The Tarot of Prague Kit: A Tarot Deck and Book Based on the Art and Architecture of the "Magic City" [Paperback]

Karen Mahony (Author), Alex Ukolov (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 2004 | Series: Boxed Set

Lavish, beautifully-produced book and tarot deck evoking the rich imagery of the Magic City. Composed from thousands of original photographs of the art and architecture of Prague, each gorgeous image on the 78 cards is a stunning, original collage. For both tarot novices and experts, the accompanying 300-page book gives in-depth guidance to using this gorgeous Tarot, with * interpretations and explanations of each card's symbols * links with traditional Tarot symbols * how to use the deck for cartomantic readings * how to make short, interpretive Tarot readings * keywords to help readings emerge quickly Note: Deck is also available separately, packaged with informative booklet.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Beautifully researched, designed and printed, the Tarot of Prague is one for everyone's collection. -- Solandia, Aeclectic Tarot

I can't recommend buying the deck (with the book!) strongly enough. You won't regret it. -- Diane Wilkes, Tarot Passages

a Prague of the reader’s own mind, all filled with myth, with history, and with magic. -- Lee Bursten, Tarot Passages

my favorite tarot deck, and it isn't simply for reason of emotion, intuition, or the more literal ... but for all. -- Nellie Levine, Tarot Insights

From the Author

When we designed The Tarot of Prague the most important thing to us was to achieve a deck that not only looks good, but that also reads well. Because of this we took great care to incorporate symbols that convey the traditional meaning of each card with clarity depth, and often with a little wit too.

The deck is intended to be usable "out of the box" by anyone familiar with the Rider Waite Smith system of Tarot, but at the same time it has enough layers of meaning to offer fresh insights to the experienced reader.

Enjoy this deck and book, we hope they will challenge the imagination, but also simply give a great deal of pleasure and use.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 300 pages
• Publisher: The Magic Realist Press (April 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0954500709
• ISBN-13: 978-0954500702
• Product Dimensions: 13.8 x 6.8 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,621,303 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #74 in Books > Arts & Photography > Performing Arts > Magic & Illusion

More About the Author

Karen Mahony was born in Belfast, N. Ireland, but moved to the UK when she was seventeen. Since then she's lived in Canterbury, London, Woodbridge in Suffolk and, since 2001, in Prague, Czech Republic. She runs Baba Studio and The Magic Realist Press with her partner Alex Ukolov from a studio in the centre of the old city.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best of the Lot, November 11, 2004

By 

D. C. Secor - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Tarot of Prague Kit: A Tarot Deck and Book Based on the Art and Architecture of the "Magic City" (Paperback)

As a tarot professional with well over a hundred decks in my collection, I can honestly say that this is the best deck I own. The care and craft that went into this beauty is evident in every card. You can see the love the developers have not only for Tarot, but for the city of Prague. I am not often a fan of "collage" decks, but this one is done brilliantly, often incorporating many styles of art and architecture.

I am particularly fond of The Moon, which is the card I tend to immediately gravitate toward upon my new deck purchase. The mood from this card captivated me from the start, so much so that my girlfriend ordered a print of it for me.

The accompanying book is a treasure as well. Owning many books on the tarot, I found that Ms. Mahony captured the true essence of tarot. This book could stand alone and be used by tarot lovers, novice or experienced.

I noticed two negative reviews complaining about the same problem with the cardstock flaking. I own two decks and my girlfriend had two of her own when I met her. This has not happened on any of them.

This is a perfect deck IMO - the only two Rider-Waite decks which come close are the Golden and the Baroque Bohemian Cat (also published by the same authors).

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superlative Collage Tarot, May 20, 2004

By 

Sarah Ovenall (Durham, NC United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Tarot of Prague Kit: A Tarot Deck and Book Based on the Art and Architecture of the "Magic City" (Paperback)

A lot of collage Tarot decks look jumbled together, with little concern for composition or visual harmony. Not so the Tarot of Prague. This lovely collage Tarot was clearly created by artists with a high degree of skill. The use of imagery from Prague is clever, but understated: this is no limited-use "theme deck."

Not only is Tarot of Prague beautiful, but also meaningful. The book provides helpful, detailed analysis of the author's perspective on the cards. I highly recommend this deck to anyone interested in collage Tarot, in Prague, or in Tarot as an art form.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the deck that got me fascinated by Tarot., May 20, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: The Tarot of Prague Kit: A Tarot Deck and Book Based on the Art and Architecture of the "Magic City" (Paperback)

It was only when I first saw this deck on their website (www.tarotofprague.com), that I felt intrigued and fascinated by tarot cards.

The detailing and attention to minutiae is spectacular. Also, I found it refreshing and innovative. The images seem to portray the meanings very profoundly.

I realize that the selection of tarot decks is very personal, and may vary from person to person. But on the whole, this is a rather artistic deck and will have mass appeal.