Palmistry Cigarette Cards by Major Drapkin and Company
As a form of divination, palmistry combines character analysis with fortune telling. Most readers consider it to be one of the more scientific forms of prediction, because a great many of the features of the hand are determined by genetics, including the presence of congenital diseases and the likelihood of the sitter following a career that an ancestor also pursued.
This set of 25 instructional Palmistry cigarette cards was published in 1927 by the Major Drapkin & Co. Branch of The United Kingdom Tobacco Co. Ltd. Each pack of Major Drapkin smokes came with one random card, and collectors would have to do a lot of smoking to gather a complete set before they went out of print and a new set of Major Drapkin cards, such as the "Australian and English Test Cricketers" set, came on the market. Lucky for card collectors -- and aspiring palm readers -- the hobby of collecting cigarette cards was so well developed in England that trading clubs and specialty shops sprang up where one could trade duplicates for elusive cards, and where non-smokers could purchase entire sets, still faintly reeking of unsmoked tobacco, in a not-unpleasant way.
Learning Palmistry by the Flash Card Method
On the 25 model hands shown in this set, only the lines or creases in the palms are considered. The mounts, digits, overall hand shape, and minor marks such as stars and squares are not interpreted. This is in keeping with the abbreviated nature of the presentation, which is, despite its brevity, in conformity with traditional palmistry texts of the time. Each card bears the instruction that "The right hand is the one to be studied", but in modern palmistry, the palm reader will generally choose the sitter's dominant hand, accommodating left-handed people as well.
The author of these cards is uncredited, which is a shame, because they are brilliantly conceived as compressed character analyses of great accuracy. The true charm of these cards lies in the artwork, which is also, alas, uncredited. The images consist of of 25 tempera paintings reproduced with colour lithography. Each hand, with its differing lines brought out in blue ink, is accompanied by a delightful portrait of the type of person said to be the "owner" of such a hand.
So, without further ado, here are the Major Drapkin Palmistry cards!
1. Will Seek Affection.
1. Will Seek Affection.
If the Line of Heart is very clearly marked, and much stronger than the Line of Head, the owner of such a hand as this will be of a somewhat clinging nature, always longing to be loved by everyone.
2. Commander of Men.
2. Commander of Men.
A clear Line of Fate curved to the base of the first finger denotes that the owner of such a hand is a born leader of men -- one who, by strong personality, may rise to a position of high authority.
3. Healthy Old Age.
3. Healthy Old Age.
Happy is the one who possesses such a hand as this. A long, clear Line of Life, curving well round into the palm of the hand, always means good health and long life for its owner.
4. For Humanity.
4. For Humanity.
Throughout life the owner of a hand that shows a double Line of Heart and a strong Head Line will be devoted to the interests of others. Self denial of all pleasures will often cause him or her to give up a sheltered home life.
5. Criminal Tendencies.
5. Criminal Tendencies.
Luckily such a hand is rarely found amongst normal people. If the Line of Head curves up to the fourth finger, a selfish nature is indicated which might not stop at violence to gain its ends.
6. The Scientific Hand.
6. The Scientific Hand.
The owner of a hand which bears a straight Line of Fate, with an off-shoot curving round the little finger, is likely to become a famous scientist by reason of his capacity for infinite patience and the exercise of strong personality.
7. Self-confidence, Will-power.
7. Self-confidence, Will-power.
This is the hand of a clever man. If the Line of Head is separated from Line of Life by a space, self-confidence, sound reasoning power and a strong will are his strong points. He would be successful as a barrister.
8. Will Travel Far.
8. Will Travel Far.
Should the Line of Life be found curving round the middle of the palm the owner of this hand will be a great traveller spending much time on long voyages by sea and land, returning in the end to his homeland.
9. A Pioneer.
9. A Pioneer.
If the Line of Fate starts from well over on the outside of the palm the owner will be brave and fond of wandering, spending his life in the interests of discovery in foreign lands.
10. The Student or Medical Hand.
10. The Student or Medical Hand.
With a strong Line of Head, indicating brains and the ability to study, and a stronger Heart Line showing love for mankind, the owner of this hand is likely to be successful in the medical profession and become famous as a physician.
11. Exceptional Business Ability.
11. Exceptional Business Ability.
Where the Line of Head is very strong and straight, and the Line of Fate curves round to the little finger, the owner of such a hand possesses the attributes of a business magnate of great ability.
12. The Coquette.
12. The Coquette.
The owner of a hand like this is a flirt; a butterfly with no deep feelings. The Line of Heart is a mass of tiny lines with no solidity or strength in it anywhere.
13. The Successful Architect
13. The Successful Architect.
If the Line of Fortune is well marked and there is a good, strong Line of Head, the owner of such a hand will be a successful architect. His hand shows great love of beauty.
14. For Stage or Screen.
14. For Stage or Screen.
Here we have the hand of one destined for the stage or cinema studio. If the Line of Heart is met with many small lines, and the Line of Fortune runs in from the outside of the hand, the owner is likely to become a fine dramatic actor or actress.
15. An Author.
15. An Author.
A literary hand! The one who has such a palm will write great books. The Lines of Head and Life are joined at the beginning and the former is sloping and forked at the end.
16. An Early Marriage.
16. An Early Marriage.
Here is a romantic hand! The owner will marry young and be happy. The Marriage Line is close to the Line of Heart and the latter is clearly marked and forked below the index finger.
17. A Born Engineer.
17. A Born Engineer.
Perseverance, inventive power and romance are all to be found in the hand of the born engineer, with the Line of Head clear and sloping, and the Line of Fate curving round to the little finger.
18. The Bachelor Girl.
18. The Bachelor Girl.
This girl will never marry of her own free will. The Line of Heart is broken up into small lines, but it is clear and well marked as far as the little finger. The same hand in a man indicates the determined bachelor.
19. A Gambler.
19. A Gambler.
In this hand the Line of Head, sloping slightly and not touching the Line of Life, shows that the owner will always be ready to take risks, and will regard life itself as a game of chance.
20. Will Succeed in Business.
20. Will Succeed in Business.
If the Line of Fate is a long clear one, starting from the wrist and curving towards the third finger, it indicates ambition, perseverance, and assures success in business life.
21. The Gift of Eloquence.
21. The Gift of Eloquence.
Eloquence is one of the greatest gifts of the owner of this hand, as shown by the fate Line curving round to the little finger. He is capable of swaying his listeners by his appropriate choice of words.
22. A Gifted Musician.
22. A Gifted Musician.
A sincere and deep love of music is indicated in such a hand as this, combining a clear Line of Heart, curving to the first finger and a Fate Line ending under the third finger.
23. A Happy Marriage.
23. A Happy Marriage.
The owner of this hand, with its straight, well-marked Line of Marriage, would have what we all desire -- a happy married life, being blessed with loving children and a devoted partner.
24. Fitted for School Teaching.
24. Fitted for School Teaching.
Love of children, brain power and an air of authority will be traits in the character of the owner of this hand. The Lines of Head and Heart and strong and the Fate Line curves to the index finger.
25. Great Artistic Ability.
25. Great Artistic Ability.
This is an Artist's hand. A long, clear Fate Line, curving to the third finger, shows the appreciation of beauty and possible attainment, through hard work, of a high position in the world of art.
Gender and Ethnic Stereotyping in the Cards
The Major Drapkin Palmistry cards are not organized in any particular order, but instead proceed through alternating female and male characters, dressed according to their occupations or stations in life.
Cards showing scientific or leadership occupations are given to men, but in a bold move for the era in which they were produced, women are not only seen as teachers, nurses, wives, or starlets, they are also envisioned as world travellers, successful business executives, famous doctors, and happily unmarried ("The Bachelor Girl").
As representative stock British stage or screen types, most of the people painted on the cards are English -- but number 17, ("A Born Engineer") is Scottish, number 19 ("A Gambler") looks vaguely "Continental", and number 22 ("A Gifted Musician"), is definitely Jewish.
The Major Drapkin company was founded in 1898 and closed in 1947. These early 20th century cards show us a few of the baby steps we have taken on the road we are walking from the stifling rigidity of 19th century gender, ethnicity, and class roles to our hoped-for goal of 21st century diversity and equality. Perhaps a liberal woman wrote or illustrated these cards. I certainly think it a likely possibility.
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Thank you.
catherine yronwode
curator, historian, and docent
Your Wate and Fate