Legend:The Arthurian Tarot vs Arthurian Tarot

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 15 Apr 2005, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Chubby Mummy	15 Apr 2005
I want to buy one on King Arthur, but which one do you think is worth it??? The one i like has less stars on it...surely theres a reason for that?? any ideas?? xxx cm

WolfSpirit	15 Apr 2005
They are both fine decks...I think it has more to do with personal preference which one you prefer. I have them both and like them both, but I have used the Legend the most. I must confess I am not really a fan of Caitlin Matthews writing (who wrote for the handbook on the Hallowquest), she has a lot of knowledge on everything Celtic but she often makes it more difficult than it really is imo. Anyway there has been another thread on these two decks: http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?t=34967&highlight=arthurian I don't know who put the star rating on the decks, so I don't pay much attention to them ;)

Kissa	15 Apr 2005
miranda gray is the artist of the hallowquest and there are some great scans of her original paintings for this deck (originals are for sale btw!!!) on her website: http://www.mirandagray.co.uk/at.htm that's also a nice way of seeing more cards than the 6 usually proposed with tarot sites reviews. i enjoyed it very much. this deck looks fantastic. kissa edited to ask: found this one on amazon.co.uk: http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0007145446/aeclectictaro-21/ or if the link gets removed because of illegal publicity, here is the ISBN: 0007145446 I'd like to be sure it is the set (Book + Cards) as it doesn't read so in the description... any info very welcome!!! thanks in advance!

Melvis	15 Apr 2005
Hi, CM! I have a couple pages on my website where I compare a few Celtic/Arthurian decks, among them the two you're looking at. I never really did all the work I wanted to, but it gives you a good headstart on the basics! The Celtic Majors Compared Page gives much more detail about who is depicted on the majors in each deck. Good luck on your selection! (Of course, the Tarotholic in me says, "Buy both!" ;) ) Peace, Melvis :TSTRE

WolfSpirit	16 Apr 2005
Kissa wrote: edited to ask: found this one on amazon.co.uk: http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0007145446/aeclectictaro-21/ or if the link gets removed because of illegal publicity, here is the ISBN: 0007145446 I'd like to be sure it is the set (Book + Cards) as it doesn't read so in the description... any info very welcome!!! thanks in advance! kissa if you click on the picture to enlarge, you can just read on the yellow left-hand corner "book & deck" , so it should be a complete set :)

Kissa	17 Apr 2005
WolfSpirit wrote: kissa if you click on the picture to enlarge, you can just read on the yellow left-hand corner "book & deck" , so it should be a complete set :) yes WolfSpirit, i've done that but i trust more isbn than amazon pictures so i just wanted to be sure.. :-) thanks! kissa

Sophie-David	17 Apr 2005
Chubby Mummy wrote: I want to buy one on King Arthur, but which one do you think is worth it??? The one i like has less stars on it...surely theres a reason for that?? Hi CM! I've been working with Legend: The Arthurian Tarot for several months now in the study group forum. I've personally found it very helpful and inspiring. Taking the time to research the stories behind the cards adds a great depth to readings that I haven't found with more conventional cards. Anna-Marie Ferguson says not only her research but her intuition was guiding her in the deck creation, and it certainly shows. The companion book, A Keeper of Words is also excellant. As usual, there are some drawbacks with this deck. On some cards there is a lot of detail, but their small size makes in difficult to see it all, and in some cases the study group has had to speculate on some of the less significant items. The cards generally are very muted in colour, and the people spectral. I think of the deck as being painted under the moonlight. Llewellyn's card scans give a false impression: the scanning process has increased the colour contrast. If you look at the two images of Arthur in [thread=35744]Legend: The Arthurian Tarot - The Emperor[/thread] you will see what I mean. In my first post, #3 in the thread, I have a link to the Llewellyn image. In WalesWoman's current last post, #18, her scan is much truer to the colours of the card, making the Llewellyn scan seem quite gaudy in comparison. At [thread=35511]Legend: The Arthurian Tarot Index[/thread] you will see links to several threads and URLs discussing personal reactions to Legend and in some cases comparisons with other Arthurian decks. Cheers David

Grizabella	17 Apr 2005
I don't know about the other one, but I have the Legend:Arthurian and I'm totally taken with it. I can't imagine another one being any better.

Kissa	22 Apr 2005
wooooow! just bought a used/cheap copy of the hallowquest ... eager to see this one!! kissa

seapearls	01 May 2005
I found this page when I did a search and it compairs the two decks. Good read. As for me, I want the Legend, the pictures in the other doesn't do anything for me at all. http://www.tarotpassages.com/arthurianlegendlb.htm

Cerulean	01 May 2005
Keeper of Words, First Edition & Second Edition If you buy the Legend, Arthurian Tarot deck alone first, you have a booklet in the deck. If you then search for the book by Anne-Marie Ferguson, try to get the first edition. Here's a great synopsis from one vendor at Abebooks.com (this first edition version book is 12.95; I got mine at a used bookstore for 9.00 and it includes the poetry by Ray Rue below). The ISBN number and the 284 pages would be what you want to ask a vendor before you buy: newer printings have less pages. I saw Lady Medusa's post and saw the old bookstore copy was actually a better deal. &=). ------------------------------------------------------------------ A KEEPER OF WORDS. Accompanying Book To "Legend: The Arthurian Tarot." Written And Illustrated By Anna-Marie Ferguson. Poetry By Ray Rue. St. Paul, Minn.: Llewellyn Publications. 1995. Second printing. 8vo (6" x 9"). xvi, 284, [4] pages. Black glossy pictorial wrappers (trade paperback). With black & white illustrations from paintings and drawings by the author. Bibliography. Index. CONDITION: Near Fine copy. "Open a mythic doorway into your psyche. This book is the key to accessing the combined power of two mythic and richly symbolic sources: the 1,500-year-old Arthurian legend and the ancient divinatory system of the Tarot. . . Over 100 beautiful illustrations enrich this text, as does the vivid poetry of Ray Rue." ISBN 1-56718-266-6. ISBN:1567182666 http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?t=17218&highlight=legend+tarot+poetry I gave away mine, as I never did work with this deck. This listing was back in 2003-2004, but abebooks.com or Amazon.com might have them. Best wishes, Cerulean

The Legend:The Arthurian Tarot vs Arthurian Tarot thread was originally posted on 15 Apr 2005 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.