Editing Rider–Waite Tarot

{{Short description|Tarot deck}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}}
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The '''Rider–Waite Tarot''' is a widely popular deck for [[tarot card reading]],<ref name="Giles1994">{{cite book |last=Giles |first=Cynthia |title=The Tarot: History, Mystery, and Lore |date=1994 |publisher=Simon & Schuster |location=New York |isbn=0-671-89101-4 |page=46}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Visions and Prophecies |date=1988 |publisher=Time–Life Books |location=Alexandria, Virginia |page=142 |url=https://archive.org/details/visionsprophecie00time/page/142/mode/2up}}</ref> first published by [[Rider (imprint)|William Rider & Son]] in 1909, based on the instructions of academic and mystic [[A. E. Waite]] and illustrated by [[Pamela Colman Smith]], both members of the [[Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn]]. Also known as the '''Waite–Smith''',<ref name="Katz">{{cite book |last1=Katz |first1=Marcus |last2=Goodwin |first2=Tali |title=Secrets of the Waite–Smith Tarot |date=2015 |publisher=Llewellyn Publications |isbn=978-0-7387-4119-2}}</ref> '''Rider–Waite–Smith''',<ref name="Michelsen">{{cite book |last=Michelsen |first=Teresa |title=The Complete Tarot Reader: Everything You Need to Know from Start to Finish |date=2005 |publisher=Llewellyn Publications |isbn=0-7387-0434-2 |page=105}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Graham |first=Sasha |title=Llewellyn's Complete Book of the Rider–Waite–Smith Tarot |date=2018 |publisher=Llewellyn Publications |isbn=978-0-7387-5319-5}}</ref> or '''Rider Tarot''',<ref name="Michelsen" /> the deck has been published in numerous editions and inspired a wide array of variants and imitations.<ref name="Kaplan371">{{cite book |last=Kaplan |first=Stuart R. |title=Pamela Colman Smith: The Untold Story |date=2018 |publisher=U.S. Game Systems |location=Stamford, Connecticut |isbn=978-1-57281-912-2 |page=371}}</ref><ref name="Dean2015">{{cite book |last=Dean |first=Liz |title=The Ultimate Guide to Tarot: A Beginner's Guide to the Cards, Spreads, and Revealing the Mystery of the Tarot |date=2015 |publisher=Fair Winds Press |location=Beverly, Massachusetts |isbn=978-1-59233-657-9 |page=9}}</ref> Estimates suggest over 100 million copies of the deck circulate across over 20 countries.<ref name="Ray2019">{{cite web |last=Ray |first=Sharmistha |title=Reviving a Forgotten Artist of the Occult |url=https://hyperallergic.com/490918/pamela-colman-smith-pratt-institute-libraries/ |website=Hyperallergic |access-date=14 March 2021 |date=23 March 2019 |archive-date=23 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323153922/https://hyperallergic.com/490918/pamela-colman-smith-pratt-institute-libraries/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

== Overview ==
The Rider–Waite tarot deck has 78 cards: 56 [[Minor Arcana]], and 22 [[Major Arcana]]. The Minor Arcana generally correspond to the [[Playing card suit|suits]] of [[Spanish-suited playing cards|Spanish]] or [[Italian playing cards]]. The Major Arcana, corresponding to the [[Trump (card games)|trump cards]] of gaming tarot, have unique designs numbered from 0 ([[The Fool (tarot card)|The Fool]]) to 21 ([[The World (tarot card)|The World]]).

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 are substantially different from their predecessors. Christian imagery was removed from some cards, and added to others. For example, the "Papess" became the "High Priestess" and no longer features a [[Papal tiara]]. The "Lovers" card, previously depicting a medieval scene of a clothed man and woman receiving a blessing from a noble or cleric was changed to a depiction of the naked [[Adam and Eve]] in the [[Garden of Eden]], and the ace of cups featuring a dove carrying [[Sacramental bread]]. The [[Minor Arcana]] are illustrated with allegorical scenes by Smith, where earlier decks, with a few rare exceptions, had simple designs for the Minor Arcana.<ref name="Kaplan2018">{{cite book |last=Kaplan |first=Stuart R. |title=Pamela Colman Smith: The Untold Story |date=2018 |publisher=U.S. Game Systems |location=Stamford, Connecticut |isbn=978-1-57281-912-2 |pages=74–76}}</ref>

The symbols and imagery used in the deck were influenced by the 19th-century magician and occultist [[Eliphas Levi]],<ref>{{cite web |last=Place |first=Robert M. |author-link=Robert M. Place |title=Levi's Chariot and Smith's Chariot Versus Waite's Chariot |url=https://robertmplacetarot.com/2015/05/14/397/ |website=Tarot & Divination Decks |access-date=21 August 2020 |date=14 May 2015 |archive-date=12 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812235608/https://robertmplacetarot.com/2015/05/14/397/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Place |first=Robert M. |author-link=Robert M. Place |title=Smith, Waite, Levi, and the Devil |url=https://robertmplacetarot.com/2015/08/07/smith-waite-levi-and-the-devil/ |website=Tarot & Divination Decks |access-date=21 August 2020 |date=7 August 2015 |archive-date=30 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930213217/https://robertmplacetarot.com/2015/08/07/smith-waite-levi-and-the-devil/ |url-status=live}}</ref> as well as by the teachings of the [[Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn]].<ref name="Decker139">{{cite book |last1=Decker |first1=Ronald |last2=Dummett |first2=Michael |title=A History of the Occult Tarot |date=2019 |publisher=Duckworth |location=London |isbn=978-0-7156-4572-7 |pages=139–141}}</ref> In order to accommodate the [[astrology|astrological]] correspondences taught by the Golden Dawn, Waite introduced several innovations to the deck. He switched the order of the [[Strength (Tarot card)|Strength]] and [[Justice (Tarot card)|Justice]] cards so that Strength corresponded with [[Leo (astrology)|Leo]] and Justice corresponded with [[Libra (astrology)|Libra]].<ref name="Jensen2005">{{cite journal |last=Jensen |first=K. Frank |title=The Early Waite–Smith Tarot Editions |journal=The Playing-Card |date=2005 |volume=34 |issue=1 |pages=26–50 |url=https://www.scribd.com/document/9915943/The-Early-Waite–Smith-Tarot-Editions |publisher=International Playing Card Society}}</ref><ref name="Decker82">{{cite book |last1=Decker |first1=Ronald |last2=Dummett |first2=Michael |title=A History of the Occult Tarot |date=2019 |publisher=Duckworth |location=London |isbn=978-0-7156-4572-7 |pages=82–84}}</ref> He based [[the Lovers]] card on Italian tarot decks, which have two persons and an angel, to reinforce its correspondence with [[Gemini (astrology)|Gemini]].<ref name="Jensen2005" />

== Major Arcana ==
The [[Major Arcana]] of the Rider–Waite tarot are illustrated below.
<gallery mode=nolines heights=180>
File:RWS Tarot 00 Fool.jpg|0 – [[The Fool (tarot card)|The Fool]]
File:RWS Tarot 01 Magician.jpg|I – [[The Magician (tarot card)|The Magician]]
File:RWS Tarot 02 High Priestess.jpg|II – [[The High Priestess]]
File:RWS Tarot 03 Empress.jpg|III – [[The Empress (tarot card)|The Empress]]
File:RWS Tarot 04 Emperor.jpg|IV – [[The Emperor (tarot card)|The Emperor]]
File:RWS Tarot 05 Hierophant.jpg|V – [[The Hierophant]]
File:RWS Tarot 06 Lovers.jpg|VI – [[The Lovers]]
File:RWS Tarot 07 Chariot.jpg|VII – [[The Chariot (tarot card)|The Chariot]]
File:RWS Tarot 08 Strength.jpg|VIII – [[Strength (tarot card)|Strength]]
File:RWS Tarot 09 Hermit.jpg|IX – [[The Hermit (tarot card)|The Hermit]]
File:RWS Tarot 10 Wheel of Fortune.jpg|X – [[Wheel of Fortune (tarot card)|Wheel of Fortune]]
File:RWS Tarot 11 Justice.jpg|XI – [[Justice (tarot card)|Justice]]
File:RWS Tarot 12 Hanged Man.jpg|XII – [[The Hanged Man (tarot card)|The Hanged Man]]
File:RWS Tarot 13 Death.jpg|XIII – [[Death (tarot card)|Death]]
File:RWS Tarot 14 Temperance.jpg|XIV – [[Temperance (tarot card)|Temperance]]
File:RWS Tarot 15 Devil.jpg|XV – [[The Devil (tarot card)|The Devil]]
File:RWS Tarot 16 Tower.jpg|XVI – [[The Tower (tarot card)|The Tower]]
File:RWS Tarot 17 Star.jpg|XVII – [[The Star (tarot card)|The Star]]
File:RWS Tarot 18 Moon.jpg|XVIII – [[The Moon (tarot card)|The Moon]]
File:RWS Tarot 19 Sun.jpg|XIX – [[The Sun (tarot card)|The Sun]]
File:RWS Tarot 20 Judgement.jpg|XX – [[Judgement (tarot card)|Judgement]]
File:RWS Tarot 21 World.jpg|XXI – [[The World (tarot card)|The World]]
</gallery>

== Minor Arcana ==
The [[Minor Arcana]] of the Rider–Waite tarot are illustrated below.

=== Wands ===
The [[suit of wands]], also known as staves in some decks, corresponding to the [[Clubs (suit)|clubs]] of modern playing cards:
<gallery mode="nolines" heights="180">
File:Wands01.jpg|[[Ace of Wands (tarot card)|Ace of Wands]]
File:Wands02.jpg|[[Two of Wands]]
File:Wands03.jpg|[[Three of Wands]]
File:Wands04.jpg|[[Four of Wands (Tarot card)|Four of Wands]]
File:Wands05.jpg|[[Five of Wands (Tarot card)|Five of Wands]]
File:Wands06.jpg|[[Six of Wands]]
File:Wands07.jpg|[[Seven of Wands]]
File:Wands08.jpg|[[Eight of Wands]]
File:Tarot Nine of Wands.jpg|[[Nine of Wands]]
File:Wands10.jpg|[[Ten of Wands]]
File:Wands11.jpg|[[Page of Wands]]
File:Wands12.jpg|[[Knight of Wands]]
File:Wands13.jpg|[[Queen of Wands]]
File:Wands14.jpg|[[King of Wands]]
</gallery>

=== Cups ===
The [[suit of goblets]], chalices, or cups, corresponding to the [[Hearts (suit)|hearts]] of modern playing cards:
<gallery mode=nolines heights=180>
File:Cups01.jpg|[[Ace of Cups]]
File:Cups02.jpg|[[Two of Cups]]
File:Cups03.jpg|[[Three of Cups]]
File:Cups04.jpg|[[Four of Cups]]
File:Cups05.jpg|[[Five of Cups]]
File:Cups06.jpg|[[Six of Cups]]
File:Cups07.jpg|[[Seven of Cups]]
File:Cups08.jpg|[[Eight of Cups]]
File:Cups09.jpg|[[Nine of Cups]]
File:Cups10.jpg|[[Ten of Cups]]
File:Cups11.jpg|[[Page of Cups]]
File:Cups12.jpg|[[Knight of Cups]]
File:Cups13.jpg|[[Queen of Cups]]
File:Cups14.jpg|[[King of Cups]]
</gallery>

=== Swords ===
The [[suit of swords]], corresponding to the [[Spades (suit)|spades]] of modern playing cards:
<gallery mode=nolines heights=180>
File:Swords01.jpg|[[Ace of Swords]]
File:Swords02.jpg|[[Two of Swords]]
File:Swords03.jpg|[[Three of Swords]]
File:Swords04.jpg|[[Four of Swords]]
File:Swords05.jpg|[[Five of Swords]]
File:Swords06.jpg|[[Six of Swords]]
File:Swords07.jpg|[[Seven of Swords]]
File:Swords08.jpg|[[Eight of Swords]]
File:Swords09.jpg|[[Nine of Swords]]
File:Swords10.jpg|[[Ten of Swords]]
File:Swords11.jpg|[[Page of Swords]]
File:Swords12.jpg|[[Knight of Swords]]
File:Swords13.jpg|[[Queen of Swords]]
File:Swords14.jpg|[[King of Swords]]
</gallery>

=== Pentacles ===
The [[suit of coins]] or pentacles, corresponding to the [[Diamonds (suit)|diamonds]] of modern playing cards:
<gallery mode=nolines heights=180>
File:Pents01.jpg|[[Ace of Coins|Ace of Pentacles]]
File:Pents02.jpg|[[Two of Coins|Two of Pentacles]]
File:Pents03.jpg|[[Three of Coins|Three of Pentacles]]
File:Pents04.jpg|[[Four of Coins|Four of Pentacles]]
File:Pents05.jpg|[[Five of Coins|Five of Pentacles]]
File:Pents06.jpg|[[Six of Coins|Six of Pentacles]]
File:Pents07.jpg|[[Seven of Coins|Seven of Pentacles]]
File:Pents08.jpg|[[Eight of Coins|Eight of Pentacles]]
File:Pents09.jpg|[[Nine of Coins|Nine of Pentacles]]
File:Pents10.jpg|[[Ten of Coins|Ten of Pentacles]]
File:Pents11.jpg|[[Page of Coins|Page of Pentacles]]
File:Pents12.jpg|[[Knight of Coins|Knight of Pentacles]]
File:Pents13.jpg|[[Queen of Coins|Queen of Pentacles]]
File:Pents14.jpg|[[King of Coins|King of Pentacles]]
</gallery>

== Publication ==
[[File:Waite–Smith Tarot Roses and Lilies cropped.jpg|thumb|right|upright=0.7|The original 1909 roses and lilies card back design]]
The cards were first published in December 1909, by the publisher [[Rider (imprint)|William Rider & Son]] of London.<ref name="Kaplan2018" /><ref name="Jensen2005" /> The first printing was extremely limited and featured card backs with a roses and lilies pattern. In March 1910, a much larger printing featured better 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. Rider continued publishing the deck in various editions until 1939, then again from 1971 to 1977.{{cn|date=January 2025}}

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 of the cards, texts about interpretations, and extensive descriptions of their symbols. The first version of this guide was published during 1909 and was titled ''The Key to the Tarot''. In 1911, a revised version, ''[[The Pictorial Key to the Tarot]]'', was issued, featuring black-and-white plates of all seventy-eight of Smith's illustrations.{{cn|date=January 2025}}

In 2009, U.S. Games Systems published a commemorative deck titled "The Smith-Waite Centennial Deck" as part of The Pamela Colman Smith Commemorative Set celebrating the hundredth anniversary of the 1909 deck.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.usgamesinc.com/the-pamela-colman-smith-commemorative-set.html |title=The Pamela Colman Smith Commemorative Set |access-date= 19 February 2023 |archive-date= 19 February 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230219234802/https://www.usgamesinc.com/the-pamela-colman-smith-commemorative-set.html |url-status= live}}</ref> This deck notably places Smith's name first and omits the publisher's name (Rider). In this vein, some contemporary tarot readers call the original deck and its various iterations the "Smith-Waite deck" in order to give proper credit to Smith's contribution to the deck.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.artnet.com/art-world/pamela-colman-smith-rider-waite-tarot-2163627 |title=Pamela Colman Smith Was the Artist and Occultist Who Designed the Iconic Tarot Deck. Why Has No One Ever Heard Her Name? |date=26 August 2022 |access-date= 19 February 2023 |archive-date= 17 February 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230217182500/https://news.artnet.com/art-world/pamela-colman-smith-rider-waite-tarot-2163627 |url-status= live}}</ref>

== Copyright status ==
The original version of the Rider–Waite Tarot is in the [[public domain]] in all countries that have a copyright term of 70 years or fewer after the death of the last co-author. This includes the [[United Kingdom]], where the deck was originally published.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/guidance/ownership-of-copyright-works |title=Ownership of copyright works – Detailed guidance |publisher=Gov.uk |date=19 August 2014 |access-date=28 September 2016 |archive-date=31 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161231104606/https://www.gov.uk/guidance/ownership-of-copyright-works |url-status=live}}</ref>

In the [[United States]], the deck became part of the public domain in 1966 (publication + 28 years + renewed 28 years). [[U.S. Games Systems]] has a copyright claim on their updated version of the deck published in 1971, but this only applies to new material added to the pre-existing work (e.g. designs on the card backs and the box).

== See also ==

* [[Tarot of Marseilles]]
* ''[[Thoth Tarot]]''

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
*{{commons category-inline}}

{{Tarot Cards}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rider-Waite Tarot}}
[[Category:Divination Tarot decks]]