Original Rider-Waite® Tarot Set
Original Rider-Waite® Tarot Set
Score: 3.74 (votes: 23)
Reviews: 1
  • $25.95

This edition, distinguished by its subtle, muted color tones, is an indispensable addition to any tarot collection. The bright, primary colors seen in the familiar 1909 version of Rider-Waite® Tarot deck published by U.S. Games Systems, Inc. have been returned to their original palette exemplified in the Arts and Crafts style of the early 20th century. For example, the pale blue backgrounds seen in The Star and the Wheel of Fortune cards are presented here as minty green. Tarot aficionados will be pleased to see that the card backs have been restored to their original design of Tudor roses and lilies in pale blue.

The Original Rider-Waite® Tarot Pack includes a Celtic Cross card-spread guide and an updated version of The Pictorial Key to the Tarot, written by Arthur Edward Waite. This new edition includes a thoughtful foreword by Liz Greene, who not only places tarot in a historical context, but also situates it in a broader context. She describes tarot as "a series of pictorial portrayals of the archetypal human life-journey."

Specs
    • SKU
      ORW99
    • Weight
      0.98 lb(s)
  • ISBN
    978-0-88079-686-6
  • Size
    Cards measure 2.75" x 4.75" Sleeve, 6" x 5.25"
  • Language
    EN
  • Artist
    Pamela Colman Smith

What Customers Are Saying About Original Rider-Waite® Tarot Set

After a spot-on tarot reading (by Madame Claudia in San Antonio) I became intrigued by Tarot in my senior years. I bought a set of cards and instruction book at Barnes and Noble. This was fine for a beginner and very informative, but the book kept referencing the Waite cards’ illustrations. The Original Waite Tarot Pack cards are (to me) a very high quality and the pictures are beautiful and full of symbolism which I think is the point that sets Waite above his peers. I disagree with those that say the little book included in this pack is worthless—for me it was a wealth of information, and Waite references several tarot scholars’ opinions that I think should be considered if you really want to learn the cards. The book, as small as it is, kept me enthralled the entire flight from San Antonio to Charlotte, because I found myself re-reading Waite’s advice and “getting” the meaning of his words which I believe may be misunderstood if you just glance and dismiss. I’m happy I finally broke down and got the best.

— Cheryl A Wagner, Amazon customer


This is a fantastic reproduction of the 1910 edition of the Rider-Waite tarot deck. I have several versions of the Rider-Waite, and this is my favorite. I waffled a bit between this one and U.S. Games's Smith-Waite Centennial edition,which has that great "old" feel, but at the end of the day, I keep going back to this one. This set also includes Waite's book(let) that he wrote for this deck. It swings from obtuse to obfuscatory, but it's...pretty? Read it. Then get a different book. For those new to Tarot, my only advice is to be aware of the differences in all the editions of the Rider-Waite. It is one of the cornerstones of esoteric tarot in general and a foundation for the proliferation in tarot publishing today. And if that isn't enough to sell one, it is also a pleasant example of early twentieth-century English popular illustration. Enjoy.

— Robby, Amazon customer


I teach tarot class professionally and there is a reason I will only use this deck for my students. Each card contains all the hidden secrets from the original tarot deck back in the late 1600's. Other artistic decks may be beautiful and spiritually designed yet each are lacking in the details for one to visualize and comprehend the story each card is meant to teach. Use this Rider-Waite deck and explore the true occult realm!

— Brenda Palmer, Amazon customer


I think that anyone who's interested in modern, intuitive tarot (as opposed to traditional, historical tarot buffs who follow the Marseilles path) MUST own a copy of the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, as it's the wellspring from which all the other modern decks have come. This is my preferred version of the deck, too. The soft, subtle colouring appeals to me much more than some of the almost-flourescent newer versions. The colours in particular remind me that this was, graphically at least, a product of it's time 

— the Art Nouveau period.


It's taken a long time for Pamela Colman Smith to get the recognition she deserves. She might not have been the most skilled draftsperson there ever was, and this deck was made in a very brief period of time — but in my opinion, her power was in her subtlety. Slight nuances of expression, muted tones and patterns in the fabrics and fills. In this version of the RWS deck, I can almost feel the lightness of her touch as she painted these images. I own a couple of RWS versions and I think that in this case it's true that "the Original is still the best”

— 1, Amazon customer


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