Most of the occult artist Austin Osman Spare‘s experiments in cartomancy were believed to be forever lost (including the ‘Surrealist Racing Forecast Card’ pack, a real shame as this covers a number of my favourite things: art, cards, the occult and gambling), however in 2013 a hitherto unknown pack of 79 hand painted Tarot cards was verified as being the work of the art nouveau enfant terrible.
Influences from the Tarot of Marseilles and the Rider-Waite-Smith decks are evident in the design, however the idiosyncratic verve and boldly brilliant use of line could only have been executed by the skillful hand and wild imagination of Austin Osman Spare.
The Devil
Ace of Diamonds
The Sun
The Star
The Moon
4 of Clubs
The Lightning Struck Tower-Austin Osman Spare
5 of Hearts
The Wheel of Fortune-Austin Osman Spare
2 of Hearts-Austin Osman Spare
The Juggler-Austin Osman Spare
cakeordeathsite 
Incredible cards. I like, The Wheel of Fortune.
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I like that card as well. It is an excellent set. The Sun and the Moon cards are striking. Thank you Miss Cranes.
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You’re most welcome, Mr. Cake. Have you given any thought to designing your own set?
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If only I was an artist. Yes many a time.
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I’m thinking a collage collection with David Lynch characters on the face of the cards.
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That sounds brilliant.
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Right?! Can you even imagine how fabulous they’d be?
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They would indeed. I am imagining them now.
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Thank you very much.
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Fantastic! I’d no idea these existed.
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I didn’t either until very recently. There is a book with all 79 of them called Lost Envoy.
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Great, I’ll look it up. Thanks for sharing.
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My pleasure.
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I ‘m drawn to the Moon card – how it seems to be eclipsing the Sun. Deception, twilight, error, faults, imperfection, imprudence with (can’t read it) … sounds ominous
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Well the Moon can be ominous with its mysterious affect on the world. It is a very good set of Tarot, but I am very fond of Spare’s work. He was definitely one of a kind.
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A great introduction then. Enjoyed!
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My pleasure
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Very intriguing stuff. I have missed a few of your posts — just catching up. I love the Tarot, an endless spirituality. This deck is fascinating!
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Thank you Christine… I work in bursts so I am absent for a while then I am full of ideas and there isn’t another hours in the day. Agreed about the Tarot, the permutations are endless.
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What a nice collection, I like the shadow goat, rather funny I dare say.
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Yes AOS wasn’t without a sly subversive humour.
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I VANT these bloody cards.
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So do I?
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