The Secret Tarots
(I Tarocchi Dei Segreti)
by Marco Nizzoli
 
What a refreshingly different look this deck has!  Artist Marco Nizzoli has added a fresh new spin on a classic tradition.  A friend of mine told me that Nizzoli has done comic art for "Heavy Metal" magazine, and, while I haven't been able to confirm that fact, I can see where the style would fit in.  There is a distinct fantasy feel to the deck, somehow a cross between Japanese animation (Vampire Hunter D, for example) and sci-fi fantasy art.
 
A comparatively recent addition to LoScarabeo's catalog of offerings, this deck is available in the US, but still seems to have the reputation of being hard to find.  It is not, I assure you!  Aside from being distributed by US Games, they can also be ordered from many online services.  I predict they will become even more popular as more and more people get to see them.
 
This is a traditional tarot deck in the structure of 78 cards, 22 Major and 56 Minor Arcana.  All the cards are bordered in white.  Titles appear in Italian at the bottom of the cards, with English, French, German and Spanish in smaller letters at the top border.  In the center of the top, the number is presented in Roman numerals.  Traditional titling and order are followed, with the Lover instead of Lovers and the Wheel instead of a Wheel of Fortune.  Justice is 8 and Strength 11.  Images are recognizably influenced, in some cards, by the Marseille style, by the Rider-Waite model in others, making for an interesting blend of symbolism.
 
In the Minor Arcana, the titles appear in five languages the same as in the Majors.  This time, the numbers are in Arabic numerals instead of Roman. Traditional suits of Chalices (Cups), Wands, Swords and Pentacles are used.  Court titles are King, Queen, Knight and Knave.  Many of the costumes worn by the figures look like they are inspired by historical or period clothing, others look distinctly fantasy.  Knights remind me of the movie "Excalibur."  A few of the cards have some limited nudity in them, and it is rather sensually done, but with taste and totally within the symbolism of the card's meaning.
 
The cards themselves are standard sized, which is slightly larger than LoScarabeo decks used to be, and printed on a thin and flexible stock, making them very comfortable to handle and shuffle.  In fact they have an almost silky smooth feeling in the hands.  The edges are smoothly finished.  The back design is a very interesting bluetone rendered illustration which can be reversed without any noticeable difference since it is the same from both sides.
 
The deck comes boxed with a folded booklet that has divinatory meanings and a spread, or reading key, described in it for use.  LoScarabeo has only recently begun using these little white booklets instead of the cards with simplified meanings.  These are much more helpful.  I especially like that the spread, or reading key, differs from deck to deck and booklet to booklet, so that collectors like myself can end up with a nice variety of spreads to use.  In the one specifically designed for this deck, there is actually a short story which tells the tale of the Land of Secrets and adds interesting new insights into the meanings of each card.  I see this as a newer, fantasy-oriented version of the classic "Fool's Journey."  A short questionnaire rounds out the booklet. This questionnaire can also be filled out electronically and submitted on LoScarabeo's website.
 
I highly recommend this exciting new deck to anyone who is a collector or who likes fantasy-styled art.  It sticks to the basics enough that a beginner shouldn't have too hard a time figuring out how to use it, especially with the booklet to cue him or her in.  If you need help ordering one of these, email Wicce.  Definitely grab one of these!
 
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Review Copyright 1999 by Gina M. Pace
 
The Secret Tarots by Marco Nizzoli, 1998
published by LoScarabeo, Torino
 
email Wicce here for ordering information