Comprehensive(!) EU supplier

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 19 Dec 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Macavity	19 Dec 2002
In the course of looking for UK suppliers, I came across http://www.playingcardsales.co.uk - Which is actually in France! :) But what a selection though - and seemingly cheaper than many (at least here in UK). Interesting catalogue ordered by country of origin to browse - Rather few illustrations but most decks can be looked up via any search engine. Anyone had any dealing with these people? Mac

Osher	19 Dec 2002
You mean Sommerville's (as I think they are still called). They used to have a shop in Edinburgh, but moved last year to France and became mail order only. I have to say they are top notch. Website is a bit dire, but the cards arrived in good condition, well packed, and by a good carrier. The prices are good too. I have bought from them a few times, and have never had any complaint. When I have called they were knowledgable and helpful (OK, it has been a year since I last bought from them or used the website, I have had a glance at their new website, and it is quite different from the old one which was mostly just lists, with no basket). I would recommend them without hesitation, except that, unless I'm mistaken, buying from them doesn't help Aeclectic? Another place to try is Alida in San Marino. OK, sometimes the English is garbled, but the stuff arrived well packaged. Good website too as I recall (again, from a year ago). If you are in London Mysteries have a good selection of Tarot (as well as others), there is Camden Lock on a Sunday, and you'd be surprised how much Waterstones carry too. In Watford there is Oracle, in St.Albans Isis. I hope all this helps! Happiness

Macavity	19 Dec 2002
Thank you Happiness. Ah, that explains it. (Must have seen France as a developing region - joking) :) It seems a lot of decks outside the most popular at e.g. Amazon UK have either become special order or face quite long (practical) delivery times. A lot of the smaller "gift shop" sellers either have quite high prices or (imo) somewhat dubious online security? Not badly served locally (Oxford) and London is always a possibility for me (assuming nothing untoward happens in the coming weeks ) From a parochial perspective it's ALL very useful information :D Mac P.S. Rest assured, actually *buying* something is probably still some way off - THIS time. I need to check out lots of Marseille look-alikes to find the ONE I really like. During the process, I must admit to having rather fallen for the Russian Tarot of St Petersburg - Ack! :)

jlbvt	19 Dec 2002
I just found a deck there that I have to get- it's called the Tarot Macondo, with Columbian art. The suits are Flowers, Tears, Butterflies, and Fish. How cool is that?

wavebreaker	20 Dec 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Happiness If you are in London Mysteries have a good selection of Tarot (as well as others), there is Camden Lock on a Sunday, and you'd be surprised how much Waterstones carry too. I was recently in London and checked out Mysteries. They have loads of decks. Another shop with (I think) even more decks is Watkins, just off Charing Cross Road. They have actually two shops which are next to each other: a bookshop and an esoteric shop. The decks are in the esoteric shop. There's also a huge Borders shop on Charing Cross road which has a lot of books on tarot. They also have some decks, but not as many as the other two shops mentioned.

Damien X	20 Dec 2002
The site is great, but: Why, oh, why don't they have pictures of the items for sale? It would really make a difference...

Aerin	20 Dec 2002
To be fair, they do have some pictures. I think they are a very small company and don't have time to get everything up. I'm sure they'd try and help if you contacted them though, and then there is always google :) I have used them in the past and found them excellent. I am attempting to not succumb to tempatation at the moment because they have some really interesting regional decks of ordinary playing cards i.e. using different suits than the usual French clubs, diamonds, hearts, spades. I want. Oh, and some tarocchi (sp?) packs and instructions. Aerin ps Borders do have a fair selection, but I have found their prices are the highest of anywhere

The Comprehensive(!) EU supplier thread was originally posted on 19 Dec 2002 in the Talking Tarot board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Talking Tarot, or read more archived threads.