Touchstone Tarot Reissued by US Games

[FLizarraga]

Maybe you guys knew this already (I'm usually the last to know ANYTHING), but I have not seen this announced anywhere else.

 

So, for those who are Johnny Come Latelys like myself, here it is: there is a new edition of Kat Black's OOP Touchstone Tarot, by US Games:

 

https://www.usgamesinc.com/touchstone-tarot.html#:~:text=The Touchstone Tarot by Kat,art gallery in a box.

 

For those like me who love Kate Black's magnificent decks, this is wonderful news.

 

The original edition of the Touchstone was self-published and sold in a bag, or with a bag, if I remember correctly (I have never seen it, so I'm speaking from hearsay). The next edition was made by Kunati, a publishing house that folded shortly after. It is still available on the second-hand market, though understandably the price keeps going up.

[gregory]

You are correct - a bag handmade by Kat's mother !

[FLizarraga]

6 hours ago, gregory said:

You are correct - a bag handmade by Kat's mother !

 

Well, I was sure that if anyone knew about the deck's history, it would be you, gregs! 🥰

 

Did you know that US Games had picked up the deck? I had NO IDEA until today.

[euripides]

I had no idea. A bag made by her grandmother, how amazing! Mine doesn't have a bag, but has a numbered edition card, so I think it might be a Kunati one. How serendipitous, I'd picked this deck for my Deck of the Week. I'm pleased it's being republished, it deserves a wide audience.

[gregory]

I have a Kunati one as well. It isn't numbered. You may have an original with no bag - made by her mother, not her Gran ! (I did order very early in the run !)

 

And to my horror, in my Kunati one I just got out (the cards have gilded edges by the way !) the Happy Squirrel card is stuck to the bottom of the box... Excuse me; I have work to do here...

 

ETA. OK - and I got it out. And guess what - it was the ******ing gilded edge.... WHY do publishers KEEP doing these ? How many people actually want them ?

Edited June 26, 2022 by gregory

[FLizarraga]

11 hours ago, euripides said:

I had no idea. A bag made by her grandmother, how amazing! Mine doesn't have a bag, but has a numbered edition card, so I think it might be a Kunati one. How serendipitous, I'd picked this deck for my Deck of the Week. I'm pleased it's being republished, it deserves a wide audience.

 

The Kunati edition comes in a box (that says Kunati somewhere, check it out; it should be on the bottom, I think), and has gilded edges.

 

8 hours ago, gregory said:

I have a Kunati one as well. It isn't numbered. You may have an original with no bag - made by her mother, not her Gran ! (I did order very early in the run !)

 

And to my horror, in my Kunati one I just got out (the cards have gilded edges by the way !) the Happy Squirrel card is stuck to the bottom of the box... Excuse me; I have work to do here...

 

ETA. OK - and I got it out. And guess what - it was the ******ing gilded edge.... WHY do publishers KEEP doing these ? How many people actually want them ?

 

I actually like gilded edges, though as you point out they very often have quality issues.

 

Schiffer actually did an unprecedented thing with the second edition of the Mary-El Tarot, which had silver sticky edges; they recalled it and reissued it with non-sticky black metallic edges.

Edited June 26, 2022 by FLizarraga

[euripides]

13 hours ago, gregory said:

I have a Kunati one as well. It isn't numbered. You may have an original with no bag - made by her mother, not her Gran !

Oh, cool! I traded for it, so no box or bag. Glad you were able to recover your Happy Squirrel!

[gregory]

If I have the energy, I'll look later to see if the backs differ....

[gregory]

@euripides

 

AH. Backs identical - but here's a killer for you to check. The original is MUCH smaller than the Kunati. 8 x 10.2 cm.

 

So if yours is a) not gilded and b) that size rather than Kunati size, which is 8.8  x 12.5cm - you have an original.

Edited June 27, 2022 by gregory

[Eno]

I have the Kunati one. I am wondering now whether I need an US Games version too, just in case that the gilded edges become sticky and ruin my Kunati...

 

[gregory]

The card stuck to the BOX. They haven't stuck to each other, So I put a piece of tissue at the bottom so it can't happen again.