I want an... Earlier version! Lots of questions...

[kim]

Hi,

My name is Kim and i am new to this site.
I was wondering about my own cards. i bought them from someone through the internet. The box is about to fall apart but the cards seem almost unused. They don't have that thin plastic layer on each card like the new decks seem to have.
On the back of the box it has Pamela Colman Smith's and Arthur's name in the same size. (Pamela's name isn't bigger) and on the side of every card it says 1971 U.S. Games, not 1971 U.S. Games Systems INC. like the newer decks.

Does anyone have any idea on how old my deck could be?
I would love to know a bit more about them. I tried to contact the seller to, but maybe others have a suggestion aswell.

 

[Fulgour]

Over the years, USGames has made dozens of changes to the box...
My theory is that this was done for manufacturing and inventory logic,
but there have been changes made to the cards as well. Three main
types were published before today's slick computer font title editions.

All dates are based on educated guesswork:

1971-72 Rider re-introduces the deck (no copyright).
The cardstock is thick, the lamination waxy smooth.
These are known as the Rider blue box 1st edition.
Weiser Inc and USGames get yellow-box versions.

But at around 1975 USGames manages to have their
copyright printed on a second generation of the cards.
These are still packed in a blue box by Rider but now
we see changes to the yellow box. Weiser is out of it.

The second generation cards have the copyright and
the cardstock is a bit thinner, with the lamination being
now the main noticeable difference~ it's a matte finish.

1982 USGames makes the 1971 copyright "legal" and
Rider is absorbed by Random House. A strange Rider
edition comes out in a purple box. The blue box is out.

1985 (or thereabouts) the lamination is more noticeable,
but the cards still have script titles. No more Rider decks
will be made until the misguided "Original" around 1990.

1995 (do you notice the 10 year cycle? that's a legal deal)
USGames changes over to computer font titles in order
to clean up their image~ retirement looms for SRKaplan.
Since all he "owns" is copyrights, he's desperate to sell...

So there are literally dozens of little things a collector will notice
from edition to edition, but in the end there are only four decks.

1. No copyright (script) waxy finish...
2. Copyright (script) matte finish [1975]
3. Copyright (script) lamination [1985]
4. Copyright (computer font) lamination [1995]

It's now just past 2005 and the cards are printed in China.
2012 is the "legal" date USGames copyright expires ~ and
it may be that nobody will even bother to buy Kaplan out.

In reality, if someone wanted to come out with a deck
in 2009 to commemorate the "100th Anniversary" they
could do it, and do it right. No law would prevent them.

 

[Fulgour]

I'd like to add that the best version for reading is ~
absolutely a personal choice~decks have vibrations
and to my experience, this is very gently magical to
each person. Older decks are special but every one
is unique...and Tarot is a spiritual path, humbly so...
finding the right deck can be as simple as seeking it
with an acknowledgement to the energies of spirit~
seeking is as important as finding. "Best Wishes!"

 

[kim]

Hi Fulgour,

Thanks a lot for that wonderfull explanation!
I'm starting to remember that the person who sold them to me said they where from '75.
They are the matte version. I like these the best. They feel so much more real to me without the plastic feeling.