Universal Tarot (Cards)

~ Lo Scarabeo (Author), R. De Angelis (Illustrator), A. E. Waite (Designer)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Drawn according to the instructions of the famous occultist Arthur E. Waite, artist Roberto De Angelis provides the student of Tarot with a useful working deck, appropriate for divination and study. Containing all the elements of traditional Tarot arranged in new and interesting compositions, this deck is perfect for the serious apprentice as well as the seasoned reader. Readers will recognize familiar scenes while being delighted by De Angelis' uncluttered adaptations and sophisticated use of color.

About the Author

Since 1987, Art Publisher Lo Scarabeo has published over 100 Tarot decks that have been acclaimed all over the world for originality and quality. Only the best Italian and International artists are selected for our new decks, and the result is that Lo Scarabeo's decks are all recognizable as an exceptional artistic value.

Tradition
One of Lo Scarabeo's goals is the preservation of traditional Tarot decks.

Development
New decks and ideas are continually gathered from all over the world. This allows Lo Scarabeo to produce some of the most innovative decks available today.

Quality
Lo Scarabeo is committed to ever increasing quality and beauty of their products.

Distribution
*Llewellyn is the exclusive distributor of Lo Scarabeo products in North America.

Product Details

• Cards: 78 pages
• Publisher: Llewellyn Publications; Cards edition (January 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 073870007X
• ISBN-13: 978-0738700076
• Product Dimensions: 4.9 x 2.8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #516,873 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An alternative of the classic Raider Waite deck, December 15, 2002

By	Yu Mei Chi (Hong Kong) - See all my reviews

I'm a beginner of tarot and I was wondering of which deck to choose before. I prefered to start from the classic deck of Raider Waite for a solid foundation. As many resources and books of tarot are based upon this deck. However, I found that no matter in the design, colours and brushstroke in the Raider or the Universal Waite are not as delicate as the Universal Tarot. Roberto de Angelis made a fantastic rendition in watercolour of the images. He kept most of the original features and essence in the Raider deck. When I look into the images I feel soft and calm. Moreover, the texture and size of this deck are just wonderful that when you play the card, it is so smooth as if you are touching silk. If you want to choose a deck which contains the traditional spirit in a graceful and elegant taste. The Universal Tarot would be a good choice.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good choice other than Raider Waite deck, December 15, 2002

By	Yu Mei Chi (Hong Kong) - See all my reviews

This is a good deck in various ways. The artist try to render the classical Raider Waite or Universal Waite in a more soft and delicate version by the wonder application of watercolour. It gives a peaceful and imtimate feeling. Moreover, the size and texture are just fantastic! When you play it you'll find it as smooth as silk! This deck kept most of the original design and features in the Raider Waite deck, if you are planning to learn tarot by the traditional classic system, this would be a very good choice other than the Raider one.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Rider-Waite style deck, March 20, 2008

By	Ikoi Hiroe "productmaven" (southern california) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have the mini version of this deck.

I ordered this deck by mistake thinking I was ordering the Universal Waite deck. When I received this deck, I was actually disappointed, but I kept it and it has grown on me. It is now one of my favorite deck to carry/travel with.

The comic-style artwork is very high quality, but the style is something I took some time for me to get used to. I actually don't care for the chiseled superhero look that some of the men have in this deck- but I actually adore the female depictions and find that they more than compensate for the lack of enthusiasm I have for the men.

Lo Scarabeo always produces top-notch decks in terms of print quality and card stock. The cards are a dream to shuffle, easy to spread like soft butter, and the printing is always spectacular. In that regard, this card is a joy to use.

Where this card shines is the usage of color. Reading tarot can be stressful on the eyes with some of the more vivid cards, especially if you do it for hours on end (I often end up reading for an entire night if I go to a party and I have a deck with me). This deck used subtle and muted colors and isn't jarring or garish. Hence, this deck is my preferred deck for doing readings for any extended amount of time.

This is a great beginners' deck and also a great deck for any level that enjoy Rider-Waite type decks. If you like the comic-book style artwork, then you'll really enjoy this one.

If you're not into the comic-book artwork in this deck, try the Universal-Waite or the original Rider-Waite.