Shop This Deck: The Alchemical Tarot of Marseille
The Alchemical Tarot of Marseille is a significant reinterpretation of the traditional French deck. Robert Place has redrawn the “naive” folk art of original Marseille cards into a sophisticated style influenced by Renaissance prints. Each trump card includes a specific alchemical symbol and a quote from the ancient Hermetica (Walter Scott’s 1924 translation) to clarify the card’s philosophical roots.
The pips depart from standard Marseille repetition, using scenes of people and animals inspired by German and Minchiate traditions. While the scholarship and artwork are top-tier, the physical execution is the weak point.
Verdict: This is a library deck, not a table deck. Buy it for the deep research and the brilliance of the Hermetic quotes, but don’t expect it to survive heavy daily shuffling. The paper quality just isn’t there for a working deck