Soprafino Arrived!

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 19 Jul 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Little Baron	19 Jul 2004
Arrived very quickly as well; just under a week. Very impressed with the packaging; the little book cover-like box tied together with ribbon. I got no.1037. All together, I really like the deck; I have only glanced through it so far. Lovely aged looking cards. I remember someone saying that some of their copy had discrepances in size but this one seems to be all exactly the same. Only thing I did notice with it though, is there is not much way to determine whether a card such as the 'three of batons' is reversed or not. Does anybody use this for readings or is it just a collectors thing due to it being limited? I would like to get stuck in and use it, to be honest. Any views? Yaboot

Moonbow*	19 Jul 2004
Hi Yaboot I have no. 982 and mine aren't very uneven either. I like the pointed corners on the deck - somehow it makes it feel very old and special. As yet I haven't read with this deck, but just looked and looked at the cards. The colours and detail are superb aren't they? When I do use it I will treat it in the same way as I do the Marseilles decks, and for me that is by considering the number and element, together with what I 'see' in the pictures. I find with Marseilles decks that there is so much to say about the pips, once you have got used to them. It allows so much freedom for interpretation. I have brown marks on some of the cards (which don't bother me in the least - and just add to the special, old feel of the cards), but I would be interested in knowing if you have the same marks on your deck. Mine are on the Trumps XV XVIII and XIX.

Little Baron	19 Jul 2004
Hi Moonbow XV - Light staining to left of fork and on the right border at the top. XIX - Heavy stain on bottom left border and over the letter 'E' of 'Il Sole'. XVIII - Light stain to top left around clouds and few speckles of brown within left border. I that similar to yours. Havn't checked throught the rest yet but will get back to you if I find any more marks lol. Yes, it is lovely in reality, isn't it; very much like the fact that it isn't shiny and have that slippy coating over it. It feels worn before I even use it, which I like. They remind me a bit of cigarette cards, probably due to being small and long. I am planning to use it exactly as you have stated. I am looking forward to the many interpretations of the minors. Even though the Majors are stunning, it is the minors that are exciting me most, for that very reason, and why I have been posting so much recently in the Marseilles threads - tarot for me is changing somewhat at the moment, and I am favouring decks that do not have 'scenic' pips. I am really chuffed with this one. Best wishes Yaboot

Jewel-ry	19 Jul 2004
Hi there Yaboot, Really glad it arrived safely. Alida are really very good I think. Don't forget to check out filipas' alphabet, it really is quite intriguing and, in a way, explains some of the unusual symbolism for example the silver plate in the Moon card. I love the Empress in this deck. Just look at the way the Eagle looks up to her and the way she almost cuddles it. http://www.tarotclub.net/goods/deck/men/soprafino.html :)

Cerulean	19 Jul 2004
Did you Italian cartomancy meanings aka Lo Scarabeo-style that comes in little white books and their books such as the Visconti Gold... More modern psychological with Thoth and some astrology? Or elemental (chailices = cups = water) attributions? I have more than a few Italian decks and each might vary slightly...the quick list below for cups comes from an Italian small book with the Dotti Tarocco. 1- Ace- Cups-affection, sincerity, amore 2-Duality-two directions, choice 3-First trio, first stage- realization, appointment 4-stability, harmony with family 5-catalyst for change, affinity, vacation, reconciliation 6-passage, indecision, transition, waiting in love 7-matrimony, fidelity 8-matrimony, repoire, attraction 9- realization of ideal 10-grand fortune, felicity in romance Maybe more people will write what their deck meanings might say in the LWB. This is a hasty translation during a lunch hour, so I only have some keywords noted. Regards, Cerulean

Little Baron	19 Jul 2004
Thanks very much Cerulean. That will help out some. As I mentioned earlier, I want to use the deck for readings; I read in another thread that a lot of people don't want to use it since they are frightened of damage but most readings I do are at home or for close friends so it should be okay - not one for the garden table in the pub, lol. Thanks for the link Jewelery. I read it with great interest but at the moment, it all seems like a foreign language to me. Its going to be a lot of practicing, reading and the like, I imagine, which is exciting. Thanks to you all for your help. I hope that more threads pop up surrounding this deck since it seems to be popular but crops up not so often. Best wishes Yaboot

Emily	24 Jul 2004
Hi Yaboot, I must admit that I did buy my Soprafino just to admire and I have never used it for readings - My deck is number 638 and it is very uneven and unlaminated but its a beautiful deck - I wouldn't mark this deck but my other Soprafino the Ancient Italian I ended up marking just in case I ever wanted to use it reveresed. The Classic tarot by LS is a larger version of the limited edition Soprafino 1835 but they have the wands, cups etc running down the left side so the cards have a definite upright and reversed look to them. Glad you are enjoying your new deck :)

The Soprafino Arrived! thread was originally posted on 19 Jul 2004 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.