Turner & Fisher
From "The Encyclopedia of American Playing Cards"
FT1 AMERICAN FORTUNE TELLING CARDS
Turner & Fisher, c1820. This deck is believed to be the earliest fortune-telling deck on the American scene, but the date cannot be determined accurately. Gene Hochman had a copy in black and white dated 1862 and a delicately colored version that appeared much older. The same plates were used for reprints throughout the years, the latest being issued by Wehman Bros., New York, in 1948.
I know this deck is not technically a "playing card" deck, but it appears to be the first of its kind made by an American card maker, let alone one from New York City. Let's see what I found out.
Frederick Turner and Abraham Fisher were business partners in Philadelphia starting in 1834 at 11 North Sixth Street and were listed in the city directory as a Fancy Store and Bookseller business. Abraham's younger brother James also worked with them. Two years later Fisher went to New York City to open another store. They sold and printed comic almanacs, songsters, prints, plays, and children's books mainly of the toy variety.
In 1837 Turner & Fisher published this earliest known deck of American Fortune Telling Cards.....
FT1 AMERICAN FORTUNE TELLING CARDS
Turner & Fisher, c1820. This deck is believed to be the earliest fortune-telling deck on the American scene, but the date cannot be determined accurately. Gene Hochman had a copy in black and white dated 1862 and a delicately colored version that appeared much older. The same plates were used for reprints throughout the years, the latest being issued by Wehman Bros., New York, in 1948.
I know this deck is not technically a "playing card" deck, but it appears to be the first of its kind made by an American card maker, let alone one from New York City. Let's see what I found out.
Frederick Turner and Abraham Fisher were business partners in Philadelphia starting in 1834 at 11 North Sixth Street and were listed in the city directory as a Fancy Store and Bookseller business. Abraham's younger brother James also worked with them. Two years later Fisher went to New York City to open another store. They sold and printed comic almanacs, songsters, prints, plays, and children's books mainly of the toy variety.
In 1837 Turner & Fisher published this earliest known deck of American Fortune Telling Cards.....
How do we know when these were made? We know from the address appearing on the box. The only time Turner & Fisher had a store at 36 Division Street was in early 1837.
But, the box states it was manufactured by James Fisher. Was James in New York City or Philadelphia? We don't know because he does not appear in either city directory.
This deck is the earliest known deck of American Fortune Telling cards. It had 36 cards similar to a Tarot deck and came with instructions. But, did Turner & Fisher create this deck?
Two years previously there had appeared this ad.....
The United States Gazette (Philadelphia, PA) May 23, 1835
Notice the ad states "Just received, an additional supply". Received from where? If they were printing them in their store in New York City this deck would have a different address on the wrapper. Has a copy of this deck not been found or did someone else manufacture them?
The next month this ad appeared in South Carolina....
The next month this ad appeared in South Carolina....
The Charleston Daily Courier (Charleston, South Carolina) Jun 27, 1835
Either way Turner & Fisher were manufacturing them by 1837 and continued to do so under this name until 1850. After Turner died in 1849 the company became Fisher & Brother's until they closed in 1876. New York City publisher Charles Magnus then printed them into the 1880s.
Maybe someday a deck from 1835 will be discovered and solve the question of who created this first American fortune-telling deck.
Maybe someday a deck from 1835 will be discovered and solve the question of who created this first American fortune-telling deck.