Looks like the Tolkien Estate has finally approved a deck. Woodcut style by Tomas Hijo, who did Tarot del Toro and the recent Labyrinth Tarot. Unlike those, this sounds like it might? have fully illustrated minors:

 

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-lord-of-the-rings-tarot-deck-and-guide-casey-gilly/1140975700

 

If it does I think this is a must-buy for me.

Edited April 7, 20224 yr by Niobium

Interesting, I'll have to keep an eye on this. Like you say illustrated minors are a must.

 

(I would still like a deck with Alan Lee's work though.)

6 hours ago, ilweran said:

Interesting, I'll have to keep an eye on this. Like you say illustrated minors are a must.

 

(I would still like a deck with Alan Lee's work though.)

 

Oh wouldn't that be amazing? If only. I have one of the bootleg decks from Etsy which is a very nice compromise; not as detailed as Lee's work, but it evokes the feeling of being book interior illustrations.

Since this comes out week after next, could anyone who purchases it, or comes across pictures, let us know if the minors are illustrated? Based on a single picture they *might* be, but I'm still not certain and I don't want to purchase it if they're pips.

@Niobium and @ilweran -  Just checked the YouTube flip through for Lord of the Rings decks.  Unfortunately, the Thomas Hijo and Casey Gilly deck do NOT have illustrated pips.  I think this is going to hurt them a lot, to be honest.  I kinda like the pictures they did of the Major Arcana and the Court Cards.  Pity they stopped there.  The drawings are quite cartoon-y, but effective.  Dang....

However, the older Fickes of FickesArt deck for Lord of the Rings DOES have illustrated pips.

Edited August 29, 20223 yr by Chariot

ETERNAL SADNESS. But thanks @Chariot for the head's up. Ah well. I was hopeful, but so many of these decks backed by major companies are pips because they just don't want to pay for the last 16 cards. Absurd. Meh!

Goodness, I just watched the video and the rest of the deck is SO lovely. :(:(:(

 

Ah well, As you said the Fickes deck is quite nice so I guess that will have to do!

16 hours ago, Niobium said:

Goodness, I just watched the video and the rest of the deck is SO lovely. :(:(:(

 

Ah well, As you said the Fickes deck is quite nice so I guess that will have to do!

Yeah, I wonder why they stopped short of illustrating all the pips?  I wonder if they realise that will deter lots of tarot readers from buying and/or using the deck.  I know it will keep me from trying it out.  I want the illustrated pips.  I own several decks with non-illustrated pips, and I never actually use them.  In fact, I know the card meanings well enough that I actually could. But why bother?  I like the person I'm reading for to be able to see the pictures on the cards, so they know I'm not just making it up as I go along.  It not only helps them to 'believe' the reading, but often gets them interested in learning tarot themselves.  

@Chariot It's the cheap option, and it is annoying when you have what would have been a great deck but they went for the easy, cheap option. Or just lazy.

Yeah I suspect it's all about not wanting to pay the illustrator as much for those last 36 cards. Absurd given they've paid for over half a deck at that point already, but I can't say I'm surprised.

One day we'll have a Tomas Hijo deck which is fully illustrated. One day!! *shakes fist*

Edited August 30, 20223 yr by Niobium

Interesting, it's not this LoTR deck ... ??

 

_H*
 

No, this is a new deck @Hobbit by Thomas Hijo and Casey Gilly and published by Insight Editions.

In the Barnes and Noble blurb it says the "only" official LOTR deck, so what was that past USgames one?

If that one is out of print, from their perspective it's the 'only one', i.e. the only one they can sell and make money from. 

All my deck box making mats have arrived, so I will probably make a thread in the creative corner about the process of making an LotR deck box, for any interested. 🙂