The Lost Tarot - An Exquisite Major Arcana Limited Edition

The Lost Tarot is a unique Major Arcana deck, presented as a limited edition of 500 copies, featuring 22 Major Arcana cards and 4 bonus Aces from the Minor Arcana. Artist Hans Bauer created the deck using photo-based medieval imagery, primarily sourced from Renaissance faires. The project is notable for its elaborate fictional backstory, which posits that the images were created using a prototype camera designed by Leonardo da Vinci centuries before photography was invented, and then rediscovered in 1994.

The deck is housed in a custom-made box with a gold wax seal and includes a hand-signed and numbered insert by the artist. An interpretation guide by Carly Fischer is provided, along with a scaled-down copy of William Bradford's Testamentum, which details the deck's fictitious origins. The cards themselves are printed on heavy coated stock, measuring 2.75" x 5.5", and feature a distinctive gold backing. The entire production, including printing, was manufactured in the USA.

While this Kickstarter campaign focused on the color version of the Major Arcana, the creator mentions having completed both color and monochrome versions of a full 78-card deck, with plans to publish the complete set in the future. The Lost Tarot blends historical aesthetics with a creative narrative, offering a distinctive experience for collectors and readers interested in a deck with a rich, imaginative lore.

This deck is ideal for tarot collectors who appreciate unique concepts and elaborate backstories, particularly those interested in medieval themes, historical reenactment, or photo-based art. It appeals to readers who enjoy a strong narrative element with their divination tools and those who value limited edition, artisan-produced decks. Given it's a Major Arcana-only deck with bonus Aces, it might also suit readers who primarily work with the Major Arcana or who are looking for a complementary deck to their existing full sets.

Hans Bauer, primarily known as a screenwriter (Anaconda, Titan A.E.) and novelist, developed a long-standing interest in photo-based art. His journey to The Lost Tarot began with an earlier, unsuccessful project to photograph historical personages. After moving to rural Texas and attending local Renaissance faires, a friend suggested he combine his interest in photography with the rich characters and costumes of the faire to create a Tarot deck. Bauer experimented with The Fool card, and the concept for The Lost Tarot evolved from there, taking three years and 4,000 hours to complete both color and monochrome versions of a full 78-card deck.