Visconti Tarot Deck

- The Visconti Tarot deck is stunningly rendered on quality card-stock in full colour, with a patterned gold foil background on all the Major Arcana and Court Cards. The beauty of this deck is truly astonishing. Even the cards of the minor arcana have lovely illustrations with gold foil highlights. The deck size is somewhat longer than a normal playing-cards deck, but not unmanageable for shuffling, etc. And the size does lend the entire deck an appearance of something extraordinary - even before one reveals the faces of the cards. - There are a number of reasons I chose this deck. After looking through literally hundreds of different styles of Tarot from across a half-dozen websites, I ordered this one for its colourfully intense and faithfully rendered early Renaissance artwork because I specifically want to use the deck in the context of historic reenactment events and themed parties, etc. The black background and muted colors of the symmetrical period illustration on the back of each card is lovely, yet not distracting, and it makes for a very dramatic contrast with the intense beauty of the colours and metallic gold that will naturally draw the eye when the card is revealed. - NOTE: The fact that this deck is patterned on an original Renaissance deck does mean that the minor arcana cards are all beautifully - but simply - rendered with just the number and the symbols of the four suits: Wands, Cups, Pentacles and Swords. This means they do not have the more imaginative images in the minor arcana for both the querent and the Tarot reader to key-in on when looking at a spread. It's my understanding this was the period way many early Tarot decks were rendered, however, it may prove challenging at first for someone used to more modern tarot decks. That being said, I don't believe it should deter someone from purchasing the Visconti Tarot. It may simply require more study to familiarize oneself with the meanings of the various numbers and suits of the minor arcana, without the help of the illustrations - just as any Tarot Reader would have had to do in the Middle Ages and Renaissance. And I believe the truly stunning look and feel of this deck will more than make up for that challenge, which in the end would likely improve one's overall understanding of the Tarot - whether they are a novice or a longtime practitioner. - In conclusion, I would like to thank those who specifically posted the correct ISBN numbers for this superior rendering of the Visconti deck as: ISBN-10: 0738700193. After looking at so many different decks and reading so many and varied reviews, it was very nice to have some specificity to be confident that I was ordering the deck I had read about.

This deck is absolutely gorgeous. I love the metallic gold and they’re a really nice size. The art is beautiful. I’m so excited to use these! The only negative thing was the box being a little bent up, but other than that, I’m thrilled with these. <3

I love the gold details on this deck! And they are pretty much standard tarot card size (a wee bit narrower), so they are easy to shuffle and handle! They’re pretty good when it comes to sliding well/not sticking together too! I have another version of this, but the cards are huge, so they are difficult to shuffle and handle. These are perfect! Only minus in my book is the cheap-ass tuck box, because I know it will not last that well. Even though it looks good with gold foil as well, I would prefer a styrdy 2-piece carton box for longevity.

This is a famous set of cards that no Tarot collection would be complete without, but it is my least favorite personally. My interest in the Tarot is all in the symbolism, and unfortunately this deck has very little compared to others. Many of the details you normally see on Tarot cards were sacrificed in favor of pure decoration in the form of gilding. It is pretty and definitely screams "I'm rich" if you live in the 1450s, but of course all that gilding took up space that would be filled with interesting symbolism in other decks. So as a pure collection piece and a piece of history, it's a great deck. It is also a very good deck if you actually intend to use them as playing cards as was their original purpose, but if you are a student of symbology or if you fancy yourself a fortune teller, the lack of visual content in this deck is a detractor, and you would do better with a more traditional deck. If you want to use them as playing cards, just be aware that the gilding is so bright that it can make them hard to see in direct sunlight.

Phenomenal Renaissance restored Tarot deck that makes it easy to play the game of Tarot. Commissioned by Filippo Maria Visconti around 1450 for his successor Francesco Sforza, first Duke of Milan, to signify family status. Design attributed to court painter Bonifacio Bembo. The cards feature genteel characters with gold and some silver detailing. No single, complete original deck exists, with 35 cards at the Morgan Library & Museum, 26 cards at the Accademia Carrara, and 13 cards at the Casa Colleoni in Bergamo. The full deck, again completed, set the standard for the 4 usual suits (swords, coins, wands/clubs, cups) of 14 cards each, with the 5th/trumps suit of 21 cards, plus the Fool.

Beautiful art, right size, easy to shuffle, golden details are really pretty as well. I wish they where a little thicker. But I guess they are easy to manage and they seem to be durable.

Absolutely beautiful artwork. The foil is beautiful. Feel nice in your hands. Would have loved it even more if the foil was on both sides. That makes shuffling easier, for me anyway.

These cards are simply stunning; the gold foil accents really shine and give the cards a rich feel. I don't collect decks as such; all the decks I have I actually read with. So far, the gold has held up through many readings and shufflings. I've also handled the cards a lot while studying, and so far so good. Since the Visconti deck does not have unillustrated minors, it can be challenging to read with. However, it is very similar to the Marseilles deck (and MUCH prettier), so it can inspire you to take on this challenge (it did so with me!) Very nice cardstock and packaging, excellent LWB--you simply can't go wrong with this deck, especially given the price.