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 agree with others that if you're a beginner, Waite's original booklet isn't a great deal of use - get yourself a good, thorough book like Rachel Pollack's '78 Degrees of Wisdom' in addition.

I own a couple of RWS versions and I think that in this case it's true that "the Original is still the best". I'm so glad this 'Original' reproduction set is available again.


Wonderful Beginner's Deck--Great First-step 4 Study of Tarot   August 12, 2001
 39 out of 48 found this review helpful

This Set gets one more * than the Rider Deck, because this one comes with a book. A. E. Waite is well-respected in the study of The Mysteries!

This is a truly Wonderful Deck for the Beginner. The Pictures are full of colorful Symbolism (I have taken Tarot classes based-upon studying the Symbolism of these "simple"-looking cards). The images are perfectly acceptable for teaching Children the use of/or stories of The Tarot. In fact, they almost seem to be created with a child-like Happy view of the world, set in fairy-tale history. The Advanced Tarot Reader will not be so impressed with this deck, yet each person must begin somewhere on the Royal Path. Personally, I believe this is a great first stepping-stone on the path of enlightenment. Even thoroughly Indoctrinated Christians will not find too much to worry about in these beautiful cards. This is a great way to start your Mystical Journey!


A distinctive printing of the cards, with a tiny Waite book   July 3, 1998
 34 out of 38 found this review helpful

The Rider-Waite-Smith is a classic deck, the most popular of all Tarots, and the de facto standard in the English-speaking world. This particular printing is rather interesting. Apparently, an attempt was made to faithfully reproduce one of the early decks made from the original plates. The most notable consequence is in the color rendition: these cards have a distinctly yellow-tan cast compared with other widely available printings. Whether this is good or bad, I suppose, is a matter of personal preference. It certainly gives the cards a rich patina, but cards with a lot of blue in them end up a dull shade of turquoise.

The set includes a tiny, but readable, copy of Waite's famous guide to the Tarot, sans illustrations. This makes the set a nice choice for someone who has a passing interest in what Waite wrote about the cards, but not enough to put a regular edition of his book on the shelf.

It is often recommended that Tarot beginners start with a Rider-Waite-Smith deck. If the color rendition of this printing appeals to you, this set can make a nice starter--although Waite's book will need to be accompanied by something a little more accessible and tutorial in flavor, such as Mary Greer's "Tarot for Your Self" or Rachel Pollack's "78 Degrees of Wisdom".


Gorgeous but Useless   April 7, 2005
 33 out of 42 found this review helpful

This sumptuous, gorgeous printing of the Rider-Waite deck is useless to a true understanding and study of the Tarot: the publisher and/or printer apparently had no respect for the original design--for the POINT behind it. Colors are absolutely critical to a full understanding of the meaning of each card, and every card in this edition is washed in a delicious gold, utterly destroying the influence the colors are expected to have over the subconscious. You will not find a blue (emotion) or a purple (triumph) in the entire deck. Both have been replaced by a washed-out pea green, signifying nothing and altering the meanings of entire suits.


Really it's a modernist-classical deck   November 23, 1999
 23 out of 24 found this review helpful

This remains my favorite deck. There are more eye-catching & design orientated decks out there but they tend to be cold and attached to something other than Tarot. For doing actual readings, Rider-Waite has the great advantage of having lots of symbolism. More symbolism means more information and more opportunities for the intellect to cruise down the road of intuition. The best and most complete readings I've done have come from this deck.