Philly Tarot Card Project

The Philly Tarot Card Project is a 78-card deck that reimagines the classic Rider-Waite-Smith system through the lens of Philadelphia's unique culture and history. Artist James Boyle developed the concept after an illustration for Philadelphia Magazine sparked significant local interest, leading him to expand the idea into a complete deck. The project successfully funded on Kickstarter in 2018, raising over $44,000 from 801 backers.

Each card in the deck features full-color illustrations that replace traditional RWS figures and scenes with recognizable Philadelphia icons. From historical figures like Edgar Allan Poe to pop culture references like characters from "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia," and iconic landmarks such as the Liberty Bell, the deck offers a playful and deeply localized interpretation of tarot. The campaign emphasized community involvement, with Boyle inviting suggestions for Major and Minor Arcana cards from his Instagram followers.

The deck maintains the core structure and meanings of the RWS system, making it accessible to experienced readers who can easily identify the underlying symbolism, despite the thematic overlay. Its appeal lies in its novelty and its celebration of Philadelphia, transforming a spiritual tool into a cultural artifact that resonates with locals and fans of the city. The blend of traditional tarot with specific regional humor and iconography creates a unique reading experience.

The artwork is characterized by a clean, graphic style with bold black outlines and a limited, somewhat muted color palette that evokes a vintage comic book or screen-printed aesthetic. The campaign story confirms the process began with pen and ink drawings, which were then colored digitally. The visual style is consistent across the cards, featuring recognizable caricatures and landmarks rendered with a distinct, slightly irreverent charm. For example, the Death card depicts Edgar Allan Poe, while The World card features Danny DeVito's character from "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia," surrounded by other cast members. The Hanged Man is represented by the Liberty Bell, complete with its iconic crack. This approach ensures that while the imagery is specific to Philadelphia, the underlying RWS symbolism remains clear through composition and key elements.

This deck is ideal for tarot enthusiasts with a strong connection to Philadelphia, including residents, former residents, or fans of the city's culture and history. It also appeals to collectors of unique, themed decks and those who appreciate a humorous, pop-culture-infused approach to tarot. While following RWS, the specific imagery might be less intuitive for absolute beginners without prior tarot knowledge, but experienced readers will enjoy the clever reinterpretations.

James Boyle, an illustrator, embarked on The Philly Tarot Card Project after creating an illustration for Philadelphia Magazine about the rising popularity of tarot and astrology. The positive reception to his initial Philadelphia-themed tarot concepts inspired him to develop a complete 78-card deck. He engaged his Instagram followers by posting daily pen and ink drawings and soliciting suggestions for Major and Minor Arcana cards, making the creation process a community-driven effort.