What price for your dream deck?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 03 Sep 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Le_Corsair	03 Sep 2003
[font=courier] For you tarotholics out there, a new poll. Finally, you see your dream deck for sale on a website, or in a shop. How much of your hard-earned (or hardly-earned) money would you be willing to part with to acquire that deck? For me, it would probably be 100 dollars US, and I have yet to find a deck that I would pay that much for. Never say never! Note: I use US dollars in my example, but use the currency of your choice, if you prefer. If you do so, it would be helpful if you also indicated whether that is a little or a lot. Thanks! Bob :THERM[/font]

jmd	03 Sep 2003
That's a pretty tough one, LeCorsair! Personally, it is possible that I might spend quite a few hundred dollars on a particular deck, but it would have to be pretty special. If the Conver deck currently in the Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris, I may even be tempted to see if I could muster a few thousand... After all, musicians pay many thousands of dollars for their treasured instruments, and in rare cases, so may we :) ... and reasonably so!

wavebreaker	03 Sep 2003
I voted "no more than the average deck", because that's about as much as I'm prepared to pay. The most I ever spent on a deck was something like $60 on the Portal Tarot. I wouldn't do that again. Not that I regret buying the Portal, but I just wouldn't spend that amount of money on a deck again. Besides, I don't really have a "dream deck". The few decks that are left on my very short wish list are all decks that are readily available for average prices, except one. And that one I only want if I can get it for a reasonable price (= no more than average).

Trogon	03 Sep 2003
I figured I'd pay a hundred or so, given the right circumstances. But the deck would have to be pretty special... I would have to have the money available... which most times I don't... ;)

mercenary30	03 Sep 2003
I just spent almost $50 for a Tarot of Prague, and that is about as far a strech as I am looking to go. But I am sure I will love the deck. I am also interested in the Nefertari's Tarot and that will run me about the same.

Silverlotus	03 Sep 2003
I'd pay no more then the average deck. Mostly because I expect eventually my tastes would change, and the deck that was perfect today would be merely "good" several years down the road. And if I really wanted the perfect deck for me, I suppose I could get off my bottom and create one myself (once I learned to draw, that is).

Astraea	03 Sep 2003
As a collector (albeit on a modest scale), I feel as jmd does -- for some decks, a very high price would seem reasonable.

truthsayer	03 Sep 2003
i would spend a little over $100 for my dream deck. however, i wouldn't spend $200 or more. so far the most i have spent is $70. i hope to soon have the opportunity to buy the crone deck which i dearly want to be my dream deck.

LadyMedusa	03 Sep 2003
"Reasonable" was my choice. Then again what is reasonable to me could be deemed ridiculous to someone else. I recently paid y close to $100 US for a deck. Out of print, hard to find, and one something just told me I must have if I could locate one that I was within my means. A nearly perfect Greenwood. Would I pay more, I hesitate to answer either way. It would depend on what it was how, badly I wanted it, and what my budget would allow. LadyMedusa

jema	03 Sep 2003
i picked a "substantial amount" but it is really only one deck that would make me pay more then the normal price (and that is Servants of the Light Tarot) ok then, perhaps a few on my wishlist would make me bit up to 45-50 US dollars. but i have found that the real treasures, the decks you want more then anything, are the decks that will come to you in brown packages in the mail, sent from wonderful friends who knows all about my tarot-deck addiction. All my most prized and loved decks were either gifts or trades. (and thanks goes out to ravenswing, gerbear and red-wood and kaz and many others)

Gerbear	03 Sep 2003
As a hard core collector, I've spent over a hundred on several decks. Being able to indulge, my upper limit would be around $2-300 for a few special decks.

VGimlet	03 Sep 2003
As a collector (also on a very modest scale) I would be willing to pay a reasonable amount for the rare and out of print decks on my "most wanted" list - anywhere from 45 dollars up to about 350-400, if I had the money. Folchi's Carnival deck is probably the most expensive deck on my list. For my dream deck for reading I probably wouldn't want to pay more than about 40 dollars - anything more than that and I feel it's more of a deck for collection.

galadrial	03 Sep 2003
If I'm crazy about a deck, I'm crazy about it, and I try to get it unless it is really way out of reach. So, I don't go out of my way to get expensive decks, and I don't like them any more than my less expensive ones, but I have a few just over and just under $100.00. I also have one deck that was only $25.00, but I paid another $45.00 to laminate it because it had no coating and I wanted to be able to use it a lot without worrying about it. I'm currently enamoured of Samantha's tarot and will probably end up getting it.

RedWood	03 Sep 2003
I would choose no more then any other deck.. My decks change directions like the wind. (I dont collect) The most expensive deck I own is Tarot Pagan 2000 set. The deck and book came from 2 different trades. I feel like Jema does. If a deck is meant to come to me it does. I am not saying I would not go over. I have yet to find a deck that i would want to spend more on.

cirom	03 Sep 2003
I have recently delivered finished artworks for the Gilded Tarot which is to be published by Llewellyn. I am also producing (with their permission) a special limited edition. So I'm obviously seeing this topic from a somewhat biased perspective. But I would like to add these views to the topic. First of all a limited edition deck of this nature represents additional costs of special papers, special inks, lamination, hand trimming of each card etc etc. Which truly represents a labour intensive process. So those factors must be considered when deciding what to charge. Now, does that translate into what someone will pay? Its such a subjective decision. To say one would only pay the 'standard' price, as some have indicated is not comparing apples to apples. For example I have several rare books that I have collected and paid a lot for, but I could have bought standard equivilants from Amazon for a fraction. I assume that all the people who have placed orders for my deck intend to use them, but I doubt if it would be on an every day basis. Furthermore the value of such a deck is influenced by its limited quantity, and as such might conceivably represent an investment. Last but not least, in my case the fact that each deck is personalized for each owner via a 79th card, I believe contributes to its "value" as item to be collected.

wavebreaker	04 Sep 2003
It's logical that limited editions are more expensive than regular editions. But they only have value for real collectors, which I'm not. If I had the choice between a regular edition and a limited edition, I'd buy the regular edition, simply because I'm not prepared to spend that much money on a deck of cards.

Kiama	04 Sep 2003
I voted for 'a substantial amount', but only because it is impossible for me to find the kind of money that for me would represent the last option! IF I had the money though, that would be a different story... I'd pay anything. In the past I've paid alot for decks... The Universal Dali for instance, the William Blake, the Sugar Mystic... One day, when I'm really really rich... *Sigh* *Wanders off into daydream* Kiama

Chronata	04 Sep 2003
A reasonable amount for me is under a hundred dollars. But then, I am a starving artist, so paying that much for anything for myself is pretty amazing. I remember thinking that $40 was a lot to pay for a tarot deck...back in 1985, when my dream deck...the Menegazzi Puppet Deck...was distributed through US Games, I considered paying that much...heck! I actually DID pay them that much...ordered it through the catalog, sent them a check and everything, and was told they no longer had it! Now that that deck is worth twice that amount, I still want it...but now I have to wait until there is enough money in my bank account, and of course there never is!(maybe Tarotgarden still has thier used one for sale...here's hoping!) And after discovering this forum...I now have a few new dream decks to consider...the Rock and Roll Tarot, and the Folchi Carnival of Venice. Sigh... Hopefully someday....

WolfSpirit	04 Sep 2003
I voted "a reasonable amount", which I think would be max. 60 dollars/euros. If I had more money, I doubt if I would be prepared to pay more. If a deck gets too expensive, I would be afraid to use it and what is the point of a deck if you cannot use it ? And besides, part of the fun of finding oop decks is trying to find them at a reasonable price.

arcanalefait	04 Sep 2003
I paid a SUBSTANTIAL amount for my rock and roll deck. (For me $100 is substantial...and this was more). I had been searching for the deck for about 8 months, losing on ebay, etc. when it was finally offered to me. I love the deck--I have always been a huge rock and roll fan, and the deck is definately worth it to me. I would also shell out for the Greenwood deck, Servants of the Light, certain Folchi decks, and probably others if the opportunity arose. Usually I don't have the money to spend! When I think about it, the money I spent on all of my inexpensive decks certainly adds up to way more than I would spend on a dream deck! Arcana

Cerulean	04 Sep 2003
is not my dream deck, but I see it's available for about $47.00, say about $50.00 through alidastore.com Pier Canosa's art is close to a dream deck, very decorative on a white ground, but I'm not certain of how the 22 Geneva majors would work for me. Sometimes because of achieving certain goals, I do reward myself with a special buy. However sometimes it's the more modest decks that yield unexpected surprises. If I stay true to a few decks this month, New Century and Comparative are not the most expensive, but they are yielding the freshest information for me. And actually since I'm using them in the context of 'dreaming' and 'wishes' right now, they are literally my most useful dream decks. Now in my most wistful dreams, most of Folchi's decks appear as useful, plentiful and under three figures--painted, not overly gold or silvered

Gerbear	04 Sep 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Mari_Hoshizaki is not my dream deck, but I see it's available for about $47.00, say about $50.00 through alidastore.com Pier Canosa's art is close to a dream deck, very decorative on a white ground, but I'm not certain of how the 22 Geneva majors would work for me. Sometimes because of achieving certain goals, I do reward myself with a special buy. However sometimes it's the more modest decks that yield unexpected surprises. If I stay true to a few decks this month, New Century and Comparative are not the most expensive, but they are yielding the freshest information for me. And actually since I'm using them in the context of 'dreaming' and 'wishes' right now, they are literally my most useful dream decks. Now in my most wistful dreams, most of Folchi's decks appear as useful, plentiful and under three figures--painted, not overly gold or silvered So what would you spend on your dream deck?

Cerulean	04 Sep 2003
for these upcoming decks: if the Charles the VI is published in 2004 if Golden Tarot at the pre-release price is available in 2003. At least for now, as these are realizable dreams Mari H. P.S. The Folchi dream is usually at some undisclosed estate sale where the owner thinks I'm doing them a favor getting rid of all those silly decks that aren't good for poker games and funny pictures with foreign words. At that time, it's what my savings account says is okay, usually a certain percentage.

Frater Neshama	10 Sep 2003
My wife got my "dream deck" for my past birthday (50th, February). It was the Templar Deck, and I think she paid around $50 for it. I would pay as much as $100 for the right deck, in the right circumstances. Frater Neshama

Dark_angel	10 Sep 2003
Until I get it, I won't know if it's my dream deck or not, but I've just paid £65 for a First Edition Vertigo Tarot. The pictures just spoke to me and I had to have it. I'd love to be able to put a limit and have that be that, but to be honest, I have no willpower, so as long as I could justify it in some way (and afford it, of course) I don't think any price would be completely off-limits. Unless, of course, it occurs in the near future, with joint debts, mortgages and second degrees to fund! Boo to tuition fees and miniscule student loans! xxx

Shade	27 Sep 2003
Just Picture it: You sit at a booth in a small cafe in Morocco Swirling a glass of wine. A dark man with one eye slides into the seat across from you, smiling wickedly. "You have the item?" you ask dryly. "Ah yes, behold," he pulls a cloth pouch from his cloak "The Tarot of Thanas Da'aman, stolen form the private collection of Queen Mara III. Lost for 2 centuries to antiquity, cursed by...." "I am aware of its history thank you" you say placing a briefcase on the table. "Your Fee as discussed with a bonus for your discretion" you declare opening the case and revealing a fortune in uncut diamonds. "Ah it would seem our little deal is at a close then." He says reaching for the case. Just then four figures enter the cafe and brandish guns, firing across the smokey room into your booth. Your associate pulls his own gun to fire on the shadowy figures but is cut down as screams fill the room and the cafe's patrons scramble for the exit. Acting quickly you hurl a chair through the nearby window and with case and deck in hand leap down to the first story (landing safely in a planter). A sports car screeches to a halt in fronty of you, a door springs open and a friendly (and sexy) voice shouts "Get in". You jump into the car just as the shadowy villains reach the window firing at you but your new friend floors it and speeds off into the night. All for your new favorite tarot deck. Ok so I don't have a case full of diamonds to blow on a deck but I thikn there's almost something romantic (albeit probably stupid) about being willing to kick down the cash for a truly valuable decck.

Logiatrix	28 Sep 2003
Quote: Originally posted by JohnnyVoodoo Just Picture it: You sit at a booth in a small cafe in Morocco Swirling a glass of wine. A dark man with one eye slides into the seat across from you, smiling wickedly. "You have the item?" you as dryly. "Ah yes, behold," he pulls a cloth pouch from his cloak "The Tarot of Thanas Da'aman, stolen form the private collection of Queen Mara III. Lost for 2 centuries to antiquity, cursed by...." "I am aware of its history thank you" you say placing a briefcase on the table. "Your Fee as discussed with a bonus for your discretion" you declare opening the case and revealing a fortune in uncut diamonds. "Ah it would seem our little deal is at a close then." He says reaching for the case. Just then four figures enter the cafe and brandish guns, firing across the smokey room into your booth. Your associate pulls his own gun to fire on the shadowy figures but is cut down as screams fill the room and the cafe's patrons scramble for the exit. Acting quickly you hurl a chair through the nearby window and case and deck in had leap down to the first story (landing safely in a planter). A sports car screeches to a halt in fronty of you a door springs open and a friendly (and sexy) voice shouts "Get in". You jump into the car just as the shadowy villains reach the window firing at you but your new friend floors it and speeds off into the night. All for your new favorite tarot deck. Ok so I don't have a case full of diamonds to blow on a deck but I thikn there's almost something romantic (albeit probably stupid) about being willing to kick down the cash for a truly valuable decck. I was there, I was IN IT...my New Friend was a fine specimen of masculine eye-candy, and we promptly drove to The Four Seasons...ahem, nevermind... You need to be published, Johnny Voodoo. Clearly, it is the Aeclectic Tarot forum that inspires you to weave the wonderful tapestries of cartomantic literature. So, you need to by us all our dream decks with your royalties. :D

Voodoo_Shaman	28 Sep 2003
I would pay average to reasonable amount. The highest I have ever paid for a deck was probably in the $40.00, but usually I go to e-bay, or flea markets find some awesome deals and really save allot of money. I can’t spend 100.00 bucks on one deck, when I could get 5 to 8 other decks for that amount of money. I love Tarot, but “in my case” why pay so much when I would get the same results with a Thoth, or RW clone.But a wise woman once told me. Never Say Never. And since I do not think I have come across my dream deck yet. Who knows, maybe I would shell out 100.00 bucks or more. Who knows. Lol Voodoo Shaman

baba-prague	28 Sep 2003
In reply to Mari_Hoshizaki, I did pay a lot for the Pier Canosa. I justified it to myself in many ways - firstly, it is one of the most genuine examples of an "art" deck (i.e. this really is very good decorative art, by a trained and meticulous painter at the height of his career). Secondly - well, I just love the colours - the use of colour in this deck is absolutely exceptional. I had to have it for this reason alone. Third - I didn't pay the market price as I bought directly from the artist who shows his work at a gallery here (and I was told I bought the last two copies - there was one more and the gallery owner decided to buy that, I think because I was so enthused!) - so I was able to tell myself that it was a good buy, and try to ignore the fact that it was still more than twice as much as I ever imagined paying for a deck. It IS a fabulous deck. The only problem I can see is that I am afraid to read with it, as it's so valuable, and in a way I do believe that you can only get to know a deck by reading with it (this has delayed the review that I said I would do of this deck - it is awaiting the bit that I want to write about how it reads). As it has decorated, rather than illustrated pips, it would not be a reading deck of choice for me in any case (I prefer illustrated pips) but I do want to at least try it out. I suspect that many of the elements in the cards have been chosen for their decorative, rather than symbolic value however - like I say, essentially this is an art deck, albeit one that follows traditional Italian decks fairly closely. Anyway - to get back to the subject of this thread - that's as much as I think I will ever pay for a deck. It isn't quite a dream deck (as I say, it's not really a "reader") but it's worth every penny to me for the artwork.

Shadow Wolf	28 Sep 2003
I would pay $50.00 or ask for it as a birthday gift or Christmas present. I'm fast becoming a tarotholic. I now own 8 tarot decks and 4 Oracle decks. I just bought two new decks withing 2-3 days. My latest additions are: The Celtic Animal Oracle and The Goddess Oracle So, yes, I would pay up to $50.00 for the right deck, if it cost more than that I would ask for it as a birthday or Christmas gift. hmmmmmmmmmmmm.....I've got an anniversary coming up as well, it seems opportunity abounds. Thanks for asking !!!!

galadrielsphial	28 Sep 2003
I would pay up to about $60 for the deck of my dreams because at this point in my life I am but a humble (and broke) graduate student, so that is a substantial amount of money from my perspective. But who knows...if I saw a deck that I just couldn't get out of my mind no matter what, I might not be responsible for any hits my bank account might take!

delizt	28 Sep 2003
I picked "substantial" as I have paid over $100 for a few of the gems in my collection-- the Tarot of the Crone recently and both the Hero's Journey and Transformational tarots by Arnell Ando. I treasure these decks and for me the price was worth it. However, as much as I lust for one of the Folchi's, or the Rock & Roll Tarot, the price they command it just too much. delizt

Requiella	28 Sep 2003
I'm going to say $100-150, but it would have to be a deck in which I had seen a good portion of the cards first. No deck I've bought unseen has been *exactly* what I expected it to be.

elevation	24 Nov 2003
If I saw a tarot deck that I really, really had to have, I'd pay up to $100 or so. Probably less.

firestorm	24 Nov 2003
I voted "reasonable", but like a previous poster mentioned, that term is relative. I paid 150 dollars for the Hermetic this last summer. I consider it reasonable considering how much I wanted it, researched it and that it was OOP. Hard to say how high I would have gone, I really wanted it AND it was in like new condition. It didn't disappoint, either. There isn't another deck at the moment I'd be willing to pay that much for, but then.....tomorrow is another day. ;-)

Mimers	24 Nov 2003
The most I have paid for a deck so far was 65 for the Drogi, plus shipping and handling. When I got it, I regreted it. It was not as good a quality as I would have hoped. Speckles in the black backround and very thin cards. Also a book written in Polish which does me no good. I think I could be persuaded to go up to 100 dollars for a very special deck. Mary el Tarot completed I could be convinced to pay a large sum for. I only paid about 45 for the Prague book and deck set, and after having seen it, I would have paid more for it if I had to. I did end up buying another! Blue Rose Tarot cost me 40 and after seeing it and considering the beautiful bag it comes with, I would have gone higher for that one as well. I love that deck! I put substantial, because I think 100 is quite substantial. Mimi

latinmoon	24 Nov 2003
This whole issue is so subjective. One thing is wether you can afford it, the other is if you can justify it. You could talk yourself out of any indulgence if you rationalize it enough. Why go to a fancy restaurant when you can go to Macdonalds, or a designer brand when you can go to Walmarts. Why? Because everyone has their soft spots, preferences, hobbies, and as in the case of Tarot.....passions that simply can't be truly rationalized, thats why. I've just received a special edition set of the Gilded Tarot. Was it more expensive than any other deck that I'd also considered buying? Yes. Was it worth it? ABSOLUTELY. Dear friends I cannot begin to justify the wonders of this deck, I'm convinced that when the public version gets published next year, it will become a best seller and THE deck by which all others will be compared. Its not just a set of cards its a work of art. I doubt I'll be as extravagant with another deck for a long long time if ever, but I don't regret aquiring this family heirloom for a second.

lunakasha	25 Nov 2003
This is in response to Latin Moon, regarding the Gilded Tarot by Ciro Marchetti. I recently stumbled upon this deck (which can be viewed at www.ciromarchett.com) and I swear it was love at first sight! I have never felt so urgently drawn to a deck, and I have viewed many, many decks, both online and in books. Ciro Marchetti's images will blow you away! Having said that, this is by far the most expensive deck I have come across, as this is a limited edition and (as Mr. Marchetti pointed out in another post) more costly to produce than a standard printing. And yet, I cannot help feeling that, if I could afford to shell out the money right now, I would do it, and with absolutely no regrets. I agree with many of you who said that "reasonable amount" is a very subjective term, and, IMO, the price of the Limited Edition Gilded Tarot is reasonable, if you can afford it. If only I could win the lottery.... The good news is that Llewellyn plans to publish the standard edition in 2004......I am convinced it will be a HUGE best-seller!

Majecot	25 Nov 2003
I vote a reasonable amount... pretty vague really, but the most I have ever spent on a deck (with book) was $35.00. I have seen some that I like that are $50.00 but I don't think I could go that high. ( well maybe) I guess it depends on the draw...$100.00??? never, that is too much.

The What price for your dream deck? thread was originally posted on 03 Sep 2003 in the Tarot Decks board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Tarot Decks, or read more archived threads.