Rider-Waite tarot deck

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The Rider-Waite tarot deck, originally published 1910, is one of the most popular tarot decks in use for divination in the English-speaking world.[1] Other names for this deck include the Smith-Waite,[2] Waite-Smith,[3] Rider-Waite-Smith,[4][5] or Rider tarot deck.[4] The cards were drawn by illustrator Pamela Colman Smith from the instructions of academic and mystic A. E. Waite and were published by the Rider Company.

Overview[edit]

While the images are simple, the details and backgrounds feature abundant symbolism. Some imagery remains similar to that found in earlier decks, but overall the Waite-Smith card designs represent a substantial departure from their predecessors. The Christian imagery of previous decks cards was toned down; for instance the "Pope" card became the "Hierophant" and the "Papess" became the "High Priestess". The Minor Arcana are illustrated with images by Smith, where earlier decks had 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.[6]

Major Arcana[edit]

Minor Arcana[edit]

Wands[edit]

Pentacles[edit]

Cups[edit]

Swords[edit]

Publication[edit]

The cards were first published in December, 1909, by the publisher William Rider & Son of London. The first print run was extremely limited and featured card backs with a roses and lilies pattern.[7] A much larger run was printed in March, 1910, featuring higher quality card stock and a "cracked mud" card back design. This edition, often referred to as the "A" deck, was published from 1910 to 1920.[8] Rider continued publishing the deck in various editions until 1939,[9] then again from 1971 to 1977.[10]

All of the Rider editions up to 1939 were available with a small guide written by A. E. Waite providing an overview of the traditions and history behind the cards, texts about interpretations, and extensive descriptions of their symbols. The first version of this guide was published in 1909 and was titled The Key to the Tarot. A year later, a revised version, The Pictorial Key to the Tarot, was issued that featured black-and-white plates of all seventy-eight of Smith's cards.

Editions by other companies[edit]

The success of the Rider-Waite deck spawned numerous reproductions by other companies. U.S. Games (now U.S. Games Systems) began publishing an authorized reproduction deck in the United States in 1971.[10] In the 1990s, they began publishing the Universal Waite deck, a version recolored by illustrator Mary Hanson-Roberts.[11]

To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the creation of the deck, U.S. Games Systems published the Smith-Waite Centennial Tarot Deck in 2009. This deck is a faithful reproduction of the original deck published in 1909 and uses the muted colors originally chosen by Smith.[12]

Copyright status[edit]

In the United Kingdom, and by extension the rest of the European Union, copyright in the artwork for the deck will expire 70 years after the end of the year in which Smith died, i.e. on January 1, 2022.[13]

In the United States, the deck fell into the public domain in 1966 (publication + 28 years + renewed 28 years), and thus has been available for use by American artists in numerous different media projects. U.S. Games Systems has a copyright claim on their updated version of the deck published in 1971, but this only covers new material added to the pre-existing work (e.g. designs on the card backs and the box).

References[edit]

  1. ^ Visions and Prophecies. Alexandria, VA: Time-Life Books, 1988.
  2. ^ "SMITH-WAITE TAROT DECK Trademark Information". Trademarkia. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  3. ^ Katz, Marcus; Goodwin, Tali (2015). Secrets of the Waite-Smith Tarot. Llewellyn Publications. ISBN 0738741191.
  4. ^ a b Michelsen, Teresa (2005). The Complete Tarot Reader: Everything You Need to Know from Start to Finish. Llewellyn Publications. p. 105. ISBN 0738704342.
  5. ^ Graham, Sasha (2018). Llewellyn's Complete Book of the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot. Llewellyn Publications. ISBN 073875319X.
  6. ^ Waite, Arthur E. (1911) The Pictorial Key to the Tarot
  7. ^ "Rider 'Roses & Lilies' deck (1909)". House of White Tarot Museum & Research Library. 15 September 2015. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  8. ^ "Rider 'A deck' (1910 through 1920)". House of White Tarot Museum & Research Library. 12 September 2015. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  9. ^ "Rider 'D deck' (estimated 1920 through 1939)". House of White Tarot Museum & Research Library. 15 September 2015. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  10. ^ a b "1976-77 Blue Box Rider deck". House of White Tarot Museum & Research Library. 22 July 2017. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  11. ^ "Universal Waite® Tarot Deck". U.S. Games Systems, Inc. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  12. ^ "Smith-Waite Centennial Tarot Deck". U.S. Games Systems, Inc. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  13. ^ "Ownership of copyright works - Detailed guidance". GOV.UK. 2014-08-19. Retrieved 2016-09-28.

External links[edit]

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