Le Fanu
I love this deck.
I thought I found the customary Lo Scarabeo multi-lingual titles denigrating, the removal of the Colman Smith Calligraphic titles (if indeed she did actually write them) unforgiveable - but there's just something about this deck that I love and so I shall defend it.
It may be the size, or the lovely rich blue Rose & Lillies backs, although I think it may just be the gentle colouring or sharp lines. I think of all RWS decks on the market - forgetting borders, forgetting font - this is the most beautiful. And I do think the colouring is very soothing and inviting and it just feels right somehow. I use it to read with more and more.
But I am intrigued; when it first came out, this deck was available in a lovely cream coloured box with blue wheatsheafs and vignettes. Graphically, this is lo Scarabeo's most decorative and pleasing box. Then something happened - it was reissued in a browner box with The Fool on the cover and with U.S Games stamped on the bottom. I have included two photos of the boxes - the original box on the left, the newer box on the right plus the bottom of the new edition box. The decks inside are exactly the same. I have multiple copies - and have trimmed one - and they are absolutely, utterly identical.
I now see that the original cream and wheatsheaf vignette box is disappearing. It is becoming obselete. The newer box is becoming the norm. I mean, it's OK as the deck is the same but I suspect something happened behind the scenes. I wonder whether U.S Games insisted on being credited on the bottom of the box and so the original boxes (which incidentally had Konigsfurt Urania printed on them) have been phased out?
But I do love this deck. I know it will never have a huge fan base because of the font and - oh heinous crime! - the removal of the calligraphy, but in spite of that, it has won me over. The colours really are quite special. And it's one of the few decks I wouldn't want a bag for since the box is just so exquisite
I thought I found the customary Lo Scarabeo multi-lingual titles denigrating, the removal of the Colman Smith Calligraphic titles (if indeed she did actually write them) unforgiveable - but there's just something about this deck that I love and so I shall defend it.
It may be the size, or the lovely rich blue Rose & Lillies backs, although I think it may just be the gentle colouring or sharp lines. I think of all RWS decks on the market - forgetting borders, forgetting font - this is the most beautiful. And I do think the colouring is very soothing and inviting and it just feels right somehow. I use it to read with more and more.
But I am intrigued; when it first came out, this deck was available in a lovely cream coloured box with blue wheatsheafs and vignettes. Graphically, this is lo Scarabeo's most decorative and pleasing box. Then something happened - it was reissued in a browner box with The Fool on the cover and with U.S Games stamped on the bottom. I have included two photos of the boxes - the original box on the left, the newer box on the right plus the bottom of the new edition box. The decks inside are exactly the same. I have multiple copies - and have trimmed one - and they are absolutely, utterly identical.
I now see that the original cream and wheatsheaf vignette box is disappearing. It is becoming obselete. The newer box is becoming the norm. I mean, it's OK as the deck is the same but I suspect something happened behind the scenes. I wonder whether U.S Games insisted on being credited on the bottom of the box and so the original boxes (which incidentally had Konigsfurt Urania printed on them) have been phased out?
But I do love this deck. I know it will never have a huge fan base because of the font and - oh heinous crime! - the removal of the calligraphy, but in spite of that, it has won me over. The colours really are quite special. And it's one of the few decks I wouldn't want a bag for since the box is just so exquisite