Picture Postcard Tarot 2010

[Marcia959]

Hi, I'm putting this out here as a trial balloon. I originally started this as a deck for myself, then wondered if some of you might be interested in it as a limited edition self-published deck (numbered, signed).

I have selected picture postcards from pre-1910 (nearly all 1900-1909) to create a Tarot Deck of 78. These are images from photo postcards from all over the world, showing the culture, context and expectations of humanity just over 100 years ago.

The cost of the deck would be only to cover my costs for printing and shipping, much like collaborative decks here. The deck has 78 cards, plus a cover card (attached as an example) and a Happy Squirrel. This deck has not yet been printed so it would take a little time for me to arrange for printing and distribution.

Let me know via PM if you would be interested in this. Best wishes!

[GreenMoonBeam]

PM sent!!!!

[Wendywu]

I'd be interested but I'd really like to see one or two more pics that will be actual cards in the deck, and if possible have a more precise idea as to cost. Sometimes one man's cheap-as-chips is another man's out-of-reach

[AJ]

PM'ed

[Marcia959]

I will be posting another couple of cards here soon so you can decide if you like it. I'm getting the estimates now from the printer and should have an idea of the cost soon. Thanks for your notes!

[Quester]

I would be interested!

[Apollonia]

I'd be interested, too--can't wait to see a few more examples!

[magpie9]

I'd like to see some of the cards before committing. It's a fascinating idea!

[Marcia959]

Just to give you a little back story along the way: Finding a photo postcard from this time period for each tarot card was something of a challenge. Sometimes I had 5 or more to choose from, but others presented real issues. For instance, the Hanged Man was a wild hunt. The only photo postcard I could come up with from the time period for a long time was, OMG, a REAL hanging. It was just too dreadful.

I debated whether to be "edgy" and put it in, since it was a representation of the time. I finally rejected it because it just didn't say what the Hanged Man says to me in the cards. So the hunt continued until I was able to find one that was much closer to the meaning for me with just a little more positive overtones.

Somehow, though, having run across that horrifying image of a real hanging, I feel connected to both the victim and perpetrator. The person was hanged as a political dissident and the situation also had a racial component to it. Certainly that aspect of being "the different one" does speak to the Hanged Man but there's something about perpetuating images of true horror that I could not participate in. In a way, I feel that image is my own, a burden I must carry now.

While I don't think we should deny that this kind of brutality exists in our world, even today, I also didn't want my Hanged Man to be hopeless and helpless against tyranny, since his message is that there is a choice whether to maintain your true nature or to conform to the crowd. I don't think my first hanged man had that choice. I didn't want my deck to be the "real dead guy" deck, reduced to a freak show. And I didn't want those who may identify with either the victim or the perpetrator to have old wounds made fresh because of my labor of love.

More on this soon.

[AJ]

you are such a thoughty girl

I'll bet you could come up with a nudie type deck and
a horrors deck with some effort, if inclined.

I on the other hand look forward to seeing your lovely deck!