Tarot de Paris

[HermitWriter]

Hello tarot fam!

 

So at the end of last month, I ordered a bundle pack from Editions SIVILIXI containing the Vieville Tarot and book as well as the Tarot de Paris (at the time, CollecTarot was out of stock of the latter). Shipping from France to the US wasn't cheap. but the total cost came close to what buying the two decks and Vieville book would have been had I purchased from CollecTarot, and I had my package exactly seven days after I placed the order, which I thought was pretty righteous.

 

Anyway! I've been working with the Tarot de Paris this month, and I'm finding it to be so fascinating. Most of the pips and several of the majors are quite a bit different from Marseilles decks, but they still tell some fascinating stories. This deck might have my favorite representation of The Lover as well. I'm curious as to whether anyone else here has worked with the Tarot de Paris, and also if you've found any resources online or in hard copy that talk about some of the imagery used. I'll post some images later today if anyone would like to see some examples, or if I can figure out how to add an entry to the Deck Library, I'll try to do that this weekend. Thanks in advance! And if you get the chance / spare funds, I definitely recommend this reproduction deck for both study and readings.

[Flaxen]

@HermitWriter, I also got this bundle recently and echo your view of the Tarot de Paris. I haven’t worked with it yet but it is a beautiful edition and worth having for fans of historical decks. 

[Guest]

7 hours ago, HermitWriter said:

I'm curious as to whether anyone else here has worked with the Tarot de Paris, and also if you've found any resources online or in hard copy that talk about some of the imagery used.

I've had the deck for some time now (5 years?) and occasionally hunt for resources; I've found very little. It's possible that French language sources are out there, but I'm not fluent so I haven't explored those options. I believe there are several threads over at the Tarot History Forum that address some of the symbols employed, in the larger context of historical tarot, but that's all I can think of at the moment. If I come up with anything else, I'll update here. Thanks for starting the thread, and good hunting to you!

[Guest]

There is a short study of a few images from Patric Coq on his website here, if you haven't already seen it (though I'm guessing you have).

[HermitWriter]

Thank you @mrpants! I have seen Patric Coq's site; in fact, it help seal the decision to grab a copy of this deck while I could! I'll be spelunking on the Tarot History Forum to see what is available there.

 

My wife is still pretty conversant in French, so when she's not on deadline, I might ask her to try and track down some French resources, if we can find them. I will update if I come up with any gems!

[Guest D76]

Absolutely perfect deck. After all that "esoteric-occult BS fake decks", this one is REAL CLASSIC.

[Guest]

10 hours ago, HermitWriter said:

I will update if I come up with any gems!

Looking forward to it, and thank you kindly 😄

[_R_]

Patrick Coq has written two books in French to accompany his deck, if memory serves, one on the majors, another on the minors. 

[Guest]

47 minutes ago, _R_ said:

Patrick Coq has written two books in French to accompany his deck, if memory serves, one on the majors, another on the minors. 

I'm praying somewhat regularly for a translation. He's done a large volume or two on the Vieville as well, I believe (in French; I have the slim English companion).

[_R_]

3 hours ago, mrpants said:

I'm praying somewhat regularly for a translation. He's done a large volume or two on the Vieville as well, I believe (in French; I have the slim English companion).

My mistake, you are right, of course, I was thinking of the Vieville.

[Mark Foot]

This deck has really confused me. I have switched to the classical Marseilles tarot

[HermitWriter]

It's definitely its own beast, that's for sure! I've been reading with Marseille-style decks for a while, so I think seeing the nuances between the different renderings (Noblet vs. Madenie vs. Conver, for instance) helped prep me for the Tarot de Paris. Some of the Majors are dramatically different, even if the share basically the same names, and of course the pips are styled much differently. Still, it's been a real treat working with it! Since there isn't a lot of interpretive work out there on this deck, it's been kind of freeing to come to my own understanding of these cards.

[Penthasilia]

I absolutely love this deck- with all it's little weirdness from the voyeuristic moon to the twerking Valet de Coups. I would love to see a cleaned up version of this reproduced. Same with the full 78 cards for the Vieville (the minors from Flornoy are lovely, but a full deck is a continued dream).

[HermitWriter]

@PenthasiliaI love the weirdnesses too! I'm still not sure what to make of the Lover card, but I really enjoy working with the deck 🙂 I haven't connected well with the Vieville yet, but I've learned to give some decks a bit of time. It took a couple of years before I gelled with the Noblet, and now it's one of my favorites (speaking of Flornoy). 

[Morsoth]

Just got my copy yesterday, along with the Tarot of Viéville! I really love this one, the border is really a beauty!

 

This information page is very well made, and I now assume that the deck is indeed dated 1559: http://forum.tarothistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=755