Here's a question for you Tarotholics...

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 28 Nov 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Chronata	28 Nov 2003
Here's something that has just occured to me, so I thought I would ask it... how many of you out there have two (or more) copies of the exact SAME tarot or oracle deck? And how many of you are willing to admit it? I will be the first to fess up and say that I actually have 2 copies of the Wonderland tarot. I used to have 5. It's mainly because I have a vast and extensive of Alice in Wonderland collectables, as well as a huge collection of tarot decks. Naturally, friends and family thought to combine my passions, when giving me gifts, and I ended up with a lot of them! Most, I gave away to other afficinados of both tarot and Alice. One remains with my Wonderland collection in storage, and the other is in the case with the rest of my tarot decks. At one point I also had 7 RWS decks, but that was because I knew I would be teaching a class again, and I also knew students were going to be looking for these decks!

Asher	28 Nov 2003
I do have 2 copies of some of my decks. Mostly to have a working/reading copy and a pristine/collection copy. There are some current decks that I have neglected to do this, and need to -- Tarot of Prague, for example. I have also bought a 2nd copy of a few decks that were either OOP or rumored to be going OOP. Example: Clive Barrett's Ancient Egyptian Tarot (had 3, gave one away), and the New York Tarot. Asher

Le_Corsair	28 Nov 2003
I don't know how strictly you mean "exact same," Chronata. For example, I have the RWS in editions from different publishers; with the Aquarian, two different publishers in two different languages. So I guess I have three copies of the RWS and two copies of the Aquarian. But as for identical editions of the same deck? Nope. Bob :THERM

Astraea	28 Nov 2003
(Holding hand aloft) I confess, too! I have duplicates of several decks, primarily the ones I read with most often -- like Asher, I collect decks and like to have a "working" and a collection copy of my favorites.

ros	28 Nov 2003
Yes, 3 RWS & 2 Universal Waite. One each for study & one each for doing readings, & the extra I don't know. lol

LadyMedusa	28 Nov 2003
I have 2 duplicated decks Legend Arthurian my very first deck was forced into retirement by " The Beast". The many teeth marks and missing bits made it very difficult to read with. The other is the Universal Waite. I ran across a copy at a bookstore for less than $5. My step-daughter is interested in tarot and currently uses the Whimsical. I may gift it to her when she is ready for a deck with less of a children's theme. I am looking for another copy of the Greenwood. I really like reading with it and would like to have a back-up. LadyMedusa

lark	29 Nov 2003
Today when I was shopping I bought two little tarot sets called Tarot To Go. They have a mini Hanson Roberts deck in the box and a little book. I only have one small deck a miniture RWS and have been complaining that they don't make more full size decks in miniture. And here right in front of my nose is one of my favorite decks in a mini size. At only $7.95 I scooped up two of the four on the shelf. I have never seen this mini deck before and I was afraid I'd never see it again. I also own two Robin Wood decks. And I'm on the look out for another Morgan Greer. Why do I do this? I think partly it has to do with seeing decks that were readily available go oop. And then kicking yourself and wishing you would have stocked up when you had the chance. At least that's what I tell myself. :) I can't think of anything more horrable than really, really loving a certain deck, your copy is falling apart from constant use and you can't find another copy. Has that ever happened to anyone?

Logiatrix	29 Nov 2003
Quote: Originally posted by lark I can't think of anything more horrable than really, really loving a certain deck, your copy is falling apart from constant use and you can't find another copy. Has that ever happened to anyone? It was that exact experience that had me compulsively buying two of every deck I favored, way back when. I loved the Zerner-Farber deck, and used up two copies in my tarot studies; it's a deck with very thin, lightly coated card stock. I promptly replaced it, and bought a 'back-up', too. I then bought back-ups for about a dozen other decks, for fear that I would not be able to replace them later...or something, I don't know. :rolleyes: But, that was then... I see it differently now, though. For one thing, two of my 'working' decks are 30+ years old and more difficult to replace, so I'd probably just find something else to work with if I lost one. I would be bummed, but I'd handle it. :( ;) I also believe that, if something happened to a deck that caused me to part from it, then that's a sign that it's probably meant to be. Time to move on, I figure. :)

VGimlet	29 Nov 2003
I have 2 copies of the Rock & Roll Tarot deck, 1st and 2nd edition. I would like to get another copy of the Aquarian deck in better shape than mine, but I want a vintage deck, not a brand new deck.

Chronata	29 Nov 2003
To le_ corsair...Duplicates would have to be exactly the same deck...otherwise I would have to count all the different Thoths I just aquired because I wanted more Magus cards (Magi?) and all the different sizes of RWS that I own as well! I am so bad! but if I had a collector's copy as well as a reading copy of most of my usual reading decks than I would be very broke...and definately out of space! To lark...I bought the Tarot To Go set last year at Christmas time with the intention of giving it to someone as a gift who was just learning. Little did I know that I would lose my beloved and very favorite Hanson Robert's deck later in the year! So, I adopted the tiny one, and it lives in my equally tiny purse, which is something that my old HR couldn't do! It is a great little size isn't it? And now I can have a deck with me Everywhere I happen to go! (Well, technically I could have carried my teensy weeny little RWS with me everywhere too, but it is so small it's difficult to read, especially for other people.) Now if only they made a Robin Wood in this smaller size... (Wisfull Sigh...)

lark	29 Nov 2003
I carry a tiny purse too and this tiny Hanson Robert is going to make me very happy. A mini Robin Wood would make me cry tears of joy. If any one from Llewellyn is out there. DO A MINI ROBIN WOOD!! edited to add: Hi Tauni, you are probably right if it was ment to be I'd move on to another deck. I think you are just wiser than I am. I am just getting to the point where I realize I only really use the same 10 to 12 decks for reading. I don't really use all 78+ decks. So why do I have so many? Please analyze me! Edited for embarrassing spelling mistake.

Jewel-ry	29 Nov 2003
I dont have two copies .................yet, I but am going to get another Morgan Greer and nearly ended up with another copy of Tarot of the Spirit a couple of weeks ago! J.

Emily	29 Nov 2003
I have 3 copies of the Thoth, all are different sizes though - the large, the standard and the pocket size. I have 2 copies of the Rider Waite, again the original size and the pocket version. Two copies of the Universal - the standard and the mini, tiny deck. Two copies of the 1JJ Swiss, one a very old french unlaminated version and the other the english version. I don't have duplicate decks that are the same although in the next few weeks I will be adding another Morgan Greer, either English, Italian or German - just because I want a spare copy of this deck, just incase they decided to OOP it. :)

Nevada	29 Nov 2003
I have three copies of Crowley-Thoth, my husband has one, and we have a fifth that is missing a card, which I plan to use for artwork. Nevada

Myrrha	29 Nov 2003
Quote: Originally posted by lark Today when I was shopping I bought two little tarot sets called Tarot To Go. They have a mini Hanson Roberts deck in the box and a little book. Lark, do you mean even more mini than the already petite regular Hanson-Roberts? I love the size of that deck and wish more decks were Hanson-Roberts sized. --Myrrha

lark	29 Nov 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Myrrha Lark, do you mean even more mini than the already petite regular Hanson-Roberts? I love the size of that deck and wish more decks were Hanson-Roberts sized. --Myrrha Hi Myrrha, Yes, it's much smaller, the cards measure about 2"by 3" just the right size for taking with you wherever you may roam.

Riversea	29 Nov 2003
Let's see... Three Tarot Novas- small, smaller, and almost invisible! (yes, it comes in three sizes) Two Universal Waites- regular and the mini one that I use for Tarot spellwork (takes very little altar space, thus easy to leave in place for awhile!) Two Thoths- regular and large Now the following we do honestly have two of, but one is Landon's and the other is mine. So, it really doesn't count, right? Two Halloweens Two Songs for the Journey Homes I think that's it on multiples here. Singing..." And a partridge in a pear tree!"

Logiatrix	05 Dec 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Tauni ...two of my 'working' decks are 30+ years old and more difficult to replace, so I'd probably just find something else to work with if I lost one. I would be bummed, but I'd handle it... I also believe that, if something happened to a deck that caused me to part from it, then that's a sign that it's probably meant to be... So much for my resolve... This exact scenario happened to me a few days ago...I almost lost a deck. I left a book bag in my friend's car, with my beloved Royal Fez in it. Nevermind everything else, but I was freaking out about my deck! I wasn't able to get my bag back until yesterday, after a brief panic of thinking it might have been stolen, and a few false leads as to where I was to go to claim it. Four days without one of my favorite tarots helped me to realize that I'm not really so relaxed about my decks as I thought I was. So, I've decided to no longer use any of my hard-to-replace decks, since I now know it really would upset me to lose any of them. My experience had me on line the last few nights, finally deciding on a good, general reading deck; I was down to choosing between two decks by yesterday evening. I finally decided on the Light & Shadow Tarot. It's only downfall to me (I've used it before) is the flimsy card stock, easily solved with a back-up deck! Go figure! It looks like my near-loss has caused me to do a 180 degree shift in my thinking about this issue... I'm more attached to my decks than I thought! :rolleyes: *LOL* :D

Mystic Zyl	06 Dec 2003
Yes like the others I have a working deck and then a pristine deck for display. I have some oops too. My goal is to have at least 2 of every deck. I have over 120 plus decks and growing. I probably buy 1 deck a week.

WolfSpirit	06 Dec 2003
Not tarot, but I always seem to end up with two copies of the Druid Animal Oracle. First time was an ordering mistake, they had different isbn's and I thought one was an additional book. I traded one away. I had the habit of putting a few cards next to my computer for encouragement, that way I lost the Wolf and Owl card (got mixed up with papers or something) so I had to buy a new deck again. Months later I still found the two missing cards, so now I have two complete decks again. I have been thinking of trading one again, but with my history with this deck, it feels as if I am meant to have two...if I trade one I will probably lose a card again of the remaining deck.

Kiama	06 Dec 2003
I will soon own two Thoth decks (on I got from Ebay and should be arriving soon.) I own three copies of the Triple Goddess Tarot, though they've been combined into just one deck. Two copies of the Jonathan Dee Tarot (aka. Tescos Tarot.) I used to own two Arcus Arcanum and two Navigators Tarot of the Mystic Sea (The latter due to a mix up with an Ebay seller who kindly let me keep the extra one they sent me.) I will hopefully have more Thoth decks in the future: for some reason I want to get different editions of this deck. :D Kiama

firestorm	06 Dec 2003
I'm not sure I qualify for having 2 of the exact same deck. I have the large and regular thoth because when I bought the large, I didn't know it came in another size. It was too hard to work with so I bought the smaller. I recently bought the Universal Waite because I was missing too many symbols due to the coloring on the original, so I guess I have 2 RW too. However, I love my Hermetic deck and after a year I finally got my hands on one and I DO plan on getting a backup. I would not be a happy person if something happened to this deck, so I don't even take it out of the house. :D

MeeWah	06 Dec 2003
I have two of the standard Rider-Waite. The first copy I bought on a whim was published by Sam Weiser. Now very well-seasoned was my first & only deck for years, I reserve it for personal Tarotwork only. The second looks exactly the same (to me) & is published by U.S. Games. I use it to read for others. Do not have any other duplicates.

EarthAngel2911	06 Dec 2003
What? You mean not everyone does this?? :) Let's see.... I have three copies of the Crowley Thoth in three different sizes, large for meditation, regular for reading at home, pocket size for carrying around with me. I have two copies of the RWS, one regular and one mini, again for carrying around with me. Of course, I don't think this counts, but I also have the Universal Waite, Albano, Radiant, and two copies of the Illuminated Tarot (one of my favorites and my main reading deck). Now, those don't really count, do they? I mean they are all different sizes. ;) As far as complete duplicates, I just did this last month.... don't know what took me so long! I have the Fey Tarot card and book set and love it soooo much, that I bought an additional deck. For that "just in case" scenario. And I also did this with the Tarot of Prague. The second deck I got was just the deck. And I noticed something interesting... The deck and book set are numbered with a different denominator than the deck that I bought separately. I guess Karen's numbering them differently? Who cares! I LOVE this deck, and I just wanted to have another one. That would be about it. Any other time I have duplicates, I save them to give to someone who would be interested. I own the Hanson-Roberts, and then I bought the Tarot to Go, which has the cutest little mini Hanson-Roberts. When one of my friends was interested in learning tarot, I gave the Tarot to Go to her. So today I just bought another one for the just the same occasion. :) So, does this make me abnormal?? That's ok! I don't mind!! Blessings, Karen :TQS

Thea Lynx	07 Dec 2003
I presently have copies of only a couple of decks. I have a small copy of my Rider that I keep in my desk at work and a large copy of my Thoth that I use for meditation purposes. I suppose I could call my Universal another copy of Rider, except for the difference in colors. I always intend to get additional copies of certain decks so that when I read for others I will still have one copy that only I have touched, but there are so many decks that I seem to defer getting duplicates until "just this one more" I do need to get another copy of Morgan Greer as some of my cards are ragged around the edges and one ard (4 of Swords) has already peeled and I have only worked with the deck for a week of daily drawings Thea

RedWood	07 Dec 2003
I do not have any doubles. Someday I would like to get another copy of the Ator tarot tho. I would also like another copy of the Pagan Tarot 2000.

The Here's a question for you Tarotholics... thread was originally posted on 28 Nov 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.