Carreras Fortune Telling Cards
Carreras Fortune Telling Cards.
Printed by B. Dondorf in Germany.
The Carreras Fortune Telling Cards were published in 1926 for W.D. & H.O. Wills, Bristol, and issued by Carreras Ltd in various sizes (wide and narrow size) and formats (playing-card inserts or figures). The cards were printed by chromo-lithography by B. Dondorf in Germany, based on the “Dondorf Lenormand” fortune-telling cards made in the 1880s. A single card was enclosed inside every packet of “Black Cat” cigarettes. “Black Cat” was launched in 1904 and became the first cigarette in the United Kingdom to contain coupons which were redeemable for gifts. These coupons evolved into the collectible cards which became a huge marketing success. See also: Wikipedia article • Cartes Lenormand by H.P. Gibson • Mlle Lenormand Fortune Telling cards by Vereinigte Stralsunder Spielkartenfabriken.
Above: Carreras wide-sized Fortune Telling Cards with miniature playing card inserts, 1926. A single card was enclosed inside every packet of “Black Cat” cigarettes and in this case two missing cards have been made from repeated cards to complete the set.
Above: Carreras wide-sized Fortune Telling Cards with figure-head inserts, 1926. The fortune-telling images are exactly the same as in the example above, but in this case the miniature playing-card inserts have been substituted by figures. As far as we know the interpretations in the accompanying booklet remained the same for both versions, i.e. with figure inserts or playing card inserts.
Above: Carreras narrow-sized Fortune Telling Cards with figure-head inserts, 1926
Above: Carreras Fortune Telling Cards leaflet, 1926 more →
Carreras also issued Domino Cards, Alice in Wonderland cards and miniature playing cards. See also: Fortune Telling & Cartomancy :: Cartes Lenormand by H.P. Gibson.
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 Carreras Fortune Telling Cards
Sign in to comment or save this article.
Related Articles
Cartomancy deck by Johann Ernst Backofen
German-suited Cartomancy deck published by Johann Ernst Backofen, Nürnberg.
Kinney Transparent Cards
Kinney Bros Transparent playing cards with hidden images and fortunes, c.1890.
Fortune Telling playing cards
English Fortune Telling cards probably published c.1770.
Bucktrout & Co. Ltd
Half-sized cigarette playing cards published by Bucktrout & Co., Ltd (Guernsey) c.1930.
Wills 200th Anniversary
Double pack commemorating the 200th anniversary of W.D & H.O. Wills Ltd, 1786 - 1986.
Suicide King
The King of Hearts, holding a sword behind his head, is sometimes nicknamed the “Suicide King”. He c...
Heber Mardon (1840-1925)
Heber Mardon was born in 1840. With his father he founded the firm of Mardon and Son which, in 1863,...
Liebig Beef Extract
The first cards, or “chromos”, were published in 1872 and during the next 100 years almost 2,000 ser...
Gunners Greats Playing Cards
Each of the four editions of the magazine included a complete suit from the 52 card deck with every ...
Cartes Lenormand
“Cartes Lenormand” published by H. P. Gibson & Sons Ltd, London, printed in Germany by B. Dondorf, 1...
Lenormand Cartomancy
Mlle Lenormand Cartomancy deck made by Vereinigte Stralsunder Spielkartenfabriken, Stralsund, c.1890...
Rameses Fortune Telling
The Rameses Fortune Telling Cards were manufactured by Chas. Goodall & Son Ltd, London, c.1910, arou...
Carreras Ltd Playing Cards and Dominoes, 1929
Carreras Ltd miniature playing cards and dominoes, 1929
Ramses II tarot
Ramses II Tarot deck was published c.1975 in conjunction with a Peruvian occult or esoteric magazine...
Cigarette Cards and other ephemera
Cigarette Cards, Trade Cards, Miniature Playing Cards and other ephemera.
Mardon, Son & Hall of Bristol, branch of the Imperial Tobacco Company
A division of Imperial Tobacco, they appear to have made cards almost exclusively for the cigarette ...
German playing cards
Card-playing rapidly became popular in medieval Bavaria and German printers were quick to supply the...
Picture Show — Zodiac Fortune Telling Cards
Zodiac Celebrities fortune-telling cards presented with 'Picture Show' magazine, 1930. The cards wer...
Carreras Ltd Tobacco Advertising
Carreras issued a number of advertising packs, cigarette and trade cards, miniature packs, etc durin...
Silk Inlaid playing cards for Charles I.
Silk Inlaid playing cards said to have been made for Charles I
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 60 days
