Designers: Herta Drnec and Roberta Lanphere
Publisher: Piatnik, Vienna
Copyright Date: 1986
Number of cards in pack: 93
Suits: Wands, Swords, Disks, Cups, Triax
Not a deck for the beginner (93 cards, five suits!), but an interesting choice for the advanced tarot reader. Indeed, the accompanying booklet states that "this deck is designed with the serious student of metaphysical and related fields in mind." Cards are well-designed, and bear the name of the card on each card in three languages: German, English and French. Designs that contain human figures are not for the prudish, as they tend toward anatomical correctness.
The size of the cards are larger and less oblong than most decks, measuring roughly 3.5" wide x 4.25" tall. If you tend to keep your decks in wooden tarot boxes, you'll need something other than the standard size for this deck.
The leaflet that accompanies the deck is quite good, and is 104 pages in length. It explains the cards well, both in upright and inverted positions, and describes the Modified Celtic Spread.
Overall, this is a must deck for the tarot collector, if only for it's
unusualness. For the advanced tarot reader looking to expand his or her
studies, it's also good - the fifth suit adds an interesting layer of complexity
that brings new dimension to readings. This wouldn't be our first deck
(we'd still go with Rider-Waite for that one), and it probably wouldn't be our
second or third - but if you've started collecting, as we all do sooner or
later, the Deva Tarot should find a home in your collection. Whether or not this deck is for you is totally dependent
upon how advanced you are in your studies of the tarot.
The Deva Tarot may be available for purchase online - click here for more information.
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