Playing Cards

The Mainzer Losbuch - An English Translation With Cards

by Experts at the Craft Table

This project offers a hand-bound English translation of an early text on cartomancy and card divination, accompanied by a reproduction deck of 16th-century playing cards. It aims to provide historical insight into the origins of card reading.

Includes guidebook

Key Features

Hand-bound English translation of an early cartomancy text
Reproduction deck of 16th-century playing cards
Successfully funded on Kickstarter with 67 backers

Who It's For

This offering is ideal for historians of divination, collectors of antique playing cards, and practitioners interested in the historical roots of cartomancy. It appeals to those who value scholarly translations and authentic reproductions of historical artifacts, rather than modern interpretive decks.

Funded on Kickstarter · 67 backers · Launched Apr 2023 · View campaign

Last updated April 14, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Mainzer Losbuch?

The Mainzer Losbuch is an early historical text focused on cartomancy and card divination. This project provides a hand-bound English translation of this text, making its contents accessible to a modern audience interested in the history of card reading.

What kind of cards are included with the Mainzer Losbuch translation?

The project includes a reproduction deck of 16th-century playing cards. These cards are intended to complement the historical text, allowing users to engage with the type of deck that would have been used for divination during that period.

Is this a modern tarot or oracle deck?

No, this is not a modern tarot or oracle deck. It is a historical reproduction of 16th-century playing cards, accompanied by a translation of an early cartomancy text. Its purpose is to explore the historical origins of card divination rather than to serve as a contemporary reading tool.