Cartas Gitanas

Published March 07, 2017 • Updated June 21, 2022

The designs of these fortune-telling cards are largely taken from nineteenth century Austrian "Rural Scenes" Tarock cards.

fortune-telling cards

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Published by Vigor S.R.L., Tejedor 244-256, Bs Aires in the 1950s (formerly by Igor Domicelj), and then successive editions into the 1960s. 40 cards + instruction leaflet in box. The Patent Office Registration documents, dated 22nd June 1955, show the original designs at the time of the take-over, with the new company name overwritten. The deck is presented as an ancient gypsy oracle, however, the designs are largely taken from nineteenth century Austrian "Rural Scenes" Tarock cards, which were not designed for fortune-telling.

Above: the designs on the top halves of the Cartas Gitanas are based on nineteenth century Austrian "Rural Scenes" Tarock cards (shown below). Scenes include musicians, horsemen, couples, courtships as well as rural or exotic scenes. The court and 'consultant' cards are also derived from the Austrian prototypes.

Below: instruction leaflet, inner wrapper and box showing various symbols alluding to luck, fate and hidden wisdom disclosed through cartomancy. The leaflet informs that these cards had been a jealously guarded secret amongst fortune-tellers for centuries, handed down from mother to daughter, but are now being made available to the public. Instructions are given in the leaflet for reading the cards, as well as how to select winning lottery numbers, roulette stakes or horse races.

Cartomantic meanings of Spanish playing cards by Benita the Witch (XVI century), published by Chocolates Nelia, c.1932

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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.