An Introduction To The Sibylle Des Salons

Aka the Parlour Sibyl or Sibilla Indovina

Cards 1-52 of the Sibille des Salons (Lo Scarabeo version the Sibilla Indovina)

Background

The French Sibylle des Salons, variously known as the Parlour Sibyl and the Sibilla Indovina is a Sibilla deck which, just like the Italian Vera Sibilla/Gypsy Oracle deck, has 52 cards.

Like the Vera Sibilla, the Sibylle des Salons has playing card references, and depicts everyday occurrences and people, many of which are similar in theme. There is no crossover between the decks, however; the cards and even the playing card associations are completely distinct from that of the Vera Sibilla, unlike the Vera Sibilla and Gypsy Oracle, which are basically the same deck with different designs.

The deck was first produced in France, originally with hand-painted illustrations by Jean-Jacques Granville, in the 1840s by publisher H. Pussey. And the “Sibyl” herself, the prophetess, as represented in the cards, is said to have been based on… none other than our old friend, the infamous French fortune teller, Mlle LeNormand.