Joshi Bharát Tarot
A set of the major arcana created by an Indian fortune-teller living in Hungary.
At first glance, these cards seem to owe much to the Rider-Waite Tarot. That is perhaps an illusion – it is more the colours which are reminiscent of the Rider-Waite Tarot than the actual designs. Each card is named in English and Hungarian at the foot. The cards are unevenly cut and have a glossy finish. Grey marbled backs. See the booklet►
Joshi Bharát (Joshi means ‘fortune-telling’ and Bharát means ‘India’) was born in Bombay in 1955 but has lived in Hungary since 1980. There he became a puppeteer before becoming interested in fortune-telling. He has appeared on many TV programmes in Hungary.
Above: Joshi Bharát Tarot designed by Nagy László. Printed by EZ + AZ GMK, Budapest, Hungary, 1992. 22 cards + 36-page booklet in Hungarian. No box. Size: 74.5 x 120 mm. Purchased in Hungary.
By Roddy Somerville
France • Member since May 31, 2022 • Contact
Roddy started collecting stamps on his 8th birthday. In 1977 he joined the newly formed playing-card department at Stanley Gibbons in London before setting up his own business in Edinburgh four years later. His collecting interests include playing cards, postcards, stamps (especially playing cards on stamps) and sugar wrappers. He is a Past President of the Scottish Philatelic Society, a former Chairman of the IPCS, a Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards and Curator of the WCMPC’s collection of playing cards. He lives near Toulouse in France.
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