DescriptionReplica 1910 Fortune Telling DeckThis fortune telling method comes from 19th century Russia and has gone through many different iterations since its humble beginnings. The cards are game-like and were most likely based on a children’s toy made out of paper with drawings that could be rotated to create different pictures. Originally known as Russian Proverb Cards or Pasyan Cards and consisted as a deck of 36 puzzle cards. Sold until the 1914 Russian Revolution, and later on a re-issue appeared in 1928, but by this time the anti-religious movement was raging and the attitude towards card fortune telling was negative.After the Russian Revolution fortune-telling cards managed to persist within families and were more than likely transmuted “from grandmothers” who learned to guess in their youth from popular books and then passed along among teenage girls. The cards and their meanings managed to survive within families but became simplified. The Proverbs, sayings, and deep symbolism was left behind in pre-revolutionary Russia. In the late 1970s to early 1980s hand-drawn versions began popping up before the proliferation and popularization of the decks in the early 1990s. By this time, the cards had been reduced in number from 36 to 20. The style and imagery had also changed as well as the meaning of each card becoming more simple and clear. (road – trip, cat – flirting). In the United States a new deck was released called the Russian Gypsy Fortune Telling Cards, but they don’t appear to have ever become popular.As far as I know this is the first time this deck is being offered with the original proverbs translated into English. This project has taken me well over a year from start to finish. I have seen other English versions offered in the past from Russia, but they are now unattainable and the proverb portion of the interpretations is always missing. I have translated all 72 cards (288 proverbs) into a modern take and this adaptation is my attempt to keep it as close to original as possible.The rotating book (DON’T FOLD THE PAGES ROTATE THEM) may appear to look like normal printer paper but it is not. This book has been printed on special paper called PaperTyger, which is a technologically advanced laminated paper that is durable, lightweight, and tear resistant.Item Details36 hand cut Replica 1910 Fortune Telling Cards (2.5 in x 2.5 in)Rotating instructions interpretations book printed on PaperTygerEnglish adaptation RussianProtective case.
