This is a listing of tarots from my collection with some descriptive information. I have included two images from each deck - the Fool and the Tower. The Fool because, for the artist creating the deck it often seems to define the style of their artwork. I chose the Tower because it is quite a fixed image that is not easy to extend or symbolically reshape and thus to my mind tests the creative imagination of the artist.
Where available, bibliographic details are provided.
I think this database will, in the longer term, be important for the study of the artwork of modern tarot. Other people have occasionally begun similar projects but been unable to complete them. Also many of these attempts have been made by scouring the Internet for information, an unreliable method. The entries in my database are not such second-hand information. Each item is in my collection and my description of each tarot is made with the deck, book and packaging at hand. My methodology is also consistent as it is not drawn from various people's opinions. Also my focus is entirely on the art in the tarot, and not on the divinatory, esoteric or philosophical aspects.
I have given a rough price indication by assigning them a code A B C or D. (A= $300 +, B = $100-$300, C = $50-$100 and D= $20-$50).
It will take quite some time to complete this listing as there are over 2100 decks to describe !
Each tarot is now shown on a separate page. The primary database is on my own computer and I make the entries and correction in this program, then it writes the html code for each of the pages. So these get rewritten every time I upload a new version. I hope to be able to do this on a weekly basis. I will also occassionally make improvements to the layout.
A search engine is now available and you can also browse through the entries one at a time.
I would welcome feedback with any corrections or additional information to complete the entries. adam@alchemywebsite.com
I have received a great deal of help from fellow collectors on the Tarot Collectors Forum.
Friday 22nd October : Added about 40 tarots mostly from Taiwan and China. There are now 532 items in the database. I did not have sufficient time available this week to enter the Taiwanese and Chinese part of my collection, but hopefully this will be completed over the coming week. I will then be able to move on to the Korean items in my collection. I have added sections for users to browse only the Taiwanese and Chinese items.
Friday 15th October : Added over 80 tarots mostly from Taiwan and China. There are now close to 500 items in the database. I should substantially complete the Taiwanese and Chinese items for the next update. I will then move on to the Korean tiems in my collection.
Please note this database is entirely my own research. The descriptions and text material are all copyright Adam McLean. Copying my textual material and using it on other websites is not permitted without my permission. Mere cutting and pasting is so uncreative. Don't be lazy, do your own research. Build your own website instead of just copying my material.