The Astrology Center of America, 207 Victory Lane, Bel Air, MD 21014
Tel: 410-638-7761; Fax:410-638-5154; Toll-free (orders only): 800-475-2272
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The Merlin Tarot Deck & Handbook

by R.J. Stewart, illustrated by Miranda Gray

The Merlin Tarot Deck & Handbook
Price: $26.95
Number of cards in deck: 78

Measurements: 3.15 x 4.75 inches; or 80 x 120 millimeters.

Back of card: Sky blue with round disk of a man's head in center. You can invert these if you don't pay a lot of attention to the back.

Books included: Yes, two. The first: The Merlin Tarot Handbook, 147 pages, 4.4 x 6.12 inches; or 111 x 155 millimeters, paperback, no illustrations.
The second: The Merlin Tarot Journal, a blank hardcover book with approximately 75 leaves/150 pages. Measurements: 4.4 x 6.12 inches; or 111 x 155 millimeters.

Packaging: Nicely done in a sturdy cardboard sleeve. Overall package measures 4.65 wide, 6.5 high, 2.6 deep (inches), or 117 x 164 x 65 mm.

Publisher: Element. Printed in China.

Comments: Major Arkana cards are in a non-standard order. Here it is: 1 Moon, 2 Sun, 3 Star, 4 Fortune, 5 Justice, 6 Judgment, 7 Fool, 8 Magician, 9 Chariot, 10 Guardian, 11 Tower, 12 Death, 13 Hanged Man, 14 Hermit, 15 Innocent, 16 Temperance, 17 Emperor, 18 Strength, 19 Empress, 20 Lovers, 21 Priestess, 22 Universe. Notice there is no card designated, "zero".

Suits: Swords are represented by Birds, Wands by Serpents, Cups by Fish, Pentacles by Beasts. This is a Marseilles-type deck in that the pip cards (2-10) are not illustrated, though they each have a keyword at the bottom. I was disappointed with the pip cards, actually, as they're some of the dullest cards of any deck I've seen. You can see two of them above, but they do make up half the deck.

The cards illustrated above: First row, the Magician, Two of Birds (Swords), Queen of Beasts, Ace of Fishes.
Second row: the Priestess, Seven of Beasts, the Universe, King of Birds. The robes of the Priestess are shaped as a Vesica Piscis. To the book's credit, it describes her as a symbol of creative & reproductive energies. We were struck by the card & on second look, was reminded of the use of the Vesica Piscis in Christian iconography, which invariably show the male Christ emerging from the Virgin's Vesica Piscis. Nothing emerges here, which must be by design. Perhaps the next card turned up in a reading will show the outcome (child) of this fertile card. The Priestess reversed, the next card will be stillborn. If both cards are reversed, an outcome no one wants?

The Astrology Center of America

207 Victory Lane, Bel Air, MD 21014
Tel: 410-638-7761; Fax:410-638-5154; Toll-free (orders only): 800-475-2272

Tarot Home Tarot Decks Tarot Books Join our tarot mailing list Astrology Home E-Mail:

Established 1993, The Astrology Center of America is owned & operated by David Roell. Except where noted, this entire site (AstroAmerica.com) & its contents are Copyright © 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 by William R. Roell. All rights reserved. Tarot card images are Copyright © by the copyright holder (generally the publisher).