakes are a symbol of transformation, good thing for lovers I'd say... I'm really surprised more people don't like this deck. I really think it's special, a gem with great colours and symbolism. But that's okay; more Palladini for me :D

paradoxx	09 Dec 2004
yeah, the chariot and the world are lacking in their rich historical attributions. The world looks like it was copied directly from the RW/Marseilles template,although teh border is quite striking.The Chariot looks more like the sword suit of the Knight of pentacles or cups and has little to do with the chariot itself but the figure reminds me of a good friend, even the eyes. Also the Tower and the three of cups are lacking something, while the Lovers seem to be lacking in focus. However, the Death card, Judgment, the Page of wands, the High Priestess, two of wands, the prince of cups and the prince of pentacles, the two of swords and Temperence are all very eye-catching and brings a new angle of perspection to reading these classic cards.

The New Palladini Tarot - WOW thread was originally posted on 27 Oct 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.