Fortune telling playing cards
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
early 19th century
This object comprises 32 cards from a fortune telling pack produced in Prague during the early 19th century (first half of the 19th century). Published by F. Macchi, the cards are printed on paper using woodcut outlines coloured with stencils and black printing ink. Each rectangular card measures 83 millimetres in height by 5 centimetres in width. The reverse side of each card is plain green.
Each card features an illustrative scene depicting figures, concepts, or personifications, accompanied by descriptive titles lettered in both Czech and German at the top and bottom margins. These inscriptions include terms such as Soudce / Richter (judge), Kral / könig (king), Vdova / Witwe (widow), Smrt / Todt (death), and Faleš / Falschkeit (falseness), among others. Additionally, the King of Hearts card bears the publisher's address lettered as 'F. Macchi. Praha Platnyrska Ulice C 112'.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
The cards were published by F. Macchi, who worked in Prague during the first half of the 19th century, located on Platnéřská Street.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- Woodcuts and coloured stencil
- Dimensions
- Height: 83 mm; Width: 5 cm
Technical characteristics
- Inscriptions
- Date: Text: Research required; Latest: Research required; Earliest: Research required; Note: Research required; Type: Research required; Medium: Research required; Method: Research required; Script: Research required; Content: Soudce / Richter [judge] Kral / könig [king] Vvoják / Soldat [soldier] Pamma / Jungfer [young woman] Věrnost / Treue [loyalty] Dítě / Kind [child] Láska/ Liebe [Love] Dům/ Haus [house] Dáma/ Dame [woman] Velký pán / Grosser Herr [old gentleman] Radost / Freude [joy] Společnost / Geselischaft [society] štěstí/ glück [happiness] Svadba / Heirath [marriage] Penize / Geld [money] Myšlenky / Gedanken [thoughts] Mladý pán / Junger Herr [young gentleman] Nestálost / Unbestandig [instability] Smrt / Todt [death] Faleš/ Falschkeit [Falseness] Vdova / Witwe [widow] Naděje / Heffnung [hope] Psani / Brief [letter-writing] Cesta / Reise [travel] Vdovec / Witwer [widower] Neštesti / unglück [misfortune] Nemoc / Krankheit [illness] Zehraivost / Eifersucht [jealousy] Zarmutch / Traurigkeit [sorrow] Poselství / Bothsckaft [message] Dar / Geschenk [gift] Duchovní / Geistlicher [clergyman]; Language: Research required; Position: Research required; Inscriber: Name: Id: Research required; Text: Research required; Association: Id: Research required; Text: Research required; Description: Research required; Translation: Research required; Interpretation: Research required; Transliteration: Research required
- Maker recorded
- Macchi, F
- Place recorded
- Prague
Identification
- Source note
- Transcribed from the Victoria and Albert Museum collection record for this single object; how far it represents a wider collectible type has not been independently verified.
- Museum object name
- Playing cards, 32 cards from a fortune telling pack,
- Museum object number
- 29569O
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.