The World of Playing Cards Logo

The English Playing Card Society

EPCS Logo

Promoting research into English card history since 1984. Members receive the EPCS magazine three times a year.

Join from £10/year

Livre du Destin

Published April 17, 2011 Updated June 12, 2023

Livre du Destin / The Book of Fate, c.1900, entire deck (32 cards)

1900 FranceCartomancyOracleGrimaud

Livre du Destin, large size scans of entire deck (32 cards / 21 Mb.)

Please wait while all the images load...

Card no.16 has the tax stamp

Above: cards from “Livre du Destin” or “Book of Fate” with titles in French and English, published by Chartier-Marteau & Boudin and printed by B.P. Grimaud, Paris, c.1900. The cards measure 11 cm tall and 7.2 cm wide. The tax stamp visible on card 16 is dated Apr 12, 1890. Images courtesy Gilles Daigle.

Return to main page

avatar
1,494 Articles

By Simon Wintle

Spain • 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.

Activity for Livre du Destin

Sign in to comment or save this article.


Related Articles

1860 Catalan pattern by B.P Grimaud

Catalan pattern by B.P Grimaud

Standard Spanish Catalan pattern deck made in Paris by B.P Grimaud.

1872 Cartes politiques : Jeu d'actualité

Cartes politiques : Jeu d'actualité

Political playing cards published by Grimaud et Chartier, Paris, 1872.

1880 English Pattern by B.P. Grimaud

English Pattern by B.P. Grimaud

Standard English pattern published by B.P. Grimaud with engraving by F. Simon, c.1880.

1830 French Cartomancy cards, c.1830

French Cartomancy cards, c.1830

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

1807 Le Petit Oracle des Dames

Le Petit Oracle des Dames

Le Petit Oracle des Dames ou Récréation des Curieux, Paris, 1807.

1880 B.P. Grimaud pack for Bolivia

B.P. Grimaud pack for Bolivia

Spanish-suited pack made in France for sale in Bolivia, c.1880.

1788 Jeu de Cartomancie pour l’amusement des Dames

Jeu de Cartomancie pour l’amusement des Dames

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

1796 Petit Etteilla cartomancy cards

Petit Etteilla cartomancy cards

“Petit Etteilla” cartomancy cards designed and published by Jacques Grasset de Saint-Sauveur, Paris ...

1790 Nouvel Eteila ou le petit nécromancien

Nouvel Eteila ou le petit nécromancien

“Nouvel Eteila ou le petit nécromancien” cartomancy cards from France, late 18th century.

Cartomancy, Oracle and Divination Cards

Cartomancy, Oracle and Divination Cards

Playing cards are used for fortune-telling - turning another card illumines the moment and a new per...

2003 El Oráculo de la Bruja

El Oráculo de la Bruja

“El Oráculo de la Bruja” fortune-telling cards, 2003.

1966 Le Grand Tarot Belline

Le Grand Tarot Belline

“Le Grand Tarot Belline” after drawings by Edmond Billaudot (1829-1881).

1793 Jeu de l’an 2

Jeu de l’an 2

“Jeu de l’an 2” by Grimaud is a facsimile of French Revolutionary cards first published by Veuve Mou...

1995 Back to the USSR

Back to the USSR

Back to the USSR deck featuring communist party leaders and politicians, c.1995

1899 Grand Jeu Lenormand

Grand Jeu Lenormand

Chaotic Grandeur in a collage of astrology, folklore and mythology from Parisian salons.

1962 S.S. France playing cards

S.S. France playing cards

A special non-standard pack of playing cards was designed by M. Marie for the maiden voyage of the t...

1900 Livre du Destin

Livre du Destin

Livre du Destin or Book of Fate, printed by B.P.Grimaud, Paris, c.1900.

1920 Genoese pattern

Genoese pattern

The design is purely 'Parisian' but the colouring is green, red, yellow and black. Belgium has taken...

French Playing Cards

French Playing Cards

Some of the oldest cards still in existence come from France. During the 16th and 17th centuries Fra...

1880 Grimaud Spanish pattern

Grimaud Spanish pattern

Grimaud Spanish pattern, c.1880


Sign in with Google