This is a really great little deck.  I was impressed with it as soon as I opened the box.  I didn't really know what to expect beforehand, since I'd only seen a few images online but really hadn't formed any kind of impression.  This is one deck I have to say, looks much better in person.  You really do have to see it to appreciate it.
 
Produced in roughly playing card size, the cards in this deck are illustrated, not surprisingly, with skeletons.  It has nothing to do with the band, Grateful Dead. This deck takes its title more from the Mexican cultural holiday "Day of the Dead."  They are done with charm and character, and are not in the least macabre.  The images in this deck are a lot of fun.  The skeletons are usually smiling and are acting out scenes on all the Major Arcana cards.  Scenes are inspired by the Rider-Waite deck more than anything else.  Detail is very clear in this deck and the artwork is excellent.  Production quality is also top of the line.
 
The Major Arcana cards feature full scenes acted out by the cute little skeletons, with one exception -- Death.  Ironically, and appropriately, the Death card features a live woman who is pregnant.  Although these cards are cute, don't think that a lot of thought and planning hasn't gone into the images.  They are very well done and every detail is fitting.  The titles are done freehand against the images, on banners at the bottom, and the cards are numbered with Roman numerals made out of little bones!  The ordering of the cards follows more Marseille style, with Justice as 8 and Strength 11.  However, titling is classical Rider-Waite.
 
It is when you get to the Minor Arcana that you see more changes occur.  The suits have been changed to Pens, Revolvers, Coffins and Film Reels.  There are no titles used but the images are pretty self-explanatory.  There are no court titles either but you can see that they bear a K, Q,, J and P.  I assume these are for King, Queen, Jack and Page.  The court cards are rendered in the style of playing cards, with double-ended figures.  These warrant close attention since they are *not* identical on either side.  Sometimes the contrast between one end and the other is quite amusing.  The numbered cards are basically pips and have no real scenes.
 
The cards themselves are a very comfortable size and the cardstock used has a very nice feel to it in the hand.  Coating on the cards is smooth and silky.  Edges have a slick polished feel, with nicely rounded corners.  This deck shuffled better straight out of the box than *any* deck I have ever encountered, and as you all know I have encountered a lot.  The back design is a reversible double-ended black and white skull design with coffins surrounding it.  Little white booklet is more of a folded sheet with interpretations provided in both Spanish and English.

I recommend this deck highly for collectors.  One can easily use this deck in place of regular playing card decks.  It can also be used as a tarot deck.  Its charm should have a universal appeal.  I think even young people would love to work with this.  I was extremely pleased with the deck.  The style of artwork is accessible and comfortable.  This deck is privately published and can be purchased at the artist's site here.  If you like this deck there are also t-shirts available from the artist.

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also see
Tarot of the Dead Website
 
No Borders Studio Website

Review Copyright 2000 by Gina M. Pace

Tarot of the Dead by Monica Knighton,  1999
published by No Borders Studio, Austin, TX.
ISBN 0-9674345-0-5