Universal Tarots (Waite)
by: Lo Scarabeo

ISBN 0-7387-0007-X
Price $19.95

First the Durer and now the Universal Tarots!  If this keeps up, Lo Scarabeo just might impress me overall rather than the previous disappointment I've felt in his decks that seem to be marketed just to get a deck out there rather than taking the time to invest any degree of spirit into the production.

Based specifically on the Pamela Colman Smith illustrations made famous on the Rider-Waite tarot, Italian artist, Roberto De Angelis took the classic pictures a step further, introducing greater color depth and detail to the familiar pictures.  The Smith cards were long consider by tarot experts to be an "unfinished" deck due to the very basic line art and pastel colors used.  Changes on the original designs were published as "The Universal Waite" deck in 1992 and were well received.  At first, I thought this was actually the same deck, but on the contrary, this deck takes the Waite images and gives them a DC Comics feel, similar to what is seen in the now out of print Arcus Arcanum deck by Hager Gunter. 

I first learned of these cards when reviewing the learning deck, "Comparative Tarot," which shows on each card its version from four different suits, including the Universal Tarot.  The thumbnail pictures of this deck on the Comparative Tarot made me eager to see them in full size and they did not disappoint.

I have to admit that I am not a fan of bordered decks.  My standard reading deck is the Morgan-Greer, which has no borders and allows the cards to interact well with one another without being pigeon-holed into border-boxes in the reading.  As far as I am concerned, that is the only thing that limits this vibrant and very talkative deck. 

Universal Tarot is a very stark deck, not given to elegance or froo froo, but that is one of its strengths.  A novice could easily look at the depictions on the deck and have an instant idea for the flavor of the card and an insight to its interpretive meaning.  They invite deeper examination beyond first instinct, drawing the reader into the facial expressions and subtle detailing around the central figure(s).

The backs of the cards are pleasant and any reader worth their Austrian sea salt will tell you that backs are definitely an important focus.  Some are so abstract and glaring that it becomes distracting to the reading for both the reader and the seeker.

Rather than resting on the shelf as a collector's item, I believe I would definitely use these cards in practical application, which is saying a lot.

I give it:

5 pentacles out of 5 

Review by Delena Rasbold