Cartomancy and Fortune-Telling

98 Articles 16 Contributors

Playing cards are used for fortune-telling, predicting the future or even as a psychological adjunct to folk medicine and therapy. Turning another card illumines the moment and new clarity emerges.

About Cartomancy

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French Cartomancy cards, c.1830

by Simon Wintle
Oct 29, 2023

French Cartomancy cards published by J. Gaudais; printed by Mansion, Paris, c.1830.

1830

Geistliche Karten

by Simon Wintle
Sep 09, 2010

Geistliche Karten, Augsburg, 1718. Each card carries a text in Gothic typeface giving advice regarding what to do and think each day. Not quite oracle or divination cards, they are more like 'a motto for the day' collection. The method of using the cards is not known.

1718

Geomancy and playing cards - a match meant to be

by Ana Cortez
Feb 12, 2023

Playing cards are made of dualities...

Georgian Fortune Telling Cards

by Ann and John Sings
Dec 24, 2017

Georgian Fortune Telling Cards, c.1800.

1800

Gipsy Fortune Telling Cards

by Rex Pitts (1940-2021)
Nov 04, 2015

“Gipsy” fortune-telling cards with original artwork by Hylton Cock, published by Thomas de la Rue & Co Ltd., c.1910.

1910

Grand Jeu Lenormand

by Simon Wintle
Mar 26, 2014

A pack of 54 playing-cards for fortune-telling each card containing a number of zodiacal, classical and modern images with a miniature card of the conventional type at top left and a letter of the alphabet at top right.

1899

Hafez Fortune Telling Cards

by Rex Pitts (1940-2021)
Apr 14, 2014

Fortune Tellers use the Hafez Cards by interpreting the Hāfez poems printed on the card backs when cards are selected randomly by their consultants.

Housewives Tarot

by Rex Pitts (1940-2021)
May 26, 2016

Retro-style ‘Housewives Tarot’ designed by Paul Kepple & Jude Buffum, published by Quirk Books, 2004.

2004

I Trionfi d’Amore

by Roddy Somerville
Nov 27, 2022

Tarot trumps designed by Juan Ballesta and inspired by 1970s pop culture, promoting Baci chocolates.

1978

Il Destino Svelato Dal Tarocco

by Rex Pitts (1940-2021)
Sep 08, 2017

The Cagliostro Tarot was first published in 1912 as “Il Destino Svelato Dal Tarocco”.

1912

Il Vostro Destino

by Roddy Somerville
Mar 08, 2024

Italian fortune-telling pack produced by Viassone and later by Masenghini.

1989

Jeu de Cartomancie pour l’amusement des Dames

by Simon Wintle
May 26, 2023

Early French Cartomancy deck "for the amusement of Ladies" but also referred to as "Jeu divinatoire révolutionnaire", 1788.

1788

Joshi Bharát Tarot

by Roddy Somerville
Feb 28, 2023

A set of the major arcana created by an Indian fortune-teller living in Hungary.

1992

Kadar Playing Cards

by Adam Wintle
Jan 07, 2014

The Kadar deck designed by Christopher J Gould aims to break the norms of playing card design. The vibrant and fun pack has drawn inspiration from travelling fortune tellers and gypsies.