Looking for a playing tarock deck

[Darklilly]

I'm looking for something specific... I want to use playing cards as my tarot deck.

In my family there's a strong tradition of playing tarock (austrian) whenever the right number of people meet. I have this memory of my grandfather's cards. They were slightly yellowed, but in excellent condition, made of thick cardboard with no modern surface treatment, very unlike the slipery, shiny and thin cards you get today. They felt wonderful in the hand and I loved them as a child, especially the queens (incidentally, are there many tarot decks out there in the same cardstock style? I can't tell online without feeling the cards. I'd love to have a thoth deck in this style). It comes in a kit together with standard playing cards and canasta cards and some funny mini-cards.

The problem is, even if I got my hands on some cards like this, there's half of the minors missing, so I'd have to search for a kit similar to my grandfather's, except with same backs (there are 3 colors for the different types of cards) and mix it up. I don't even know where to start.

 

[Moonbow]

Have you thought of the Bolognese Primiera and Tarocco game cards?

 

[Darkmage]

I actually have a deck like what you're describing. I found mine used over at Bookman's and it ran me $22, but it's got the standard playing card suits and 22 Majors that are unlabeled. It's French and produced by the Society for Tarot or something. They used to pop up a lot on Ebay but I haven't seen any for a while.

They're very similar, if not indeed these: http://www.etsy.com/listing/86735340/vintage-french-tarot-card-game-by-ducale

And a good explanation can be found here: http://l-pollett.tripod.com/cards28.htm

I'm not sure if you can find them around much these days, but they're worth looking for. I should dig out my deck (it's in one of my boxes) and take some pix if you're interested.

 

[gregory]

Variantes in Paris usually have a range of Ducale tarock decks in stock, and are hugely helpful:

http://www.variantes.com/

Go for tarot a jouer.

http://www.variantes.com/CARTES-a-TAROTS-Tarots-a-jouer-l-CRT_TJ.html

And indeed - LOADS of them are up there - get one with 78 cards, is all.

ETA this one looks like the kind of thing, no ?

http://www.variantes.com/Tarot-100-plastique-Tarots-a-jouer-p-2_203_222_7123.html

OOOH wait - and this is half the price and the same images:

http://www.variantes.com/Tarot-classique-dos-ecossais-Tarots-a-jouer-p-I41289.html

I LOVE Variantes !

 

[Le Fanu]

What a great site gregory. I didn't know it; they even have the wretched Tapestry Tarot in stock which I thought had been condemned to oblivion.

 

[gregory]

The store is even better. Rue St Andre des Arts.... Off you go...

 

[nisaba]

Temptress!

 

[kalliope]

The store is even better. Rue St Andre des Arts.... Off you go...

I'll be making my first trip to Paris in September -- I'm putting this shop on my list. Thanks!!

 

[gregory]

I'll be making my first trip to Paris in September -- I'm putting this shop on my list. Thanks!!

You have PM. There are other places too