Tarot Decks from the 1970s
Tarot decks published in the seventies.
Suitable for beginning Tarot users, the Aquarian Tarot deck is a different presentation of the traditional card symbols and suits of Rods, Cups, Swords and Pentacles. Originally published in the 1970s, it's been in print ever since.
Now available in a small-size tin edition!
The Enoil Gavat Tarot - Tavaglione, the artist's name, backwards - is an Italian esoteric Tarot featuring Egyptian, astrological, Hebrew, numerological and other symbolism inside very decorated borders.
The Herbal Tarot is another Rider-Waite style deck, except it pictures a different herb that corresponds with each card, such as garlic for the Tower, and a lotus in the Ace of Cups. Some herbal knowledge (or the companion book) would be necessary to read with this deck.
What is known as the Hoi Polloi Tarot is a Rider-Waite Tarot clone from 1973 intended for games and finding out about yourself and the future. The deck has been redrawn psychedelic colours and is without some background and finer details, but sticks closely to the original images. Also the last RWS clone published before U.S. Games began enforcing their copyright.
The Morgan-Greer Tarot is a reworking of the Rider-Waite deck created in the 1970s. The cards are borderless, and the artwork has a lush, immediate feel, where the characters are shown in close-up. It's a good option for beginners.
Now available in a small-size tin edition!
The New Tarot is a full, 78-card, black and white deck from the early 1970s. The strong, solid illustrations are a mix of Egyptian, Tahitian, traditional and modern symbolism, with religious and mythological influences.
The major arcana in this complex Italian deck are packed with symbolism, with Hebrew, Sanskrit, and Celestial letters, Vulgar Latin, Zodiacal correspondences, and the Path of the Tree of Life on each card. The minor arcana of the Stairs of Gold Tarot are unfortunately very plain.
Published in the mid seventies, and unfortunately now out of print, this brilliantly coloured Balbi Tarot deck makes use of astrological, alchemical and Qabbalistic symbols in its major arcana. (The minors are standard pip cards.)
The Tarot of the Witches was featured in a James Bond film, Live and Let Die, and so is also known as the James Bond 007 Tarot. It's rather ugly.. and not to be confused with the Witches Tarot, which is far different and much better.
Symbolism, numbering, scenes, figures, and art from the ancient Mayan culture have been fitted into the standard 78 card Tarot framework. The major arcana of the Xultun Tarot are untitled and use Mayan numbers only, but the minor arcana have English titles as well.