Which Sola Busca Edition?

[Ferrea]

After @MuninnMissinHuginn did a reading for me using the Sola Busca, I dug up my 1995 Lo Scarabeo edition. The images appear tiny, have black borders, and are polished (I guess this seller just trimmed the black borders of the 1995 edition). So, I figured I'd treat myself to a new old version of this deck.

There are several editions on the market. I watched some comparisons on YouTube and am almost set on the Il Meneghello. But before clicking the buy button, I wanted to ask you knowledgeable folks for your opinion.

Which version do you own, and what do you like about it?

Here are the ones I took into consideration. Are there others I didn't list (besides the OOP Scarlet Imprint)?

Lo Scarabeo
Sola Busca Tarot - Museum Quality Line

From what I saw on YouTube, the cards are laminated and glossy. The advantage is that the details are clearer, though my personal preference is non-laminated card stock.

Giordano Berti (Rinascimento Italien Style Art)
SOLA BUSCA TAROT 1491. Ltd. ed. 777 numbered copies. ART BOX

Not a fan of the border around the border.

Il Meneghello
Sola Busca Tarot and Book 

My favourite so far. I have an eye on two more decks here so it would make sense shipping wise.


These two are not really candidates for me personally, but I wanted to mention them for completeness. The Museo dei Tarocchi is a majors only edition.

Tarot By Seven
Sola Busca Revisited 3.0

Museo dei Tarocchi
Sola Busca Tarot

[gregory]

Meneghello. No contest (I have all three.)

[DanielJUK]

I've moved this thread to the historical decks section 🙂 

[MuninnMissinHuginn]

@Ferrea

I defer to Gregory as they know the cards.  My deck is the Lo Scarabeo deck.  The cards are thick, large and very difficult to shuffle.  The art work is very nice.  I don’t know what is important to you.  I hope that helps.  I really am not very knowledgeable.

[Chariot]

On 11/2/2024 at 8:17 PM, Ferrea said:

Lo Scarabeo
Sola Busca Tarot - Museum Quality Line

From what I saw on YouTube, the cards are laminated and glossy. The advantage is that the details are clearer, though my personal preference is non-laminated card stock.

 

This is the deck I own.  I don't 'use' it in the sense that I don't read with it, but I enjoy looking at it and learning about it. The box is large, presentation-quality—great for a bookshelf, but would not be handy to carry around.  The included book is quite informative about the images on the cards. The cards themselves are VERY glossy and slippery, but the card stock seems good.  The cards are sturdy, but flexible enough to be riffle-shuffled.  They measure 3 inches by 5.75 inches.  They are tall, but the width is narrow enough to be easily handled ...and I don't have big hands.  My one complaint is that the backs of these cards are not attractive ...just pinkish dots of various sizes on a purplish background.  Does not convey a feeling of 'Renaissance' at all.  

I see there is now also a mini-version of this Lo Scarabeo deck, which comes in a tuck box for around £15.  

 

Edited November 3, 2024 by Chariot

[Ferrea]

On 11/2/2024 at 9:49 PM, gregory said:

Meneghello. No contest (I have all three.)

 

Thank you for the reply! What makes you prefer the Il Meneghello over the Berti?

I saw the comparison Berti/Scarlett that you also posted somewhere. The Scarlet seems to be more vivid in terms of colour. How does the Il Meneghello compare to the Berti in this regard? 

And one last question: Which one do you use for readings?

 

 

12 hours ago, MuninnMissinHuginn said:

@Ferrea

I defer to Gregory as they know the cards.  My deck is the Lo Scarabeo deck.  The cards are thick, large and very difficult to shuffle.  The art work is very nice.  I don’t know what is important to you.  I hope that helps.  I really am not very knowledgeable.

 

Well, you own the deck and have an opinion about it. That's what I consider knowledgeable in this context. Thank you for sharing your impressions and experience with the deck!

 

 

9 hours ago, Chariot said:

This is the deck I own.  I don't 'use' it in the sense that I don't read with it, but I enjoy looking at it and learning about it. The box is large, presentation-quality—great for a bookshelf, but would not be handy to carry around.  The included book is quite informative about the images on the cards. The cards themselves are VERY glossy and slippery, but the card stock seems good.  The cards are sturdy, but flexible enough to be riffle-shuffled.  They measure 3 inches by 5.75 inches.  They are tall, but the width is narrow enough to be easily handled ...and I don't have big hands.  My one complaint is that the backs of these cards are not attractive ...just pinkish dots of various sizes on a purplish background.  Does not convey a feeling of 'Renaissance' at all.  

I see there is now also a mini-version of this Lo Scarabeo deck, which comes in a tuck box for around £15. 
 

 

I was tempted buy the mini version a while ago. After purchasing the Manara mini I decided to never go mini again—there's just too much loss of detail in the imagery, in my opinion. Though, I like the mini format in terms of being handy and cute. 

 

Thank you for the detailed description of the deck! I was considering this version, as it's a third of the Il Meneghello’s price (which likely comes with a more extensive book, however). But the very glossy aspect is a point deduction for me.

 

 

All your replies have been really helpful! I may not be the only one interested in this tarot and wondering which to choose. So please keep sharing your impressions of whatever version you own.

 

[coinilius]

I have the Lo Scarabeo Museum Quality edition and, personally, I found it a very disappointing purchase.  I have the Lo Scarabeo Museum Quality edition of the Visconti di Modrone Tarot and it is one of my favourite purchases, but the slick, high gloss finish doesn't suit the Sola Busca, IMO.  It's still a high quality product and a good deck to have, but it just feels too good, if that makes sense.

 

Thank you as well for bringing the Il Meneghello to my attention! That might be a good one to get as well, to have a version that feels better in-hand.

[gregory]

On 11/4/2024 at 8:00 AM, Ferrea said:

 

Thank you for the reply! What makes you prefer the Il Meneghello over the Berti?

I saw the comparison Berti/Scarlett that you also posted somewhere. The Scarlet seems to be more vivid in terms of colour. How does the Il Meneghello compare to the Berti in this regard? 

And one last question: Which one do you use for readings?

 

I rarely read with it at all; it's so complex. But bear in mind who I am and what I have to do to get out a deck - I read with whichever is nearest....  If it were to be the Sola Busca - I THINK one of the LoS museum quality ones is easiest to get at in a hurry !

[Ferrea]

I got the Il Meneghello, and I absolutely love it. The card stock is lovely, with some sort of varnish, I guess, creating a silky matte surface—perhaps to protect the print or enhance the colours. The colours are truly wonderful.

[gregory]

Told you !

 

 

Their stuff is beyond fabulous.

[Mayari]

I just got the Lo Scarabeo Ancient Enlightened Tarot Sola Busca from Etsy seller im Ukraine. I am not sure if I have a rare misprint or if they meant for some reason to leave the "X" off the Hanged Man Roman numeral 12. It only says "II" like the High Priestess! Also,this deck jas instructions, but I would like to see something about the alchemical symbols and allegorical figures. 

[gregory]

If you want all that information - buy yourself The Game of Saturn. It may not be quite what you expect.

 

As far as I know my deck has the XII on Il Carbone. I will have a look tomorrow. I hope you haven't got a pirated deck.

[gregory]

My deck has XII on Il Carbone. I would also bear in mind that this deck has been OOP for a long time. I see one up there on etsy from Ukraine that is borderless and - not very like the Lo Scarabeo one; the colours are rather crude. There's also a genuine used one which is - not cheap. But it looks as though as the images sort of match the originals.... It's a shame if it's a bootleg.

 

This is how the originals look:

 

Edited December 16, 2024 by gregory

[Mayari]

Yep. The same deck. I think the "X" left off might be intentional to appear like it is "Il" as in 'Il Carbone? It is at the top where the other major arcana are numbered.Notice "XII" is in the background, bottom of the page. 

Spoiler

 

 

[gregory]

I doubt that very much. Odd.