Another deck in the great cut/ uncut debate !!

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 20 Sep 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

The 78th Fool	20 Sep 2004
I never thought I'd do this but I've done a Yaboot and trimmed the borders off one of my decks!! The deck in question is my Russian Tarot of St Petersburg. I haven't used it in months because the gold edges had started to discolour/ wear off on certain cards through overhandling. The result of this was it was very easy to pick out the Fool, the Magician and the King of Cups from the rest of the cards, even face down. This was just too distracting when you're trying to make a truly random selection from the shuffled deck. I can't afford a new copy at present and I really had nothing to lose so I decided to snip ! I have to say, I'm thrilled with the results. My deck has come alive again and although I did like the gold borders the images seemed to be a lot more focused as a result of their removal. The resulting deck is now about the same size as a Swiss 1JJ. Have a look at the can below and see what you think ! Chris. xx

The 78th Fool	20 Sep 2004
Here's the other attachment

The 78th Fool	20 Sep 2004
main cards image not showing so I'll try again

MeeWah	20 Sep 2004
They look natural; as if sans borders to begin with. Their inner border serves more effectively as a frame (like that of a contrasting picture mat) to enhance the images. In a word: great!

Imagemaker	20 Sep 2004
They're beautiful! What a great way to revitalize an ignored deck. And now "doing a Yaboot" has become tarot code! :D Love it!

littlehermit	20 Sep 2004
They look just fine as they are (ie, cut)! I agree with MeeWah - they still have so much border built into their design it doesn't look like they're missing a thing.

Cerulean	20 Sep 2004
stand out better. I hope your enjoyment increases with this beautiful deck now that you can use it better now. It's been two days since my Arthurian "extra" became such a mini-deck after borders and titles were cut off. But its more useful to me this way as I carry it around. The pictures were the reason that I found this deck so memorable after all these years (at least 8-10)... I like the idea of an aging deck being scaled down and revealing it's essential beauty to the reader...the stories of a well-loved deck or book cheer me. Regards, Cerulean

Jewel-ry	21 Sep 2004
I like them Chris! Doing a 'Yaboot' is definately catching. I found my Rohrig to have a completely different feel to it since its been chopped. Have you done a reading yet? I would be interested to know if you read them differently. ~

SongDeva	21 Sep 2004
I don't think the original cut/uncut debate had anything to do with cards. Deck looks nice though. ;)

The 78th Fool	21 Sep 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Jewel-ry I like them Chris! Doing a 'Yaboot' is definately catching. I found my Rohrig to have a completely different feel to it since its been chopped. Have you done a reading yet? I would be interested to know if you read them differently. ~ Believe it or not I haven't done a reading yet! After having spent hours chopping them I need a rest from all things Russian for a day or so before I give it a go !! Chris. xx

Thindelock	21 Sep 2004
This deck looks so good with the borders trimmed off that it looks like it was made that way in the first place, at least from these pics. I can understand why cards are often designed with solid borders... it makes the cards more consistent-looking and minimizes the chance that part of the actual image will get snipped in the factory card-cutting process. I've seen tarot and oracle decks with images all the way to the edge (Wisdom of the Four Winds and the Goddess Oracle spring to mind), but it's a risky thing from a production standpoint. But when it's done well, it really seems to add focus to the artwork. Considering de-bordering some of mine now...

The 78th Fool	25 Sep 2004
A couple of days down the line and I've now done several readings with my newly 'cut' deck. I've got mixed feelings - I love the way the cards now look and it's great that a previously unusable deck has been given a new lease of life. It's also true that as I read with them I was able to focus into the artwork much more easily. I've certainly begun to notice details I hadn't seen before. There are lots of positives therefore, but on the downside there's something haggling inside me about having 'mutilated' the deck! It somehow feels incomplete - maybe because I did like the original gold borders and I wouldn't have touched the deck only for the obvious discolouration on several cards. Maybe when I can afford I will invest in another copy of this wonderful deck to keep for viewing alone while I stick to my trimmed copy for readings. Chris. xx

Jewel-ry	25 Sep 2004
Quote: Originally posted by The 78th Fool ...but on the downside there's something haggling inside me about having 'mutilated' the deck! Hi Chris, I don't consider these decks 'mutilated' at all. I think you should love it for what it is...unique to you. Don't feel guilty about it :) ~

Little Baron	25 Sep 2004
'Doing a Yaboot'; I like that; it makes me laugh. Your cards look great Chris. As you said, in time, you can always buy another but I agree with Jewel-ry that they are unique and in my own experience, the actual care and connection you get with the trimming of the deck is a bond in itself. I wouldn't have my Rohrig any other way. It certainly looks different, but if 'feels' better than it ever did. I am glad you had a success with the St Petersburg. Yaboot thinks ... I have got a 'Russian Tarot of St Petersburg'. Hmmm ... Best wishes Ya Ya Boot Ya Ya

The 78th Fool	25 Sep 2004
It's funny. Yes there are some negative feelings at the moment but I think they are outweighed by the positives and I'll probably grow to feel more and more comfortable with the trimmed deck as I use it - after all, it was just so positive to read with and the artwork does jump out in a whole new way. I would probably not feel like this had It been a deck that I had serious problems with before. With this however I did actually like the gold borders so I feel as if I've lost and gained. It's probably just a case of one version's good but there's still room for the other in my collection. Thanks Jewelry and Yaboot - I hadn't really thought enough about how unique and 'cared for' these cards actually are. Chris. xx PS - I'm sorely tempted to butcher my Thoth! I've got nothing to lose as I've got the Icky green version on its way to me in the post . My grey one (which I was never as keen on) is ripe for cutting!!

Mesara	25 Sep 2004
Your deck does indeed look beautiful. This is my fave deck in the world- when I read that you had cut the borders off I was mentally screaming "Sacrilege!" but then I saw the pics and everyone is right; they look like they were made that way. Im amazed at how different they do look now. I almost wish they had made them that way. It does accentuate the artwork beautifully. However, I will never have the guts to do what you did! I hope you come to enjoy them this way. Tell me though; how different do they feel when you handle them now? Did it make much difference? The way a deck feels in my hands is almost as important as the artwork itself. I was just wondering.

The 78th Fool	30 Sep 2004
They do feel different - smaller but somehow more solid if that makes any sense. Chris. xx

The Another deck in the great cut/ uncut debate !! thread was originally posted on 20 Sep 2004 in the Talking Tarot board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Talking Tarot, or read more archived threads.