An essential volume for the libraries of all serious students of the Tarot.

When the Tarot was invented in Italy during the early fifteenth century, it was simply a pack of cards used for playing games. Esoteric interpretations of the pack date from late eighteenth century France, and were confined to that country for a hundred years. But today the cards are used throughout the world and not only for fortune telling - for true believers they are the key to secret knowledge and the meaning of life.

A History of the Occult Tarot is the classic work on the history of the Tarot deck and its use in occult circles. Starting with the late nineteenth century, the Decker and Dummett examine how the Tarot became the favoured divination tool of occultists, a bridge to the spirit world, and a map of the unconscious. From Theosophical to Aleister Crowley to the Order of the Golden Dawn and P.D. Ouspensky, this compelling survey of the Tarot's history describes the many fascinating decks imagined over time as well as the secret histories of mystics.

About the Author

Ronald Decker is an art historian and curator of a notable collection of antique cards. He has taught art and art history at all levels of education and has studied Tarot cards in public and private collections across Europe.

Michael Dummett was Wykeham Professor of Logic at Oxford and is the author of The Game of Tarot and other books on the Tarot as well as many books on philosophy

Book Information
ISBN 9780715645727
Author Ronald Decker
Format Paperback
Page Count 400
Imprint Duckworth
Publisher Duckworth Books