Aquarian Tarot

November 10, 2022

The Aquarian Tarot Deck was first published by Morgan Press in 1970. Eventually it was distributed by U.S. Games Systems, Inc. The cards were designed by David Palladini, an American illustrator born in Italy.

The cards of the major arcana follow the sequence of cards as introduced by A.E. Waite, thus changing the numbers eight and eleven. In order to create a more modern version of the tarot, Palladini combined the symbols of the traditional Tarot with images borrowed from a combination of Art Deco and Art Nouveau styles. This resulted in a very stylish, though rather impersonal and flat design that might make interpreting the cards a little more complicated for the layman then less artsy cards.

Aquarian Tarot box and first impression of contents

As a side effect, it could be stated that the coloring and the slow sketching of specifically the minor arcana, follows the same pattern as the cards from the Papus and the Knapp- Hall deck. If one follows that thought, Palladini managed to grasp the identical dramatic design that cards of that period in history often show. Whether if that was done consciously or not, from an artistic/historical point of view it is certainly worthwhile mentioning.

However its design, the Aquarian Tarot became one of the more famous decks of the Seventies,

The copy shown on this website is a first 1970 edition. The box is a slightly damaged, but all cards are present and show a full blue retro (back of the card). However, the cards of The Fool, The High Priestess, The Chariot, Strength and Death sport a different retro. These have a retro that has orange coloring (terra cotta) showing a black serpent biting its own tail (resembling a sort of Ouroubouros). An accompanying booklet is enclosed with the cards.

Text on the backside of the box:

An authentic interpretation of the medieval Tarot
Full color 78 card Tarot deck with instruction book describing each cards.
22 Major Arcana cards, 656 Minor Arcana cards contained in four suits of Cups, Swords, Rods and Pentacles.
Illustrated by David Palladini, published & printed by Morgan Press, Inc., Hastings-on- Hudson, N.Y. 10706. Copyright 1970 Morgan Press.