Tarot of Prague, 1st edition

[Carojulie]

Hello, hello !

 

I have been quiet for some time (because very busy in real life !) but I am glad to be back !

 

I recently had the opportunity to purchase the Tarot of Prague 1st edition - this deck I had on my wish list for years, but it was always very pricy on ebay (I even saw it listed for something like 2000 $ !!!! I doubt it ever sold for that price though, lol !)

Anyway, it was one of these decks that I had kind of resolved myself to never get because of the price, and two weeks ago I saw it on ebay for a reasonable price... there were already a couple of bids on it... I placed a bid, thinking that it would be outbid in no time... I was so convinced to be outbid that I more of less forgot about it (I did not want to be caught in the frenzy of bidding always higher and higher, so I basically did not go back to the ebay page, willingly !)... and a few days later, to my surprise, I learned that I had won the auction !

 

So now I have this little jewel, and I am very, very glad. It completes my suit, because I also have the second and third editions. While the third edition, with its cold stamping and its buttery soft cardstock, is very much an object of beauty (and, arguably, the most accomplished edition for this deck) ; the first edition has a freshness to it that I find utterly charming. Plus, the cardstock is very nice to handle. It is a little thicker than the two later editions, and has a sort of "old fashioned" charm to it. While it is very professionally done, it also has a "je ne sais quoi" that makes it seems more "crafted", less "industrial" than the other two editions. It's difficult to explain.

 

And also, this first edition comes, not in a box, but in a charming little "booklet" ! The deck and the cover form a sort of books where the cards would be the pages of the books, unless the cards, of course, are not attached to the binding like pages would be. The little "hardcover" binding closes around the cards with two golden ribbons. It is very cute, but to me it is not enough to protect the cards because they can slip from the cover (there are ribbons only on one side), so I believe the best thing to do, is to keep the cards in there little book-binding, and keep the little "book" inside a pouch. Now I have an excuse for purchasing one more tarot bag from Baba !

 

Do you have this deck ? Do you like this edition ? Which edition do you prefer ?

[gregory]

Yes - I have it. I like the packaging very much, but it is a nuisance in terms of storage.

 

I have to confess that the image quality is better in the second edition (came in a tuckbox.)

[Carojulie]

I just showed the three editions to my 15 year old boy, and asked him which one he prefered. I was expecting him to prefer the 3d edition, for the metallic stamping... but he chose the 1st edition. He said the cardstock was more pleasing to touch (so, he is a tactile cardstock snob like his mother, apparently !). He said that if he had to play with the deck (because he thinks of tarot in terms of the tarot game rather than in terms of cartomancy) he would prefer the 1st edition because the feel of the cards in the hands is the best.

 

If I were asked the same question, I would hesitate between 1st edition (for the "authentic" feel given by the cardstock, for the soft printing and for the adorable book-binding presentation) and the 3d edition (for the marvellous cold stamping, the sturdy box and the butery soft cardstok).

If this was my sole Baba deck, I would probably go for the 3d edition.

But, as I have the Alice tarot that has this same beautiful soft cardstock and cold stamping... then I might choose the first edition for the Tarot of Prague. Because its presentation is really quite unique !

 

Conclusion : the 2d edition is not my fave, but in the end I love them all.....

[saintsandliars]

I only have the first edition, and one of the reasons I really like it is the odd aura of quaintness that comes with the feel of the cardstock. I'm sure the other editions are more polished, because Baba seems to give each deck an extensive rework before reprinting, but right now I'm happy with my lovely old lady. Maybe when I get the cold-stamped edition of the Victorian Romantic I'll change my mind, but for me the cardstock is part of the quirky feeling of the deck in general.

[Annabelle]

I have the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd editions and like them all, but the 1st will always hold a special place in my heart. It's one of my favorite decks of all time. It's also the first "nice" (non-mass market, over $20) tarot deck I ever purchased. My mind was blown by the folder-container with the ribbon :). 'Twas only later on that I discovered that many European decks had that type of container.

[ayuryogini]

That's so exciting, Carojulie, that you finally got your first edition at a fair price.

 

I absolutely love my 3rd edition. I was surprised at how well this deck reads. And I'm always so blown away by the stellar company that is Baba Studios. Everything they do is of incredible quality.

 

Of the TofP, I only have the 3rd edition, and the Special Edition with the gorgeous wood box. And I feel complete with that. But I completely understand what you mean. I felt the same way about the Victorian Romantic. I couldn’t rest until I had ALL editions, including the Gold and mini. Which was no small feat considering I only started collecting less than 2 years ago. Very excited for their new VR edition.

[AJ-ish/Sharyn]

congratulations! always so wonderful to find something we've been searching for.

I had it (1st) and sold it on as I did with all my Magic Realist decks.

 

funny ebay story. A few weeks ago all three of my wanted audio books came on in and auction. I couldn't believe my eyes. I set a  mental price of $117.00. put in a bid so I wouldn't forget to get in there and snipe my brains out.

 

My connection farted and my bid was a second too late. They wen't for 68.00

I'm trying not to care :)