Lo Scarabeo Anima Antiqua Line

[gregory]

Oops I didn't get around to the comparison. But yes - the Montieri was a game for educating children.

[katrinka]

7 hours ago, Morsoth said:

No, I won't read with the Montieri! Anyway, these decks were never designed for cartomancy after all. All the Anima Antiqua decks, to date, are for playing the games of tarocchi, tarot or tarock. The ones that are similar to the Tarot de Marseille, like that Sopraffino, are easier to work with considering that a system has been developed. Maybe LoS will reproduce decks designed for divination in this line someday, but right now, it's only decks for playing games. However, you can use anything for divination. So I'm sure many will use them in readings.

True, not only for cards, but for most things on those endless lists of "-mancies": tea leaves, palms, wax drippings, bones, entrails, bowls of water, counting crows, etc. ad infinitum. They weren't originally intended to be read, but people read them anyway. And I think an old pip Tarot reads much better than a modern oracle deck that was supposedly designed for reading.

I'm just not sure about the Montieri. I think it could be done if one were to invest a great deal of time with them, but they look like a hard nut to crack.

[katrinka]

3 hours ago, gregory said:

Oops I didn't get around to the comparison. But yes - the Montieri was a game for educating children.

Then you'd think it would be pretty straightforward!
I doubt I could come up with relevant meanings for all those heraldic shields, though.

[Morsoth]

21 minutes ago, katrinka said:

Then you'd think it would be pretty straightforward!
I doubt I could come up with relevant meanings for all those heraldic shields, though.

Thinking about it, the Montieri deck is pretty similar to any Marseille or pip deck if you only read with the top image and ignore the larger portion with writings and heraldic symbols. The only true difference is that the deck has only 62 cards: 24 pip cards, 16 court cards and 22 trumps. But again, if you use the Marseille meanings, I'm sure you can read with them.

[katrinka]

21 minutes ago, Morsoth said:

Thinking about it, the Montieri deck is pretty similar to any Marseille or pip deck if you only read with the top image and ignore the larger portion with writings and heraldic symbols. The only true difference is that the deck has only 62 cards: 24 pip cards, 16 court cards and 22 trumps. But again, if you use the Marseille meanings, I'm sure you can read with them.

Well, yes, but then there's really no point in using it, you might as well use another pip deck.
We had a discussion about that on one of the Lenormand threads recently, about how if you have a deck with a wonky card that doesn't fit the meaning, it's problematic. Sure, you can ignore the image, but then you aren't really reading the deck.

[Morsoth]

3 hours ago, katrinka said:

Well, yes, but then there's really no point in using it, you might as well use another pip deck.

Hmmm... I see your point, and it's valid! 😄 But, you can use a deck only for the aesthetic. As we all already know, many modern decks are Rider-Waite clones, and many uses them with the RW meanings in head, without really delving into the actual imagery of the cards. For many, a tower card is a tower card. So, well, I guess you can use the Montieri deck as any pip deck.

[katrinka]

2 hours ago, Morsoth said:

Hmmm... I see your point, and it's valid! 😄 But, you can use a deck only for the aesthetic.

I suppose there's no harm done if you're alone. It might be problematic for face to face client readings, though:
"What about all those shields? What do they mean?"
"Oh, I don't pay any attention to those..."
It doesn't exactly inspire confidence. 😸

2 hours ago, Morsoth said:

As we all already know, many modern decks are Rider-Waite clones, and many uses them with the RW meanings in head, without really delving into the actual imagery of the cards.

"Many" people do a lot of things with cards. One has only to watch some of the fiascos on youtube. 🙄
Don't get me wrong, I'm a system reader to a big extent. I don't "read off the pictures" in the sense that a lot of people do. But the pictures have to be compatible with the meanings I'm using. If they're not, I need to find another meaning.

2 hours ago, Morsoth said:

For many, a tower card is a tower card. So, well, I guess you can use the Montieri deck as any pip deck.

I'm sure some will. It's not for me, though.
Thanks! De-enabling is GOOD. 😁

[Morsoth]

Oh I understand! When I do readings, I do read with the deck I'm using. I was just trying to find a way to read easily with these, that's all. That's why I'm never gonna read with any Anima Antiqua. These decks are for my historical collection, not for readings.

[sixdegrees]

Oh yes, the AA seems much nicer than the Ancient Italian. It is on my list for sure!

[Morsoth]

Big news! Lo Scarabeo released its catalog for 2021!

 

Link: https://issuu.com/loscarabeo/docs/catalogo_2021_-_inglese_-_lo_scarabeo_-_low_res_1_

 

The new releases in the Anima Antiqua line will be:

 

• Naibi di Giovanni Vacchetta (Torino, 1893)
• Tarot Steinberger (Frankfurt, ca1820)

 

 

Edited April 15, 2021 by Morsoth

[Guest]

Hey guys!

 

I've been watching this thread since the beginning, and I have no idea what took me so long to get into these decks. They are lovely to hold, and to behold! I picked up the Wiener Secession on a whim over the summer some time? I forget the release date. A local shop here actually has it on the shelf, which i thought was pretty neat becuse I didn't think this deck had much apeal for readers. Fastforward to yesterday, and I stopped by the other local fancy shop (we have 3 now!) and they had 3 AA decks on the shelves! Went in for candles, left with candles and the Monteiri. I really didn't know what I had grabbed, but am pleasantly surprised! Although I'm not sure I'd get a deck with 4 'emperors' (Moors?) again. Regardless, its a unique offering & fun for me.

 

I was a bit surprised to see that LS had included the Wiener Secession (Jugenstil) in their lineup, as it's still available from Neue Galerie. Can anyone speak to the respective editions? Are they different in ways aside from the box?

 

(I really like the AA boxes ❤️)

 

Also, I've been working part time at the local indie bookstore and thought "what the heck, let's see if our distributor has any Sopraffinos available." They had three. I had to order one, obviously. Very excited to see that one in a couple weeks!

 

Quarantine has turned me into a shopper again. I'm taking small pleasures where I can. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

What are your thoughts on the 2 new offerings scheduled for this year?? I'm very happy to see the original Vacchetta colors, and while I really don't *need* another tarock, the Steinberger *is* a fine example. And probably would be the most gorgeous deck for old timey game night you could get.

 

Cheers, guys. Hope you are all well.

-Corey

 

P.S. Well, shoot. I forgot to discuss my sadness about missing the Sola Busca in this series. Seems like this , and the Scarlet Imprint editions would have been the best to get. Gah!

Edited February 10, 2021 by Guest

[Morsoth]

Oh that's cool! Welcome to the Anima Antiqua aficionados team! 😉

 

The Sola Busca has been re-edited as part of the "Museum Quality" label by Lo Scarabeo. The cards are the same, but they are glossy... and I think they modernized the back (but I'm not 100% sure). So, you still can add that deck to your collection. That's the link on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Sola-Busca-Tarot-Museum-Quality/dp/0738761168/

[Guest]

Hi Morsoth,

Yeah I saw the Museum Quality at fancy shop #2 when I went in.. I'm not wild about the oversized packaging or the glossy finish. I'll just sit that one out for a while, and check second market sites for a deal, most likely. Which decks do you enjoy working with the most, in this line? The Conver looks very nice as well!

[Morsoth]

Yes, probably a wise move to wait for a used copy instead of the museum edition.

 

Which one I like the best... well, shame on me, because I collect these ones only for their historical values, even if they are reproductions. I might use them for a tarot reading in the future, but for now, I want them only to 'study' the art and the story around them.

 

For the best looking ones, I'll say the Conver (a classic) and the Tarocchino Montieri.

Edited February 15, 2021 by Morsoth

[gregory]

OK I just got the Vacchetta and the Steinberger. What numbers does one assign to them - I am becoming officially confused, but I THINK they are nos 9 and 10 ?

 

1: Sola Busca

2 Mitelli

3 Etruria

4 Egpytiens

5 Marseille

6 Wiener Secession

7 Montieri

8 Sopraffino 

 

So Vacchetta is 9 and Steinberger 10, as that is the order they have for release dates in the catalogue ?

 

Oh - and they are - as usual - lovely quality.

Edited August 12, 2021 by gregory

[Sar]

I have them all in my wishlist. 

[Morsoth]

1 hour ago, gregory said:

So Vacchetta is 9 and Steinberger 10, as that is the order they have for release dates in the catalogue ?

 

Yes, that's right, Vacchetta would be #9 and Steinberger #10. This time, I pre-ordered them from Indigo. Last year, I bought them from Lo Scarabeo, and got them early, but at a cost. I ended up paying for so much import fees that they costed me the double of the price listed on Amazon.

[gregory]

19 minutes ago, Sar said:

I have them all in my wishlist. 

It's wise to buy them when they show up. They can and do sell out...

 

 

[Sar]

25 minutes ago, gregory said:

It's wise to buy them when they show up. They can and do sell out...

 

 

Thank you for the tip.

[Morsoth]

The power of FOMO is strong... I have them all, I don't want to chase the new releases on eBay! So, I followed your wisdom and cancelled my pre-orders at Indigo (I'm afraid they might not get them, since the status changed and they are 'OOP' on their website, and people can't event order them anymore...)

 

I bought the two decks at Lo Scarabeo, ended up costing $150 CAD, lets hope the custom fees won't be terrible this time. 

[gregory]

It's covid - they have been having a hell of an issue with delivery....

[Morsoth]

4 minutes ago, gregory said:

It's covid - they have been having a hell of an issue with delivery....

Good point, but I guess I don't want to risk any chance to pass out on these. Lo Scarabeo is on vacation for a week, but my order is in. So, even if I end up paying $45 for import/custom fees, that'll be worth it. I barely buy tarot decks nowadays, I merely only buy the 2 yearly Anima Antiqua from Lo Scarabeo, so that's not too bad.

[Morsoth]

I received my decks today! I ordered them on the day Lo Scarabeo temporarily closed for a 2 weeks vacation, and they re-opened on Monday. So, shipping was incredibly fast from Italy to Canada (5 days)! I had to pay Import/Custom taxes, again, but I guess I'm used to it now!

 

Here's the complete collection to date. I guess next year I'll have to put them on a table to take a shot, they barely fit a bookcase shelf!

 

Edited August 27, 2021 by Morsoth

[gregory]

Aren't they LOVELY ?

[Morsoth]

3 hours ago, gregory said:

Aren't they LOVELY ?

 

They are! The Vacchetta Tarot is so beautiful in real! I also have the version by Il Meneghello (2001) in color, but I love this B&W edition! I can't wait to know which decks will be produced in 2022!