Linweave Tarot

Above: the Fool, unnumbered, on the top of the colour swatch pile.

The Linweave Tarot Pack is a very unique deck, and for many reasons. First and foremost it is actually an elaborate set of paper samples from the Pulp, Paper and Board Division of Brown Company, New York. Every card is printed on a different colour and texture of paper. But it is really for the artwork that this deck is most renowned.

Published in 1967, it naturally features classic '60s style groovy flower power/psychedelic artwork by four different artists, who each designed a selection of major arcana cards, plus the Ace and court cards from one suit. Therefore, with no pips from 2-10, the deck only has 42 cards. Despite being made in America during the 1960s, the cards have French titles, and follow the European trump order, with Justice at VIII and Force at XI. The cards measure a massive 216 x 140mm, and are presented in a stout tuck flap box complete with instructions for two different methods of reading your fortune. The divinatory meanings are printed on the back of each card, along with some subtle advertising copy, information about the paper itself, and, most importantly, the artist's name. See the box►

• See the instructions►

Above: the artists and their cards are as follows: Nicolas Sidjakov - Trumps 1, 13, 14, 16, 21, Ace and courts of Batons. Hy Roth - Trumps 2, 5, 8, 11,17, Ace and courts of Coupes. Ron Rae - Trumps 6, 7, 18, 19, 20, Ace and courts of Deniers. David Palladini* - Trumps 0, 3, 4, 9, 10, 12, 15, Ace and courts of Epee.

Above: the Linweave Tarot Card Oracle - A vintage guide detailing instructions on how to perform a tarot reading with a nine-card layout, including the significance of each card position.

Above: continuation of the Linweave Tarot Card Oracle instructions, explaining further steps in the divination process and a bibliography for those interested in studying the Tarot further, published by Brown Company in 1967.

NOTE: * These are the earliest tarot images by David Palladini. He subsequently designed two more decks, namely the well known and loved Aquarian Tarot in 1970, and the New Palladini Tarot in 1996.