Desecrated
What is the most historically accurate and authentic deck on the market today?
Most authentic Lenormand deck???
Alta
I have seen posted here that Mlle Lenormand actually read with playing cards.
However I think the "Game of Hope" is considered one of the oldest versions.
However I think the "Game of Hope" is considered one of the oldest versions.
Aster Breo
What do you mean by "historically accurate" and "authentic"?
That's a serious question. For example, as someone has already mentioned, if you mean "used by Ms. Lenormand herself", the answer is: none.
But there are numerous reproductions of decks that were published in the 1800s and early 1900s. There are a bunch on tag_jorrit's site: http://gameofhopelenormand.bigcartel.com/
Tag_jorrit
Fennario's blog reviews the Paris Primitive (Didot) deck and goes through each card that is "historically accurate" in the direction that some card are facing. I found it interesting. 
Tag_jorrit
Mary Greer identified the Game of Hope on the British Museum's website as the deck from which all the ones that followed were copied. he Game of Hope was just that: a game. However, at Mlle LeNormand's death a few decks were produced with her name attached, 50 or 60 years later, as an advertising ploy using the same symbols and playing card associations.. That was the "official" beginning of the LeNormand card tradition. There was a page of instructions how to read the cards that was a standard addition to all the decks that followed, unchanged for the next hundred years! So, the tradition evolved from there.
All the meanings derive from and were built upon that original set of instructions and grew from there. There have favored directions for the Clouds to be drawn with darker on one side, the way the Fox, Snake and Book face. Read the blog entry. It's interesting.
All the meanings derive from and were built upon that original set of instructions and grew from there. There have favored directions for the Clouds to be drawn with darker on one side, the way the Fox, Snake and Book face. Read the blog entry. It's interesting.
Aster Breo
Fennario's blog reviews the Paris Primitive (Didot) deck and goes through each card that is "historically accurate" in the direction that some card are facing. I found it interesting.
Do you know what this info is based on?
The blog post doesn't give a source or rationale, just a list of what the author says is correct. I'd love to learn more about the background info.
Tag_jorrit
You could ask, in the comments below the blog post.
I have read from various sources about one card or another facing a proper way. I suspect that since books about reading the cards are relatively recent it's something that has been passed down -- at least to some readers -- and based upon the syntax of the cards.
I have read from various sources about one card or another facing a proper way. I suspect that since books about reading the cards are relatively recent it's something that has been passed down -- at least to some readers -- and based upon the syntax of the cards.
Desecrated
Okay.
What is the closest modern deck to the original game of hope deck???
What is the closest modern deck to the original game of hope deck???
Aster Breo
The reproductions of the cards that were sold as the Game of Hope.
I believe there are 4 versions of the reproduction. I got mine from Tag_jorrit's site, which is linked upthread. If it isn't currently listed there, you could contact Tag_jorrit and ask if it's available by special order. I LOVE mine, and have both the standard size and the mini. It's one of my absolute favorite decks. Very high quality image reproduction and cardstock.
Another is called the Original Lenormand: https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/the-original-lenormand
The third is called Ur Lenormand: http://www.amazon.com/Ur-Lenormand-Johann-Kaspar-Hechtel/dp/B00H8S9LPC
And the fourth is called Primal Lenormand (and, I *think*, was just released a couple of months ago): http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1572818247/ref=pd_aw_sim_sbs_14_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0VNTR7SB7SQJ76RF17GX
Since I only have 1 version, I can't speak to how they compare. Maybe someone else has, or has seen, the others.
Aster Breo
Thinking about this question some more has made me wonder: What is the oldest known deck that was sold *as Lenormand or fortune telling cards* (rather than as part of the Game of Hope)?
And is there a reproduction deck available for sale anywhere?
Glancing at Tag_jorrit's site, it looks like the oldest repro deck there is from c.1850 (the Alte Deutsch Lenormand). Does anyone know of any older decks?
And is there a reproduction deck available for sale anywhere?
Glancing at Tag_jorrit's site, it looks like the oldest repro deck there is from c.1850 (the Alte Deutsch Lenormand). Does anyone know of any older decks?
