My copy of the Knitting Tarot arrived today. It comes with a beautifully printed hardbound book. The deck of 78 cards is printed on large cards using letterpress, an amazingly time-intensive process. I know this from personal experience as, back in 1977, I printed my first book using letterpress on a small Adana hand press and it took me all summer. The images on the cards are printed using wood mounted type-high process engraved metal blocks. These used to be called 'zincos' in the UK. A rather nice touch is that included with the deck and book is one of these printing blocks, thus creating the situation in which it will prove impossible (or very expensive) for the publishers of this deck to reprint it. Obviously only a maximum of 78 customers will be able to receive a block. My copy is numbered 21 out of the edition of 170, so there will no doubt at my time of writing still be some of these left to distribute. I got the Five of Skeins.
This is a really quirky idea, and a wonderfully realised hand production. The book is also hand printed using letterpress and is numbered the same as the deck. It may not be high art but this is a deck and book you will regret not buying.
Last edited on Tue Oct 23rd, 2007 10:35 am by AdamMcLean
|
