€ 17,95
Otto Spalinger took the 18th-century woodcuts of Nicolas Conver and redrew them with clear lines and a vivid colour palette. The structure remains classic Marseille, the execution is contemporary.
For those who want to work the Marseille tradition without faded facsimile prints.
Only 8 left in stock
Many Marseille decks are facsimile editions: old prints reproduced, complete with discolouration and wear. This deck takes a different route. Otto Spalinger redrew the 18th-century woodcuts of Nicolas Conver entirely, kept the structure and clarified the imagery.
The result is a deck that fits within the Marseille tradition but works with sharp lines and a colour palette that makes contrasts legible. The publisher is AGM Müller, released under the name Convos.
The iconography is classic Marseille. That means geometric patterns on the minor arcana, figurative major arcana, no scenes on the court cards. The direction in which figures face plays a role in the reading, just as in other Marseille decks.
Spalinger used bright shades of blue, red, green and yellow. Those colours are not arbitrary: they strengthen the traditional colour symbolism and make the cards easier to distinguish during a spread.
The lines are tight and clear. Details that fade in old facsimile editions due to wear or ink bleed are sharply visible here.
The Marseille style asks for a different approach than the Rider-Waite system. The minor arcana contain no narrative scenes, only number symbolism and elemental patterns. That means more interpretative space, more emphasis on the interplay between cards.
The cards are 63 x 120 mm, sturdy cardstock with a smooth coating. They shuffle smoothly and feel comfortable in the hand, even in larger spreads.
In a spread, watch the direction in which figures face. In the Marseille tradition, the interaction between cards often reveals more than individual meanings.
Otto Spalinger is a Swiss artist who translates classical design into contemporary applications. For the Convos edition, he redrew the woodcuts of Nicolas Conver without changing the original composition. His work is valued because he leaves the esoteric structure intact while increasing visual clarity.
What makes this edition different from other Marseille decks?
This is not a facsimile. Spalinger redrew the cards completely, making the lines sharper and the colours brighter than in historical reproductions. The structure remains classic Marseille.
Is the Marseille style harder than Rider-Waite?
The minor arcana contain no narrative scenes, only number symbolism and elemental patterns. That requires more independent interpretation. The clear colours and lines of the Convos edition do make that process more accessible.
| Auteur | Otto Spalinger |
| ISBN | 9780913866603 |
| Uitgeverij | AGM-Urania |
| Taal | Spanish |
| SKU | 1727-AGM |
Since 1999, Tarot.nl has been the trusted source for the largest collection of cards in the Benelux. As a Dutch family business, we personally select every deck based on quality and character.
A 36-card Lenormand deck styled after Japanese Ukiyo-e woodblock prints. The gold-edged cards combine classic Lenormand symbols with Eastern imagery and come in a red cloth-covered storage box.
A luxury edition by tarot artist Robert M. Place for collectors and readers who appreciate Japanese print art.
This 78-card deck by Robert M. Place is built on Neoplatonic philosophy and ancient Western cosmology. The illustrations draw on the Pre-Raphaelite style of Edward Burne-Jones, with tall, melancholy figures in the spirit of Botticelli and Michelangelo. This second edition features gold-edged cards and comes in a cloth-covered box with a slipcase.
A deck that rewards readers who want to understand the philosophy behind the images.
A reconstruction of the rare Mystic Cards of Fortune from 1882. Robert M. Place brought this historical Lenormand deck back with the refined linework and 19th-century aesthetic of the original. The matte, cream-coloured cards feel like an archaeological find.
A collector's piece that is also practical for daily readings.
This site uses tracking technologies. You may opt in or opt out of the use of these technologies.
