Mlle Lenormand Fortune Telling cards

manufactured by:  Vereinigte Stralsunder Spielkartenfabriken, Stralsund

Mlle Lenormand Fortune Telling cards manufactured by Vereinigte Stralsunder Spielkartenfabriken, Stralsund, c.1890s. The pack has 36 cards. Identical cards were produced by V.S.S. into the 20th century. The centre of the trademark on the seven of clubs shows the coat-of-arms of Stralsund (see: wikipedia.org/wiki/Stralsund). V.S.S. used several trademarks over the time. The explanation leaflet accompanying the pack describes it as “The pack of the famous fortune-teller Mlle Lenormand in Paris”, and it is written by ‘Philippe, the heir of Mlle. Lenormand’. Packs like this (or with verses) were made by most famous German playing-card makers as well as by several less famous; probably best known are the two Dondorf packs.

Above & Right: Mlle Lenormand Fortune Telling cards manufactured by Vereinigte Stralsunder Spielkartenfabriken, Stralsund, c.1890. This deck has square corners, later editions had rounded corners  (see example here →).   Cards illustrated from the collection of Peter Endebrock.