Description
Cartomancy • Empire Style • Historical Divination
Joséphine’s Divination Playing Cards invites you into the elegant world of 18th and 19th-century cartomancy, the centuries-old practice of divining messages and insight through an ordinary deck of cards. Inspired by the Petit Etteilla, one of the earliest and most influential systems of card divination, this exquisite boxed set re-imagines the vintage aesthetics of the Napoleonic era with a refined Empire-style design.
Cartomancy, derived from the French cartomancie, refers to the art of using playing cards for fortune-telling and intuitive guidance. Before the rise of the modern tarot deck, readers used traditional playing cards to answer questions of love, destiny, and fate. Over time, various systems evolved—each blending symbolism, numerology, and intuitive interpretation. The Petit Etteilla, named after the famed French occultist Etteilla (Jean-Baptiste Alliette), became one of the first structured methods of reading cards for divination. It continues to inspire readers who appreciate historical methods and the graceful simplicity of early European fortune-telling.
This 79-card set combines artistry with education, making it suitable for both beginners and seasoned readers. It includes:
15 learning cards explaining key concepts and examples to build understanding and confidence.
A full 32-card divination deck featuring meanings printed directly on the cards for immediate use.
A matching 32-card vintage deck, beautifully re-imagined with Empire-style artwork for those who prefer to read intuitively or follow the traditional Petit Etteilla method.
The combination of instructional and decorative decks allows readers to explore the system at their own pace, either studying the meanings or letting the cards speak through experience. With its timeless aesthetic and accessible format, Joséphine’s Divination Playing Cards bridges the charm of historical cartomancy with modern practice, celebrating both beauty and intuition in equal measure.
Explore our complete Tarot and Oracle collection here.
