moonbow ... There was a discussion regarding the Etteilla deck on an earlier thread, so I'll keep this current post short and refer you to my posts done in that earlier thread. Also, follow the various links given in that thread.
http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=14255
If, after reading that thread, you have any other questions, please ask!
As noted a few days ago, if you're gonna get an Etteilla deck as a historical collectors' deck, try to get the Grand Etteilla (GE) deck published by Grimaud or published by Dusserre.
IMHO, the main criterion for any beginning collection of historical decks is that you actually like the deck or see it as having a value for you, such as for study purposes.
Some would say the GE is not a true tarot deck, but it's still important in the early modern history of tarot.
Etteilla School divinatory meanings were influential in the development of Golden Dawn and Rider-Waite divinatory meanings.
To this day, the GE is used by psychics in France and Quebec. For a good number among them, if they're using a 78 card tarot deck, chances are it's a GE or an RWS-based deck. They reserve the Tarot de Marseille for major arcana readings. As well, many of the shoddier TdM books in French (and in Russian, I may end) give Etteilla School meanings for the pip cards.