Title

The Art of Fortune Telling, by Cards

Description

A chapbook on fortune telling printed in Bideford, Devon, around 1840. It has eye‑catching blue paper covers, with the title on the front and an image of Mother Shipton, a fortune‑teller popular in folklore, on the back. Inside, it describes the prophetic meanings of cards in a standard deck, from the ace of clubs promising wealth and prosperity to the deuce of spades signifying a coffin. The chapbook reflects the period’s fascination with prophecies and fortune‑telling, and with learning to practise them oneself.

Publication Place

Bideford

Publisher

J. Wilson

Date

around 1840

Source

https://search.libraries.london.ac.uk/permalink/44SHL_INST/1j7aip0/alma991015303379709266

Format

Chapbook

Century

19th

Exhibition Theme

Popular EntertainmentSee all items with this value

Subject

Fortune-telling

Magic tricks