Black Cat Fortune Telling Game

Published December 15, 2017 Updated February 14, 2024

Black Cat Fortune Telling Game published by Parker Bros, 1897

1897 USA Parker Bros Cartomancy Cats
Black Cat Fortune Telling Cards published by Parker Bros, 1897

Black Cat Fortune Telling Game was first published by Parker Bros in 1897. Cards are printed in colours and show an illustration, a title (The Past, The Present, The Future, Love Matters, General Advice and Danger!) and a card suit symbol; on the reverse are 24 numbered answers or fortunes

• See the box

Black Cat Fortune Telling Cards published by Parker Bros, 1897 Black Cat Fortune Telling Cards published by Parker Bros, 1897 Black Cat Fortune Telling Cards published by Parker Bros, 1897 Black Cat Fortune Telling Cards published by Parker Bros, 1897

Above: Black Cat Fortune Telling Cards published by Parker Bros, 1897. 24 cards, 6 sets x 4 (the illustrations are the same for each title group and all show a black cat and /or black and white kittens), with interpretations for various combinations printed on the reverse. Includes instruction leaflet. Images courtesy Nick Thomas.

avatar
1,481 Articles

By Simon Wintle

Member since February 01, 1996

I am the founder of The World of Playing Cards (est. 1996), a website dedicated to the history, artistry and cultural significance of playing cards and tarot. Over the years I have researched various areas of the subject, acquired and traded collections and contributed as a committee member of the IPCS and graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal. Having lived in Chile, England, Wales, and now Spain, these experiences have shaped my work and passion for playing cards. Amongst my achievements is producing a limited-edition replica of a 17th-century English pack using woodblocks and stencils—a labour of love. Today, the World of Playing Cards is a global collaborative project, with my son Adam serving as the technical driving force behind its development. His innovative efforts have helped shape the site into the thriving hub it is today. You are warmly invited to become a contributor and share your enthusiasm.

Related Articles

2024 MITSCHKAtzen

MITSCHKAtzen

Clever cat designs by the Austrian artist and illustrator Willi Mitschka.

2019 Get Decked

Get Decked

Black and white cartoons devised by Sam Wagner with help from artist Lindsay Bevington.

2022 Beowulf

Beowulf

Jackson Robinson's Beowulf playing card deck inspired by the Old English pagan poem.

1897 Tarot hiéroglyphique égyptien

Tarot hiéroglyphique égyptien

The design of the cards draws inspiration from various religious and philosophical traditions merged...

2018 Keith Haring playing cards

Keith Haring playing cards

Energetic graffiti images by the American artist Keith Haring.

2022 Oracle Rock

Oracle Rock

Cartomantic set depicting rock and pop stars, designed by La Rata, with a book by Virginie Despentes...

1976 Eki karuta

Eki karuta

Japanese fortune-telling cards based on I Ching, with bold, modern designs.

1975 The Tarot of Meditation – Yeager Tarot

The Tarot of Meditation – Yeager Tarot

Marty Yeager’s original Tarot of Meditation from 1975, republished later by U.S. Games Systems, Inc....

1988 Adobe Deck

Adobe Deck

The first digitally-produced deck of cards.

1819 Seminole Wars deck

Seminole Wars deck

Seminole Wars deck by J. Y. Humphreys, Philadelphia, c.1819.

1972 The UCR Deck

The UCR Deck

Giant-size cards designed by Thomas Sanders to advertise courses and facilities at UCR.

2015 Fredericks & Mae playing cards

Fredericks & Mae playing cards

A rainbow pack from the design team of Fredericks & Mae and Benjamin English.

2004 Red Hat Society playing cards

Red Hat Society playing cards

Society that encourages women in their quest to get the most out of life.

1975 Mountain Dream Tarot

Mountain Dream Tarot

Groundbreaking Tarot created by Bea Nettles, using photographs and photo montage.

2021 Junior Playing Cards

Junior Playing Cards

Child-friendly versions of standard English pattern cards designed by Louie Mantia, Jr.

2021 Last Call Cats playing cards

Last Call Cats playing cards

Bar-crawling cats, designed by artists Arna Miller and Ravi Zupa.