Description
78 cards + a title card + an "about" card with an LWB in a standard cardboard tuckbox. Also included with the set is a 300 page, softcover companion book written by A.L. Samul. As is customary with U.S. Games tarot sets of this vintage, a large, full-color, fold-out spread guide is included as well. All the components of the set are packaged together in a shelf box.
The cards measure 2.75" wide x 4.75" long. The card stock is reasonably flexible, with a smooth matte finish. My deck has a very slight warp; anecdotally, I've observed that a slight warp is very common in USG produced decks of this vintage.
The card back design is non-reversible.
Strength is VIII and Justice is XI. The Fool is numbered 0.
Suits are Swords, Wands, Cups, and Pentacles. The court cards are Page, Knight, Queen, and King.
The minor arcana are scenic in the RWS style, though with a little less detail than the RWS. One feature of the Hudes that I find beautiful, yet frustrating, is its tendency to focus on faces and expressions; there's a feeling of elegance and moodiness to this deck. But I find it challenging to read with, because I keep wanting to "read into" the characters' expressions instead of maintaining an objective distance.
The Hudes deck itself has a copyright of 1995, which appears in tiny print in the card borders. The set, including the companion book, has a copyright of 2002.