Question about Voyager editions

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 07 Oct 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Alta	07 Oct 2004
I am sure there is someone who knows this! Today, in Crystal Dawn, a lovely little store, I bought a second hand copy of the Voyager Deck. Cards are perfect as is box and book. In the store the woman told me the seller didn't connect with the cards, the usual reason we ship them off. So, I have been reading the older threads and doing some 'research'. How does this work? The picture on the box of my deck does not look the same as the ones shown on the author's website. Mine has what looks like a terra cotta monkey god floating in space, very 2001 look to it. On the web site it shows an image of crystals, or, a sort of multi-pane glass panel floating in with some other stuff. http://www.voyagertarot.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=45&osCsid=ef288075052e6979f66438d23c64798a Also, there seems to be Voyager Tarot - Intuition Cards for the 21st Century and there also Voyager Tarot - The Way of the Great Oracle. On amazon the used prices seem to range from about $25 to $170!!! My book says it is the 2nd edition, revised. ISBN 0-9615079-O-X, the copyright date is 1984 but I doubt that means when it was produced. So, can anyone clarify this for me? Thanks! Edited to add: maybe "THe Way of the Great Oracle" is a book, not the deck???

Lee	07 Oct 2004
Hi Marion, "The Way of the Great Oracle" is a separate book, it's different than the book that comes with the deck. There are two editions of the deck. In both, the cards are exactly the same. What's different is the box, and the included booklet. In the later edition (the one you saw on the web), the box is bigger and it shows the Ace of Crystals image. In the earlier edition, the box is smaller and slides open, and the book fits on top of the cards. I know yours says 2nd edition, but that's still the older one. I've never seen an earlier edition that was significantly different. The booklet in the new edition, the one you saw on the internet, is significantly different from the one that you have, but I don't know that it's worth buying a whole new set for. If you can get ahold of the "Way of the Great Oracle" book, that would probably give you anything you might want above and beyond the booklet you have. It was in print and available just a few years ago, I would think you shouldn't have too much trouble getting ahold of a copy that doesn't cost you an arm and a leg. -- Lee

Alta	07 Oct 2004
Great, thanks Lee!

fyreflye	07 Oct 2004
Whatever price may be listed on the Web, one or two copies of The Way of the Great Oracle can be found languishing in the Tarot section of almost any used bookstore out my way. They're rarely priced at more than $12 USD; I can keep an eye out for one and send it to you if you want. However, the book's mostly about how you can become a better business person by using the Voyager Tarot, which he sells to the attendees of his lectures and Power Point presentations. The reason this set has been in print for so long despite the fact that overall enthusiasm for it is so minimal is that Wanless publishes it himself and keeps it in print as a sales tool for his tarot guru business. My own Voyager set is marked "First Edition" copyright 1984. It's got the monkey on the cover and I think it's larger than the more recent box but I haven't actually compared them. It's the slip-in box type; I can't find an ISBN on it anywhere, perhaps because it was privately published.

Alta	07 Oct 2004
I spent an hour going through the cards. I have never seen the deck and only got it because I had heard of it, and, it was a bargain. Having looked at it carefully I would have to say it was likely pretty daring at the time, but sure strikes me now as self-indulgent. Thanks for the offer fyreflye, think I'll pass. Makes an interesting collector's piece, but that's about it for me.

fyreflye	07 Oct 2004
That's exactly the way I reacted to it. Took me less than an hour, though ;)

SongDeva	08 Oct 2004
Quote: Originally posted by fyreflye I'm as unenthusiastic about it as most... . Granted this is a quibble, but there are quite a few people who revere and do amazing work with this deck. I think "most" is a bit strong here. :P

Alta	08 Oct 2004
True, true. In fact it would seem that most decks find their audience. Sorry I dissed the Voyager to all you Voyager fans.

fyreflye	08 Oct 2004
SongDeva was quoting me, so I've deleted the offending passage. Wouldn't want to offend anyone who actually reveres a tarot deck.

SongDeva	08 Oct 2004
Quote: Originally posted by fyreflye SongDeva was quoting me, so I've deleted the offending passage. Wouldn't want to offend anyone who actually reveres a tarot deck. I seem to have offended someone who wasn't prepared to joke with me. I perhaps relied to heavily on emoticons. Or perhaps you're in bad mood. Either way, I invite you to restore your message, as it didn't offend anyone.

crystal dawn	11 Oct 2004
Hi Marion I saw the way of the great oracle book earlier on this year in a local bookstore, but refrained from buying it, though it did look very informative. It was quite a thick book as well and just had a little more information on the cards. I just use the cards occassionally for pyschic work where i do a reading with one or two cards, as there is so much information in each card that it is possible to do a reading with only a few cards. They are also a good aid to meditation. Though i dont use the cards alot,they are just good to have in my collection. blessings crystal dawn

Alta	11 Oct 2004
Thanks crystal dawn. That's interesting, because Crystal Dawn is the name of store where I bought the cards. Yes, because of the numerous comments that I have had both on this thread and off, I shall indeed work with them.

The Question about Voyager editions thread was originally posted on 07 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.