Alchemy 1977 England Tarot

Alchemy 1977 England Tarot - gothic studio reinterprets Rider-Waite

The Alchemy 1977 England Tarot is the work of an English design studio that has specialised in gothic and fantasy design since the 1970s. Their visual signature - baroque, theatrical, with a preference for morbid romanticism - is the foundation of this deck.

All 78 cards follow the Rider-Waite structure, but every image has been translated into a gothic register. Dark tones, baroque detail and symbols referencing death and rebirth set the mood throughout. Alchemical symbolism is central: transformation made visible through skulls, alembics and rose motifs.

What the cards look like

The Hierophant card shown in the product photos features a robed skeleton seated at a desk surrounded by books and objects, with bookshelves in the background. The card has a decorative green border with a clover motif. The colour palette is dark green, gold and sepia. The card title reads 'LE GRAND SACERDOTE THE HIEROPHANT' at the top and 'LE PAPE DER HIEROPHANT' at the bottom, showing that card names appear in multiple languages on the cards themselves.

The card backs show a black-and-white illustration of stacked skulls in various sizes, with no text. The box is dark brown-black with gold gothic lettering and a central skull motif in gold foil. A decorative motif with a rose and bat-like elements, also in gold foil, sits above the text.

Shadow work and direct readings

The imagery is expressive and leaves little room for ambiguity. Many people reach for this deck when a question calls for something to be uncovered, or when a reading calls for clarity rather than comfort. It suits shadow work as much as readings where you are not looking for comfort, but for insight.

Draw one card before you tackle a difficult question. The gothic symbolism works well as a mirror for what you would rather not see.

About Alchemy 1977

Alchemy 1977 is an English design studio with a worldwide following for its gothic jewellery and clothing. This tarot deck sits squarely within that tradition: the same baroque, theatrical aesthetic with a consistent focus on transience and transformation as visual themes.

Specifications

• Number of cards: 78 (Major and Minor Arcana)
• Card size: 60 x 110 mm
• Weight: 231 g
• Publisher: Fournier
• System: Rider-Waite
• Language of instructions: Multilingual (English, Spanish, German)
• Finish: Smooth card stock

Questions we often get

In which languages do the card names appear?
The card names appear in multiple languages directly on the cards. The Hierophant card, for example, reads 'LE GRAND SACERDOTE THE HIEROPHANT' at the top and 'LE PAPE DER HIEROPHANT' at the bottom.

Are the cards suited to daily use?
The compact format and smooth finish make the deck practical to handle every day. The imagery is intense, so whether you want to use it every day depends on what you are looking for in that kind of practice.