A 1902 Version of Playing Card Divination
Did you ever wonder how the 1902 ancestors read fortunes? Kind of like us, but instead of Tarot, playing card divination was a common method. Here are the meanings of cards, at least as they were interpreted in the book How to Tell Fortunes, by Aaron A. Warford.
The cards 2-6, were not used. Note that some of the interpretations are given for reversed cards. This means you’ll have to go into your playing card deck and make a little pencil mark to denote top and bottom.
Clubs
Ace of Clubs.—Signifies joy, money, or good news; if reversed, the joy will be of brief duration.
King of Clubs.—A frank, liberal man, fond of serving his friends; if reversed, he will meet with a disappointment.
Queen of Clubs.—An affectionate woman, but quick-tempered and touchy; if reversed, jealous and malicious.
Knave of Clubs.—A clever and enterprising young man; reversed, a harmless flirt and flatterer.
Ten of Clubs.—Fortune, success, or grandeur; reversed, want of success in some small matter.
Nine of Clubs.—Unexpected gain, or a legacy; reversed, some trifling present.
Eight of Clubs.—A dark person’s affections, which, if returned, will be the cause of great prosperity; reversed, those of a fool, and attendant unhappiness, if reciprocated.
Seven of Clubs.—A small sum of money, or unexpectedly recovered debt; reversed, a yet smaller amount.
Hearts
Ace of Hearts.—A love-letter, or some pleasant news; reversed, a friend’s visit.
King of Hearts.—A fair, liberal man; reversed, will meet with disappointment.
Queen of Hearts.—A mild, amiable woman; reversed, has been crossed in love.
Knave of Hearts.—A gay young bachelor, who dreams only of pleasure; reversed, a discontented military man.
Ten of Hearts.—Happiness, triumph; if reversed, some slight anxiety.
Nine of Hearts.—Joy, satisfaction, success; reversed, a passing chagrin.
Eight of Hearts.—A fair person’s affections; reversed, indifference on his or her part.
Seven of Hearts.—Pleasant thoughts, tranquillity; reversed, ennui, weariness.
Diamonds
Ace of Diamonds.—A letter, soon to be received; and, if the card be reversed, containing bad news.
King of Diamonds.—A fair man—generally in the army—but both cunning and dangerous; if reversed, a threatened danger, caused by machinations on his part.
Queen of Diamonds.—An ill-bred, scandal-loving woman; if reversed, she is to be greatly feared.
Knave of Diamonds.—A tale-bearing servant, or unfaithful friend; if reversed, will be the cause of mischief.
Ten of Diamonds.—Journey, or change of residence; if reversed, it will not prove fortunate.
Nine of Diamonds.—Annoyance, delay; if reversed, either a family or a love quarrel.
Eight of Diamonds.—Love-making; if reversed, unsuccessful.
Seven of Diamonds.—Satire, mockery; reversed, a foolish scandal.
Spades
Ace of Spades.—Pleasure; reversed, grief, bad news.
King of Spades.—The envious man, an enemy, or a dishonest lawyer, who is to be feared; reversed, impotent malice. [5]
Queen of Spades.—A widow; reversed, a dangerous and malicious woman.
Knave of Spades.—A dark, ill-bred young man; reversed, he is plotting some mischief.
Ten of Spades.—Tears, a prison; reversed, brief affliction.
Nine of Spades.—Tidings of a death; reversed, it will be some near relative.
Eight of Spades.—Approaching illness; reversed, a marriage broken off, or offer refused.
Seven of Spades.—Slight annoyances; reversed, a foolish intrigue.
Court Cards
The Court cards of Hearts and Diamonds usually represent persons of fair complexion; Clubs and Spades, the opposite.
Denominations
Four Aces, coming together, or following each other, announce danger, failure in business, and sometimes imprisonment. If one or more of them be reversed, the danger will be lessened, but that is all.
Three Aces, coming in the same manner.—Good tidings; if reversed, folly.
Two Aces.—A plot; if reversed, will not succeed.
Four Kings.—Rewards, dignities, honors; reversed, they will be less, but sooner received.
Three Kings.—A consultation on important business, the result of which will be highly satisfactory; if reversed, success will be doubtful.
Two Kings.—A partnership in business; if reversed, a dissolution of the same. Sometimes this only denotes friendly projects.
Four Queens.—Company, society; one or more reversed, denotes that the entertainment will not go off well.
Three Queens.—Friendly calls; reversed, chattering and scandal or deceit.
Two Queens.—A meeting between friends; reversed, poverty, troubles, in which one will involve the other.
Four Knaves.—A noisy party—mostly young people; reversed, a drinking bout.
Three Knaves.—False friends; reversed, a quarrel with some low person.
Two Knaves.—Evil intentions; reversed, danger. Four tens.—Great success in projected enterprises; reversed, the success will not be so brilliant, but still it will be sure.
Three tens.—Improper conduct; reversed, failure.
Two tens.—Change of trade or profession; reversed, denotes that the prospect is only a distant one.
Four nines.—A great surprise; reversed, a public dinner.
Three nines.—Joy, fortune, health; reversed, wealth lost by imprudence.
Two nines.—A little gain; reversed, trifling losses at cards.
Four eights.—A short journey; reversed, the return of a friend or relative.
Three eights.—Thoughts of marriage; reversed, folly, flirtation.
Two eights.—A brief love-dream; reversed, small pleasures and trifling pains.
Four Sevens.—Intrigues among servants or low people, threats, snares, and disputes; reversed, that their malice will be impotent to harm, and that the punishment will fall on themselves.
Three sevens.—Sickness, premature old age; reversed, slight and brief indisposition.
Two sevens.—Levity; reversed, regret.
The next time you have friends over, why not pull out the deck and see what messages playing card divination has for you!
