This is the second deck of these Teuila fortune telling cards I've had--I've been keeping a watch out for them because I think they are really fabulous, but they're also pretty rare and one doesn't see very many of them. There are reproduction decks of these out there but these are the 1923 originals, and a complete deck, in the original green box, with the (albeit a bit tattered) instruction booklet, which is all one really needs to become a master fortune teller!
The deck was created by Isobel Field, an artist and writer and fascinating character, who lived for a time in Hawaii (hence the backs of the cards, featuring a young Hawaiian woman with cards spread out in front of her). Produced by The US Playing Card Co, Cincinnati, it features 45 cards with wonderful graphics, 6 of them representing people (dark man, fair woman, etc.) and the rest symbolizing all manner of attributes and occurrences, from pride, to malice, to wealth, opportunity, disappointment, danger, excitement, etc. The instruction booklet details the meaning of each card as well as how to read them in combination (the meeting of card 11 and card 26 equals triumph, for example!) This deck has definitely been used for readings, as the cards are annotated in pencil with what they stand for, which is handy and for me just adds to their appeal. And becoming an expert reader with these does not seem terribly difficult, making them a really perfect deck to keep handy for frequent readings.
Good condition for their age, with some ingrained dirt but no tears or folds that I see, and just great looking. The front page of the 15 page booklet is detached but the rest bound and all there.. They come in their original green box with cardboard sleeve. Cards measure 2 1/4" x 3 1/2".