Favorite TDM?

[BradGad]

Hi Folks,

 

I’m new here…

 

It looks like there isn’t a lot of activity on the TDM sub-forum, but maybe there are lurkers. But, no, wait, “lurkers” sounds negatives. I meant, TDM lovers who only need a loving nudge. 

 

I’m wondering what are the favorite TDM decks of folks here? I only have two in my possession right now, but about four more in-bound in the mail.

 

I’m really looking forward to seeing those, but I’m also thinking it will be hard to improve on the CBD… Just a rock-solid deck. Seems to me (we can discuss) that TDM reached its maturity with the Conver deck, and that Ben Dove did such a good job of making it pretty, clean, and accessible as well as accurate. 

Edited January 9, 2023 by BradGad

[Raggydoll]

My favorite is Pierre the Madenie, the first edition by Yves Reynaud. I personally much prefer historical reproductions over the crisp, redrawn versions 🙂

[Guest]

2 minutes ago, Raggydoll said:

My favorite is Pierre the Madenie, the first edition by Yves Reynaud. I personally much prefer historical reproductions over the crisp, redrawn versions 🙂

 

Same here! 

 

I haven't really explored or studied the system, so I only have five Marseilles. Among them, my favorite aesthetically is definitely the Madenié. Love the deep and vivid blues, reds, greens, and yellows - something that very few antique TdMs seem to show. 

 

I have the most fun with the Garden of Love though, which is not much of a surprise heh. 

[Flaxen]

So hard to pick one! Of the modern, redrawn ones I really like the Mamanmiyuki. 
 

Flornoy’s Noblet and the Madenie in the TdM historical reproductions. 
 

If we are allowed to also mention historic decks which are not TdM - Il Meneghello’s Soprafino, Rosenwald, Budapest and the Vandenborre Bacchus. 

[Mister]

The Grimaud one, by Mr. Paul Hammer - erm, Marteau.

Not the historical one. The ones with the darker shade of blue, for a very simple reason:

You can modify them to your hearts content.

They are already repainted, re-repainted, and worked over again, edition after edition.

You can only make them more original (and unique).

[BradGad]

Thanks for the input! 

 

I have a couple of Yves Renault's decks on order (the Conver and the Gassmann). I'll have to keep an eye out for a copy of the Madenie. 

 

While it's not as exotic as the ones discussed so far here, I am pretty darned happy with my CBD.

Edited January 9, 2023 by BradGad

[Misterei]

I feel much love for CBD deck as Ben Dov put it into public domain which was a huge service to tarot teachers. I most gratefully use his images in my manuals. It's a clean, no-nonsense deck.

 

I must admit ... I don't care for the classic French TdM in my own readings. The Spanish Fournier style was my first and favorite TdM.

 

I prefer Tarocchi decks. Do these count?

I'm currently reading alot with Patrick Valenza's re-release of Eduord Dotti Lombardy Tarot.  And Vachetta's devil card. It's the bomb.

For special occasions ...  Truinfi Della Luna. It's dark. It's humorous. It's TdM with english titles.

There's also a couple of modern "pip decks" that I adore reading with ... but I don't think those are on topic.

[Tarot_Apprentice]

Greetings, BradGrad, et. al.

 

I'm fairly new to the tarot, totally new to the board, and keep but a few decks. I came at this late in life and am peddling fast to make up for lost time.

 

My first Tarot de Marseille was the Piatnik-Vienne deck. I purchased it because it was the sole TdM carried by the local bookstore. I found the markings/colors to be too indistinct. Next was  the Conver-Ben Dov deck. My favorite is the Camoin-Jodorowsky deck. He's controversial, and I use it only for study purposes. The CBD is my 'working deck.'

 

Tarot_Apprentice

[BradGad]

@Misterei ... You said, "It's a clean, no-nonsense deck."

 

That's exactly how I feel about it. 

 

I *trust* Ben Dove's careful interpretation. It may not have the flavor of some others, but I just feel it is clean and right. 
 

[BradGad]

7 hours ago, Tarot_Apprentice said:

Greetings, BradGrad, et. al.

 

I'm fairly new to the tarot, totally new to the board, and keep but a few decks. I came at this late in life and am peddling fast to make up for lost time.

 

My first Tarot de Marseille was the Piatnik-Vienne deck. I purchased it because it was the sole TdM carried by the local bookstore. I found the markings/colors to be too indistinct. Next was  the Conver-Ben Dov deck. My favorite is the Camoin-Jodorowsky deck. He's controversial, and I use it only for study purposes. The CBD is my 'working deck.'

 

Tarot_Apprentice

 I envy that you have a local shop... I live in the deep woods. Next time I go into Deepest Darkest Atlanta (I'm talking about the traffic), I'm going to try to schedule a visit to a shop.

 

[Tarot_Apprentice]

12 hours ago, BradGad said:

 I envy that you have a local shop... I live in the deep woods. Next time I go into Deepest Darkest Atlanta (I'm talking about the traffic), I'm going to try to schedule a visit to a shop.

 

Deep woods. For me, that recalls Paul Marteau’s TdM blog, ‘small cabin in the woods.’ I assume you’ve come across it?

[BradGad]

@Tarot_Apprentice … No, I haven’t! I’ll go look. Thanks

 

EDIT: That site looks really good!

 

And I do live in a cabin in the woods. (Not particularly small though.)

Edited January 11, 2023 by BradGad

[Mister]

3 hours ago, Tarot_Apprentice said:

Deep woods. For me, that recalls Paul Marteau’s TdM blog, ‘small cabin in the woods.’ I assume you’ve come across it?

Wait; What?

 

It is Kitos Di Giovanni's blog, that one.

Paul Marteau's book is what he did translate.

[Tarot_Apprentice]

3 hours ago, Mister said:

Wait; What?

 

It is Kitos Di Giovanni's blog, that one.

Paul Marteau's book is what he did translate.

Correct. Sloppy on my part. May have had something to do with having copied PM’s name to paste in an Amazon order for his book while replying to the post at the same time. I was doing that when my dogs went nuts. Then my daughter arrived. It was a free-for-all. Think of it as a ‘Le Mat/La Rove de Fortvne’ situation. 😂

[Effective-March]

The CBD TdM by Yoav Ben-Dov is one of my go-to decks. Like others have said, so clean and well-done. I also love my Piatnik-Vienne deck. The colors of the Piatnik feel so inviting to me: the vibrant scarlet-y reds, the rich yellow-golds, the muted and mossy greens... So pretty, imo! I like the Burdel deck for the same reason. With the coloring and the flourishes, it just feels like such a warm deck. I also really like the dark blue-bright yellow's of the Payen deck. Too many great decks, honestly, and I can't choose a favorite! 😆

[LoriaKai]

My personal favourite is Le Tarot Noir. I love the muted artwork and the large cards. I agree the CBD deck is solid though, I found Ben-Dov's book on it really useful.

[BradGad]

22 hours ago, LauraKai said:

My personal favourite is Le Tarot Noir. I love the muted artwork and the large cards. I agree the CBD deck is solid though, I found Ben-Dov's book on it really useful.

 

That's a new one for me... I quite like the pips. 

 

[Scandinavianhermit]

I enjoy the CBD Tarot.

 

If someone were to design yet another Marseilles-derived tarot in the future, I would love:

1. a Devil and a Moon resembling the Payen deck, 
2. the World in Belgian style

[Mikeyc]

I have several Marrseilles decks in my collection.  I have newer version but favor the more traditional decks for reading.

My current favorite in the Jean Noblet deck.  One of the original versions of the TdM style.  

 

[tarotnottaken]

My favorite of all the ones I’ve seen is the Nicolas Conver deck produced by Artisan Tarot. I’ll probably grab their Jean Noblet next. 

[Nisterius]

I have the CBD and like it for the reasons mentioned above. It's easy on the eyes, accessible. 

It's not strictly a TDM but I also just got Ian Cumpstey's "The Great Parade" which I really love. It's in an earlier woodcut style than the "classic" 18th c. TDM, and the trumps are even unnumbered. 

[Misterei]

1 hour ago, Nisterius said:

... Ian Cumpstey's "The Great Parade" which I really love. It's in an earlier woodcut style than the "classic" 18th c. TDM, and the trumps are even unnumbered. 

I just watched a YT flip through. It's a good looking deck. I like the un-numbered trumps, too. Thanks for sharing!

[Mikeyc]

On 11/24/2024 at 10:59 AM, Nisterius said:

 

It's not strictly a TDM but I also just got Ian Cumpstey's "The Great Parade" which I really love. It's in an earlier woodcut style than the "classic" 18th c. TDM, and the trumps are even unnumbered. 

Where did you get that deck?  It's a very interesting deck.

 

[Nisterius]

On 11/26/2024 at 3:40 PM, Mikeyc said:

Where did you get that deck?  It's a very interesting deck.

 

I kickstarted it, but the 2nd edition is available on his website (Northern Displayers)

[laforza76]

Hey Brad, & all!

 

I agree that the CBD is a rock solid deck. It's clear that so much love went into its creation. I also really love the Jean Noblet-- the tiny Marseille! Flornoy's reproduction feels really great in the hand, and will last a lifetime (looking over the above responses, I see that several others also recommended this one-- it's a treasure!). The Vieville is also a super fun pattern, definitely worth exploring. LoriaKai mentioned the Tarot Noir-- I've seen that one in person as well, and it's really impressive! and VERY large. Might be fun for gatherings, exhibitions, or alter work.