This is one of the most adorable and well-executed "collector" decks I've seen.  Gatti is Italian for Cats, and this deck is comprised completely of cats.  There are only the 22 Major Arcana cards here, and they appear to be hand-cut and collated.  The set comes in a little bookcover slipcase and measures only 2 inches by 3 inches.

There seems to be some confusion regarding the actual author of the deck.  The tiny plate that comes in the deck itself, which is printed all in Italian, says the deck is by Osvaldo Menegazzi.  The catalog from US Games, however, states that the deck is by Evelyn Nicod.  Since I have found no evidence of that name anywhere on the deck, I have put both names at the top.

The cards are printed on very stiff heavy ivory card stock with a lot of texture to it, and the pictures look to be black and white pen-and-ink drawings.  They are skilfully executed.  Since it is a collector's deck, efforts to include symbolism and meaning are minimal.  However, the cats in the cards are portrayed in the typical poses of the figures in the Rider-Waite Major Arcana.

I highly recommend this deck as a gift for cat lovers, or fans of the Tarot who like to collect, as I do.

Click here for pictures

or here to return

Please use your browser's back button to return from pictures

Review Copyright 1998 by Gina M. Pace