Most beginners should start with a Rider-Waite style deck, because every card shows a scene. Choose Marseille if you like number and pattern. Thoth suits readers who already study esoteric systems.
If you want to begin in the 1909 tradition, the Borderless Vintage Tarot, Light Edition uses Pamela Colman Smith's original 1909 illustrations, printed on white 350 gsm card with matte anti-scratch lamination, with a printed guidebook that covers all 78 cards.
Original 1909 art
Start with the 1909 scenes
Borderless Vintage Tarot Cards — Light Edition, 1909 Classic Art
The Borderless Vintage Light Edition uses Pamela Colman Smith's original 1909 illustrations, with a printed guidebook for all 78 cards.
See the Light EditionRider-Waite vs Marseille vs Thoth at a glance
All three traditions use the same frame of 78 cards, but they were made in different centuries, for different readers. The table shows the differences that matter when you pick a first deck.
| Tradition | Era | Creator | Pip cards | Strength and Justice | Typical reader | Learning alone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marseille | Codified in France in the 17th and 18th centuries | Printers' workshops, no single author | Suit symbols in patterns, no scenes | Strength 11, Justice 8 | Readers who like number and pattern; strong in France and Italy | Slower: you read through number and suit |
| Rider-Waite | Published in London in 1909 | Designed by Arthur Edward Waite, painted by Pamela Colman Smith | A full scene on every card | Strength 8, Justice 11 | Beginners and everyday readers | Easiest: the pictures suggest the meaning |
| Thoth | Painted 1938-1943, published 1969 | Designed by Aleister Crowley, painted by Lady Frieda Harris | Painted symbolic designs (not everyday scenes); cards Two to Ten carry a title | Lust 11, Adjustment 8 | Readers who study astrology and Qabalah | Hardest: dense symbolism, a companion book helps |
The Marseille tradition
The Marseille is the older family. Its pip cards, the numbered cards of each suit, show the suit symbols arranged in patterns: three Cups look like three cups, not like a story. You read them through number and suit, and the court cards and Major Arcana carry the images.
This makes the Marseille quieter and more abstract. It suits readers who enjoy numerology or who want the French and Italian tradition. The suits are usually called Batons, Cups, Swords and Coins. For a deeper look, read our guide to the Tarot de Marseille, or see how to choose and buy a Marseille deck.
Because the pip cards give no scene, the reader supplies the story from the number, the suit and the cards that sit next to it. This is a skill that grows with practice, and many Marseille teachers start from numbers. Some readers find that this makes the Marseille more flexible, and others find it slower to begin with.
The Thoth tradition
The Thoth deck was designed by Aleister Crowley and painted by Lady Frieda Harris between 1938 and 1943. It was published in 1969. It renames some cards: Strength becomes Lust, Temperance becomes Art, and Justice becomes Adjustment.
The artwork is dense with astrology and Qabalah, and many readers use a companion book to follow it. It is a rewarding deck for someone who already studies those systems. We do not make a Thoth deck, so we do not link one here, and you will find it at bookshops, esoteric shops and marketplaces.
Its Minor Arcana are painted, but the designs are symbolic rather than everyday scenes, and cards Two to Ten carry a title. A reader who comes from the 1909 tradition will recognise the frame of 78 cards, but not always the cards themselves.
The Rider-Waite tradition
This tradition goes back to the deck published by Rider & Company in London in December 1909. Waite designed the scheme and Smith painted all 78 cards. Its great step was the full scene on every Minor Arcana card, which was rare before 1909. Strength is 8 and Justice is 11, swapped from the Marseille order.
Earlier decks mostly showed plain pips on the numbered cards, and the Sola Busca, from about 1490, is the known precedent for scenes. Smith's stage-like figures, with clear gestures and bold outlines, turned that idea into the picture language that many modern decks still follow.
Because each card tells a small story, a beginner can get a first impression of the Three of Swords or the Ten of Cups from the picture alone. That is why this tradition is the easiest to learn without a teacher. To go deeper, see what the Rider-Waite tarot is and the story of Pamela Colman Smith, the artist.
If you like a lunar theme, Moon Magic is a lunar reinterpretation of Smith's system that simplifies some of the classic pictures; it is not a reproduction of the 1909 cards. It has premium thick cardstock, matte anti-scratch lamination and a 36-page printed guidebook.
A lunar take
Prefer a moon-themed deck?
Moon Magic Tarot Cards
Moon Magic reinterprets Pamela Colman Smith's system around the moon and simplifies some of the classic pictures.
See Moon MagicWhich one should be your first deck?
Our honest answer: most beginners do best with the 1909 tradition. You can start reading on day one, and most beginner books and courses use it. In our experience, once you know the scenes, other traditions are easier to approach.
Choose the Marseille if numbers and patterns appeal to you, or if you want to read in the French or Italian way. The Thoth suits readers who are already studying astrology or Qabalah and want a deck that matches that work. If you are still weighing versions of the 1909 tradition, our guide on how to choose a Rider-Waite style deck compares them.
A quick way to decide
- You want to learn from the pictures and need little extra reading: start with the 1909 tradition.
- You like numbers, patterns and the French or Italian style of reading: start with the Marseille.
- You already study astrology or Qabalah and want a deck to match: start with the Thoth.
- You cannot decide: the 1909 tradition is the safest first choice, and you can add another deck later.
What to check in any first deck
Whatever the tradition, look at the card stock, the finish and the guidebook. A card of about 350 gsm feels sturdy in the hand, and a laminated finish resists scratches and wipes clean, which helps when you shuffle often. Check that the deck comes with a guidebook that covers all 78 cards, since that is what you will open most in your first months.
Can you switch later?
Yes. The structure of 22 Major and 56 Minor cards is shared, so what you learn carries over. The names of a few cards, the order of Strength and Justice, and the way you read the pip cards change. Some readers own one deck from each tradition and use them for different questions.
Frequently asked questions
Which tarot deck is best for a complete beginner?
For most beginners it is a deck from the Rider-Waite tradition, because every card shows a scene and the pictures suggest the meaning. You can start reading from the images and add the written meanings step by step.
Is the Marseille harder to learn than the Rider-Waite?
Usually yes, if you learn alone. The Marseille pip cards show suit symbols in patterns, so you build meaning from number and suit instead of reading a scene. Many readers enjoy that discipline, but it asks for more patience at the start.
Is the Thoth too advanced for a first deck?
For most people it is, because its cards are dense with astrology and Qabalah and some cards have different names. It rewards readers who already study those systems. We do not make a Thoth deck.
Do the three traditions use the same 78 cards?
Yes, the structure is shared: 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana in four suits. The differences are the artwork, some card names, the order of Strength and Justice, and the suit names, such as Batons in the Marseille and Wands in the Rider-Waite. In the Thoth, the court-card titles (Knight, Queen, Prince, Princess) and Disks for Pentacles differ as well.
What do you get with a first deck from Dark Forest?
Every deck we sell ships with a printed guidebook, and every buyer also gets a free beginner course in English, German, French, Italian or Spanish. The cards measure about 7 by 12 cm (roughly 2.75 by 4.7 inches).
Whichever tradition you pick, choose the one whose cards you enjoy looking at, because you will handle them often. You can see decks that suit a first reading in our tarot decks for beginners.
Rider-Waite is a registered trademark of U.S. Games Systems, Inc.; Dark Forest Tarot is not affiliated with U.S. Games Systems.
