This deck and the Morgan' GreerTarot are both done wrong by the modern printings. I got a 2021 printing of the Aquarian and rehomed it because the colors were off and color details were so light that effectively they were missing. Blushing cheeks, facial expressions and pink clouds were gone. Other colors were off- rust orange was red, I bought a 90s deck online and it is great. The goal with these classic reissues should be a replica deck, not an inferior reprint in a bigger box.
I'm new to tarot but this deck jumped at me and i really like it. It feels cool to me, too. Chill is another word that comes to mind . The borderless back does look better to me, too. I found the book to be better than so many than Ive tried reading and essentially it was free because i paid the same as i would for any deck..now that i think about it, lots of the books I've seen aren't even worth being free, so i feel even better about the deal now. I don't know which card stock is linen, but this deck feels ĺike the couple other u.s games decks i have. I would prefer if they were a hair thicker. Itd bè nice if they gave you a couple options on stock and back
Esther, thank you for this excellent video. The Aquarian is my dearly beloved deck, too, and I was hoping you'd make a video so I could hear your thoughts on this new version. I agree with everything you said -- thanks to U.S. Games for removing the copyright, but definitely a missed opportunity with the cardstock, and WHY the faded blue backs with the borders still??!! Sigh. Anyway, thank you for sharing the Aquarian love!! 💛💛💛
Very insightful and well articulated review as always. So a big thank you! As to your "whys?" - first of all, I've read that borders are less expensive to print (I'm one who likes borders, akin to matting artwork). As far as the lighter blue backs, perhaps less contrast to the white? A bit more vintage? As to the guidebook, there are very few people with your depth of research, knowledge and understanding of tarot. You are a definite minority and most others still need good guidebooks. Just going by You Tube, there seems to be quite a few young people coming into tarot, ones who need a good guidebook and doubtful would read something like 78 Degrees (it's more than 160 characters!). So I applaud U. S. Games for continuing to educate new consumers. I'm probably going to buy this version as I love U. S. Games' smooth, satin cardstock. Matte finishes dull the colors of the art and I think the cross-hatch marks of linen are akin to defacing it. I don't know if this answered your whys or only frustrated you more! ;-) Much love, Donna
After watching this had to get on E-Bay and find a vintage deck. Found a 1990, still sealed, that was still reasonable. Thank you for the heads up about all these changes. Glad I found an oldie but goodie💕
Good luck with that! I realize that there are more modern reprintings in a very similar looking box… So hopefully you did indeed get a 1990s version. Let me know if not!
I feel lucky to have found a gorgeous, reasonably-priced 80s copy of the Aquarian from a lovely seller in Japan. One of the main reasons I was looking for a vintage copy was avoiding the copyright on the card fronts, so I'm glad that at least is changing. But it does seem so strange they aren't paying more attention to what a current version of this -could be-.
After yesterday’s play with the new deck, I’ve brought my 80s deck out into high rotation. It really is pretty much perfect. I’m so glad you found one, Charlie!
Agreed about the linen, true vibrant colors, and back without borders. I do not use it any longer because it is beat up. The new version I now have, has borders on the back and the colors and some details are washed off even though it says 'printed in Italy.' So the deck is no longer willing to speak.
Welp, you got me on this!!!❤. I hunted and found a reasonable 90s copy. Sigh….Holy cow, how did I not know we are BOTH Cancer/Geminis…..sista (absolute agreement on the reissue 😢)
I have been waiting for this video on pins and needles, haha. US Games, thank you for sending reviewers like Esther these decks for serious discussion. It is a meaningful, worthwhile investment in the community even when critiques arise, and it strengthens my trust and goodwill as a buyer. I think you are spot on here. I was surprised to see the bordered backs return myself. Just a shot in the dark, but I wonder if the font was changed for better screen legibility. I’d love to see a comparison or hear your thoughts on the faces. I believe they were darkened/clarified by US Games? I admit the facial details on my 90s green box edition do seem faint to me at times, but the airy remoteness of the Aquarian Tarot is part of its general mood. Do you notice a difference in the “presence” or legibility of the characters/expressions while reading, or not really?
I was wondering this same thing! I have heard others saying they like this reprint because the faces are clearer and have more personality. They certainly look more detail just from the couple of comparison cards that Esther held up.
Thank you for showing this, agreed. What a missed opportunity. What would have been really cool would be a reprint with the original ouroboros backs and yes with the off-white cardstock, with this artwork it really does make a difference. There is another version of this deck with a shield printed on the backs in red and gold and the meanings of the cards typed at the top and bottom of the card, curious if you know where that version came from
Ah… I think that’s from a 1980s game: Karin Koal edition (shield with 2 Ks). Super super rare. The game was called “Galaxy Gazer.” I don’t have it… - Cool idea to have an ouroboros version. I think there was a black & white ouroboros too.
@@MindfulTarot I have seen the shield version come up occasionally on Ebay or Etsy and was curious, thank you for solving the mystery! I've read about the black back ouroboros version but have never seen it, it would be so cool if they did that one.
Great review Esther thank you 🙏. Indeed could have been better, sad that US GAMES didn’t put a better edition of this wonderful deck 😢. I will remain with my vintage version and the original book 📕 The psychic tarot, and a newer version in a tin for daily reading s. 🤗🪬🌹
I am fortunate to have a 1984 edition of this deck. I love this deck and specifically the 1984 vintage version. I actually consulted your greatly informative video series to assist me in my purchase. The seller had said it was from 1970 (because of the date on the LWB) but I knew it was really 1984 because of the publisher’s address! Thanks to your information I saved myself a few bucks!!! 😉 Glad to see copyright date is gone, but agree with you about the backs. Since I have The Psychic Tarot anyway I’ll pass on this edition.
Thanks so much for this Liz ! Give big hugs to Ben and all the gang. I wish I were there… Instead of here, slogging it out with my ever-growing to do list! Oy!
This deck and the Morgan' GreerTarot are both done wrong by the modern printings. I got a 2021 printing of the Aquarian and rehomed it because the colors were off and color details were so light that effectively they were missing. Blushing cheeks, facial expressions and pink clouds were gone. Other colors were off- rust orange was red, I bought a 90s deck online and it is great. The goal with these classic reissues should be a replica deck, not an inferior reprint in a bigger box.
I'm new to tarot but this deck jumped at me and i really like it. It feels cool to me, too. Chill is another word that comes to mind . The borderless back does look better to me, too. I found the book to be better than so many than Ive tried reading and essentially it was free because i paid the same as i would for any deck..now that i think about it, lots of the books I've seen aren't even worth being free, so i feel even better about the deal now. I don't know which card stock is linen, but this deck feels ĺike the couple other u.s games decks i have. I would prefer if they were a hair thicker. Itd bè nice if they gave you a couple options on stock and back
Esther, thank you for this excellent video. The Aquarian is my dearly beloved deck, too, and I was hoping you'd make a video so I could hear your thoughts on this new version. I agree with everything you said -- thanks to U.S. Games for removing the copyright, but definitely a missed opportunity with the cardstock, and WHY the faded blue backs with the borders still??!! Sigh. Anyway, thank you for sharing the Aquarian love!! 💛💛💛
Very insightful and well articulated review as always. So a big thank you! As to your "whys?" - first of all, I've read that borders are less expensive to print (I'm one who likes borders, akin to matting artwork). As far as the lighter blue backs, perhaps less contrast to the white? A bit more vintage?
As to the guidebook, there are very few people with your depth of research, knowledge and understanding of tarot. You are a definite minority and most others still need good guidebooks. Just going by You Tube, there seems to be quite a few young people coming into tarot, ones who need a good guidebook and doubtful would read something like 78 Degrees (it's more than 160 characters!). So I applaud U. S. Games for continuing to educate new consumers.
I'm probably going to buy this version as I love U. S. Games' smooth, satin cardstock. Matte finishes dull the colors of the art and I think the cross-hatch marks of linen are akin to defacing it.
I don't know if this answered your whys or only frustrated you more! ;-) Much love, Donna
After watching this had to get on E-Bay and find a vintage deck. Found a 1990, still sealed, that was still reasonable. Thank you for the heads up about all these changes. Glad I found an oldie but goodie💕
Good luck with that! I realize that there are more modern reprintings in a very similar looking box… So hopefully you did indeed get a 1990s version. Let me know if not!
I wonder if they made the backs a paler blue to give it a more "vintage" look.
What? Don’t fix what isn’t broken…
And “yes”, we do love linen card stock if they are dying to change something.
It's so necessary.
Necessary yes. But… missed opportunity! It could have been perfect. Why not?????
I feel lucky to have found a gorgeous, reasonably-priced 80s copy of the Aquarian from a lovely seller in Japan. One of the main reasons I was looking for a vintage copy was avoiding the copyright on the card fronts, so I'm glad that at least is changing. But it does seem so strange they aren't paying more attention to what a current version of this -could be-.
After yesterday’s play with the new deck, I’ve brought my 80s deck out into high rotation. It really is pretty much perfect. I’m so glad you found one, Charlie!
THANK YOU! I was so annoyed about the bordered backs....
I think I'm going to get some blue stamp ink and "erase" the back borders
Agreed about the linen, true vibrant colors, and back without borders. I do not use it any longer because it is beat up. The new version I now have, has borders on the back and the colors and some details are washed off even though it says 'printed in Italy.' So the deck is no longer willing to speak.
Welp, you got me on this!!!❤. I hunted and found a reasonable 90s copy. Sigh….Holy cow, how did I not know we are BOTH Cancer/Geminis…..sista (absolute agreement on the reissue 😢)
I have been waiting for this video on pins and needles, haha. US Games, thank you for sending reviewers like Esther these decks for serious discussion. It is a meaningful, worthwhile investment in the community even when critiques arise, and it strengthens my trust and goodwill as a buyer.
I think you are spot on here. I was surprised to see the bordered backs return myself. Just a shot in the dark, but I wonder if the font was changed for better screen legibility.
I’d love to see a comparison or hear your thoughts on the faces. I believe they were darkened/clarified by US Games? I admit the facial details on my 90s green box edition do seem faint to me at times, but the airy remoteness of the Aquarian Tarot is part of its general mood. Do you notice a difference in the “presence” or legibility of the characters/expressions while reading, or not really?
I was wondering this same thing! I have heard others saying they like this reprint because the faces are clearer and have more personality. They certainly look more detail just from the couple of comparison cards that Esther held up.
By the time you are looking for this classic deck-instead of a jazzy modern deck, I think you may be skilled enough not to need that book…
I really wish they had made the backs borderless. Thanks for sharing your knowledgeable perspective!
Thank you for showing this, agreed. What a missed opportunity. What would have been really cool would be a reprint with the original ouroboros backs and yes with the off-white cardstock, with this artwork it really does make a difference. There is another version of this deck with a shield printed on the backs in red and gold and the meanings of the cards typed at the top and bottom of the card, curious if you know where that version came from
Ah… I think that’s from a 1980s game: Karin Koal edition (shield with 2 Ks). Super super rare. The game was called “Galaxy Gazer.” I don’t have it… - Cool idea to have an ouroboros version. I think there was a black & white ouroboros too.
@@MindfulTarot I have seen the shield version come up occasionally on Ebay or Etsy and was curious, thank you for solving the mystery! I've read about the black back ouroboros version but have never seen it, it would be so cool if they did that one.
Great review Esther thank you 🙏. Indeed could have been better, sad that US GAMES didn’t put a better edition of this wonderful deck 😢. I will remain with my vintage version and the original book 📕 The psychic tarot, and a newer version in a tin for daily reading s. 🤗🪬🌹
Thank you Esther, I also agree with your views. Such a missed opportunity. Why US Games?! 😂
Love your deck dialogues 🌈💜
I am fortunate to have a 1984 edition of this deck. I love this deck and specifically the 1984 vintage version. I actually consulted your greatly informative video series to assist me in my purchase. The seller had said it was from 1970 (because of the date on the LWB) but I knew it was really 1984 because of the publisher’s address! Thanks to your information I saved myself a few bucks!!! 😉 Glad to see copyright date is gone, but agree with you about the backs. Since I have The Psychic Tarot anyway I’ll pass on this edition.
Thanks so much for this Liz ! Give big hugs to Ben and all the gang. I wish I were there… Instead of here, slogging it out with my ever-growing to do list! Oy!