Last updated, 29/09/2022
We hope to keep this page up to date as we go along, so that you are informed about where we are with up and coming work.
We are currently working on three new decks, one of which is a tarot, while the others are fortune telling cards:
- A completely new Bohemian Cats' Theatre Tarot.
- Our own, Victorian-style The Bohemian Fortune Telling Cards,
- A re-imagining of antique Bohemian fortune telling cards which we have named Mercury's Fortune Telling Cards.
The Bohemian Cats
We are getting lots of enquiries about the new Baroque Bohemian Cats' Theatre Tarot. But please be patient - it will take us at least until late 2023/4 to complete.
It isn't a reprint or new version of the original Baroque Bohemian Cats' Tarot; it's an entirely new deck - all the images take place in the dramatic setting of a baroque theatre. We make every costume (loosely based on Baroque clothing) by hand - including designing our own unique embroideries, lace and hats. The project will, as usual, include a companion book. For the first time, there will also be an accompanying art book that will show gloriously expanded scenes from the cards. You can find more about what's going on at The Bohemian Cats blog - we'd love to see you there.
For all of this crazy work, the miniature clothing patterns are also, of course, entirely our own. So it's a slow process, but does produce uniquely detailed imagery. Things were held up by two lockdowns (which we know were necessary) but we are still hopeful of having the work done by late 2023 or 2024 - all being well.
If you haven't yet seen the first video of our design process (made a few days before lockdown in March 2020!), please do take a look.
A first sample - not final - image from our planned Bohemian Cats book. We will also be making a large-format book (for adults who love cats, costumes and more than a touch of surrealism) that will relate to the deck.
The Bohemian Fortune Telling Cards - our own deck
We are near to finishing our two decks of "Bohemian fortune telling cards". These follow the system, which we were very familiar with during our time in Prague, often called "gypsy cards" and in Czech known usually just as "vykladaci karty", which can be loosely translated as "cards for doing readings". In the companion book for these decks, we will outline the history, how to read with them and, of course, we will explain why we chose not to use the term "gypsy cards".
On the picture here you can see two of the cards that we have already completed and printed (as first samples). You may find that you got a small present of these in an order! The samples have plain backs but the final cards will have our usual cold-stamped - and we hope beautiful - backs.
You can see some of the original Victorian photos that we will (probably) be incorporating in the designs. We base everything on original photos, often changed, added to and even remade in part, so that we end up with the image we feel will work best.
Here are some of the newest cards. We are following the traditional pattern but this in itself did vary so, for example, not every deck will include "gossip" (see above). We've chosen the card meanings that we think will make a well-balanced and very usable deck.
We've also decided to do 36 rather than the more usual 32 cards. It gives a good range of possibilities in a reading and still respects tradition as some of these decks did include 36 cards.
We are also close to completing our re-imagining (with cold-stamping!) of an antique deck in this Bohemian style. It's always been one of our favourites of these antique decks and has some wonderful cards. It's been a pleasure to work on cleaning and enhancing the images.
We've decided to call it a "re-imagining" rather than a reproduction because we're adding cold-stamping and this does make it clear that's it's a recently produced deck. We feel it adds beautifully to the original images.
Mercury's Fortune Telling Cards - our re-imagining of an antique deck
FAQS
I've heard you are leaving tarot design. Is that right?
Yes, we plan the new Bohemian Cats' Tarot to be the last new deck of tarot we'll design. As mentioned, it will most likely be published in 2024. However, while we are working on it, and while it's available, we will try to do some new editions of our other decks. We also plan one or two collaborative decks.
Why did you decide to do the new cards in the "Bohemian" style?
We've worked with these cards since first going to Prague (actually, a reading with a set of these helped to persuade Karen to move to Prague). We decided to make a deck in this style some years ago, but never got very far with it. Recently, however, we decided that it's now or never!
When will pre-orders open? Will there be pre-order offers?
Yes, there will be a generous pre-order discount, as usual, for all decks.
The Bohemian Fortune Telling Cards and Mercury's Fortune Telling Cards (our reimagining of the antique cards) should, all being well, open for pre-orders in late September/October 2022. Originally we planned for late 2020 (!), but with lockdowns, issues with print companies and lots of other things happening, it unfortunately kept getting pushed back.
Which decks are you likely or unlikely to reprint?
Nothing is absolutely certain, but this is what we are currently thinking:
- The Victorian Romantic Tarot - new version was published early in 2022. You can see more details at this page.
- The Fairytale Tarot - no reprints planned. We may consider this again in the future.
- The Flower Oracle - no reprints planned. We may consider this again in the future.
- The Tarot of Prague - no reprints planned. We will consider this again in the future.
- The Mythical Creatures Tarot - no reprints planned. We will consider this again in the future.
- The Fantastic Menagerie Tarot - no reprints planned. We will consider this again in the future.
- The Alice Tarot - we do hope to print a new edition. Maybe around the period 2024? We'll keep you updated.
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The Bohemian Gothic Tarot - we do hope to print a new edition, perhaps with cold-stamping or silver ink this time. We hope that pre-orders may open in 2023? We'll keep you updated.
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Every now and then I come to check if there are any news of the Fairytale tarot. Please consider doing a new print of that gorgeous deck. Thank you
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Baba Store replied:
Hi Rox,
Unfortunately we have no plans to reprint The Fairytale Tarot. We are doing our best to bring out some new version and/or reprints of some of our decks, but we simply can’t do this for all decks. Apologies for any disappointment.
Karen – by the way, we have now switched to a Wordpress blog, which you can find on the front page of our shop, and also here:
http://bababarock.com
Keeping me eyes on your page just in case Alice is re-released! One of my favorite tarot readers uses the deck frequently and I have been in love with it for years. I am such a huge fan of your studio and the work it produces. It’s all very special and unique. Thank you for not compromising your quality, and for taking the time (over and over!) to explain why you run your business the way you do.
Please. Stop using the “we’re a small shop” excuse for everything you don’t want to do.
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Baba Store replied:
Well it’s hardly an excuse. We can’t simply conjure up time out of the blue. Please understand that redoing a deck is not an overnight thing for us. For example, we have just done many months work on redoing a new version of The Bohemian Gothic Tarot. It doesn’t happen without effort and time being devoted to it.
That’s reality.
I saw your decks for the first time on you tube where there were previews of some of your decks. there are extremely beautiful, so I am very happy that I can buy from your store. I hope that the fairy tale tarot will be reprinted in the future! Great work and stunning cards!!
Am new to Tarot and recently discovered your studio.So excited you are going to do a reprint of Alice in the future. It is the most visually stunning tarot deck I’ve ever seen!
Your Tarot Decks are works of Art, Very Very beautiful and very very Special, worthy of love and appreciation, tools for reflection and introspection.
making Limited Editions contribute to their outstanding presence.
your entire website is a place to wander and appreciate.
Love all you do.
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Baba Store replied:
Thank you so much, Mark. We appreciate your support and encouragement.
It would be lovely if you would reprint the decks already created. I would love to purchase the Alice Tarot in the 2nd edition. It is currently selling for over $700 on Ebay. Please consider the customer demand for your decks. When you do such limited edition quantities, it feels like it is not created for oracle and tarot lovers to enjoy but rather just for Baba Studios to feel special. So many of us would love to own your beautiful creations and are blocked from doing so. Are you creating tarot and oracle decks for your customers or for yourselves? The demand is there. Why do you need to make everything limited edition to be enjoyed? You can be known for your great quality standards, attention to detail, and the level of depth in your decks, rather than making all your decks so hard to purchase. It comes across as somewhat snobby (forgive me). A business should be in service to their customers and not exist simply to make themselves feel special or limited edition. So many of us would enjoy being part of the worlds that you create but are blocked from doing so, simply because we were not there at the very limited time of the decks creation and printing or because of the limited quantity it sold out so quickly and was no longer available. Your decks are very difficult to attain. People just want to enjoy them. Let more people enjoy what you create please!
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Baba Store replied:
Hi Rachel,
We do not make “everything limited edition”. We always do a limited edition and a standard edition. The standard editions are usually available for at least a year, but far more often for two or three years – The Alice Tarot was available for several years. Why didn’t you buy it when it was available? There is ample opportunity to buy from us, so I honestly don’t know what the issue is.
We are a small studio and it is impossible to keep everything in print. We do our best. If that’s not good enough, well, as you know, we are moving away from tarot and will be focusing on other design once the current deck is finished. You have beautifully demonstrated one reason why.
Yours – the “snobby” design studio trying to “make themselves feel special”.
Please bring back the beautiful Tarot of Prague, on ebay and etsy they are selling for MANY hundreds if not a thousand of dollars already since the deck is SO desired and became such a classic with such a huge following. It is definitely an essential for ALL tarot readers, Amazon reviews are also all 5 stars! There are NO decks like the Prague tarot deck, bringing that European traditional style that is oh-so-classic and yet done by very few to such a beautiful way as you have done! If there is a golden large edition reprint I guarantee people will flock to get it, I have not found ANY deck like the Prague deck and believe me I have scoured EVERYWHERE. The only deck that has that European old art style is the new tarot deck called Serpent & Peacock tarot but that is completely amateur in comparison to the art of the Prague deck.
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Baba Store replied:
Hi Jes,
Thanks for getting in touch. We don’t have any plans currently for reprinting The Tarot of Prague. We will of course continue to consider this, but as we are no longer doing Magic Prague tours (the last version of the deck was done partly for the tours) it’s not very likely right now. As you may know, we are moving away from tarot so as we get involved in other projects, new versions of older decks become less likely. We do plan a new edition of The Alice Tarot, maybe in 2024/5, and as you know, we are currently working on a new edition of The Bohemian Gothic Tarot. Beyond that, we just don’t know.
All the best – and thanks again for the feedback, which is appreciated.
Karen
Many years ago, when you first brought out the Bohemian Boroque Cat
Tarot, I bought a number of the decks and took them to a medevial war, where they sold quickly. There are many cat lovers there, as well as those who go in for detailed elaborate costuming, and I think they will be delighted with your new deck, when it comes out. Of course, I’ll have the keep the first deck out of the box for myself! I just love your artwork!
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Baba Store replied:
That’s lovely to hear Karen. People do seem to really take to the deck and it seems to have a fair number of loyal fans! By the way, you can read more about the progress on the new deck at https://bohemiancats.com – we’ll be posting fairly regularly from now on.
I only found out a couple years ago about your shop and was so sad to have just missed out on the Mystical Creatures Tarot. Also the Alice Tarot! I am so pleased to have gotten the Victorian Romantic and get a chance to pick up the Bohemian Gothic, but I would totally splurge to get these other two if ever there was a reprint! Please consider :) ♥