Mycroft
Mycroft, is it a Visconti?
It looks like a Visconti-sforza.
It's a Visconti.
Firstly, a thousand apologies for taking so long, I didn't realise 3 weeks had passed since I posted on this. But at long last, in best Kermit the frog fashion - throwing my arms about wildly - tipping my head back and squealing in a very high-pitched voice, I can announce that;
closrapexa, Sever and LRichard are [size=+2]THE WINNNNNNNERS!!!!!![/size]
It certainly is the Visconti-Sforza, and probably the Pierpont Morgan looking at the backs and because US Games released it in 1975 and this episode of HHoH was filmed in 79. But we can't rest on our laurels, oh no, not for a moment because now it's time for the;
"Is This an Actual Deck or Just A Studio Prop That They've Mocked-up in a Contemporary Fashion" quiz (snappy title eh?) From The US version of 'Life on Mars' Episode 15 comes the following composite screenshot;
The source imagery is of course immediately apparent (and if it isn't then you're in the wrong forum, no honestly you are.) Yes, it is a post-coital tarot reading (you don't read that way? I thought everyone did these days!) The year is supposed to be 1973 (or is it) and the only two cards that are discussed are the 'Ace of Pentacles' and 'The Tower'.
I've tried to get the best shots of the backs that I can and whilst I've never seen anything like it, or any RWS variant where the images have been flipped over, others may know better. In the episode the deck is not given a name and is only referred to as "An Irish Tarot".
So, anybody ever seen this one someplace else, or is it a studio creation?