The Hermetic Tarot – 1st Edition, First Printing (1980) – Godfrey Dowson – Rare OOP

A truly exceptional find: this is the very first printing of The Hermetic Tarot (U.S. Games Systems, 1980), reconstructed and illustrated by Godfrey Dowson from the esoteric teachings of the Secret Order of the Golden Dawn.
Referenced in The Encyclopedia of Tarot, Vol. III (pp. 594, 596–597), the deck is considered a foundational work for students of Hermetic Qabalah, alchemy, astrology, and ceremonial magic.

This early edition preserves Dowson’s meticulous black-and-white engravings in their purest form — dense with sigils, Hebrew letters, Golden Dawn titles, geomantic symbols, decan attributions, and esoteric formulae. Every card is a compact glyph of occult knowledge.

🔹 Edition: 1st Edition, first printing (1980)
🔹 Publisher: U.S. Games Systems, Stamford, USA
🔹 Artist / Designer: Godfrey Dowson
🔹 Contents: 78 cards + 1 extra card (complete)
🔹 Card size: ~ 4.75 × 2.75 in (approx. 12 × 7 cm)
🔹 Condition: Cards near mint / unused; box shows age-related wear
🔹 Status: Out of Print (OOP)

A rare opportunity to own a true first printing of one of the most influential occult tarots of the 20th century.

🪶 Collector’s Note

The 1980 first printing of The Hermetic Tarot has become one of the most coveted Golden Dawn decks. Unlike later editions, this earliest run features crisp, deep black linework and the original cardstock that collectors specifically seek out.
Surviving copies in near-mint, unused condition — especially complete with the early instruction booklet — are extremely scarce.

This deck represents a milestone in modern esotericism: Dowson’s work distilled decades of Golden Dawn symbolism into one of the most academically precise and magically functional tarots ever produced.

A museum-worthy piece for collectors of Golden Dawn material, historic U.S. Games printings, and occult illustration.