Ancient Italian Tarot

Rating:
Summary: A really nice deck.
Review: I got these, because of course with your first tarot deck you should get the one that calls out to you. I enjoy the pictures and the simple fact that they are old looking. Just adds to the charm of reading them. This is my first deck and i am a beginner, and dont recommend getting this if this will be your first deck, but if it does call out to you then do get it. The one thing about these cards is knowing when the meanings are reversed in the Minor Arcana. I believe its the Wands and the Swords that have the number on both ends. For me it just means a little more studying and getting to know my cards better, for when i do start reading them. What i also like about these cards is that they are smaller than most decks, and easier to shuffle if you have small hands like myself. All in all, this is a nice deck for those who want an old looking deck, as well as the history behind it also.

Rating:
Summary: An Illustrated Guide to the Tarot could be a companion book
Review: Jonathan Dee's An Illustrated Guide to the Tarot could be a companion to this pretty deck. All the cards of this deck are reproduced in a larger format. The details and old-style printing are quite rich. For me, the slight smudges and misprint on some of the Courts and World add to the period feel. Some of the detail is quite delicate.
Jonathan Dee writes that his descriptions would be suitable for any deck. However I like how the feel of these Italian cards and text descriptions work together. This is a very pretty book and is printed quite well.
If you are new to Marseilles-style decks, like Italian style art and are interested in using such a deck for reading games, I'd suggest the Ancient Italian Tarots by Lo Scarabeo: it says Cartiera Italian in Serravalle Sesia 1880. The Classical Tarot from Lo Scarabeo is similar and you can use this book with that deck too. But the pastel colors and keywords on the side of the card can be slightly distracting after awhile.
This book and the Ancient Italian deck as a 'gift set' to the art collector of tarot deck could be a refreshing change. I bought it on a vacation trip. Together, I found the designs and book quite relaxing and fun.

Rating:
Summary: One of the best non-Marseilles traditional decks
Review: Llewellyn and Lo Scarabeo have out 2 different decks that are based on Carlo della Rocca's engraved versions of the traditional tarots. This is the one I recommend.

The other one, they call the "Classical Tarot." That one looks newer than this one. There are some minor variations on the pip cards. This one looks like a reproduction of a genuinely old deck. More importantly, they have not narrowed the image areas of the cards in order to fit a set of rather odd keywords on them, which they did to the Classical Tarot.

The images here are almost entirely consistent with the Tarot de Marseille symbolism on all the major points. These, however, are done with fine-lined engraving instead being based on blocky woodcuts. This deck will appeal to those who want a traditional deck but who find the art of the Marseilles deck hard to work with.