Which Wirth pack?

[brendanxx]

Hi, I am making a study of tarot cards preparatory to becoming a reader. I'm interested in the Wirth pack as a bridge between the Marseilles and Waites pack but am rather confused by the number of different Wirth packs there arte! I want the earliest pack that is most true to Wirth's original conception - any help identifying the best pack for me would be most welcome and gratefully received.

[gregory]

His original concept was only of the major arcana. 

 

The best one I have is a majors only one published by L'Aigle in Canada - I bought it in 1998, but it isn't dated. I also have a 78 card one put out by Muller - probably my "best" 78 card one is the one from A G Muller from 1976. There's one on etsy for $81 at this moment....  I THINK this is the same one, though:

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Oswald-Wirth-Tarot-Deck/dp/0913866520/ref=sr_1_4

 

The L'Aigle is fetching FAR more, also on etsy - but it is majors only and may not suit you.

[brendanxx]

Thanks - that's very helpful - I suspected that they might be a bit pricey. Also, after the Waite pack it's harder to buy a new (ish) pack with only Major illustrations. I'll have a look at the Muller, though probably too expensive for me at the moment. Thanks again

[Teemu]

Hi,

I think Wirth made only two packs:

1889 Wirth Tarot (available edition: 9780913866528, see above)

1926 Golden Wirth Tarot (available edition: 9783943012934)

Both are major arcanas only.

[gregory]

15 minutes ago, brendanxx said:

Thanks - that's very helpful - I suspected that they might be a bit pricey. Also, after the Waite pack it's harder to buy a new (ish) pack with only Major illustrations. I'll have a look at the Muller, though probably too expensive for me at the moment. Thanks again

 

I think the USGames one is the same as the Muller.

 

This is a good one if you can find it:

https://www.alchemywebsite.com/tarot/art_tarot25.html

[Misterei]

Well if you like something mass market and affordable, I have Symbolic Tarot of Wirth. I quite like it. Full 78 cards. Relatively cheap,

[Mister]

On 3/20/2023 at 12:02 PM, brendanxx said:

I want the earliest pack that is most true to Wirth's original conception

It is his later pack which is true to his own conception, for the earlier one was a work he did for his employer/friend/mentor Stanislas de Guaita.

 

They went straight Majors Only with the first one, and Wirth did stick to that with the second one, now enriched by his own insights into the tarot.

 

Here is a link to an authentic reproduction.

They should be able to ship it, even if the option is not included for where you are, given that you ask them nicely 😉.

Edited March 22, 2023 by Mister

[gregory]

Interesting - I wonder how it differs from this one:

 

https://www.loscarabeo.com/en/products/golden-wirth-tarot-grandi-trionfi?

 

I see the one @Mister suggests is available from bookdepository - free postage all over the world.

[Mister]

@gregory

 

It does differ in size.

 

ETA: Did they use foil for the golden areas in the Grandi Trionfi? If so, size is all it differs in. If not, that would be the second aspect.

Wirth himself apparently insisted on the use of leaf gold for the publication of his (this) pack.

I assume that might be a factor for collectors when it comes to authenticity.

Edited March 22, 2023 by Mister

[gregory]

Sigh. when LoS call them golden they usually are.... OK I'll go look !

 

Yes absolutely,. And for the record the cards are 8 cm x 14.2 cm - virtually the same as your link.

Edited March 22, 2023 by gregory

[Mister]

3 hours ago, gregory said:

8 cm x 14.2 cm - virtually the same as your link.

Indeed.

 

I had assumed the grandi trionfi would be more like this, my bad.

[gregory]

ACTUALLY the one in your link - the Aurinia - is slightly BIGGER than the LoS - and the gold foil is better in the Aurinia one (which, BTW, comes unboxed; just saying.) 

[Mister]

Did you go ahead and added it to your collection?

[gregory]

Um yes....  It was cheap, so....

[Mister]

🤣

 

Why does it not come as a surprise - did you choose the XXL or the "smaller" one?

[gregory]

The only one that was on the site at the time ! the 8 cm x 14.5 one. To be honest I wanted to see how good the foil was. VERY good ! 

[Mister]

A relief - collector's approval for the Aurinia Wirth deck, it seems.

[gregory]

Never trust me ! Srsly, as they say.

 

But the gold foil is superlative - and there's a pdf book for it, too.

Edited March 28, 2023 by gregory

[Scandinavianhermit]

Teemu is right, Brendanxx. Wirth only designed two 22 trump decks, in 1889 and 1926, respectively.

 

Furthermore, many of the tarot decks sold under the name "Wirth" are actually extensive redrawings by other artists. US Games' so called Oswald Wirth Tarot is a redrawing by Michel Simeon from 1966 (and, personally, I find it ugly). Lo Scarabeo's Universal Wirth Tarot is a redrawing by Giordano Berti and Stefano Palumbo, and better described as a 'Wirth-derived' deck.