I was granted a copy of this book by Netgalley, in exchange for my honest opinion.
I had to purchase this amazing boo, it showcases 50 tarot decks.
It’s definitely great choice for any tarot deck lover and collectors i definitely recommend this to any tarot newbies.
I have mine on display in my coffee table has beautiful pictures and commentaries are informative, interesting and pleasantly presented. For the price it’s so worthy!

In this book we learn the history of the tarot and the symbolism behind each of the decks. I really enjoyed reading this book. It was easy to understand. This is great for anyone wanting to learn all things tarot. This book would make a great addition to your home library.

3.5 stars

If you’re thinking of purchasing a new tarot deck & not sure which one to buy, this book gives a nice overview of many of the most well known ones. The history of tarot & its development over the centuries is particularly interesting.

[What I liked:]

•Basic background info is provided on the makeup of a deck, as well as common variations (such as different identities for the court cards in the minor arcana). A brief history of tarot cards & a few examples of spreads are also included.

•Most of the book covers “influential decks” (Marseilles, Visconti-Sforza, Thoth, RWS, Aquarian, etc.), & then some more popular modern decks. Background on each deck’s creator, approach, & symbology is documented, along with high-res color photos of example cards.


[What I didn’t like as much:]

•For some of the decks, especially the newer ones, only a page of notes & one card example is included. (Images of the full decks should be readily available online though).

•I would appreciate a citation list of sources used to research the book.

[I received an ARC ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for the book!]

This book was fascinating, both for the art of the decks and for the history. Would've loved to see even more!

Really nice for the collectors of tarot. Decks categorized into five different areas with a number in each (over 50 in total). Some history and information on tarot. But good for those who do like tarot.

My thanks to Quarto Publishing Group/White Lion - Francis Lincoln for a temporary digital copy via NetGalley of ’Iconic Tarot Decks’ by Sarah Bartlett.

Its subtitle is ‘The History, Symbolism and Design of over 50 Decks’ and this is an accurate description of its contents. It opens with an introduction to the Tarot that includes the symbolism of the cards and their classification between Major and Minor Arcana, the four elemental suits, and the court cards. This is followed by a short guide to reading the cards and a brief history; before moving into the heart of the book: an examination of a number of decks, designated as iconic by the author.

These are divided into five chapters: Influential Decks, Beginner’s Divination Decks, Art and Collector’s Decks, Esoteric and Occult Decks and
Contemporary Decks.

I was impressed by Sarah Bartlett’s knowledge of the Tarot. I also appreciated that aside from examining the overall imagery of each deck, that she included information where available about the creator/artist and visual examples from the deck that gives a feel for the overall design.

While many of the decks were familiar to me, there were a number that were new. Obviously with hundreds of decks available choosing these 56, especially those in the more idiosyncratic art and contemporary categories, meant that others were left out. Of course, this leaves open the possibility of a follow up volume.

I reviewed a temporary digital edition and given my long interest in the Tarot and appreciation for art, I preordered the hardback edition due to be published in July. I look forward to holding a physical copy and adding it to my collection of books on the Tarot.

Overall, this is a beautifully detailed exploration of a variety of Tarot decks. It would also make a thoughtful gift for anyone interested in the Tarot.

Iconic Tarot Decks by Sarah Bartlett
The History, Symbolism and Design of Over 50 Decks

Beautiful, informative, and filled with information ~ I found this book a delight to flip through and then spend time with. For someone wanting a brief introduction to a variety of historical and more current tarot decks, this was a treasure trove of information and a visual feast.

What I liked:
* The variety and number of decks shared
* The information about the decks including the history, who created them and their purposes
* That there was some information on how to use the decks for personal divinatory purposes
* Pondering what the cards might mean to me were I to use them
* The look into the history of tarot cards
* The various reasons the cards were decorated as they were
* Finding out who some of the artists of tarot cards were
* Wanting to find a few of the decks to add to my personal collection…need to write those down
* Being reminded of my thought of one day creating a personal deck of my own
* That there was not too much information to bog down the book

What I didn’t like:
* Can’t think of anything ;)

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I buy it for myself or someone else? I might

Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing – White Lion for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

Iconic tarot Decks is a book that all tarot lovers,artist and tarot readers must have on their shelves
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The detail of the most famous and curious tarot decks in the world with the contrast of history and an incredible compilation work on the artists and each type of deck make this book a must have
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The analysis on the type of runs and the different uses of the decks over time make this book a very interesting work, it is definitely a book that I would like to have in my library to return to his words and his illustrations over and over again.
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Thank to Quarto Publishing group and Netgalley for give me a copy of this Beautiful book in exchange for my honest review

Iconic Tarot Decks takes the reader on a visual journey through 50 famous tarot decks, exploring their origins, inspirations, and mysteries. The art and symbolism of each deck is succinctly described by the author, revealing rich esoteric ideas and theories. I was pleasantly surprised to see that contemporary decks and those from the twenty-first century were included as they are often not given the attention or analysis they deserve. Imagery is the most powerful tool to convey a message, whether secret or not, and learning about the occult treasures and hidden meanings of the decks affirms that Tarot is a mirror, and a looking glass.

The symbols and meanings of the cards are derived from their imagery and this book is a reminder that textbook definitions of the cards do not work. Readers should learn how to decode the artistry of the deck and intuit the deeper meanings of each card. Just because a deck is modern, does not mean its value is less than those from centuries past. Or just because you do not resonate with a particular art style, does not mean the deck is basic or unsophisticated. Art is in the eye of the beholder, and this is the beauty of the Tarot. What speaks to one person may not speak to another. That's why this ancient divination system has survived as long as it has, because creative power is individual and is constantly interacting with the reader's spiritual journey.

A great compendium for Tarot readers, artists, symbologists, and creatives.

A rather interesting little history of tarot decks, containing many illustrations and images throughout. The book starts with a very basic "how to place the card" sort of introduction which upon first glance made me wonder if this was more of a "how to…" sort of book, but once the history kicks in, it's an interesting read.

It's not extremely in-depth, it's more of a basic history with images. I'm sure if one has put a great deal of research into the history/origins of the decks they will likely be disappointed at a lack of new information, but for someone with more of a casual curiosity, there's some interesting facts.

Where the book shines though is the imagery. I wish it would have contained more information on the actual decks, or perhaps a full card images listing somewhere, but the images we are shown in some of the rarer decks are particularly curious.

While it would have been better had the book been more in-depth in terms of the actual history of the designs (or at least more images), it's a nice little book and likely when it gets a physical release, it would be a beautiful book to look through. Overall 3/5 stars.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

A comprehensive look into tarot decks. Filled with facts and instruction manuals as well as examinations of various other tarot decks. Has so much amazing artwork and facts! Seriously perfect for anyone interested in tarot!

I work closely with tarot and oracle cards. I found this to be informative and enlightening. The explanations were clear and concise. I would recommend this!

A well illustrated book that made for a fascinating read. The images that had been included made it a delightful publication with rich illustrations

After a. Initial blip where I was approved to read this book and it then promptly disappeared, I was able to download it onto the NetGalley app to read. It is a fascinating book for anyone who had an interest in tarot and it’s history as well as a gorgeous book of tarot art.
Well worth a read if you are either a novice or a more skilled practitioner of tarot. It has inspired me to learn how to read these cards.

Great colourful and interesting book on tarot, includes a guide, history and then study on different decks, influences over time. This was a really interesting book wether for the practitioner, the amateur or just someone with a vague interest, just a wonderful book, well written and presented, fully deserving of 5 stars

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

I was approved for this book and I went to download it within a couple hours of being approved and it was already archived. I don’t know why I was approved for a book that I was then not given a chance to download but it wasn’t very fair as that counts against my review percentage.