Austin Osman Spare Tarot Deck & Book

The Austin Osman Spare Tarot Deck & Book offers a unique opportunity to engage with the esoteric work of the influential British artist and occultist, Austin Osman Spare. This project by Strange Attractor Press presents a 1.5 scale facsimile of Spare's original 79-card, hand-painted tarot deck, which he created around 1906. The deck is a significant artifact for students of occult history, art history, and the development of modern magical systems, particularly Spare's unique approach to sigil magic and automatism.

Accompanying the deck is "Lost Envoy," a revised and expanded paperback edition of the authoritative book on Spare's tarot. This combination provides both a visual and intellectual deep dive into the artist's vision, offering context and analysis for the enigmatic imagery of the cards. The project was successfully funded on Kickstarter in 2022, raising over $162,000 from more than 2,000 backers, underscoring the enduring interest in Spare's work and its historical significance.

The reproduction deck is housed in an elegant cardboard case and includes an explanatory card or leaflet, ensuring that even new enthusiasts can begin to explore its depths. The cards themselves are a direct window into Spare's early 20th-century occult explorations, reflecting his distinctive artistic style and philosophical leanings. This edition serves as both a collectible art object and a functional tool for those interested in working with a historically rich and artistically profound tarot system.

This deck is primarily for collectors of historical tarot, enthusiasts of occult art, and students of Austin Osman Spare's work and philosophy. It appeals to those interested in the origins of modern esotericism and experimental art. Readers seeking a deck with a rich historical context and a unique, hand-drawn aesthetic will find it compelling. It is less suited for beginners looking for a standard Rider-Waite-Smith system, as its imagery and interpretations are deeply rooted in Spare's personal magical system.

Strange Attractor Press, founded in 2001, is known for celebrating "unpopular culture." Their work often focuses on esoteric subjects, counter-culture figures, and overlooked historical narratives. Their decision to publish a revised edition of "Lost Envoy" and a reproduction of Austin Osman Spare's tarot deck aligns with their mission to bring unique and historically significant cultural artifacts to a wider audience. The project reflects their dedication to meticulous research and high-quality reproduction of niche, yet influential, works.