Medieval Fortune Telling Cards - reproduction of 19th-century royal gift
In 1860, artist Ludwig Burger designed a fortune-telling deck as a wedding anniversary gift for the German crown prince Friedrich-Wilhelm and his wife Victoria. This is a reproduction of that deck.
The cards follow German playing card tradition: four suits, each with its own theme. Acorns stand for war and strategy, Leaves for hunting and nature, Hearts for love and marriage, Bells for trade and craft. The lithographs show those themes as scenes from medieval life.
What you see on the cards
Each card is a detailed lithograph. The style is typically 19th century: romantic, realistic, with careful attention to costumes and settings. The imagery is not symbolic like tarot, but narrative.
An Acorns card might show soldiers, weapons or campaigns. A Leaves card depicts hunters with dogs and game. Bells show blacksmiths, traders, town life. Hearts are about courtship, weddings, families.
The deck contains 36 cards: the 2, then 6 through King. Queens are replaced by Obers, a kind of knight or warrior figure. That is not a modern design choice, just how German cards are structured.
How this deck relates to other systems
This is not a tarot deck. It follows the structure of a German playing card deck, but with a divination function. The meanings are more intuitive than systematic. You read what you see.
The cards measure 70 x 110 mm, slightly larger than standard. That makes the details easier to read, but they shuffle a bit heavier. The cardstock is sturdy. The two-part box protects them well.
Let the imagery speak for itself. The guidebook offers abstract interpretations, but the scenes tell enough on their own.
About Ludwig Burger
Ludwig Burger was a German artist and illustrator from the 19th century. He worked for royal patrons and created these fortune-telling cards as an anniversary gift. His style is refined and rich in detail.
Specifications
- Number of cards: 36
- Card size: 70 x 110 mm
- Publisher: Lo Scarabeo
- Guidebook language: multilingual (English, German)
- Packaging: two-part box
- Finish: lithographic illustrations on sturdy cardstock
- Artist: Ludwig Burger
- Card structure: 4 suits, numbers 2, 6-10, Under, Ober, King
Questions we often get
How does this deck differ from a standard tarot deck?
This is not tarot. It follows the German playing card tradition with four suits and 36 cards. You will not find a Major Arcana, no Aces, no Queens. Instead you get Obers.
Are the cards self-explanatory or do you need background knowledge?
The imagery is narrative enough to work with intuitively. Knowing the German card tradition helps, but is not required.
