Johann Kaspar Hechtel (1 May 1771 – 20 December 1799) was a German businessman, owner of a brass factory in Nuremberg, non-fiction writer and designer of parlour games, including the prototype for the Petit Lenormand cartomancy deck. Hechtel is also supposed to have contributed anonymously to some treatises on physics.

Early life Hechtel was born on 1 May 1771 in Nuremberg, Germany.

Death Hechtel died on 20 December 1799 in Nuremberg during a smallpox epidemic. He was survived by his wife.

Works Sammlung freundschaftlicher Denkmale und kleine Lehren der Weisheit und Tugend. Zum Gebrauch in Stammbücher und zur Geistes- und Sittenveredlung junger Leute bestimmt. (Bieling, 1798) Second edition: Denkmale der Freundschaft und kleine Lehren der Weisheit und Tugend, zum Gebrauch in Stammbücher und Geistes- und Sittenveredlung junger Leute (Bieling, 1803) Third edition: Denkmale der Freundschaft für Stammbücher und moralische Lehren zur Sittenveredlung junger Personen (Bieling, 1809) Fourth edition: Denkmale der Freundschaft für Stammbücher und moralische Lehren zur Sittenveredlung junger Personen (Bieling, 1819) Beiträge zur geselligen Freude oder Auswahl neuer Karten- Pfänder- und Unterhaltungsspiele zum Nutzen und Vergnügen, mit illumirten Kupfern (Bieling, 1798) Pandora, ein neues Würfel- und Gesellschaftspiel mit 24 Fragen und 144 scherzhaften Antworten (Bieling, 1798) Das Spiel der Hoffnung, eine angenehme Gesellschaftsunterhaltung mit 36 neuen illumirten Figurenkarten, franz. und deutsch (Le Jeu de l'Esperance, accompagné d'un nouveau jeu de cartes à figures) (Bieling, c1799)

Das Spiel der Hoffnung Deck (c.1799)

In the mid 19th century, after the death of the famous French fortune-teller Marie Anne Lenormand, Lenormand's name was used on several cartomancy decks, including a deck of 36 illustrated cards known as the Petit Lenormand or simply Lenormand cards still used extensively today. The 36 card Lenormand deck is modeled on a deck of cards published around 1799 as part of Das Spiel der Hoffnung (The Game of Hope), a game of chance designed by Hechtel which was still being advertised in 1820. So-called Lenormand decks have the same card numbering, primary symbols and playing card associations as the cards in Hechtel's Das Spiel der Hoffnung game. Some examples of the game are included in an extensive collection of playing cards bequeathed to the British Museum by Lady Charlotte Schreiber. Das Spiel der Hoffnung is listed among Hechtel's works in an advertisement by publisher Gustav Philipp Jakob Bieling of Nuremberg dated 1799.

The "Game of Hope" cards usually have their playing card equivalents displayed in the upper field or worked into the design, with either the German or French suits being used. Swiss decks (like the first editions of the "Game of Hope") had both the equivalent German and French cards in the upper field. It only uses the 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen, and King of each suit; the Deuce (2 card) stands in the place of the Ace, and there are no Jokers.

The game can also be played with standard decks. The 54-card French deck discards both Jokers and the 2, 3, 4, and 5 of each suit, keeping the Ace and the Face Cards (King, Queen, and Jack). The 48-card German deck discards the 3, 4, and 5 of each suit. The German deck doesn't use Aces and renames the 2 as the Ass ("Ace") or Daus ("Deuce"), the 10 as the Panier ("Banner"), the Jack as the Unter (Untermann or "Lesser Knave", a sergeant or footman with the suit pip at the lower corner of the field), and the Queen as the Ober (Obermann or "Greater Knave", a knight or officer with the suit pip at the upper corner of the field).The Obers and Unters of each suit are depicted with different weaponry depending on their suit. The Ober and Unter of Acorns carry a mace and bossed shield, the Ober and Unter of Leaves are military musicians (with the Ober playing the drum and the Unter playing the fife), the Ober and Unter of Hearts are armed with polearms or quarterstaves, and the Ober and Unter of Bells are armed with swords. The King (or Koenig) of each suit is shown crowned and holding a scepter, with one or two suit pips in the upper field.

# Card German Suit French Suit01 RiderCavalier 9 of Hearts 9 of Hearts 02 TrefoilClover 6 of Hawkbells 6 of Diamonds03ShipPanier of Leaves 10 of Spades04HouseKönig of HeartsKing of Hearts05Tree / Trees7 of Hearts7 of Hearts06Cloud / CloudsKönig of AcornsKing of Clubs07SnakeObermann of AcornsQueen of Clubs08Coffin9 of Hawkbells9 of Diamonds09BouquetObermann of LeavesQueen of Spades10ScytheUntermann of HawkbellsJack of Diamonds11WhipBroomUntermann of AcornsJack of Clubs12Birds (Vogeln)The Owl (Uhu)7 of Hawkbells7 of Diamonds13The ChildUntermann of LeavesJack of Spades14The Fox9 of Acorns9 of Clubs15The BearPanier of Acorns10 of Clubs16The Star6 of Hearts 6 of Hearts17The StorkObermann of HeartsQueen of Hearts18The DogPanier of Hearts10 of Hearts19The Tower6 of Leaves6 of Spades20The Garden8 of Leaves8 of Spades 21The Mountain8 of Acorns8 of Clubs22The CrossroadsObermann of HawkbellsQueen of Diamonds23The Mouse / Mice7 of Acorns7 of Clubs24The HeartUntermann of HeartsJack of Hearts25The RingDaus of AcornsAce of Clubs26The BookPanier of Hawkbells10 of Diamonds 27The Letter7 of Leaves7 of Spades28ManAnimus (Spirit)Daus of HeartsAce of Hearts29WomanAnima (Spirit)Daus of LeavesAce of Spades30LiliesKönig of LeavesKing of Spades31The SunDaus of HawkbellsAce of Diamonds32The Moon8 of Hearts8 of Hearts33The Key8 of Hawkbells8 of Diamonds34FishesKönig of HawkbellsKing of Diamonds35The Anchor (Anker)Hope (Hoffnung)9 of Leaves9 of Spades36The Cross (Kreutz)6 of Acorns6 of Clubs

References

External links British Museum: Das Spiel der Hofnung Tarot History Forum discussion thread: German Lenormand 1846 / Spiel der Hoffnung 1799