Pottery Company Booklets
From Mystic Tea Room
In this installment of "From the Land of Tea," we take a look at a web page that was funded by my Patreon supporters, who had access to it one full year before the public.
- Patreon Release Date: December 28th, 2023.
- Public Release Date: December 28th, 2024
Please consider subscribing to my Patreon stream for as little as $8.00 per month:
Patrons: To discuss this and other Patreon projects with me, please join my private Patreon Forum:
Support From the Land of Tea
Greetings, Fellow Tasseomancers!
In June of 2023, thanks to the support of my Patrons, The Mystic Tea Room opened a "Bibliography of Books about Tasseomancy" to the public. That page joined an earlier MTR page on "Tea Company Booklets,"" which included pamphlets filled with information from tea growers about tea drinking and the tea industry, as well a few that described tea cup reading. This week i present my Patrons with a one-year first glimpse at another aspect of the booklet proposition, namely instructional "Pottery Company Booklets" issued by the china ware companies that manufactured tasseomantic cups. From Alfred Meakin and Aynsley to Wimsatt and Zarka, here are the collectible, colourful, and almost-impossible-to-find pamphlets that once accompanied the lovely astrological, cartomantic, numerological, and symbolic fortune telling cups of yore.
All of the material you have access to here -- the fabulous tea cups, the instructive booklets, the nostalgic postcards, the boldly graphic matchbook covers, and all of the historical information researched and shared from the mind of the woman who is making it all happen -- can easily fit into one 8 x 10 foot room in an old Victorian farmhouse, but you would never see it without the investment of the time it takes to produce such a site and the caloric input such a site requires in the form of food for the writer, graphic designer, and database manager, as well as the US currency needed to pay for the computers, software applications, scanners, electricity, and internet connectivity that bring it out of that little room and into the world. So, as you can see, this site is the darling of many, and it is growing at a rapid rate ... but although it is "free," there also is a cost. Your financial support underwrites this cost. Thank you!
Tasseomancy Booklets Issued by Pottery Companies
- * Bibliography of Books about Tasseomancy:
- Hardbound and paperback instruction books on tea leaf reading.
- * Bibliography of Booklets About Tasseomancy Issued by Tea Companies:
- Instruction booklets on how to read tea leaves that promoted brands of tea.
- * Bibliography of Booklets on Tasseomancy Issued by Pottery Companies:
- Instruction booklets on how to read tea leaves that promoted brands of pottery.
- * Tea Company Booklets:
- Overview of booklets iabout growing, harvesting, and packing, and brewing tea.
- * Tea Leaf Reading Instruction Sheets and Booklets:
- Site-wide link-list of tea cups that were issued with Tasseomancy Instruction Sheets and Booklets.
This bibliography has been very difficult to assemble because although these booklets often accompany specially made tea cups in their original boxes, they are rarely kept in good condition after the boxes are opened. They are treated as throwaway inclusions in the packaging for the tasseomantic cups and their absence is almost never noted when such cups are offered for sale.
Alfred Meakin
The Cup of Knowledge: The Tea of Good Fortune — Lipton's
Alfred Meakin made several variations of The Cup of Fortune on the Royal Marigold shape. They were usually accompanied by a booklet sponsored by the Lipton Tea Company. This booklet can be used with any Aynsley, Alfred Meakin, B. Shackman, J & G Meakin, Booth's, Grosvenor Jackson & Gosling, or Fairylite Cup of Knowledge.
 "The Cup of Knowledge: The Tea of Good Fortune — Lipton's," the booklet that accompanied the Alfred Meakin Cup of Knowledge Royal Marigold tea set. |
 Alfred Meakin Cup of Knowledge Royal Marigold tea sets with Lipton's Booklet. |
 Lipton's booklet, front and back covers, made for the Alfred Meakin Royal Marigold Cup of Knowledge |
Aynsley
Aynsley began making The Cup of Knowledge by William Nicholson and Samuel MacNarama (“Willis Mac Nicol”) in 1924. It was a huge hit. The first cartomancy cup, it came with a fanciful book of history and full instructions for use. Aynslley joined with five other potteries to produce this cup on each company's own proprietary shapes for the British Empire exhibition at Wembley. The accompanying booklet by Willis Mac Nichol provided a full-colour history and instructions in how to read a cup. This booklet can be used with any Aynsley, Alfred Meakin, B. Shackman, J & G Meakin, Booth's, Grosvenor Jackson & Gosling, or Fairylite Cup of Knowledge.
The Cup of Knowledge: A Key to the Mysteries of Divination. Willis Mac Nicol [William Nicholson and Sydney MacNamara]. n.p, , n.d. [1924 and 1925, for the British Empire Exhibition.
- Two editions exist: “tall” and “square.” The former is the earlier; the latter soon replaced it as the square shape better fits the packaging for a cup and saucer.]
- Both the tall edition and the square edition have the same contents; the change was made by clipping off some blank paper at top and bottom and slightly rearranging the art.
- The cover of this famous book became the inspiration for the cover of "The Stranger in the Cup," which i co-wrote with Gregory Lee White in 2020. See the Bibliography entry under White.
 Tall and narrow first edition of "The Cup of Knowledge: A Key to the Mysteries of Divination" by Wllis Mac Nichol (William Nicholson and Sydney MacNamara). |
 An Aynsley Formal Band of Roses cup with the the tall and narrow first edition of the Willis Mac Nicol "Cup of Knowledge" booklet. |
The Wembley Exhibition ran for two years and by the second year, the difficulty in packing a tall, thin booklet with a short square tea set were overcome by the reformatting of the booklet into a short, wide format.
 This is the short and wide second edition of "The Cup of Knowledge: A Key to the Mysteries of Divination" by Wllis Mac Nichol (William Nicholson and Sydney MacNamara). |
 Aynsley Gilliflowers Cup of Knowledge with the short and wide second edition of the Willis Mac Nicol booklet. |
 This Aynsley Red Feather cup and saucer was sold on eBay as "with an instruction booklet," but it is actually a coverless copy of the short and wide second edition of the Willis Mac Nicol booklet; what appears to be the cover is merely the booklet's title page. |
 The title page of the short and wide second edition, passed off as a booklet cover by an eBay seller. |
The Cup of Knowledge. Aynsley China. Blue Dragon cover tri-fold, circa 1926 - 1955
After the Wembley Exhibition closed in 1925, the Aynsley China Company bought the rights to manufacture the Cup of Knowledge exclusievly. However, the cup was no longer accompanied by the full-colour Willis Mac Nichol booklet. Instead, a 6 page tri-fold pamphlet was used. The cover of this new instruction pamphlet featured a blue dragon on printed on stiff grey paper.
 6 page tri-fold with the line drawing of a dragon on the front. |
 Aynsley Carnation tea set with a 6 page blue dragon tri-fold booklet. |
 1937 Aynsley Coronotation Commemorative set with a 6 page blue dragon tri-fold booklet. |
 Aynsley Lilacs tea set with a 6 page blue dragon tri-fold booklet. |
The Cup of Knowledge. Aynsley China. Photographic cover, circa 1955-1960.
At some point in the 1950s, Aynsley abandoned its dragon logo and printed the contents of the 6 page tri-fld booklet on slick paper, illustrating it with a black and white photograph of the cup.
 Cup of Knowledge Instruction Sheet |
 Aynsley English Bone China Logo |
Aynsley Cup of Knowledge. Aynsley China. Blue cover, circa 1960-1970.
In the 1960s Aynsley introduced a new cup shape, the blandly modernistic Oban. It was used to produce a Cup of Knowledge, in two solid colours, cobalt blue and dusty rose. The instruction booklet featured no illustration on the cover, simply script text on cobalt blue.
 The Oban shape cup in cobalt blue, with a matching blue booklet |
Booths
The Cup of Knowledge. Booths Silicon China, 1924
Booths Silicon China pottery made a Cup of Knowledge for the Wembley Exhibition; it was accompanied by a Willis Mac Nicol booklet. This booklet can be used with any Aynsley, Alfred Meakin, B. Shackman, J & G Meakin, Booth's, Grosvenor Jackson & Gosling, or Fairylite Cup of Knowledge.
 Booths Silicon China Cup of Knowledge, Souvenir of the Australian Pavilion, Wembley, 1924, set with a second edition short and square instruction booklet by Willis Mac Nicol |
B. Shackman
The Cup of Knowledge. B. Shackman. Brown Dragon cover tri-fold, circa 1946 - 1960
B. Shackman was an importer of novelty goods, not a pottery company This set, which was made in Japan for them, was a post-world War II illegal copy of the original Cup of Knowledge that was made in England by the six Stoke-on-Trent potteries for the Wembley Exhibition. It was accompanied by a copy of the 6 page Aynsley Cup of Knowledge tri-fold booklet. The dragon's colour was changed to brown on cream coloured paper and the words "Tell your Fortune in the Tea Leaves" appeared below the dragon. This booklet can be used with any Aynsley, Alfred Meakin, B. Shackman, J & G Meakin, Booth's, Grosvenor Jackson & Gosling, or Fairylite Cup of Knowledge.
 B. Shackman Mint Green Cup of Knowledge, with box and booklet. |
 B. Shackman's copy of the 6 page Aynsley Cup of Knowledge tri-fold printed in brown on cream paper. |
Fortune Telling Teacup. B. Shackman. Four page instruction pamphlet, circa 1960
At some point in the 1960s, B. Shackman produced a white Fortune Telling Teacup with gilt images, somewhat akin to the Red Rose Tea set. It came with an instruction sheet rather than a booklet
 Fortune Telling Teacup by B. Shackman, with instruction sheet. |
 Fortune Telling Teacup by B. Shackman, with instruction sheet. |
Creative Art Products
The Romany Cup of Fortune. Barbreggo. Creative Art Products, 1935.
Creative Art Products is the maker's mark on the cup (but only the cup) of the Romany Cup of Fortune manufactured by W. S. George in 1935.
 Barbreggo was the named author of the pale blue booklet that accompanied the Romany Cup of Fortune marketed by Creative Art Products |
Fortuna Tea Cup Co.
The Fortune Telling Tea Cup: Prophetic, Interesting, Amusing, and Instructive. John W. Hanley. Fortuna Tea Cup Co., 1899.
John W. Hanley was a game designer, not a potter, but in 1899 he contracted with a company that made earthenware -- probably one of the New Jersey potteries, as he was located in nearby New York City -- and released the first-ever marked cup and saucer set, the Fortuna Fortune Telling Tea Cup. Accompanying it was the first ever booklet of instructions on tea leaf reading.
 "The Fortune Telling Tea Cup: Prophetic, Interesting, Amusing, and Instructive" by John W. Hanley, Fortuna Tea Cup Co., 1899, 28 pages. |
Heather Lee Harris
Treasure in a Teacup Tea Reading Kit. Heather Lee Harris, circa 2000, Australia.
The Heather Lee Harris Treasure in a Teacup Tea Reading Kit from Australia came in a cute little box, with a plastic baggie of black tea and a 4 page instruction sheet.
 |
Ian Messiter
The Ian Messiter Fortune Teacup. Poole, circa 1960s.
Ian Messiter, a popular British game show host, contracted with the Poole pottery company to produce the Ian Messiter Fortune Teacup and Saucer.
 The Ian Messiter Fortune Teacup and Saucer with its accompanying instruction booklet. |
International Collectors Guild
Zarka Fortune Telling Teacup. International Collectors Guild, 1985.
The 1985 International Collector's Guild Zarka Fortune Telling Teacup Set is a Japanese copy of the Jon Anton and Royal Kendal Taltos sets, which in turn were colourized copies of the Nelros Cup of Fortune of 1904.
 International Collectors Guild Zarka Fortune Telling Teacup Set with instruction booklet. |
 The Zarka Fortune Telling Teacup instruction booklet |
Jack D. Fink and Company
The Cup of Knowledge: A Fascinating and Exciting Pastime. Jack D. Fink & Company, 1935.
Like B. Shackman, Jack D. Fink & Company, Importers, of Albany, Oregon, contracted with a Japanese pottery company to produce knock-off copies of the Aynsley Cup of Knowledge. Interestingly, the contents of the Fink booklet dated 1954 is a 20 page adaptation of the original Willis Mac Nicol Cup of Knowledge booklet from 1924.
 The Cup of Knowledge instruction booklet by Jack D. Fink & Company, 20 pages long, dated 1954. |
Jane Lyle
The Cup of Destiny. Jane Lyle for Barnes and Noble, 2001,
In 2001, Jane Lyle copied the Nelros Cup of Fortune for Barnes and Noble, a book publisher, distributor, wholesaler, and retailer, who had it Made in China. It was renamed the Cup of Destiny and Lyle accompanied it with a 96 page instruction book.
 |
Jon Anton
The Taltos Fortune Telling Teacup. Jon Anton, 1975
Although it is quite modern in its straight-sided shape, the 1975 Jon Anton Taltos Fortune Telling Teacup is a literal copy of the Nelros Cup of Fortune designed by Neville Ross in 1904. It came with a 24 page instruction booklet.
 Instruction booklet for the Taltos Fortune Telling Teacup, 24 pages. |
 Jon Anton Taltos cup with Tea Leaf Reading Booklet, 24 pages. |
 A Taltos cup and booklet with an accompanying letter from "Woman's Own" magazine, which gave these cups away as promotional prizes to letter writers. |
 An unusual variation of the Jon Anton Taltos Tea Leaf Reading Booklet printed in black and white on a folded-down oversized sheet of slick paper. |
Kim Allen
The Psychic Cup: Answer Life's Questions by Reading Tea Leaves. Kim Allen for Andrews Andrews McMeel, 2004.
In 2004 the astrologer Kim Allen designed the Psychic Cup and wrote its instruction book for the publisher Andrews McMeel.
 "The Psychic Cup: Answer Life's Questions by Reading Tea Leaves." |
Knobler
Fortune Teller Cup and Saucer. Alfred E. Knobler, circa 1970-1980.
Alfred E. Knobler of Moonachie, New Jersey, was an importer who dealt in imported Japanese goods. Knobler brought to America a heavy, awkwardly painted, dull-coloured copy of the Jon Anton Taltos cup. It was Made in Japan in the 1970s or 1980s, and in addition to regular retail sales, some were sold in Salem Massachusetts in connection with the Salem Witchcraft Museum.
 Fortune Teller's Cup and Saucer by Knobler, instruction booklet. |
 Fortune Teller Cup and Saucer, Alfred E. Knobler packaging; the cups were shipped in form-fitting styrofoam within a printed cardboard box |
Lillian Vernon
Fortune Teller's Cup and Saucer. Lillian Vernon, 1980
The Lillian Vernon Corporation was a large mail order distributor of household gadgets, clothing, and novelty goods. Around 1980, the company distributed a copy of the Jon Anton Taltos cup, marketed as the Fortune Teller's Cup and Saucer under the brand name International Collector's Guild.
 |
Morley House Tea Leaf Reading Tea Cup
Morley House Tea Leaf Reading Tea Cup. Morley House Direct Marketing, 1992]]
The Morley House Tea Leaf Reading Tea Cup, released in 1992, was the only fortune telling tea cup and saucer created for and distributed by Morley House Direct Marketing in Australia.
 The Morley House Tea Leaf Reading Tea Cup set with box and booklet |
Marguerite Scott
Mystic Teacup Instruction Book, A Cup for Telling Fortunes with the Tealeaves. Marguerite Scott, 1949.
Marguerite Scott designed and released the Mystic Teacup in 1949. It originally was packaged with a clever little die-cut booklet in the shape of a tea cup, but later editions are only accompanied by a plain, single sheet of instructions.
 "Mystic Teacup Instruction Book, A Cup for Telling Fortunes with the Tealeaves," original die-cup booklet |
 A later version of the instructions for the Mystic Teacup, printed on a single sheet of paper. |
Nelros
Nelros Cup of Fortune. Aynsley China Company, 1904
The Nelros Cup of Fortune, designed by Neville Ross, was a very early symbol cup plus astrology cup, first marketed in 1904. It was also the first to contain poetry on the cup. It was manufactured for Nelros by the Aynsley China Company in England.
 Nelros Cup of Fortune instruction booklet, front cover. |
 Nelros Cup of Fortune instruction booklet, back cover. |
Originality Plus
The Gypsy Teacup. Originality Plus, 1959.
Originality Plus was the maker of only one divination cup, the 1959 Gypsy Teacup, which came in two styles, scalloped and zig-zag. It was manufactured in Japan for an importer known as Bradley Exclusives.
 The Gypsy Teacup with its instruction sheet. |
Paragon
Signs and Omens Cup and Saucer. Paragon Fine China, circa 1930.
Paragon Fine China was a pottery in England that designed and manufactured the Signs and Omens line of symbol cups, saucers, and tea sets.
 A set of six blue and white Paragon Signs and Omens tea sets with their instruction booklet. |
 Paragon Signs and Omens Cup and Saucer instruction pamphlet |
Red Rose Tea
Cup of Fortune for Red Rose Tea. Taylor and Kent, 1964.
In 1964 the Taylor and Kent pottery manufactured a numbered three-set array of symbol cups and saucers marketed under the Cup of Fortune name for Red Rose Tea. It was accompanied by a 10 page book of instructions.
 Red Rose Cup of Fortune No. 1 by Taylor and Kent, with its instruction booklet. |
 "Cup of Fortune" instruction booklet for Red Rose Tea by Taylor and Kent pottery, unfolded to show how the art flows across the back and front covers]] |
Royal Kendal
The Taltos Cup of Fortune. Royal Kendal, 1980
The Taltos Cup of Fortune by Royal Kendal of Staffordshire, England, is an authorized copy or continuation of the Taltos cup by Jon Anton. It is covered with extensive designs from astrology and tea leaf symbolism for fortune telling.
 Royal Kendal Taltos Cup of Fortune instruction booklet. |
Tea With Karin
Fortune Telling Teacup. Tea With Karin, 2018.
Tea With Karin is a small artisinal company in Australia. The proprietor, Karin overglazes fine vintage and retro-design tea cups one at a time,in a muffle kilm, producing limited runs of customized symbol cups for collectors.
 "Fortune Telling Teacup" by Tea with Karin, instruction booklet. |
Tea Shop
Tea Shop Tea Reading Set. Unknown British Maker, circa 1990s.
Absolutely nothing is known about this tea cup beyond the fact that it was made in England and came with a small instruction booklet titled "Reading Tea Leaves."
 Tea Shop, unknown British cup, saucer, tea, and instruction boklet. |
 "Reading Tea Leaves," instruction pamphlet for the unknown Tea Shop tea set |
Victorian Trading Company
Tea Leaf Reading: Dictionary of Symbols. Victorian Trading Co., 2007
The Victorian Trading Co. released this message-laden tea cup with "Tea and Instructions Enclosed" in 2007.
 "Tea Leaf Reading: Dictionary of Symbols" instruction booklet. |
Wilkinson
Romany Fortune Telling Cup. Arthur J. Wilkinson
According to its instruction booklet, "How to Read the Romany Fortune-Telling Tea Cup," the Arthur J. Wilkinson 1935 Romany Cup of Fortune was "given with the Good Wishes of the Editors of Weekly Welcome, Woman's Way, Red Letter, Red Star Weekly, Family Star, My Weekly, and Secrets."
 The instruction sheet for a 1935 Romany Fortune Telling Cup by Wilkinson; tattered, tea-stained, and torn, but still readable and carefully preserved by a loving former owner |
 Romany Fortune Telling Cup and its instruction sheet. |
Genevieve Wimsatt
Chinese Fortune-Telling Teacup. Genevieve B. Wimsatt, 1929.
Designed by the suffragette, poet, historian, geographer, and political activist Genevieve B. Wimsatt, the Chinese Fortune-Telling Teacup was patented in 1929, and manufactured by the Canonsburg Pottery.
 instruction booklet for the Chinese Fortune-Telling Teacup. |
Thanks to my husband nagasiva yronwode for helping with scans and cleanup. I couldn't have done it without you, dear.
catherine yronwode
curator, historian, and docent
The Mystic Tea Room
