This is one of Lo Scarabeo's art decks, which contain the 22 Major Arcana cards only.  The art is by Sergio Toppi.  I understand that eventually, it will be published as a full 78 card deck, and I look forward to that.

It seems to me that the artist does a wonderful job of conveying the tarot images as they might have been experienced by primitive humans, before written language.  I think the art is evocative and intuitive enough even for less experienced readers.

Some of the depictions seem stark and perhaps a bit unsettling (I am thinking of L'Abbondanza, card #8, which depicts what seems to be a man gutting some kind of animal.)  But when one considers what life was like for those primitive men and women, this seems all the more appropriate.  Many of the images are close ups, and the pictures are often deceptively simple.  For example, the Star depicts human hands striking a spark that lights up the surrounding darkness.  Are those sparks, or are they the stars in the night sky?  I like the way that such
images have both an immediate apparent scene, as well as implying a more subtle, more global meaning.

The card stock is reasonably sturdy.  The corners are square, rather than rounded.  The card faces are glossy, the backs unlaminated.  I don't know how well this would hold up with repeated shuffling and reading.  I do think this is a deck that can definitely be read with as well as just admired for the wonderful art.

All in all, I find Tarocchi Delle Origini to be an intriguing deck with much to offer, especially for collectors and those who want to get in touch with their primal roots.

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Guest Review Copyright 2000 by Donna Davis
used with permission