Beginning Tarot-what deck/s do you regret not getting first?

[thejeopardymaze]

 I only recently bought a copy of Kat Black's Golden Tarot, and now I'm kicking myself that I didn't buy this as my first deck. I was trying to be cheap as possible back then, but not caring much for RWS or Universal Waite art all those years ago and bought The Hermetic Tarot instead. I'm not saying The Hermetic Tarot is a bad deck, but the Golden Tarot has, at least to me, everything I like about the structure of the RWS without the children's book art of the RWS, and without the pointless (granted, this is just my view) cramming of occult symbolism smashed in to every card of The Hermetic Tarot, Thoth Deck, and their clones. 

Comments

[destinyislands]

I didn't buy my first deck. It was given to me when I turned 10 by my mother and was the RWS. Meanwhile, most of my childhood was spent idolizing her Hanson-Roberts deck. I never used the deck myself until I was around 18, having been very put off by the RWS for years. I just could not work with that deck. And yet, it never really sunk in to, you know, try a different deck until later. ><'

[ariestess]

I bought my first deck just a few months before my 19th birthday. It was a standard Rider-Waite deck that I still own. I've recently started using the Universal Tarot and the Shaman Wisdom Cards [because in some house rearranging, my travel kit with my RW deck has been hidden somewhere], and I like both. But I'm still glad that my RW was my first deck.

[arliss]

I bought two: the Aquarian and the Londa, at the same time, for comparison and study. The Haindl was next, and the Chinese, and the Karma.

I never really intended to give readings, I collect mainly for the art--each artist's interpretation of the traditional card meanings, and what nuances that particular interpretation throws on meaning.

Most of my decks are based on RW, rather than the Thoth. I have no affinity whatsoever with Marseilles decks. I'm usually put off by "themed" decks: angels, animals, fairies, Vikings, mermaids, etc. But I need some sort of hook to catch and keep my attention.

The Londa turned out to be a really good deck for learning--the central figures are extra-normal enough to be intriguing, but the backgrounds are simple and don't contain a lot of information or inspiration. I hardly use this deck today because it rarely tells me anything. The Aquarian is dependable, but not very illuninating. The Karma and the Haindl are wonderful for meditation and speculation, but neither is really comfortable to work with. And while it's a beautiful little jewel, the Chinese is more decorative than useful.

My mainstays have been for a long while the Zen Osho for meditation, the Fey, the Fantastic, and the Revelations for inspiration and study. The Hanson-Roberts has a special place in my heart because I have small hands--it's the least intimidating, most comfortable deck, in both size and art, I've ever worked with.