Essays from Antoine Court de Gébelin and the comte de Mellet, translated into English by David Vine. The texts are meticulously researched and
lavishly annotated, including biographical and historical analyses. https://tarot-history.com/boutique/

Thanks very much for furnishing that information, Yves. I knew you had it up your sleeve! As for the Mermé/Payen/Dodal connection, JC agrees that the LWB should have inserted more conditionals into the phrasing. He has seen this scenario as the most likely, and feels that existing sources do nothing...

I believe it was Yves who did as much research as he could on the Mermés. If editors were no longer allowed to engrave their own molds after 1701, that would explain why the Payens would hire someone. It could be that there were few engravers (a very specialised skill-amazing!) around by that time, ...

Ah Robert , thank you for sounding the trumpets!

The deck is actually printed, but it requires a few more operations - and delivery. By the end of the month ....

When it arrives, we'll send out the brass bands.

Best to all

Rox