ISBN: 9780913866139 Author: Waite, Arthur Edward Publisher: U s Games Systems Published: 6/1/1975 Pages: Binding: PAPERBACK Weight: 0.5500 lb The original and only authorized edition of the famous 78-card Tarot Deck designed by Pamela Colman Smith under the direction of Arthur Edward Waite Rider-Waite tarot deck may be the most popular Tarot deck in use today. Over the years it has also been known as the Rider-Waite-Smith, Waite-Smith, Waite-Colman Smith or simply the Rider deck. The images were drawn by artist Pamela Colman Smith, to the instructions of academic and mystic A.E. Waite, and published by the Rider Company. While the images are deceptively simple, almost child-like, the details and backgrounds hold a wealth of symbolism. The subjects remain close to the earliest decks, but usually have added details. Significantly, Waite had the Christian imagery of older tarot decks' cards toned down—the "Pope" card became the "Hierophant," the "Popess" became the "High Priestess." The minor arcana are also, for the first time, fully illustrated with designs created by Pamela Colman Smith. The chief aesthetic objection to this deck is the crude printing of colors in the original: several decks simply copy the Smith line drawings but with more sophisticated coloring. The cards were originally published in December 1909, and the symbols used were influenced by the 19th century magician and occultist Eliphas Levi. In 1910, The Pictorial to the Tarot by A.E. Waite was published, providing an overview of the traditions and history behind the cards, criticism of various interpretations, and extensive descriptions of their symbols, along with 78 black and white plates of each card in the deck. The Rider-Waite tarot deck has been extremely influential in the development of modern tarot decks to the extent that many are called 'Rider-Waite clones' to indicate that they are easily read by those familiar with Rider-Waite.