Just a short page to explain this, as we are getting a lot of emails about whether we have copies of decks that are out of stock. The answer is, probably we do, but we usually can't sell them on individually.
We like to be transparent and upfront. So basically, yes, we always put aside some standard and limited edition decks for ourselves on each print run. This is typically anything from 20-30 decks and these are taken out of the run for limited edition (LE) decks (i.e. if the LE run is 500, we will only make 475 available, and we do try to make that clear on the product listings).
In the past, we never put decks aside and ended up at times with virtually none of our own copies. It's also frustrating to sell everything only to see resellers make the profits that we could often do with, especially since our design process can take years, and we need to keep the studio running while working on new projects. So our policy changed years ago, and we started stashing a few for ourselves. Sometimes those are given away to friends, so the stash can gradually diminish. Eventually - and increasingly as the studio changes direction - what's left is best sold on in a whole release (as we have already occasionally done), as this seems fairest.
We also tend to have quite a few "seconds" in each run. This is because we print in Europe and the printers just send us all the over-runs (they make more income this way, and it's fine by us). By the very nature of cold-stamping and the complexity of printing, there also tend to be seconds, which we sort out of the main batch of decks and put away - any flaws are usually minor, but as we are so busy at shipping times, these are not looked at in detail, but just put straight into storage.
The studio has limited storage space, and these items are often securely boxed, sealed, and stored on high shelves. As a result, we can't respond to the many emails we receive every week asking if we have anything "on the back of the shelves". It would also negate the whole point of putting decks away and be a bit unfair if we then sell them on only to people who email (plus the amount of time it would take to do this would not be feasible - and how on earth would we price them!?)
So, with thanks for your understanding, we do plan to do a rolling inventory of what is packed away, and from time to time, we will be selling it because we are leaving tarot design once The Bohemian Cats' Theatre Tarot is finished, so it makes sense to do so and not retain too much. There won't be huge amounts. We'll do it in the fairest way possible, once we have the time to make it available and let everyone know.
Questions and comments welcome, of course, but please appreciate that we really can't sell on decks individually, for the reasons we have stated. Thanks!
You can keep up to date with our news and work on our blog pages:
http://bababarock.com - for general studio updates.
http://bohemiancats.com - for news about our Bohemian Cats projects (including The Bohemian Cats Theatre Tarot.
http://magicbohemia.com - for articles on the myth and magic of Prague and Bohemia, particularly in relation to The Tarot of Prague and The Bohemian Gothic Tarot.
You can keep up to date with our news and work on our blog pages:
http://bababarock.com - for general studio updates.
http://bohemiancats.com - for news about our Bohemian Cats projects (including The Bohemian Cats Theatre Tarot.
http://magicbohemia.com - for articles on the myth and magic of Prague and Bohemia, particularly in relation to The Tarot of Prague and The Bohemian Gothic Tarot.
