The ever-popular “Gypsy Witch” cards, from the U. S. Playing Card Co., added naive illustrations, and, of course, interpretations, to a standard deck.  The pig here is obviously enjoying its luck, abundance, and honors. (Posted by Doug Skinner)  

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“Le Jeu du Destin Antique,” a deck of 32 cards, was published by Piatnik in Vienna.  I obtained my copy in Prague many years ago.  The ace of hearts, the booklet tells me, indicates “welcome encounters, joy.” (Posted by Doug Skinner)

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We have another deck attributed to the famous Mademoiselle Lenormand (Marie-Anne-Adelaïde Lemormand, 1772-1843).  This one, “Le Petit Lenormand,” was published by B. P. Grimaud in 1976.  Yes, there is also a larger version.  As the instructions say, “Each card consists of symbolic and prophetic elements,” which may indicate either good or bad aspects, depending on […]

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This elaborate pictorial deck was published by the venerable firm Piatnik, from Vienna and Budapest.  There’s a lot of drama in this depiction of Falseness, but it doesn’t look like beneficial drama. (Posted by Doug Skinner)

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Harry Ingalls, “the greatest fortune teller in the world,” made the unusual choice to put his portrait on each card in his deck.  And each of those cards, as you can see, offers a variety of fortune telling options, framing that searching gaze.  The box is even busier, a sort of carnival poster in miniature. […]

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“Madame Le Normand’s Gipsy Fortune Telling Cards” bears no indication of date or publisher.  Its previous owner has written the meaning of the cards over the simple black and white illustrations, thereby increasing its graphic charm.  There are 36 cards in the deck, from #1: Cavalier to #36: Cross; tattered instructions in English and German […]

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Whitman’s “Zodiac Circle Playing Card Game” dates from 1931.  There were Zodiac Cards, which were to be laid out in a circle, and the other cards were to be correlated to your sun sign.  I haven’t tried it.  I like those colors. (Posted by Doug Skinner.)  

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Of course, if you have any gumption, you’ll design your own fortune telling cards. Above is one of the cards from a Tarot deck by the remarkable Argentine artist Xul Solar (1887-1963). His deck includes curious personalities such as this (Gemini?), as well as more traditional trumps. And deities from other traditions, such as Bes […]

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“The Military Fortune Tellers” was published by H. V. Loring, in Chicago, in 1917.  The deck is 52 cards; but the four suits are stars, hearts, bells, and doves, and the face cards are Jack, Nurse, and Soldier.  The instructions are curiously garbled: “This is a Military Sectional Fortune Telling Chart forming a square when […]

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Well, I’ve given you 200 children’s card games to eyeball, so now it’s time for a change.  Here’s the first of a series of fortune telling cards. You can, of course, tell fortunes with ordinary playing cards, or with the tarot (or, it must be said, simply by free association); but card manufacturers have nevertheless […]

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