Engel-Tarot
Set of major arcana designed by Alois Hanslian depicting angels throughout.
Angels in their many guises are present throughout this pack designed by the German artist Alois Hanslian (b.1943). Each extra-large image is set against a mustard- or gold-coloured background which adds unity to the ensemble. The figure on The World (Die Welt) card is reminiscent of the work of Botticelli. The cards have black borders but are not numbered; instead, the card title in German appears in white at the foot of each card. The backs are plain white and unvarnished. The extensive book in German describes every card in detail and includes various layouts • See the box
Above: Engel-Tarot designed by Alois Hanslian, published by Aquamarin Verlag, Grafing, Germany, 1987. Printed by Wiener Verlag, Himberg, Austria. 22 cards + 1 title card + 79-page book in German, in tuck box. Size: 110 mm x 155 mm. The back of the cards is blank and the title card looks the same as the front of the box and the front of the book (except for a black border).
Reference
Kaplan, Stuart R. The Encyclopedia of Tarot, Vol. IV. New York, USA: U.S. Games Systems, Inc.; 2005. pp 320, 323. (Date of publication incorrectly given as c.1995)
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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