The History of Tarot Art

With warmth and wisdom, authors Holly Adams Easley and Esther Joy Archer delve into the fascinating history and stories behind centuries of tarot artwork in The History of Tarot Art.

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In this luxurious, slipcased volume, delve into the art styles, artists, and fascinating historybehind more than a dozen of the world’s most noteworthy tarot decks.

Guided by Holly Adams Easley and Esther Joy Archer, hosts of the popular Wildly Tarot podcast, The History of Tarot Art provides a fresh look at the influence of tarot from its beginnings to today. This gorgeous book features:
 

A slipcased hardcover format
Large, full-color illustrations and compelling text chronicling the history of tarot through its art
24 removable Sola-Busca tarot cards
An illustrated foldout timeline with important dates in tarot development on one side and a cheat sheet on the meanings of the Rider-Waite-Smith, Thoth, and Tarot de Marseille cards on the reverse
Tips for how to do your own tarot readings


Discover how tarot morphed from a fifteenth century card game to a popular modern activity. Learn more about the stories behind the art of tarot’s most influential decks, like Rider-Waite-Smith and Aleister Crowley’s Thoth Tarot, as well as the female artists whose work was often overshadowed in their time.

Take a close look at the Visconti, Sola-Busca, Tarot de Marseille, Aquarian, Morgan-Greer, Motherpeace, Cosmic, Druidcraft, Wild Unknown, and Deviant Moon decks, alongside dozens of contemporary decks.

In many cases, you’ll see how tarot art reflects its era. The Morgan-Greer deck, for example, could only have been born in the 1970s. More recent decks, such as Black Power Tarot and Fifth Spirit Tarot, aim to represent more diverse experiences in regard to race, gender, and sexuality.

Whether you’re a longtime tarot practitioner or a newcomer to the practice, you’ll find fascinating new insights in this retrospective.