Your Fortune in a Tea-Cup Postcards
From Mystic Tea Room
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In this set of 12 postcards, issued in Great Britain some time between the First and Second World Wars, we have essentially a series of study cups as flash cards or teaching instructions in cup reading. These British tea leaf postcards were intended to be sent as greetings, but they can also be used by fledgling tasseomancers as [[How_To_Read_Tea_Leaves#Study_Cups|study cups]] on the way to learning [[A Basic List of Tea Leaf Symbols|a basic list of tea leaf symbols]]. <!--Because the printed interpretations are so brief, i will, at a future time, add some further explanations of how they were derived. --> | In this set of 12 postcards, issued in Great Britain some time between the First and Second World Wars, we have essentially a series of study cups as flash cards or teaching instructions in cup reading. These British tea leaf postcards were intended to be sent as greetings, but they can also be used by fledgling tasseomancers as [[How_To_Read_Tea_Leaves#Study_Cups|study cups]] on the way to learning [[A Basic List of Tea Leaf Symbols|a basic list of tea leaf symbols]]. <!--Because the printed interpretations are so brief, i will, at a future time, add some further explanations of how they were derived. --> | ||
| - | ===Your Fortune in a Tea-Cup - Anchor at Bottom, Journey, Leaves at Rim === | + | ===Your Fortune in a Tea-Cup! -- Anchor at Bottom, Journey, Leaves at Rim === |
[[File:Your-Fortune-In-A-Tea-Cup-Anchor-Leaves-Brim.jpg|center|400px|thumb|''"The leaves at the brim tell of letters with good news coming to you shortly. They will lead to the long voyage indicated by the line os dots, and the anchor at the bottom foretells [a] successful career abroad."'']] | [[File:Your-Fortune-In-A-Tea-Cup-Anchor-Leaves-Brim.jpg|center|400px|thumb|''"The leaves at the brim tell of letters with good news coming to you shortly. They will lead to the long voyage indicated by the line os dots, and the anchor at the bottom foretells [a] successful career abroad."'']] | ||
| - | ===Your Fortune in a Tea-Cup - Anchor at Bottom, Little Dots=== | + | ===Your Fortune in a Tea-Cup! -- Anchor at Bottom, Little Dots=== |
[[File:Your-Fortune-In-A-Tea-Cup-Anchor-Dots.jpg|center|400px|thumb|''"The lucky sign of an anchor at the bottom of [the] cup foretells success in your profession, but the little dots behind it represent many worries through jealous rivals."''<!--The anchor at the bottom of the cup tells of safety if one is a sailor, as many British men were during the era of these cards. However, if the sitter were female, one would be more likely to say, "Someone you know is a sailor and he will be perfectly safe at sea." The little dots trailing behind the anchor indicate coins or money gathered while engaged in travel.-->]] | [[File:Your-Fortune-In-A-Tea-Cup-Anchor-Dots.jpg|center|400px|thumb|''"The lucky sign of an anchor at the bottom of [the] cup foretells success in your profession, but the little dots behind it represent many worries through jealous rivals."''<!--The anchor at the bottom of the cup tells of safety if one is a sailor, as many British men were during the era of these cards. However, if the sitter were female, one would be more likely to say, "Someone you know is a sailor and he will be perfectly safe at sea." The little dots trailing behind the anchor indicate coins or money gathered while engaged in travel.-->]] | ||
| - | ===Your Fortune in a Tea-Cup - Anchor at Bottom, Square with Three Dots=== | + | ===Your Fortune in a Tea-Cup! -- Anchor at Bottom, Square with Three Dots=== |
[[File:Your-Fortune-In-A-Tea-Cup-Anchor-Square-Three-Dots.jpg|center|400px|thumb|''"There is a letter here (long leaf on [the] brim}, with good news indeed. You have got your wish (three dots inside [a] square of four leaves), and a successful career ([the] anchor at [the] bottom is before you."'']] | [[File:Your-Fortune-In-A-Tea-Cup-Anchor-Square-Three-Dots.jpg|center|400px|thumb|''"There is a letter here (long leaf on [the] brim}, with good news indeed. You have got your wish (three dots inside [a] square of four leaves), and a successful career ([the] anchor at [the] bottom is before you."'']] | ||
| - | ===Your Fortune in a Tea-Cup - Anchor at Bottom, Square with Dot at Side=== | + | ===Your Fortune in a Tea-Cup! -- Anchor at Bottom, Square with Dot at Side=== |
[[File:Your-Fortune-In-A-Tea-Cup-Square.jpg|center|400px|thumb|''"You will receive an important letter (4 leaves in [a] square). The dot just at [the] side of [the] square tells of your wish being granted, and you will gain [an] important position. The anchor at [the] bottom foretells [a] brilliant future."'' ]] | [[File:Your-Fortune-In-A-Tea-Cup-Square.jpg|center|400px|thumb|''"You will receive an important letter (4 leaves in [a] square). The dot just at [the] side of [the] square tells of your wish being granted, and you will gain [an] important position. The anchor at [the] bottom foretells [a] brilliant future."'' ]] | ||
| - | ===Your Fortune in a Tea-Cup - Anchor at Rim, Broad Leaf Below=== | + | ===Your Fortune in a Tea-Cup! -- Anchor at Rim, Broad Leaf Below=== |
[[File:Your-Fortune-In-A-Tea-Cup-Anchor-at-Rim.jpg|center|400px|thumb|"A happy life of love and constancy is foretold for you by the anchor at the top. but there are troubles ahead, indicated in the broad, flat leaf, representing a jealous enemy." <!--The anchor near the rim, coming toward "home" means safety and protection in the near future. The letter or rectangle further down the side of the cup and closer to home indicates news on the way, and it may not be pleasant, but i see no sign of a "rival" here, only some coins and a very small wish-sign of three evenly spaced dots.-->]] | [[File:Your-Fortune-In-A-Tea-Cup-Anchor-at-Rim.jpg|center|400px|thumb|"A happy life of love and constancy is foretold for you by the anchor at the top. but there are troubles ahead, indicated in the broad, flat leaf, representing a jealous enemy." <!--The anchor near the rim, coming toward "home" means safety and protection in the near future. The letter or rectangle further down the side of the cup and closer to home indicates news on the way, and it may not be pleasant, but i see no sign of a "rival" here, only some coins and a very small wish-sign of three evenly spaced dots.-->]] | ||
| - | ===6. Your Fortune in a Tea-Cup - Anchor at Rim, Mountain, Three Dots in Line=== | + | ===6. Your Fortune in a Tea-Cup! -- Anchor at Rim, Mountain, Three Dots in Line=== |
Happy Married Life and Offer From Friend | Happy Married Life and Offer From Friend | ||
| - | ===7. Your Fortune in a Tea-Cup - Mountain, Square with Dot=== | + | ===7. Your Fortune in a Tea-Cup! -- Mountain, Square with Dot=== |
Promotion and Letter With Money or Good News | Promotion and Letter With Money or Good News | ||
| - | ===8. Your Fortune in a Tea-Cup - Heart and Dots=== | + | ===8. Your Fortune in a Tea-Cup! -- Heart and Dots=== |
Voyage Leading to Happy Marriage | Voyage Leading to Happy Marriage | ||
| - | === | + | ===Your Fortune in a Tea-Cup! -- Heart, Ring, Leaves at Rim=== |
[[File:Your-Fortune-In-A-Tea-Cup-Heart-Ring.jpg|center|400px|thumb|''"You are just entering upon a round of gaities, indicated by [a] heart standing by itself. The letter inviting you to be one of a happy house-party is now on its way, as shown by [a] leaf on the brim, and there is a ring here foretelling marriage."''<!--The heart and ring are very clearly a proposal of marriage; the rectangle at the rim can indeed signify a letter, but there is no house visible in this view of the cup. Generally speaking, a house-party in the countryside, in the old Edwardian fashion, would be shown by a large house surmounted by or next o a tree. -->]] | [[File:Your-Fortune-In-A-Tea-Cup-Heart-Ring.jpg|center|400px|thumb|''"You are just entering upon a round of gaities, indicated by [a] heart standing by itself. The letter inviting you to be one of a happy house-party is now on its way, as shown by [a] leaf on the brim, and there is a ring here foretelling marriage."''<!--The heart and ring are very clearly a proposal of marriage; the rectangle at the rim can indeed signify a letter, but there is no house visible in this view of the cup. Generally speaking, a house-party in the countryside, in the old Edwardian fashion, would be shown by a large house surmounted by or next o a tree. -->]] | ||
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[[File:Your-Fortune-In-A-Tea-Cup-Triangle-Ring.jpg|center|400px|thumb|''"You are lucky! Good news and continued good fortune are foretold by the triangle of three large leaves. And the ring is here too, indicating [a] happy marriage."'' <!--A triangle foretells good luck, a fortunate meeting, or an unexpected legacy; its stability indicates a long continuation of the goodness it brings. The ring is a symbol of a proposal f marriage or the consumation of an engagement. -->]] | [[File:Your-Fortune-In-A-Tea-Cup-Triangle-Ring.jpg|center|400px|thumb|''"You are lucky! Good news and continued good fortune are foretold by the triangle of three large leaves. And the ring is here too, indicating [a] happy marriage."'' <!--A triangle foretells good luck, a fortunate meeting, or an unexpected legacy; its stability indicates a long continuation of the goodness it brings. The ring is a symbol of a proposal f marriage or the consumation of an engagement. -->]] | ||
| - | + | ===Your Fortune in a Tea-Cup! -- Cat and Letter=== | |
| - | + | [[File:Your-Fortune-In-A-Tea-Cup-Cat.jpg .jpg|center|400px|thumb|''"You have a rival (leaves forming cat) who is fast gaining ground just now. But a lucky letter (leaf on rim) is to up-lift you, and promotion will be given you shortly (long leaves in line)."'' <!--A cat, being territorial, foretells jealousy, rivalry, or gossip. Here is it sitting on on its own piece of ground, and is nearing the handle or "home" territory that should be yours. A small rectangle is a letter and it is on its way, coming along the roadway of lines, toward "home" as well. It signifies an uplift in spirit or a promotion on the job because the roadway is rising upward and the letter drops small dots or coins downward.-->]] | |
| - | + | ===Your Fortune in a Tea-Cup! -- Dog and Three Dots in a Line=== | |
| - | + | [[File:Your-Fortune-In-A-Tea-Cup-Dog.jpg|center|400px|thumb|''"The leaves forming [a] dog tell of a faithful friend coming home from abroad, and the three dts in a line indicate [an] offer of marriage from him. This will mean a great and happy change in your fortune as shown by the wavy lines."'' <!--The dog is coming from abroad because he is running along a roadway that descends from the "away" portion of the rim toward the "home" or handle of the cup. The three dots are the "wish sign" and although they do not represent a marriage per se, they do represent the fulfillment of a desire. The author of these cards assumes that the sitter is a young person hoping for a marriage, but the symbols could just as convincingly be read to say that an old friend is returning home from overseas and will fulfill some desire or wish of the sitter that is not marital in nature. The Wavy Lines are interpreted as "a great and happy change in your fortune," which is rather more optimistic than their customary meaning of "uncertainty." -->]] | |
| - | + | ||
| - | ===Your Fortune in a Tea-Cup -- Dog and Three Dots in a Line=== | + | |
| - | [[File:Your-Fortune-In-A-Tea-Cup-Dog.jpg|center|400px|thumb|''"The leaves forming [a] dog tell of a faithful friend coming home from abroad, and the three dts in a line indicate [an] offer of marriage from him. This will mean a great and happy change in your fortune as shown by the wavy lines."'' | + | |
| - | <!--The dog is coming from abroad because he is running along a roadway that descends from the "away" portion of the rim toward the "home" or handle of the cup. The three dots are the "wish sign" and although they do not represent a marriage per se, they do represent the fulfillment of a desire. The author of these cards assumes that the sitter is a young person hoping for a marriage, but the symbols could just as convincingly be read to say that an old friend is returning home from overseas and will fulfill some desire or wish of the sitter that is not marital in nature. The Wavy Lines are interpreted as "a great and happy change in your fortune," which is rather more optimistic than their customary meaning of "uncertainty." --> | + | |
Revision as of 04:05, 26 December 2020
In this set of 12 postcards, issued in Great Britain some time between the First and Second World Wars, we have essentially a series of study cups as flash cards or teaching instructions in cup reading. These British tea leaf postcards were intended to be sent as greetings, but they can also be used by fledgling tasseomancers as study cups on the way to learning a basic list of tea leaf symbols.
Your Fortune in a Tea-Cup! -- Anchor at Bottom, Journey, Leaves at Rim
Your Fortune in a Tea-Cup! -- Anchor at Bottom, Little Dots
Your Fortune in a Tea-Cup! -- Anchor at Bottom, Square with Three Dots
Your Fortune in a Tea-Cup! -- Anchor at Bottom, Square with Dot at Side
Your Fortune in a Tea-Cup! -- Anchor at Rim, Broad Leaf Below
6. Your Fortune in a Tea-Cup! -- Anchor at Rim, Mountain, Three Dots in Line
Happy Married Life and Offer From Friend
7. Your Fortune in a Tea-Cup! -- Mountain, Square with Dot
Promotion and Letter With Money or Good News
8. Your Fortune in a Tea-Cup! -- Heart and Dots
Voyage Leading to Happy Marriage
Your Fortune in a Tea-Cup! -- Heart, Ring, Leaves at Rim
Your Fortune in a Tea-Cup! -- Ring and Triangle
Your Fortune in a Tea-Cup! -- Cat and Letter
Your Fortune in a Tea-Cup! -- Dog and Three Dots in a Line
catherine yronwode
curator, historian, and docent
The Mystic Tea Room
