Smith-Waite Centennial Tarot Deck

The Smith-Waite Centennial Tarot Deck is a faithful reproduction of the original deck created by Pamela Colman Smith in 1909 under the direction of Arthur E. Waite. This classic tarot deck features full pictorial scenes in the muted colors chosen by “Pixie” herself. The 84-card deck includes the standard 78 tarot cards plus four samples of Pixie’s non-tarot artwork. 

The Encyclopedia of Tarot, Volume III // "A unique feature of this 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." 

I fantastic traditional deck for both the seasoned reader as well as for beginners. Learning on a traditional deck allows one to comfortable interpret + understand the imagery found on newer tarot decks. We're excited to celebrate the creative talents of Pamela Coleman Smith with a deck that finally includes her name. 

Is this the same deck as the original Rider-Waite Deck? The images are the same with only slight color variations. The biggest difference is the print on the back of the cards. We find the Smith-Waite deck's back print to be stellar but that is our personal opinion. The images are identical in each deck. The colors are what will be slightly different.