Tarot Deck Review #6 - Shakesperean Tarot

I originally purchased this deck for 11.00. Now it is out of print it's going for around 100.00 or so.

The illustrations depict scenes or persons from Shakespearean plays which the designer felt corresponded with tarot meanings. The illustrations are a little stilted to me, and I won't b able to tell if this is an easy to read or use deck. On first glance it doesn't appear to be a good deck for beginners.

The cards have changed the suit of Rods to Sceptres, pentacles or coins to orbs, and cups to crowns.

The card backs are faux wood carving, and not reversible. The backs are not very attractive, in my opinion.

The cards are tall and narrow with rounded corners. The card stock feels thin and supple, with a slippery finish. The pictures almost seem too small for the cards, the details nearly too small to see with a casual glance.

There is a lot of white around the border, with the card title above and a quote from the depicted scene or person below, and beneath that what play the card scene was taken from.

The ambiguity of crowns and orb meanings confuses this deck for me somewhat. These cards seem easier to read on their own merits, and not fallow any system. The deck seems to have a dark or negative tone.

The artwork is also somber - even light hearted scenes have an edge of darkness to them.

After using this deck for 4 days - that was all I could take. The meanings of the suits are too commingled to make this an easy deck to use. Although I love Shakespeare, my acquaintance with his plays is too distant for me to properly appreciate this deck.

I would not recommend this deck for a beginner unless the beginner was a Shakespearean scholar.

This is definitely a deck for the advanced user with specific interests. As a collector deck it is excellent.

So, it is a deck that may appeal to some, a good collectors deck, and I might replace it if it strayed.

Out of print.
Not recommended for beginners. Unless they are Shakespeare buffs.