The Painted Caravan: A Penetration into the Secrets of the Tarot Cards.
The Hague (Holland): L.J.C. Boucher, 1954. First edition. Hardcover. Square small quarto. 120pp. Original cloth with black lettering on spine & blind-stamped sun device on front board. Illustrated endpapers. B&w and color illustrations. Bibliography. A surprisingly elusive work by the Hungarian / British artist Basil Ivan Rákóczi (1908–1979). By his own account his parents had been married in a gypsy ceremony, and he was very proud of this aspect of his heritage. "The Painted Caravan" comprises reproductions of original tarot designs by the author (some quite stunning) that "are based upon ancient gypsy packs" as well as chapters on "Tarot History According to Gypsy Lore," "The Greater Arcana or the veil Uplifted," "The Lesser Arcana Explained," "The Technique of Divination," and "Conclusion or the Painted Caravan Moves On." Bookseller's stamp on title page. Cloth a bit darkened and rubbed at all edges, moreso to that bottom edge, page edges and margins a bit browned, otherwise a tight, unmarked VG+ copy in about VG dust jacket (Dust jacket a little chafed and rubbed at edges, lacking a few small chips). Item #56413
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