Created by Terry Lo in 2006, the Italian Magic Tarot consists of only the 22 Major Arcana cards. Each card depicts a well-known Italian location, many of them famous landmarks. The locations on each card are not random and tend to coincide with the traditional meanings given to the modern Tarot deck. For example, you see the Vatican for the "Pope" card and the Roman Coliseum for the "Strength" card. Both of these images relate much the same message as the corresponding cards in the Rider-Waite deck. Because of this, you can, if you choose, integrate these cards into your own Tarot deck. The Minor Arcana is not included with this deck, so you'll have to add the Minor Arcana from another deck.
The enclosed leaflet is written in Italian, but since the meanings are similar to the Rider-Waite Tarot deck, this shouldn't present a problem. Both the concept behind the deck and the deck itself have a beauty sometimes lacking in modern decks, and the deck has a vividly historical feel to it. But my favorite thing about this deck? The cards come in a book-style cover and is tied with twine and stamped with a hot wax seal. Very pretty and a nice touch. There were only 100 signed and numbered decks produced, so this deck tends to be recommended for collectors and Tarot enthusiasts.
InContro Tarocchi, which was created by 46 international artists, includes 46 cards. Each of these cards was designed and illustrated by a different artist, hence the variation in the appearance of the individual cards. Some look very like the Tarot cards we're used to. Other are abstract or otherwise unique. The Tarot Encounter includes 22 Major Arcana cards, 16 court cards, and 4 elemental cards, making it an alternative Tarot deck instead of a standard one. When it was first created in 2006, there were only 500 decks produced, each numbered.
Because it is an alternative deck, traditional interpretations are difficult to apply. Though you can use standard interpretations for the Major Arcana, the other cards should be read in accordance with the enclosed leaflet (written in Italian). If you're not fluent in Italian, you can look at each card individually and try to find a corresponding card in the traditional tarot, but InContro Tarocchi is really meant for either a collector or someone interested in a slightly alternative take on the Tarot.
Il Sentiero dei Tarocchi (The Tarots Paths) is a poetic photo Tarot deck conceptualized by Giovanni Pelosini and Santini Del Prete. This deck, consisting of only the 22 Major Arcana cards, depicts two men traveling through Tuscany as railway men. They share key experiences of the human condition with human and insight. Both men are present on all cards except for The Fool, which is also the only card to really imitate traditional Tarot symbolism. This is an Italian deck, so all descriptions on all cards are written in Italian.
There were only 500 decks produced, all of them numbered and signed by both artists. Il Sentiero dei Tarocchi was created in 2006 and was published by Museo dei Tarocchi (Hermatena). It's a whimsical Tarot deck that is aimed at collectors and enthusiasts. It can, however, be integrated into your own standard deck if you so desire.
Il Gioco dei Tarocchi: Gli Arcani Maggiori Tarot deck, featuring the 22 cards of the Major Arcana, is a whimsical collection of images that are both playful and sometimes a little disturbing. The cards are generally sepia-toned, but there are splashes of blue, pink, and even a little green thrown in for color. Only 100 copies of this deck were made available, all of them signed by the artist.
You can tell by the artwork that the artist approached the deck with a slightly irrevent attitude. The cards themselves are printed on a slightly-textured matte cardstock, and the backs are blank. They're really more for Tarot deck collectors than for actual reading, but they could be incorported into your own deck if you wanted to remove the Major Arcana and replace them with these. Both the words on the images and the accompanying leaflet are written in Italian, just so you know.
Il Gioco dei Tarocchi: Gli Arcani Maggiori is a cute little Tarot deck that is designed for collecting and for any Tarot art enthusiasts out there.
