Dinosaures de Marseille Tarot Deck

The Dinosaures de Marseille Tarot Deck is a unique 78-card tarot deck, plus a bonus "Happy Squirrel" card, that merges the classic 16th-century Tarot de Marseille style with a dinosaur theme. Created by Anastasia Kashian-Smith, this deck aims to provide a gentle introduction to older tarot styles, making it accessible for beginners of all ages while appealing to both children and adults who appreciate dinosaurs.

The deck retains the traditional structure of the Tarot de Marseille, but each card is reimagined with full-color illustrations of prehistoric creatures. The Major Arcana are recast with Saurian glory and renamed accordingly, such as "ÉVOLVTION" for the Wheel of Fortune and "LA TRICÉRATOPS" for The Empress. The Minor Arcana pip cards, while not fully pictorial like Rider-Waite-Smith, feature various dinosaurs interacting within the traditional patterns, offering visual cues to guide interpretation.

Suit elements are creatively reinterpreted: Batons/Wands become "Fossils" and feature carnivorous dinosaurs, Deniers/Pentacles are "Ammonites" with herbivores, Swords are "Ferns" with pterosaurs, and Cups are "Crinoids" with marine prehistoric reptiles. This thematic consistency extends throughout the deck, providing a cohesive and engaging experience. The cards are printed in Italy on casino-grade stock with an eggshell finish, housed in a durable coffer-style box.

This deck is ideal for Tarot de Marseille enthusiasts looking for a fresh, whimsical take on the classic system. It also appeals to dinosaur lovers and collectors seeking a unique, themed deck. Its approachable imagery and the creator's intent make it suitable for beginners, including children, who might find traditional TdM pip cards intimidating, offering a "gentle and sympathetic introduction" to older tarot styles.

Anastasia Kashian-Smith created the Dinosaures de Marseille Tarot Deck with the aim of filling two specific needs in the tarot community: a deck suitable for children that wasn't overly childish and appealed to all genders, and a classic-feeling Tarot de Marseille deck that would gently introduce newcomers to older tarot styles. The idea for a dinosaur-themed deck arose during a conversation with a poet friend, sparking the vision of how early tarot creators might have envisioned dinosaurs. This concept led to the natural development of the project, which garnered significant enthusiasm from its followers.