The Rider-Waite tarot is a 78-card deck published in London in 1909, designed by Arthur Edward Waite and painted by Pamela Colman Smith. It put a full scene on every card, and many modern decks still follow it.
If you want a deck built on that 1909 artwork, Borderless Vintage Tarot Cards, Light Edition prints the original illustrations to the card edge on white 350 gsm card with a matte anti-scratch finish.
The 1909 scenes
Want to see the original 1909 illustrations?
Borderless Vintage Tarot Cards — Light Edition, 1909 Classic Art
Borderless Vintage Light Edition: Pamela Colman Smith's original 1909 illustrations, 78 cards and a printed guidebook.
See the Light EditionWho made the Rider-Waite tarot? The 1909 deck, Waite and Smith
Rider & Company, a London publisher, released the deck in December 1909. People usually call it the Rider-Waite tarot, after the publisher and the man who designed it.
Arthur Edward Waite, a writer on mystical subjects, designed the scheme; Pamela Colman Smith painted all 78 cards. She received a flat fee and no royalties, and her name was not part of the deck's original title.
In the United States, U.S. Games Systems has published the Rider-Waite deck since 1971, so many American readers first meet the deck through that edition. You can read more about the artist in our article on Pamela Colman Smith.
What made the 1909 deck different from older tarot?
Most tarot decks before 1909 showed the Minor Arcana as pip cards: a number of repeated symbols, such as five cups in a pattern. The Sola Busca deck, made around 1490, is the best-known earlier example of scenes on the number cards. In the 1909 deck, every Minor Arcana card carries a full scene, not just a pattern of suit symbols.
This changed how people learn the cards. A reader can look at the picture and read the situation, and can start from the picture and add number and suit later. For a comparison with the older Marseille tradition, see Rider-Waite vs Marseille vs Thoth.
The deck also swapped two Major Arcana cards. Strength is number 8 and Justice is number 11, the reverse of the Marseille order, where Justice is 8 and Strength is 11. Many later decks follow the 1909 numbering.
The third difference is symbolism. Colours, animals, flowers, gestures and objects repeat from card to card, so the images connect to one another.
In practice, one card can be read in three ways: by its picture, its number and its suit. A beginner can start with the picture and add number and suit as they learn. This is a large part of why the tradition became the usual starting point for new readers.
The structure in brief
The deck has 78 cards in two groups. The 22 Major Arcana run from The Fool (0) to The World (21) and show the larger themes. The 56 Minor Arcana are split into four suits: Wands, Cups, Swords and Pentacles.
Each suit has 14 cards: the Ace to the Ten, and four court cards (Page, Knight, Queen and King). We do not list card meanings here. For those, use our complete guide to tarot card meanings.
Numbers help you find your way. The Three of Wands and the Three of Cups share a number but show different scenes, so you can compare them across suits. The court cards show people, and the Major Arcana show figures and larger events. Once you know this layout, any deck in the tradition feels familiar.
How do you recognise a Rider-Waite style deck?
You do not need the box to tell. A few images work like fingerprints, and you can check them in under a minute:
- Three of Swords: a heart pierced by three swords, shown as a picture and not as a pattern of swords.
- Ten of Cups: ten cups curved like a rainbow over a family and a house.
- Number cards: every one has a scene, including the low numbers such as the Two and the Four.
- Strength and Justice: Strength is card 8 and Justice is card 11.
- Suit names: Wands, Cups, Swords and Pentacles.
Colours and card finish differ between editions, so the tradition is easy to spot, but two decks from it will not look identical. Our guide to choosing a Rider-Waite style deck explains what changes from one version to another.
Modern editions differ in colour, border, finish and card stock. Some reproduce the 1909 colours, some recolour or redraw the cards, and the finish can be matte, glossy or foil. Every deck we sell comes with a printed guidebook, so you can start reading straight away.
If you like the idea of these images with a shimmering finish, Holographic Crystal Foil Tarot Cards use the original Pamela Colman Smith illustrations from 1909, with a foil that shifts through the rainbow as you tilt each card.
With a shimmer
Prefer the same scenes with a foil finish?
Holographic Crystal Foil Tarot Cards — 1909 Classic Art
Holographic Crystal Foil uses the original 1909 illustrations, with a foil that shifts through the rainbow as you tilt each card.
See Crystal FoilNames you will see
The same tradition appears under several names, which confuses new buyers. All of the names below point to the same 1909 starting point. The artist's name was added to credit the person who painted the cards, and it is now common in books, courses and shops.
| Name | What it refers to |
|---|---|
| Rider-Waite | The common name, from the publisher (Rider & Company) and the designer (Waite). |
| Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS) | The same tradition with the artist's name added. RWS is the short form. |
| Smith-Waite | The artist's name placed next to the designer's. Some modern editions use it. |
| Based on Pamela Colman Smith's 1909 artwork | A plain description of a deck that follows the 1909 images. |
Check the artwork rather than the name. If the cards show the scenes above and the Strength and Justice order, you are looking at a deck in this tradition.
Names on a box can also be a marketing choice. A deck may say Rider-Waite, say Smith-Waite, or only mention the artist, and still contain the same scenes. When you buy, compare the card stock, the finish, the size and the guidebook, and treat the name as a label for the tradition.
Frequently asked questions
Is Rider-Waite the same as Rider-Waite-Smith?
Yes, they refer to the same 1909 tradition. Rider-Waite-Smith adds the name of the artist, Pamela Colman Smith, who painted all 78 cards.
Who painted the Rider-Waite tarot?
Pamela Colman Smith painted all 78 cards. Arthur Edward Waite designed the scheme, and Rider & Company published the deck in London in December 1909.
Is the Rider-Waite tarot good for beginners?
Many beginners start here because every card shows a scene, so you can learn from the pictures. Every deck we sell ships with a printed guidebook, and every deck buyer gets a free beginner course in English, German, French, Italian or Spanish.
What is different about Strength and Justice?
In the 1909 deck, Strength is card 8 and Justice is card 11. The Marseille order is the reverse, with Justice at 8 and Strength at 11. When you read a book, check which numbering it uses.
What size are the cards?
Sizes differ between editions. Our cards are about 7 by 12 cm (roughly 2.75 by 4.7 inches).
The 1909 deck is the base for many modern decks, which is why it is a sensible place to start learning. When you are ready to choose one, browse our vintage tarot decks and compare the finishes side by side.
Rider-Waite is a registered trademark of U.S. Games Systems, Inc.; Dark Forest Tarot is not affiliated with U.S. Games Systems.
