French Fortune-Telling Cards, 19th Century

A nearly complete set of 19th-century French Grand Jeu Lenormand fortune-telling cards, with 53 of the original 54 cards present, missing only the female figure.

Created after the death of the famous fortune teller Mlle Lenormand, the Grand Jeu is its own elaborate system of cartomancy rather than tarot. The cards combine traditional playing-card values with astrology, constellation imagery, geomantic symbols, letters, flowers, and mythological and allegorical scenes, all intended to work together during a reading. Backs have a blue basket weave pattern.

12 cards have old clear tape repairs. Three have roughly the upper third covered with tape that has heavily yellowed with age, while the other nine have only small bits of tape repair. Three cards have partial loss to their upper corners. One tape-repaired card has several lines of old handwritten French on the back. Additional general wear, rubbing and soiling throughout. Original box and instruction booklet are not present.

$1,000