Rider-Waite tarot deck
Encyclopedia
The Rider-Waite tarot deck is the most popular Tarot deck in use today in the English-speaking world (The Tarot de Marseille being the most popular deck in Latin countries). Other suggested names for this include the Rider-Waite-Smith, Waite-Smith, Waite-Colman Smith or simply the Rider deck. The cards were drawn by illustrator
Pamela Colman Smith
from the instructions of academic and mystic
A. E. Waite, and published by the Rider Company.
ism. Some imagery remains close to that found in earlier decks, but overall the Waite-Smith card designs represent a substantial departure from their predecessors. Among other changes, Waite had the Christian imagery of most older tarot decks' cards toned down—the 'Pope' card became the 'Hierophant', the 'Papess' became the 'High Priestess'. The Minor Arcana
are illustrated with detailed scenes and images by Smith, again a departure from many earlier decks with much simpler designs for the Minor Arcana (but aligning this deck with, for example, the Sola Busca Tarot). The symbols used were influenced by the 19th century magician and occultist Eliphas Levi
.
The cards were originally published in December 1909 by the publisher William Rider & Son of London. The following year, a small guide by A.E. Waite entitled The Key to the Tarot was bundled with the cards, providing an overview of the traditions and history behind the cards, criticism of various interpretations, and extensive descriptions of their symbols. The year after that, a revised version, The Pictorial Key to the Tarot
, was issued that featured black-and-white plates of all 78 of Smith's cards.
Although the cards' crisp drawings are widely admired, the crude printing of colours in the original edition detracts from their effect. Several later versions of this deck, such as the Universal Waite deck, copy the Smith line drawings with minor changes and add more sophisticated coloring.
U.S. Games currently claims copyright on the cards, although the actual copyright is only valid on certain colorized versions of the cards and in certain countries. While the original Smith designs are clearly in the public domain
in the United States because they were published before 1923, U.S. Games may be able to make a valid claim to those design changes it has made in its derivative versions of the cards (for example, designs for the card backs).
The Rider-Waite tarot deck has been vastly influential in the development of later divinatory tarot decks to the extent that many are called 'Rider-Waite clones' because they closely follow the symbolism and imagery of the Rider-Waite deck. Examples of Rider-Waite clones (some arguably so) include the Universal Waite tarot deck
, Golden Tarot
, Aquarian tarot deck
, Nigel Jackson Tarot, Gilded Tarot, Golden Rider, and many more. This deck has also influenced the terminology used by English-speaking tarot users such that English translations of traditional French or Italian decks often use the nomenclature of the Rider-Waite deck even when those decks substantially predate the Rider-Waite.
The Rider-Waite deck has been used in many television programs and motion pictures, notably in the James Bond motion picture Live and Let Die
. (The deck was used along with a different deck created by artist Fergus Hall
specifically for the film.)
The Rider-Waite deck has been used as an animated video backdrop in Madonna
's Re-Invention World Tour 2004 for the song "Hollywood"
Illustrator
An Illustrator is a narrative artist who specializes in enhancing writing by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text...
Pamela Colman Smith
Pamela Colman Smith
Pamela Colman Smith , also nicknamed Pixie, was an artist, illustrator, and writer. She is best known for designing the Waite-Smith deck of divinatory tarot cards for Arthur Edward Waite.-Biography:Smith was born in Pimlico, Middlesex , England the only child of an...
from the instructions of academic and mystic
Mysticism
Mysticism is the knowledge of, and especially the personal experience of, states of consciousness, i.e. levels of being, beyond normal human perception, including experience and even communion with a supreme being.-Classical origins:...
A. E. Waite, and published by the Rider Company.
Overview
While the images are deceptively simple, almost child-like, the details and backgrounds hold a wealth of symbolSymbol
A symbol is something which represents an idea, a physical entity or a process but is distinct from it. The purpose of a symbol is to communicate meaning. For example, a red octagon may be a symbol for "STOP". On a map, a picture of a tent might represent a campsite. Numerals are symbols for...
ism. Some imagery remains close to that found in earlier decks, but overall the Waite-Smith card designs represent a substantial departure from their predecessors. Among other changes, Waite had the Christian imagery of most older tarot decks' cards toned down—the 'Pope' card became the 'Hierophant', the 'Papess' became the 'High Priestess'. The Minor Arcana
Minor Arcana
|thumb|[[King of Swords]] card from a Minor Arcana deckThe Minor Arcana of occult or divinatory tarot refers to the portion of a Tarot deck that consists of 56 cards. The Minor Arcana are roughly similar to the cards found in a common deck of playing cards...
are illustrated with detailed scenes and images by Smith, again a departure from many earlier decks with much simpler designs for the Minor Arcana (but aligning this deck with, for example, the Sola Busca Tarot). The symbols used were influenced by the 19th century magician and occultist Eliphas Levi
Eliphas Levi
Eliphas Lévi, born Alphonse Louis Constant , was a French occult author and purported magician."Eliphas Lévi," the name under which he published his books, was his attempt to translate or transliterate his given names "Alphonse Louis" into Hebrew although he was not Jewish.His second wife was...
.
Pictorial Key to the Tarot
The Pictorial Key to the Tarot is A. E. Waite's influential guide to divinatory tarot, published in England in 1911 in conjunction with the Rider-Waite-Smith deck...
, was issued that featured black-and-white plates of all 78 of Smith's cards.
Although the cards' crisp drawings are widely admired, the crude printing of colours in the original edition detracts from their effect. Several later versions of this deck, such as the Universal Waite deck, copy the Smith line drawings with minor changes and add more sophisticated coloring.
U.S. Games currently claims copyright on the cards, although the actual copyright is only valid on certain colorized versions of the cards and in certain countries. While the original Smith designs are clearly in the public domain
Public domain
Works are in the public domain if the intellectual property rights have expired, if the intellectual property rights are forfeited, or if they are not covered by intellectual property rights at all...
in the United States because they were published before 1923, U.S. Games may be able to make a valid claim to those design changes it has made in its derivative versions of the cards (for example, designs for the card backs).
The Rider-Waite tarot deck has been vastly influential in the development of later divinatory tarot decks to the extent that many are called 'Rider-Waite clones' because they closely follow the symbolism and imagery of the Rider-Waite deck. Examples of Rider-Waite clones (some arguably so) include the Universal Waite tarot deck
Universal Waite tarot deck
The Universal Waite tarot deck is based on original line drawings for the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot deck by Pamela Colman Smith. It is not known whether the flat colours used in the standard Rider-Waite were Smith's idea or her publisher's, especially since the Original Rider-Waite Tarot, a facsimile...
, Golden Tarot
Golden Tarot
The Golden Tarot is a modern Tarot deck based on the Rider-Waite-Smith deck created by the Australian artist and author Kat Black. The deck makes use from the European masters' paintings, these cards pay tribute to artwork of the Middle ages and early Renaissance to emulate the feel of such early...
, Aquarian tarot deck
Aquarian tarot deck
The Aquarian Tarot Deck was first published by Morgan Press in 1970. It is now printed by AG Müller and distributed by U.S. Games Systems, Inc., a major North American tarot deck distributor...
, Nigel Jackson Tarot, Gilded Tarot, Golden Rider, and many more. This deck has also influenced the terminology used by English-speaking tarot users such that English translations of traditional French or Italian decks often use the nomenclature of the Rider-Waite deck even when those decks substantially predate the Rider-Waite.
The Rider-Waite deck has been used in many television programs and motion pictures, notably in the James Bond motion picture Live and Let Die
Live and Let Die (film)
Live and Let Die is the eighth spy film in the James Bond series, and the first to star Roger Moore as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. The film was produced by Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman...
. (The deck was used along with a different deck created by artist Fergus Hall
Fergus Hall
Fergus Hall is a Scottish artist, whose work has been exhibited, at among other venues, the Portal Gallery in London. A native of Paisley, he is best-known for the tarot that he created for James Bond film Live and Let Die....
specifically for the film.)
The Rider-Waite deck has been used as an animated video backdrop in Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
's Re-Invention World Tour 2004 for the song "Hollywood"