LIST PRICE: $14.40

ISBN: 0-88079-079-2

TYPE OF DECK: Based very closely on the Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS) deck, this may very well be an ideal deck for a relatively new reader or one who prefers not to deviate from the RWS system.

ARTISTIC STYLE: Accomplished artist Mary Hanson-Roberts utilized colored pencil to adapt Pamela Coleman Smith’s images in a moderately cartoon-like fashion.

DECK BOOKLET: This deck is usually accompanied by a standard little white book (LWB), which is adequate in that it provides a brief description of some of the traditional card meanings and the “Celtic Cross” spread.

BOOK: Consistent with the popularity of this deck, there are two companion books available for this deck. Tarot Unveiled: The Method to its Magic by Laura Clarson is illustrated with the Hanson-Roberts deck and details a marvelous and easy-to-comprehend basic system for Tarot interpretation. On occasion, this book has been sold as with this deck as a set. I am not, however, familiar with Susan Hansson’s The Hanson-Roberts Tarot Companion.

SHUFFLE-ABILITY: Probably one of the greatest strengths of this deck is that its size is relatively similar to that of a standard playing deck (3-15/16” x 2-3/8”). This makes for a remarkably easy-to-shuffle deck, particularly for those who are not quite accustomed to handling the standard “larger than your playing cards” Tarot deck.

QUALITY OF PRINTING: Printed on high-quality plastic-coated card stock, this deck is quite durable with colors that are quite vivid without becoming garish.

ADDITIONAL SYMBOL SYSTEM: Mary Hanson-Roberts appears to have followed the RWS system so closely that she took little opportunity to add any symbols or systems of her own.

ACCESSORIES / PACKAGE: This deck is usually packaged in a typical shrink-wrapped box with a cutaway front that exposes the visage of the card atop the deck. Typical of many decks, the LWB is slipped within this box among the cards, which often makes for difficult repackaging if one wishes to continue storing the booklet in such a fashion. On occasion, however, the Hanson-Roberts Tarot is marketed in a boxed set with one of the companion books.

BEST POINTS: It is easy to see why this deck is intensely popular, especially among novice readers. Hanson-Robert’s artwork is, of course, extraordinary and the size of the deck facilitates handling. This is a particular advantage not only for readers who find the larger decks cumbersome, but also for those who prefer to allow the querant to shuffle prior to reading.

WORST POINTS: While Hanson-Robert’s faithfulness to the RWS system may be considered an advantage, she took little opportunity for her own creativity to add to the system. Further, although the size of the deck indeed facilitates handling for many, one may get the impression that the small size of the cards required that many symbolic details may have been omitted to prevent the cards from appearing overly “crowded.” In short, where the Hanson-Roberts Tarot has advantages in aesthetics and size, it has significant deficits in obvious symbolic representation.

REVIEWER'S COMMENTS: In sum, the Hanson-Roberts Tarot is an ideal deck for the beginning reader and more seasoned readers who prefer a faithful, attractive, rendition of the RWS system. It’s size makes for ease of handling as well as portability, which should please both novices and experienced readers alike.

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