Fortune Telling With Non-Tarot Cards

This deck is called “Good Night”, and is dated to 1899. It has the US6c ace of spades and first version matching joker. But this joker has a name: Mrs. H. Frapwell. We don’t know anything about her at this time, but here’s what we think we know: She was some kind of amateur fortune teller, as she wrote fortunes on the Aces-10s (courts not shown as nothing was written on them). This deck was purchased in 2018 from a collector from Wisconsin, but he doesn’t recall how he came across this deck. Unfortunately we don’t know her first name, or who her husband was. The research is ongoing.

Shown here are 40 cards, and what the handwriting says.

Click on an image to enlarge

Ace of Spades – A large body of water…a long distance…When reversed means death and when combined with the 4 or 5 of spades

2 of Spades – A lie – unguarded talk. With 4 of Spades a death…With 2 of Clubs sudden death

3 of Spades – A journey by water

4 of Spades – Sickness

5 of Spades – An unsuccessful undertaking…a treacherous offer or invitation

6 of Spades – A long journey. With 7 or 8 of Hearts an unexpected journey

7 of Spades – A failure in a business way…A quarrel or unkind words

8 of Spades – Journey or gossip if near a face card…With 7 of Spades the person indicated is deceitful, a great talker or false friend

9 of Spades – A great disappointment and is the unluckiest card in combination with Spades. If combined with Hearts or Diamonds the disappointment will be sly. With 9 of Clubs a loss of some kind.

10 of Spades – A business transaction of some large undertaking

Ace of Hearts – The house, Your own house

2 of Hearts – A friend, if with the 4 of Hearts for a lover or sweetheart

3 of Hearts – A new relation a lover or a sweetheart if with 4 or 2 of Hearts a husband or wife

4 of Hearts – The house of a friend. When found with 3 or 5 of Hearts marriage or talk of marriage

5 of Hearts – Indicates a flirtation admiration lovemaking or a friendly invitation and if combined with 5 of Clubs it means an offer of marriage

6 of Hearts – Denotes a short journey to the house of a friend or with a friend

7 of Hearts – A surprise or good luck at the hand of a friend

8 of Hearts – A jolly company of friends frivolity if combined with 8 of Diamonds a boisterous occasion where much wine flows

9 of Hearts – Is always the wish card and if combined with the 10 of Diamonds you are sure to get your wish

10 of Hearts – News of a wedding or engagement where with the 4 or 5 of Hearts you will attend a wedding. If with 10 of Diamonds money comes unexpectedly through friends. With 10 of: Spades or Clubs a fortunate business with a friend

Ace of Clubs – A gift – If with 10 of Diamonds a valuable gift of money if with 9 of Diamonds if a piece of jewelry, ring, etc with 4 or 5 of Hearts an engagement ring. If with 10 of Clubs or Spades, a business paper with 3 of Diamonds or 4 of Spades a newspaper

2 of Clubs – Tears or anger

3 of Clubs – A kiss

4 of Clubs – A move to a strange house

5 of Clubs – A business offer an invitation worth accepting to ones interest

6 of Clubs – A business journey to ones advantage, a momentous journey

7 of Clubs – A very lucky business appointment or occasions of some sort which everything will go well

8 of Clubs – Is the best card in the pack

9 of Clubs – Represents some personal belonging. The acquiring of property

10 of Clubs – A great surprise in evening. A business talk

Ace of Diamonds – A letter. With 5 or 3 of Hearts a love letter, with 5 of Diamonds an invitation, with 10 of Spades or Clubs a business letter

2 of Diamonds – A new acquaintance or stranger

3 of Diamonds – Very good news

4 of Diamonds – Travelling to foreign lands

5 of Diamonds – Denotes an invitation

6 of Diamonds – Invitation to ride. If with 6 of Hearts an invitation to the theatre is a prelude to a carriage ride or excursion or pleasant trip of some kind

7 of Diamonds – An unexpected money transaction or an unexpected sum of money

8 of Diamonds – Pressages, hilarity, gaity. If combined with 7 or 8 of Spades intoxication

9 of Diamonds – The counting of a sum of money, a fortune

10 of Diamonds – With the Ace of Spades a valuable gift of money