Get your own copy of this one-time printing, incredibly unique deck. The Alleyman's Tarot was the #1 most funded (and by far the most backed) tarot kickstarter ever. Made up of 137-cards from various decks, old and modern, the deck is a small art museum that fits in your hand and that divines smoothly.
With the Booster Packs, you can include additional cards in the deck to replace or support the pre-existing cards. Grab your box, cloth, and bag while you're at it, and a X/O coin and poker chip, and see what the Alleyman has to tell you.
Latest Updates from Our Project:
The Final 48 Hours | Reddit AMA | & Notes
almost 3 years ago
– Wed, May 12, 2021 at 02:59:09 AM
Welcome to the final 48 hours, where we inevitably have a big spike on funding and backers and also steal the #1 most funded tarot project spot! We have 8,000+ more backers than the next most backed tarot deck on Kickstarter-- I think we can officially say, one way or another, this has been the biggest tarot kickstarter ever.
And it's all thanks to you! <3
The final cards
The main deck started at 133-cards, but we gained 134, 135, 136, and 137 over time with the stretch goals. I announced the Traitor (134) right away, then the Performer (135) as well, and I said there would be a blank card at the end of the deck. But I never did show you all 136. Well, here it is, The Thing Among Reflections.
I am on the edge of being able to share Booster Pack #3.... like just SO CLOSE. Literally one contract away. To tide you over, here's a closer look at the Thing Among Reflections and the final card of Booster #3, The Happy Squirrel. (Note, neither are at their final designs, I will likely touch them up further. Of note, going to make the squirrel a bit larger. The infinity will be gold foil.)
The 136th card from the main deck, and the foil card from Booster Pack #3
Additionally, I'll be doing an AMA on reddit's r/Occult community tonight in a about 4 1/2 hours
We're pleased to announce that trans artist Seven Dane Asmund, creator of The Alleyman's Tarot, will join us for an AMA about Tarot, Oracle Decks, Oracle Dice, Occult Publishing, and more on Tuesday May 11th 5 PM PST/7 PM CST/8 PM EST. Reserve the date!
Please feel free to come ask me things there! : )
Otherwise? The auction for the original deck ended at $1000, we'll see for sure if the better wants it at that price. If yes, it's sold. If not, I'll offer it to the 2nd highest bet.
The poll for the final booster pack came back and I can confirm a few of the cards that will be in it:
Lightning in a Bottle
Queen of Ravens
Ouroboros
The Storyteller
Queen of Strays
......
Why am I saying this is a few of the cards? If you know me by now, you should know that I am 100% going to put more than 5 cards in there. We'll see how many, likely 7 or 13. There were a number of write-in answers that are just awesome, like The Dreamer or The Planchette. I'm going to definitely do the 5 most chosen, but then I'm going through the rest of the list and picking the rest.
The final '5-card' booster will unlock when we break the last stretch goal, which I fully expect to happen here very soon. EVERYONE WILL GET 1 FREE PACK OF THIS BOOSTER. From there, if you want a 2nd or 3rd, like the coin, you'll have to get it as an add-on.
PS, I just got my 2nd COVID shot and I am fully expecting to just be destroyed by this darn thing. Yes, in the middle of the ending of the campaign. Oh boy. So please please please be patient with me. I know it gets busy from here on, but I might just not get back to you in time for things.
<3
Here's to a WILD last 48
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The Knight of Disks Change | The final booster? | An auction!
almost 3 years ago
– Tue, May 11, 2021 at 11:28:10 PM
First off, again, thank you. This has been such a big project, it's been so great. Every day it's all I think about and do-- working on this forever haha.
Every single card in this deck was hunted down. I've been licensing stuff from museums, artists, etc. I'm talking to Gallica now (where I got 15 of the old public domain cards) to figure out how much the licensing will be now that we have a good idea of how many decks are being printed.
I knew the origins of every single card.... Every single card, but that Knight of Disks.
The Knight of Disks Fuck Up
The Knight of Disks Fuckup
I'd found it on a site that said it was an old depiction of Shangguan Wan'er-- she was like the prime minister under Wu Zetian, China's first woman emperor. I loved her story, and was ready to use her as this awesome minister and actor on finances in the deck. There was no artist, but where I looked, I just saw it was all around the internet and quite old. I hesitated, thinking maybe I should just replace it since I can't credit the artist, but at least it was public domain.
Well, I was wrong. Probably.
In the comments, a lovely human being named Brigid put up a comment on the campaign yesterday suggesting a couple artists. I still can't find any actual CLEAR credit ANYWHERE that says Hua Sanchuan did this piece, nor when it was made, but comparing the styles and what I think to be the signature, I now 90% believe this wonderful depiction of Shangguan Wan'er was done by the fantastic artist, Hua Sanchuan. He died in 2004, and Chinese copyright wears off when the artist has been dead for 50 years.
It's very likely his work, even though I don't know it for sure. In any case, it's just too unclear for me to even consider keeping on in the project, plus I hated that I couldn't credit the source. As much as I would love to stick with Shangguan Wan'er as the Knight of Coins, for now I'm replacing her with an extra Knight I had on hand from the Gallica museum website. We'll see if it stays around or not.
This was the only card where I just wasn't entirely sure, but I really had thought I was certain it was very old and could generally be credited as a 'old depiction', essentially. But even before Brigid got me a potential match, I think I knew I was going to lose her from the deck. Sad day, but artists deserve to NOT have their work stolen by some American just 16 years after they die. Apologies to Hua Sanchuan.
Keep in mind this booster, if unlocked, will go for free to each backer like the coin-- ONE per backer. It will be made an add-on if you want to get a second or third copy.
(ps there will be a happy squirrel in the 3rd booster, so don't write it in on this one)
An Auction! ... kind of
So I'd like to auction off the test print I have been doing the photos and ALL my readings with. It has cards that have been replaced, a little misprinting, and just some real character to it haha. Not to mention it's been handled by me a lot. It would come on its own, no book. I'll get a bag from one of the artisans to pack it in for you.
It would ship when I get copies of the final printing (September), so I don't end up having a period where I can't do readings. I still keep getting them ordered haha, so need to have a deck on hand to do so!
I'm loosely making this a Silent Auction. The way you do it is simple.
Put in your email, your Kickstarter account name, your backer number on this campaign (if you have it, its optional to fill out), and your bid. When it ends at noon on the 10th, I will go through responses and find the submission with the highest total.
I will periodically (every few hours) check in and see what the highest bid is and note that in the description on that form, so you can always check in and see if you want to try and bid higher.
When we get to the end, I'll do my best to update hourly haha. I know this isn't the CLEANEST or best way to do this, but it's the free way, and all the auction software I was seeing online looked messy.
Let's get to those last two stretch goals! : )
(ps just 3 cards left to lock in on booster #3, I should be able to show it so very soon)
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1 Million Dollars & Other Notes | Plus the Warlock Patron
almost 3 years ago
– Tue, May 11, 2021 at 07:33:23 PM
Well, I guess I need to start figuring out how I'm going to make this podcast, huh? ; )
(I've had very kind people offer voice talent and sound mixing-- I'll keep y'all in mind, but also I'm going to reach out to some people who have run big podcasts about it! Thanks for all your suggestions!)
But seriously? This has been such a ride, at this point I could just break down and cry. I've been self publishing for a decade+, trying to make it. I've run 19 Kickstarters between this and my first account, and never has it ever been so ridiculously impressive. The last year, i've been working from home trying really hard to make this working for myself thing work, and it's been really hard. I have been broke for basically a year straight. I kept thinking that even though this project was doing so well, I still wouldn't be making that much money... but now I'm doing the math and with all the people here all the manufacturing costs are going down and...? There were so many days this last year where I ate just one meal to help save money. I always thought "I can eat more tomorrow."
I still don't fully understand that this is real just yet. I don't think it will be real until the campaign is fully done and shipped out and there's still so much money in my account. Okay, damn it, now I am crying haha. But you all did this, thank you so much. Thank you so so so much. If this campaign had only barely funded I would have still been in debt, if it had flopped I would have had to give up. I've been trying for so long, and it's only just now really hitting me that this did it. Thank you to all the artists, thank you to all the people who have helped, thank you to all of you.
Just the biggest thank you I ever could possibly muster.
People keep telling me that this is from my hard work, others tell me that it was luck and lightning in a bottle I could never replicate, and I don't know which I believe. I've worked hard the whole time, but I can't account for what happened here. It was just the right moment, the right people, the right pictures, the right story. I don't ever expect another this big, but I welcome you all to join me on the ride. I am a prolific creator who can't stop their brain from thinking nonstop, so at the least I can promise I'll keep making more projects. Probably fewer that require me managing 100+ other people, though haha-- but maybe sometime in the future we can look at the Alleyman's Oracle.
The third booster is basically fully gathered, but struggling to get some final image files. I'll share it very soon. Also I should start planning for that FINAL 5-card booster. Go ahead and start shouting out your suggestions for what cards I should make in the free booster in the comments here! : P
Come join us on my discord, or on the official facebook fan page. I have so much more to give y'all, so many new projects, so stay tuned!
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PS
If you have a local gamestore, bookstore, occult shop or the like, feel free to nudge them towards our retailer tier pledge with an email, if you're so moved! We're gonna get to that final stretch goal!
double PS
I added 7 more of the puzzleboxes to the addons, if any of you have $400 and the need for a gorgeous black wood box haha. Cen and I figured it would be nice to do 13 total.
A Literary Fundraising Tarot! | BOOSTER #2
almost 3 years ago
– Thu, May 06, 2021 at 03:13:25 AM
Hello! Today, I finally get to share the 2nd booster pack-- but first I want to share a project that I am helping out on because it's for a good cause, and lord knows with how well this has done I need to be paying it forward however I can.
Brink! Lit is a literary non-profit that focuses on bringing literacy to underserved communities. They publish an amazing literary journal f(r)iction magazine that always features a good blend of people from all walks of life! The Literary Tarot is inspired by the success I had on my last project, and is being done to help replace the in-person fundraisers that this non-profit couldn't run this last year due to COVID. I've been volunteering time with them to help advise on what stories should pair with what cards, and there has been so much cool stuff! A Monkey King Magician card! Alice in Wonderland as the Moon! Dante's Inferno as Judgement!
The project is very cool, they are reaching out to celebrity authors who are also volunteering some time to pick literary classics in the public domain and then working with us to pick a matching tarot card. Then the authors are helping to write the card meanings for the guidebook!
Lev Grossman, author of the Magicians (which became a TV show I loved) is taking part!
Margaret Atwood!
Simon Tolkien (Yes, those Tolkiens)!
Benjamin Percy!
Faylita Hicks!
Matt Fraction!
K-Ming Chang!
And many, many more, including some big names I'm not allowed to share yet haha.
So please, please, please, go follow that campaign if it sounds of any interest to you. I am not accepting pay from them of any kind, what they do is important for communities all over. PLEASE follow to help them have a great day 1! Samantha Dow (who did the Gold Normal Tarot, and the 5 of Swords here) is doing the Major Arcana for that deck! Shan Bennion (who is doing our Alleyman official art, and did the Undaunted and Queen of Pentacles) is also going to be on that project, I believe-- it will be fantastic!
Did I mention their deck boxes are going to be some AWESOME BOOKS?? I'm honestly so jealous and feel like everything I've done is boring in comparison haha.
Mockups of the Literary Tarot's box
Alright, I promised a booster, so here we go! : )
ROW 1
Alla Dementeva - Joker from a playing card deck design
Front: Kamille Areopagita & Kevin Areopagita Back: Meredith Smallwood - Judgement from the Animated Tarot (aka the #1 most funded tarot project on kickstarter!!)
Yes, I am going to have 13 Deaths by the end of this. Look for Booster #3 reveal soon-- only a couple slots I'm finishing filling. There is a Squirrel, for those of you worried about it.
your Publishing Goblin.
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The FINAL Add-Ons Update! Shipping Prices!
almost 3 years ago
– Wed, May 05, 2021 at 04:57:17 AM
Helllooooo People! (Edit: Kickstarter told me they pushed an update to the site that should fix the issues some people were having, please let KICKSTARTER SUPPORT know if you're still having issues adding addons.)
Shipping
First off, my printer is handling sourcing a bunch of the add-ons in manufacturers next door and has given me prices, so now I can give YOU prices! Also, the shipping is cheaper than I thought in most cases, so that's awesome. Even when it's more, it's not that much more.
"In the US:
1. 2 lbs or less (1st and possibly 2nd rewards above): $9.00 (lower than we previously quoted).
2. 2-3 lbs: we believe without a wood box, all add-ons plus the base card set should fall within this weight range: $9.75
3 3-4 lbs: we believe this should cover the remaining rewards (other than retailer edition) including, wood box: $10.50
4. 10 lbs: Retailer Edition (5 Decks): $15"
Outside the US, it's more finnicky of course-- there's an entire world out there, haha.
The biggest backer countries:
Canada will be about $18, Japan and Singapore about $13.50, Australia about $14.50, New Zealand about $15.50. This is all USD. Assume a little higher if you included add-ons, but few of the add-ons are that heavy, solid wooden boxes an exception. Should be hearing from them sometime soon about UK and EU, but assume a little higher-- VAT of course makes it a little bit of a struggle, but since Kickstarter is not a store, and you are all pledging money to help my business and I'm sending you gifts in return, that should cut a lot of the issues and extra fees.
Add-ons
I'm doing something a bit wild here, forgive me. I'm unlocking the $900,000 stretch goal early. We're going into the final 9 days here (8 days, 22 hours, 13 minutes, but who's counting?) and it's just smart to have all the add-ons visible and grabbable for new pledging people. I mean, think of all the people who never check or read updates. If they pledge and get what's available, they aren't going to pop in to get newly unlocked ones! So let's make them ALL available now.
SO!
As of right now, we have the ones you're familiar with already: Extra copy of the deck, extra copy of the book, two hand-made bag options, and a hand-made Walnut box option. Also 2 booster packs. There are still plenty of hand-made box options open, and I just got pictures of the box put together and cleaned up.
Cen Galdre's gorgeous solid walnut tarot box, sized for the Alleyman's Tarot
As of a minute from now, we also have all the others I have promised, plus an extra no one realized they wanted: Cheap Wooden Box option, Cheap Satin Bag Option, Booster Pack #3, Boost Pack of Blanks (with different card backs), Tarot Cloth Option. Let's break it down!
Booster Pack #3 - $5
This will be another 15-card pack with a foil at the end. I can confirm the Happy Squirrel will be in here, as well as some other very neat cards. It's almost fully sourced at this point, so be ready for some booster updates here shortly!
Booster Pack of Blanks - $5
This is a 15-card booster pack of cards with different backs and blank (or templated) fronts. Each will have its own different templating, some with textured borders, others with just lines. Many people want me to add more blanks to the deck, but I just can't fill a deck with blanks when many wouldn't even want them in the first place. So here you go, this is for you. (boxes, bags, etc are not planning to fit these 15 cards as well since I'm just adding it now, but they can likely squeeze in)
The Alley Man's Cigars (Short and Sweet) Wooden Box - $10
This box will fit the full deck plus the 3 boosters. It will be etched with the Alley Man's Cigars branding-- a fake company I am making up for this project. You'll see a theme here. It's solid wood, thinking rosewood right now, but yet to be determined.
The Alleyway Liqueur brand's Tarot Cloth - $5
This tarot cloth is 24"x24". Trying to lean cotton but may be going velvet. No promise on material just yet, but it will be $5 either way. This one I have designed-- you can see it here.
The Gleaming Alley jewelry brand's Satin Bag - $5
This (likely black) satin bag will be 7.5"x7.5" (like the bags being made by Lady Latham), and will have a simple logo for this false alleyway store. It will fit the full deck (plus boosters) and then a little more.
That should finish off the campaign! The only exception will be if we hit the final goal and I need to make a final booster of 5 cards that y'all help me decide on. We'll cross that bridge if we come to it.
In the meantime, there is an official Alleyman card being made-- mostly because I wanted the art to put on the booste rpack wrappers haha-- but we figured, why not a card, too? It will be the foil card from Booster Pack #1, replacing the card we lost due to licensing issues. Shan Bennion who did the Queen of Pentacles and the Undaunted is doing that.
I'll begin doodling out designs for the box and bag logos, but don't expect them for a little bit. Tomorrow, I should finally be able to share booster pack #2! (and booster #3 not too long after!)
I appreciate all the suggestions for patches, pins, stickers, etc-- but this campaign has enough stuff on it haha. There's always the Alleyman's Oracle next time around to try out some more nonsense! : )
