"AGED" and "VINTAGE" Decks - the one thing that bugs me about some of them

[GreatDane]

The Aged Look is definitely out there for all kinds of decks, especially tarot.  What irritates me is that they are designed to look, well, old and yet some have backs that don't match the aged look and have TOO WHITE borders.  I antique linen the edges of decks, some darker, some lighter, but those too white borders on front or the backs, just don't match the deck for me.  

 

I was surprised the Borderless Smith Waite, which I see as basically the Centennial just without borders and a different color back, had a back that was not only not borderless, but has those WHITE borders.  

 

Anyone else like the "aged" decks to match borders and backs?  I am planning on getting reall's vintage Pamela deck because that looks more consistent to me.

 

STILL love my Centennial and it's borderless sister, just don't get the thinking behind white borders especially.     

[Raggydoll]

I agree. I have seen several ‘historical reproductions’ or ‘vintage editions’ that are ruined by white borders, large copyright texts and/or mismatching backs. I just don’t buy them. Some of the decks that don’t have those issues are instead too ‘aged’ so they look dirty or silly. If the cardstock is glossy then there is no point of trying to convey an aged or parchment feel to the background. That’s just me. I’m picky and I am also very tactile. I like the feel of old paper and of high quality paper. 

[GreatDane]

Oh me too, Raggydoll!  I love to shuffle and cardstock matters because I am very tactile.  If a deck doesn't FEEL right, not just look right, it matters.

 

I KNOW it can be difficult to get a reproduction just right or to make a deck look "aged", but when it just doesn't match.  AT LEAST they could make the borders a little darker like they had aged, BRIGHT white borders on a vintage deck look just off.  I will get reall's because hers is the closest I've seen that just looks kind of like an older PCS deck.  

 

FYI, Raggydoll have you seen THIS deck?  Your Grandma's Old Tarot Deck Traditional Sized Vintage | Etsy   Some of the cards look much less "aged" than others.  And with shipping it's 63 bucks!  I gave them kudos for trying, but some cards just don't feel consistent in even darkened "aged" tones.  Reall's, and I am not promoting reall here, I do have her Ancient Lenormand, got it when it first came out and love it, but wasn't aware of her aged PCS til a couple days ago, anyway, HER deck looks much more authentic re aging and it's WAY less money.    That one I will get.  I always like to edge the sides with at least Antique Linen by Tim Holtz, often I do it a couple times, to really get the look!  

[Grandma]

Another great topic, @GreatDane!

 

I have reall's Pam's Vintage in the bridge size and it is everything it's cracked up to be.  Also, the Infernal Tarot arrived last week or so.  You can check it out at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/infernal/the-infernal-tarot-a-200-year-old-secret-tarot-deck .  Here's the Fool -

 

Now if they could only figure out a way to get that wonderful musty old paper smell into the cards!

 

[GreatDane]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Grandma!  I agree.  I love the smell of libraries, old books and new cards, smell like, well, new cards.  I DO love the smell of fresh paper (hate decks that smell CHEMICAL when I open them, I like the PAPER smell!), and you're right, it wouldn't seem like something from an old attic if it didn't have the smell 🙂 

[Raggydoll]

10 hours ago, Grandma said:

Another great topic, @GreatDane!

 

I have reall's Pam's Vintage in the bridge size and it is everything it's cracked up to be.  Also, the Infernal Tarot arrived last week or so.  You can check it out at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/infernal/the-infernal-tarot-a-200-year-old-secret-tarot-deck .  Here's the Fool -

 

Now if they could only figure out a way to get that wonderful musty old paper smell into the cards!

 

If I were you, then I’d store the deck inside or next to something that has the right smell. Then over time it would start to transform the deck 😊

[GreatDane]

I scent some of my decks, especially those that don't have that cool paper smell, Raggydoll.  I use essential oils.  Not hard to do without even getting any oil on them.  But I have had a deck or two, no matter WHAT, I could NOT get the chemical smell out.  It was like ingrained in it.  Medieval Cats was a deck like that.  None of the usual ways to make a deck smell better worked, not even charcoal, baking soda, nothing!  It got moved along.  An "aged" or "vintage" deck doesn't need to smell old, or even have to have that fresh paper smell, but a strong chemical smell, um no, just no!    

[GreatDane]

SPEAKING of reall's Vintage Pamela, I was thinking of edging it in Vintage Photo.  I have that and Antique Linen.  Anyone who get this deck edge it?  Very excited for this to make it to my mailbox!   Since we are talking about aging decks, I figured this was still on topic, as I edge my decks to make them look older and shuffle like they're older, broken in.

[katrinka]

On 2/7/2021 at 11:47 PM, Raggydoll said:

If I were you, then I’d store the deck inside or next to something that has the right smell. Then over time it would start to transform the deck 😊

Something like this, maybe:
https://bookriot.com/book-scented-candles/

I've actually seen a perfume oil called "Old Books" at a mall kiosk years ago, and it had the correct aroma. (They had another one called "Dirt". That 90's humor and irony, lol.)
The oil exists: people are scenting those candles with something. Or it may be fairly easy to mix yourself. I know there's a note in old paper that smells like vanilla...
 

2 hours ago, GreatDane said:

SPEAKING of reall's Vintage Pamela, I was thinking of edging it in Vintage Photo.  I have that and Antique Linen.  Anyone who get this deck edge it?  Very excited for this to make it to my mailbox!   Since we are talking about aging decks, I figured this was still on topic, as I edge my decks to make them look older and shuffle like they're older, broken in.

I got one of the poker size ones back when she started selling them. The aging on that one is dark and exaggerated, pretty unconvincing. It doesn't bother me though, I purchased it for the linen finish. 

I rarely if ever edge decks, but if I did, I'd go with the darkest reasonable option for that one.

Edited February 15, 2021 by katrinka