Card game:Game of Fortune Telling

The practice of fortune telling, still popular today, grew out of beliefs in Renaissance magic and folklore. There are many ways to tell a fortune. Tarot card decks appeared as early as the 1400s; gaming was their first purpose. Soon, however, they became associated more with magic and mysticism, and eventually, fortune telling. Standard card decks evolved early too, and while their main purpose has always been gaming, they too are used for fortune telling. Perhaps the countless possibilities of cards in a shuffled deck led to this. Aware of the public fascination for learning about the future, European and American game manufacturers were quick to produce special fortune-telling card games. These were common in the late 19th century and can still be found today.

Bearing a copyright date of 1902, these fortune telling cards were made by the McLoughlin Brothers of New York. The card designs and method for fortune telling are based on the astrological signs of the zodiac. As such, this likely was not a game with a specific winner; the cards are just a method of fortune telling.