GRAND JEU DE MLLE LENORMAND by (FORTUNE TELLING). [LENORMAND, MARIE-ANNE ADÉLAÏDE] - ca. 1890

Paris: B. P. Grimaud, ca. 1890. 128 x 90 mm. (5 x 3 1/2"). A complete deck of 54 cards.
Each card with patterned verso and color-illustrated recto, 52 of the cards with the top two-thirds of the card with a scene from classical mythology, a constellation in the sky above it, the upper left corner with a playing card, the upper right with a letter, the lower third of the card with a botanical illustration and two small vignettes, either mythological or from everyday life; the other two cards with pictures of a man and a woman, both in 17th century dress. ◆Cards very slightly bowed, a little darkened and rubbed at edges, but a fine set, very clean and with bright colors.

This is a complete deck of cartomancy cards promoted under the name of the most famous fortune teller of the 19th century, Marie-Anne Adélaïde Lenormand (1772-1843), who accurately predicted the future for clients ranging from Marat and Robespierre to Princess de Lamballe and the Empress Josephine. Orphaned and left to make her way in the world, Lenormand began telling fortunes at the age of 14. Using a bookshop for her "front" (divination being illegal), Lenormand made predictions through three reigns and two revolutions. Several contemporary chroniclers, including Washington Irving and Captain Gronow, visited her shop and observed her methods. She used the Etteilla Tarot deck and regular playing cards in her readings, and tactfully interviewed her subject throughout the session, cleverly gleaning the information she needed to form her predictions. Lenormand had an extremely successful career, and left a fortune of 500,000 francs at her death. Our deck first appeared in 1845, with 52 cards for casting fortunes and two cards with the picture of a man or a woman to match the gender of the person seeking a reading. Though it had no connection to Lenormand, it was called "Grand Jeu de Mlle. Lenormand" to capitalize on her name and reputation. A smaller deck, with 36 cards, was offered as a "Petite Lenormand." Lenormand offered two levels of readings, "petite" or more detailed "grand" forecasts. Although we cannot predict its efficaciousness, this is an uncommon item that could well represent a fortunate find..