[FORTUNE TELLING]
The ‘Nelros’ Cup of Fortune
[London]: Royal Letters Patent, [c. 1905]
A china cup and matching saucer, printed with lines and symbols in red with the words ‘Would’st learn thy fortune with thy tea this magic cup will show it thee’ written around the outside of the rim; the saucer 13.5cm in diameter, the cup 6cm high (approx.); marked to the underside ‘By Royal Letters Patent’, ‘The Nelros Cup of Fortune’ and the Ro number 442928; together with the original stapled booklet; pp. 20, printed in black and red; the booklet heavily rubbed, creased, and used, with the front cover detached, but complete; with some appropriate tea staining; the saucer with no chips or cracks, a couple of tiny marks in places, the print a touch rubbed at bottom of cup and some of the reverse side lettering a little smudged; a lovely survival with the instruction booklet.
This early example of a symbol or astrology cup was first marketed by Mrs Nevile Ross in 1904, and was inspired by the 1898 Fortuna Fortune Telling Tea Cup manufactured in the USA by John W. Hanley. Aynsley acquired the patent in 1905, and began producing this particular cup in larger numbers. The included booklet is a the Second Edition, and contains full instructions on the art of tasseography, including descriptions of the planetary signs, the ‘black signs’, ‘the stranger in the tea cup’, and the signs of the Zodiac according to month.
[FORTUNE TELLING]
The ‘Nelros’ Cup of Fortune
[London]: Royal Letters Patent, [c. 1905]
A china cup and matching saucer, printed with lines and symbols in red with the words ‘Would’st learn thy fortune with thy tea this magic cup will show it thee’ written around the outside of the rim; the saucer 13.5cm in diameter, the cup 6cm high (approx.); marked to the underside ‘By Royal Letters Patent’, ‘The Nelros Cup of Fortune’ and the Ro number 442928; together with the original stapled booklet; pp. 20, printed in black and red; the booklet heavily rubbed, creased, and used, with the front cover detached, but complete; with some appropriate tea staining; the saucer with no chips or cracks, a couple of tiny marks in places, the print a touch rubbed at bottom of cup and some of the reverse side lettering a little smudged; a lovely survival with the instruction booklet.
This early example of a symbol or astrology cup was first marketed by Mrs Nevile Ross in 1904, and was inspired by the 1898 Fortuna Fortune Telling Tea Cup manufactured in the USA by John W. Hanley. Aynsley acquired the patent in 1905, and began producing this particular cup in larger numbers. The included booklet is a the Second Edition, and contains full instructions on the art of tasseography, including descriptions of the planetary signs, the ‘black signs’, ‘the stranger in the tea cup’, and the signs of the Zodiac according to month.
