Carojulie
Bonefire Tarot (self published)
Perfect combo of thickness, size, and matte lamination. Perfect for overhand shuffling especially if you hands are small!
Pagan Otherworlds:
On first sight it looks like an ordinary linen laminated cardstock but as I riffle shuffled it (and I am not a very good riffle shuffler), I can feel how amazing the cardstock is. Not only are they flexible enough they also bounced back resulting in NO bowing or bending after several riffling. I am guessing it is something in the core of the cardstock that makes this difference. Just amazing.
Starchild:
I am not a fan of the deck, but the satin matte lamination, the thickness, the antiqued gold gilding... The gilding is not technically the cardstock but there it is
The Wild Unknown:
A bit weird to shuffle with as it makes that hshsh shshs sound and feel but once you get over that, the first cardstock of its kind and it is still reigning high on lists of amazing cardstocks.
Tarot of Prague (2nd ed? The latest one):
Satin matte finish, great thickness, great hand feel, great to over hand shuffle (I will never riffle this). It feels luxurious. Very close to Starchild maybe not as thick?
The Urban Tarot (self published):
Wonderfully slippery and smooth against each other amazing to fan out, but matte at the same time and of the right thickness to shuffle anyway you want.
Hi Happy Squirrel, I love your pseudo
Thanks for sharing this list of decks !
I heard of the Urban Tarot, and I liked the pictures I saw online, but I did not see many.
I have the tarot of Prague 2016 and I believe it is the same cardstock than the Bohemian Gothic 3d edition (or extremely close), so I gather that it is what Baba Studio uses these days.
When I first opened my tarot of Prague, I admit that the cardstock did not make a bad impression on me, on the contrary.
It is indeed a good cardstock, thin but not flimsy at all, seems durable, and the surface is fine grain, which makes the printed colors pop. And, what Baba Studio did with the metalic foil surimpression on this tarot of Prague is very, very beautiful and adds a luxurious feeling to the cards.
It is just when I compare that cardstock to the one of my Bohemian Gothic second edition, that it seems flimsy in comparison. I like the BG 2d edition cardstock so much, that it led me to be disapointed when I received the 3d edition.
And I totally agree with you on gilding ! It is not the actual cardstock, but there it is and it adds a lot ! The Fountain's gilding is such a plus for me. As is the gilding of the Bohemian Gothic 2d edition.
One deck with gilded thick cards that disapointed me, though, is the Illuminati tarot. The cards are thick and not shiny, wich I usually like... but this particular deck does not give me the impression of luxury that the Fountain, for example, gives me. I think the Illuminati cardstock is lesser quality ; thick but not as fine.. and the gilding was done in such a way that when I first got the deck, the sides of the cards stuck to one another where the gilding is, and I had a lot of trouble separating them. Also, the gilded edges are not smooth, and never have been.
So, yes yes yes to gilding when it is well done ! But no t cheap gilding : I rather have no gilding at all than a poorly done one !