Prophet Fortune Telling Cards
Prophet Fortune Telling Cards copyright and made by Thomas de la Rue & Co., 1933.
The Prophet Fortune Telling Cards were published by Thomas de la Rue & Co. and registered in the U.S. Library of Congress Copyright Office on June 17, 1933*.
The cards themselves are not exciting to look at, being in black and white only and without any images.
There are four meanings per card (thus 200 in all), but only the one in the top left-hand corner is to be read out when the cards are laid out.
The cards are square in shape, with rounded corners. The back design incorporates the signs of the zodiac, stars, horseshoes, a swastika (symbol of good luck), etc.
According to the leaflet, only 35 of the 50 cards should be dealt at any one time; the “remaining 15 cards should not be turned up for very few people meet with a full experience of life”! •
See the leaflet►
See the box►
Above: Prophet Fortune Telling Cards, Thomas de la Rue & Co., 1933. 50 cards + instruction leaflet in box with hinged lid. Size: 82.5 x 82.5 mm.
Further References
Jensen, K. Frank. The Prophetic Cards, cat. no. 3.17. Roskilde, Denmark, 1985
* Library of Congress Copyright Office, Catalogue of Copyright Entries, Part 1, Books group 1, (New series, volume 30 for the year 1933), no.5705. Available online here►
By Roddy Somerville
France • Member since May 31, 2022 • Contact
Roddy started collecting stamps on his 8th birthday. In 1977 he joined the newly formed playing-card department at Stanley Gibbons in London before setting up his own business in Edinburgh four years later. His collecting interests include playing cards, postcards, stamps (especially playing cards on stamps) and sugar wrappers. He is a Past President of the Scottish Philatelic Society, a former Chairman of the IPCS, a Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards and Curator of the WCMPC’s collection of playing cards. He lives near Toulouse in France.
Related Articles
Simpson (Piccadilly) playing cards
Innovative advertising pack for Simpsons of Piccadilly designed by André François.
Hand-drawn transformation cards, c1875
A complete set of hand-drawn transformation cards from c1875, using a standard De La Rue pack.
Smash Hits playing cards
Pack of playing cards with pop stars offered free with the Smash Hits magazine.
Souvenir Views of Scotland Playing Cards
52 selected views of Scotland by De La Rue (Waddingtons) for GlenAlan Ltd, Glasgow, Scotland, c.1960...
Polish fortune-telling cards
Fortune-telling pack with divinatory rhymes in Polish, c.1985.
Georgian Fortune Telling Cards
Georgian Fortune Telling Cards, c.1800.
Fortune Telling playing cards
English Fortune Telling cards probably published c.1770.
The ‘Mystic’
The ‘Mystic’ Fortune Teller card game by Clifford Toys.
Gipsy Fortune Telling Cards
“Gipsy” fortune-telling cards with original artwork by Hylton Cock, published by Thomas de la Rue & ...
Pneumatic c.1960-1965
De la Rue were producing Pneumatic cards with the “special graining for ease of handling” as late as...
Rufford Playing Cards
Rufford playing cards is one of several brand names used by Boots for their stationery department, a...
Draughts League Medals
Arthur Charles Prince worked for De la Rue as a playing card cutter and later was promoted to superv...
Paramount Film Stars
Promotional playing cards for the Paramount film company with film stars on the court cards.
5: De La Rue
In December 1831 Thomas de la Rue was granted his patent for printing playing cards by letterpress.
Jean Picart le Doux
Jean Picart le Doux playing cards, issued in 1957 to celebrate the company's 125th anniversary, feat...
De La Rue Continental
During the latter part of the nineteenth century De La Rue produced two special packs of cards for t...
De La Rue
De La Rue introduced letter-press printing into playing card production and his patent was granted i...
Amalgamated Playing Card Co., Ltd
Agreement had been reached between Waddington's and De La Rue during the second world war for Waddin...
Fortune-Telling Cards
These Fortune-Telling cards, first published as early as 1690, were possibly the first pack of cards...
Picture Show — Zodiac Fortune Telling Cards
Zodiac Celebrities fortune-telling cards presented with 'Picture Show' magazine, 1930. The cards wer...
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 60 days
