H.V. Loring “The Military Fortune Tellers” Playing and Fortune Cards, c.1918

Collectibles : Tarot/Fortune Cards : Loring "Military Fortune Tellers"

 

Mint deck of the wonderful "Military Fortune Tellers" cards, made by H.V. Loring c.1918. The cards are both playing cards and fortune telling cards, and Dawson/Hochman mentions these cards in three chapters of the Encyclopedia: “War Cards,” “Tarot and Fortune Telling Cards,” and “New Suit Signs.” I have listed them here among the tarot and fortune cards.

In the entry for these cards in the “War Cards” chapter, the Dawson/Hochman states:

“This deck combined the fortune telling craze of the period with a salute to the Armed Services through the use of new suit signs. The blue suits were doves and bells and the red suits hearts and stars. Soldiers replaced the kings, Nurses replaced the queens, Sailors the jacks, and the aces were replaced by Aviatrixes. There were 56 cards in the deck as there were 1s in addition to aces.”

Each of the cards also has fortune telling information on all four sides of the face.

The 56 cards (52, plus the 1s) are accompanied by a paper insert that describes how to use the cards as a fortune telling deck. The cards are wide cards, measuring 89mm x 63mm. The cards come in the original box, which has 2 tax stamps because of the number of cards. As noted, the cards are pristine and perfect; the box was opened by my seller, but only to inspect and photograph the cards for sale. The box is in excellent condition, “as new” or very nearly so.

References: Fournier, Playing Cards, North America 111; Dawson, The Hochman Encyclopedia of American Playing Cards, pp. 222, 245, 290 – W27, FT16, N57.

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Item ID: T00001407