The 22 Arcani Futuristi was designed to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Futurist Movement. The deck was released in 2009, just in time for the anniversary itself. This Tarot deck is very limited and each deck is numbered and signed by the artist Osvaldo Menegazzi. The box the 22 Arcani Futuristi comes in is also handcrafted.
This fantastical deck features brightly colored symbols all based on the original 22 cards of the Major Arcana. There are only 22 cards in this deck, so it can be combined with the Minor Arcana from another deck for a full reading. The illustrations are lovely and mounted on a heavy cardstock. There is a dark brown paper wrapping as a backing; this backing folds around to the front of the cards so it is visible at the corners of each face, giving the deck a splendid antique look.
Because each deck is handcrafted (as well as the box), each deck and box are unique. The deck was available in three versions. The large size is approximately 6"x4". The smaller version is only 3½"x2¼". There is also a large deck that comes in a large decorated cardboard box. Its cards measure approximately 5½"x4".
This deck can be used for Tarot readings, but it is more designed for Tarot collectors and enthusiasts. Its powerful artwork makes a great addition to any collection.
Most Tarot decks have a specific theme, whether it be places, vampires, or gods. In the case of Tarocco Balocco (The Toy Tarot), the theme is nostalgic playthings. Published in 2006, this deck depicts old-fashioned toys. These are meant to trigger memories of times gone by, innocent times when we were young and ready to face the world. Tarocco Balocco contains only the 22 cards of the Major Arcana and are more designed for collectors. They can be used in a reading, however, if you combine them with one of your favorite decks.
Created by Morena Poltronieri, the Toy Tarot is numbered and titled, but in Italian. The enclosed leaflet is also in Italian, and the cards aren't as intuitive as some decks, so you may need to spend some time translating in order to fully utilize Tarocco Balocco. There were only 500 decks produced, all numbered and signed by the artist. This makes Tarocco Balocco a rare deck and perfect for Tarot enthusiasts around the world.
Some decks are based on physical locations, and Tarocchi di Lisbona (Tarot of Lisbon) is one of them. This Tarot deck, created in 2007, features some of the stunning locations found in the city of Lisbon. Designed and painted by artist Morena Poltronieri (who happens to be a co-founder of Museo dei Tarocchi), Tarocchi di Lisbona express a vivid understanding of the symbolism of the Tarot. These cards are mainly created by collage and some of them incorporate elements of the Marseilles deck into the settings, especially in the backgrounds. Bear in mind that this is a Major Arcana deck, meaning only the 22 cards of the Major Arcana are included.
Only 100 of these decks were produced, all numbered and signed by the artist. This deck was originally offered in two sizes and were packaged in a book-style sleeve cover that was pleasantly attractive. A title card is included with an explanation of the settings and inspirations for Tarocchi di Lisbona, but this card is written in Italian. This deck is more designed for enthusiasts and collectors, but it can be incorporated into a standard Tarot deck if you so desire.
Connessione is the Italian for connection or the association of ideas. So the Tarocchi di Connessione could be called the Connection Tarot. This might imply a connection between the twenty-two cards of this deck (all Major Arcana), or it might imply a connection between the reader and the Tarot. Possibly (and maybe probably) both.
This deck, created by Jessica Angiulli, is surreal, beautiful, imaginative, and powerful all at once. The cards are numbered and titled in both Italian and English, but many of them have been renamed. If you're going to use these cards in a reading, you'll have to look closely as the symbolism of each card to determine which traditional Tarot card it correspondes to. Luckily, there is an accompanying leaflet, this one written in both English and Italian (though you usually have to request the English version when ordering), to help understand the deep symbolism of this Tarot deck.
Even though many of the cards are renamed, you can still probably guess at which traditional card each on correspondes to. For example, there is a card in Tarocchi di Connessione called Conscience. This card is similar to Judgment in the Rider-Waite deck. The familiar Chariot becomes Directions. Some cards are a little more obscure, such as Cultivating and Regenerating, but you can still see the Emperor and Empress in both these Tarot cards.
Tarocchi di Connessione strives to take the reader on an emotional journey through the connected images of the Major Arcana, but these cards are not really designed to be used in a traditional Tarot reading. Instead, this deck is meant for collectors, artists, and anyone using vivid imagery for meditation and contemplating. There were only five hundred copies of this deck produced, all numbered and signed by the artist, so there is a limited supply.
