By A.E. Waite
Art by Pamela Colman Smith
The cards were drawn in 1909 by Pamela Colman Smith under the direction of Arthur Edward Waite. Smith's vibrant drawings transformed the standard tarot deck.
"A unique feature of the Rider-Waite deck, and one of the of the principal reasons for its enduring popularity, is that all of the cards, including the Minor Arcana, depict full scenes with figures and symbols. Prior to the Rider-Waite Tarot, the pip cards of almost all tarot decks were marked only with the arrangement of the suit signs -- swords, wands, cups, and coins, or pentacles. The pictorial images on all the cards allow interpretations without the need to repeatedly consult explanatory text. The innovative Minor Arcana, and Pamela Colman Smith's ability to capture the subtleties of emotion and experience have made the Rider-Waite Tarot a model for the designs of many tarot packs." -- (from The Encyclopedia of Tarot, Volume III)
Rider-Waite Tarot was named one of the Top Ten Tarot Decks of All Time by Aeclectic Tarot.
Pamela Colman Smith - Born February 16, 1878, in Middlesex, England to American parents, Smith's childhood years were spent between London, New York, and Kingston, Jamaica. During her teens, she traveled throughout England with the theatre company of Ellen Terry and Henry Irving. Thereafter, she began formal art training at Pratt Institute of Brooklyn, graduating in 1897. Smith returned to England, where she became a theatrical designer for miniature theatre, and an illustrator -- mainly of books, pamphlets and posters. Around 1903, she joined the Order of the Golden Dawn. In 1909, under the guidance of Arthur Edward Waite, she undertook a series of seventy-eight allegorical paintings described by Waite as a rectified tarot pack. The designs, published in the same year by William Rider and Son, exemplify the mysticism, ritual, imagination, fantasy, and deep emotions of the artist.
Arthur Edward Waite
- Born in America in 1857, Waite was raised and educated as a Catholic in England. Beginning at the age of 21, Waite pursued research and writing on psychical and esoteric matters. Soon after joining the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, he became the Grand Master, and redirected the focus of the order from magic to mysticism. The Golden Order, whose structural hierarchy was based on the Kabbalah, is considered the single greatest 20th century influence on the occult. Waite was a prolific author of occult texts, works on the Holy Grail, and the body of mystical knowledge, which comprises the basis of modern Tarot.
This deck of 78 cards are 2 3/4 x 4 3/4 inches with instruction booklet included.
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Express Delivery: | Not all items are available for express delivery. Items which are Made to Order or that require freight truck delivery are not, for example. If you require express delivery, you can contact us to verify it is available for that item. Overnight delivery is available in some cases but require a special shipping quote. Contact Us for details.
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International Delivery | We ship from the US - add 10-15+ days to average delivery for most countries. Transit time will vary depending on customs & exact destination and we cannot guarantee delivery date. Import taxes are NOT charged by our cart. Your country may charge import duties, taxes, or fees before delivery - contact your local customs office for information. For faster shipping and pre-set charges, you may want to set up a US address with a freight forwarding company which also gives you free shipping from us if your order is $75 or more. We do not normally offer express shipping for international orders. Contact us for a quote if required - delivery dates are NOT guaranteed. |
Returns | Most items can be returned or exchanged within 30 days of delivery. Some exceptions apply. See our full return policy for details. |
Tags: rider-waite, pamela colman smith, tarot cards, classic tarot, ae waite
By A.E. Waite
Art by Pamela Colman Smith
The cards were drawn in 1909 by Pamela Colman Smith under the direction of Arthur Edward Waite. Smith's vibrant drawings transformed the standard tarot deck.
"A unique feature of the Rider-Waite deck, and one of the of the principal reasons for its enduring popularity, is that all of the cards, including the Minor Arcana, depict full scenes with figures and symbols. Prior to the Rider-Waite Tarot, the pip cards of almost all tarot decks were marked only with the arrangement of the suit signs -- swords, wands, cups, and coins, or pentacles. The pictorial images on all the cards allow interpretations without the need to repeatedly consult explanatory text. The innovative Minor Arcana, and Pamela Colman Smith's ability to capture the subtleties of emotion and experience have made the Rider-Waite Tarot a model for the designs of many tarot packs." -- (from The Encyclopedia of Tarot, Volume III)
Rider-Waite Tarot was named one of the Top Ten Tarot Decks of All Time by Aeclectic Tarot.
Pamela Colman Smith - Born February 16, 1878, in Middlesex, England to American parents, Smith's childhood years were spent between London, New York, and Kingston, Jamaica. During her teens, she traveled throughout England with the theatre company of Ellen Terry and Henry Irving. Thereafter, she began formal art training at Pratt Institute of Brooklyn, graduating in 1897. Smith returned to England, where she became a theatrical designer for miniature theatre, and an illustrator -- mainly of books, pamphlets and posters. Around 1903, she joined the Order of the Golden Dawn. In 1909, under the guidance of Arthur Edward Waite, she undertook a series of seventy-eight allegorical paintings described by Waite as a rectified tarot pack. The designs, published in the same year by William Rider and Son, exemplify the mysticism, ritual, imagination, fantasy, and deep emotions of the artist.
Arthur Edward Waite
- Born in America in 1857, Waite was raised and educated as a Catholic in England. Beginning at the age of 21, Waite pursued research and writing on psychical and esoteric matters. Soon after joining the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, he became the Grand Master, and redirected the focus of the order from magic to mysticism. The Golden Order, whose structural hierarchy was based on the Kabbalah, is considered the single greatest 20th century influence on the occult. Waite was a prolific author of occult texts, works on the Holy Grail, and the body of mystical knowledge, which comprises the basis of modern Tarot.
This deck of 78 cards are 2 3/4 x 4 3/4 inches with instruction booklet included.
Availability: | Inventory is updated regularly. Items out of stock are indicated above with estimated time of arrival (ETA) when known. Not all manufacturers provide inventory data and even in stock items can be sold out without notice. We will notify you of any out of stock items as soon as possible or you can contact us in advance to verify availability. Out of stock items will automatically ship when available unless canceled by you. |
*Average Delivery: | This is the estimated time for delivery within the USA and is subject to availability, seasonal sales volume, and other unforeseen delays. If you must have an item by a specific date, let us know in cart comments during checkout.
|
Express Delivery: | Not all items are available for express delivery. Items which are Made to Order or that require freight truck delivery are not, for example. If you require express delivery, you can contact us to verify it is available for that item. Overnight delivery is available in some cases but require a special shipping quote. Contact Us for details.
|
International Delivery | We ship from the US - add 10-15+ days to average delivery for most countries. Transit time will vary depending on customs & exact destination and we cannot guarantee delivery date. Import taxes are NOT charged by our cart. Your country may charge import duties, taxes, or fees before delivery - contact your local customs office for information. For faster shipping and pre-set charges, you may want to set up a US address with a freight forwarding company which also gives you free shipping from us if your order is $75 or more. We do not normally offer express shipping for international orders. Contact us for a quote if required - delivery dates are NOT guaranteed. |
Returns | Most items can be returned or exchanged within 30 days of delivery. Some exceptions apply. See our full return policy for details. |
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