There are still many, many people, fans of the RWS, that don't know the deck selled as the "Original RWS Tarot Deck" is NOT original, that it is a hand made COPY from the original deck by Pamela Colman Smith made by an unknonwn and very inferior artist, after the original paintings and editing plates were destroyed by fire during I World War time. The deck now reproduced as "Centennial", is the most accurate reproduction of the original drawings and colors (that is called by experts the "Pam-A deck"). The post-fire hand made copies are now been edited by Lo Scarabeo (Pam-B, from a deck from Torino, with some painting mistakes) and U.S. Games (Pam-C [a rectified Pam-B], called "Original RWS Deck"). To say that Pamela Colman Smith is responsible of the crude art shown in the "Original RWS Deck" is an insult to her memory. [Please note Lo Scarabeo edites too a mutilated version of Pam-A, with the same lilly back than U.S. Games false "Original"]
Absolutely on point! The only thing I wish to add here is that fortunately we still have the early original printed Pam-A decks from 1909 (three known deck copies) and 1910 (many existing copies), first edition first and second issues. And those are the original RWS in lines and colors alike! The Centennial Pamela Colman Smith release is based upon the 1909 first edition, first issue deck print.
Awesome, it took me a long time to figure this out. Should be common knowledge and producers of the non original versions of the deck should honour Pixie's memory and stop calling their versions 'original'. I would also like to add that AGM Urania have released two versions of the original Pam-A versions as well. They're called "deluxe" (blue box) and Premium (orange box). They are great as well!
Thank you. I am having a hard time watching this video. The word original on the box does not mean it’s THE original lol. ALL of the later printings really messed up the colors and black lines making them super dark or bright and the lines darker and thicker. The earlier printings like pre patent are muted and lighter and more detail. Also they are handwritten titles and not fonts like later printings. Also all of the later printings have the patent on the bottom right corner of each card. The earlier collectible first printings and pre patent or very early patent do not. Thank you for clarifying here.
The blue may be a darker blue on the 6 of swords on the centennial deck because it’s supposed to represent crossing over troubled water. and troubled water is often associated with dark water.
What a wonderfully helpful video, thanks so much. In addition to being a tarot student, I'm a historian, so the obvious authenticity of the Centennial deck, the finer detail, and especially the backs, which are clearly of the original period, sold me very fast as I watched this. But I did watch all the way through. Kudos!
I cant believe its taken me so long to find this video....I was always attracted to the centennial one and didnt know why...ive had other RWS decks and sold them cause they were either too bright....white borders hurt my eyes and the sloppy drawing of the US games RWS....now seeing this video and lookong at the actual differences I can see what it is that I love....the Cen. looks tea stained and like it was colored on with color pencils....I LOVE THAT! I will now finally get my Cen. Deck....thank you for this amazing video 💜
I know this is an old vid, but thank you for doing it as I wanted to know the differences to, and it does make a difference to some. But about those lines being thicker. It reminds me of when you make a copy of a copy of a copy on the xerox machine, same thing happens, the lines thicken. I imagine that could be the case. Or maybe it is needful for legal "copyright" conflict purposes, never know nowdays. Maybe it had to be a tiny bit different to qualify as their trademark. There is another vid by someone else comparing Spirit Wise borderless vs S-W borderless, which also has differences like this, but more noticeable things.
I found a " blushing Fool " blue box Ryder & Co deck in a junk / thrift shop in Dunlaoghaire. It's 50 years old now. I got it for €5 and could'nt believe my luck. The cards are off - white with age. I also notice the yellow sky on the Fool is a more sober yellow even more than the Centennial - again probably to do with age. One thing I also notice compaired to later versions is that the black is really jet black, much blacker than versions only 10 years later ( 10 swords for example ) you only notice it when you put them side by side but it's a marked differance.
Thank you so much for this review! I stumbled upon it as I was looking for a new Rider-Waite deck and wasn't sure which edition to get, and this was so very helpful! I absolutely love the colours of the Centennial edition.
I love love love my centennial. The muted colours are beautiful. Same as you, I struggle to connect with the traditional RWS imagery, and the centennial allows me to, because of the colouring.
Thank you for this! The reddish palette of the original rws and the ruddy skin tones were distracting me so from enjoying the art of the cards, I ended up giving them away and purchased a standard Rider tarot, but the cartoony overdone colors killed me as well. Finally, I ordered the centennial version, and it's just the most beautiful and immersible version of the cards.
You just helped me decide to finally purchase this deck! I wanted to make sure the pictures were more clear on the commemorative deck than the original rider Waite deck especially on the King of Pentacles card and you clarified it for me. I’m fairly new to reading tarot cards and I need all the details I can get. Thank you so much for your review. It was very helpful!
I personally prefer the Original RWS, the tinted colors really make it feel like it has been a family heirloom for centuries and the backgrounds of the cards are a gorgeous blue and really soothing to the eye. I think that the difference is minimal, and this one to me feels like such a more 'witchy' option
I'm glad you put this up, I am really wanting this Centennial addition as compared to the US Games version I have the colors are so bright that especially skin tone becomes so red some looked creepily drenched in blood like in the Death card O.o I love the texture that you get from the Centennial, it's gorgeous. ~Kelly
9 лет назад
***** Haha yeah I know what you mean. It really is a beautiful deck! Can't recommend it highly enough :)
in the early 20th century, printing costs were huge, and they generally stuck to reds, yellows, blues and blacks. The color blue was most expensive (if I remember correctly), and so it would have been used very sparingly. The Original deck is an exact replica of what an original deck, printed circa 1910, would have looked like, minus the coating and shine. All that said, there's no shame in preferring an updated version... my personal taste fits the Edwardian-era theme of the Original cards, including the imperfections and printing errors/ink bleeding. :)
I just had a thought ~ I wonder if the fact that they splurged on the pretty blue back designs, may have limited the availability of blue for the fronts. :)
It's true about the blue, however I don't think it's the case here. Everything in the cards has a meaning, every shape and every colour. It doesn't sound like Waite would have preferred to renounce the significance of the colour blue because of costs, especially when splurging so much on the blue backs.
Thank you so much. I have the original deck and it has been loved. I want to buy another RWS, but overwhelmed with the choices. I knew I did not want glossy bright colors. I can't believe the differences you showed with the desks. Many descriptions I have read talk about blue this or that and I always saw green. I have also been bothered by the thick black lines and red faces. Some of the cards I just can't seem to connect to and know I understand why. They have lost important details. This was so helpful, now I know which one to get. Many thanks.
This is such a good video, Aine, thanks. As someone who doesn't know the RWS deck very well at all (and doesn't own it) I always assumed there was barely any difference between editions. I'm now really drawn to this Centennial deck! Thanks for taking the time, really helpful :)
9 лет назад
Wolf Peach Wilds I was the same before I purchased my own deck! Glad to draw someone to the RWS, it took me a while to be interested in it but since I got it I haven't looked back :D
Áine Órga Anni's Tarot Together videos have also pulled me in, coming along at jjst the right time for me. (I think there's about eight videos on the Fool alone!)
I have both editions and in the original some of the people's heads seem a tiny bit smaller than they should be, a touch out of scale, the 7 of penticals being a perfect example. Strange and something I didn't fully grasp until comparing. Love your in depth video.
Thank you very much for taking the time & trouble to post this interesting & useful video. Like a previous commenter, I too noticed the chubbier Fool in the Original, and I like that the Centennial Edition has removed the sunburn effect on some of the faces.Poor Pamela got a rough deal: not being mentioned in the deck title and not getting paid. So I echo another commenter in praising Stuart Kaplan for redressing this travesty of justice!I have wanted an RWS style deck for ages and this video has helped enormously. I really needed to see the side-by-side comparisons.Thank you again and best wishes. Adam
Awesome. Thank you for this. Was in the same boat - own the original RWS, loved the symbolism and ease of learning but hated a number of the cards (queen & king of pentacles in particular) where they are so 'busy' the detail is lost and becomes unreadable. Was close to getting universal or radiant when someone advised on this deck. Ordered today then saw your video! Looks exactly what i was after! 😀
I once had (gasp!) the Radiant Rider Waite. But not for long . . . I got out my 1971 issue USG edition to compare with my recently received Centennial edition. The lines, colors, and facial expressions are very, very close, but there is actually detail in the 1971 USG that is slightly different. SLIGHTLY different. Great video. So much fun to see the up-close comparision.
9 лет назад
Jamie Morris Ooh interesting. I wasn't sure if that would be the case. I can get so nerdy about these things xD
The "Original" is based upon Pam B from the 1930's. I have A Pam B and the mane of the lion does not continue the flower belt on the woman. Maybe Pam A does that, I don't know. Thanks for this comparison. Anne
Thank you so much for this video. I just got the centennial version in the tin and wanted to get the original because I liked the blue backs. The centennial one speaks to me. As soon as I opened it my heart skipped a beat and it made me want the original thinking it’d be great to have as a set. Boy was I wrong! I see the huge, to me, differences between the two decks and I changed my mind. I was fortunate enough to find the commemorative set but I wanted the same set in a box. I know, I’m weird. LOL So instead of getting the original because I really dislike it now, I got a stand alone of the centennial version. When it arrives I’ll have the tin, the commemorative set & the one in the box. Completist problem, what can I say. Haha But seriously though, thank you again for posting this. I know I’d have been so disappointed upon opening that box.
I'm intrigued by this video, very nice. I have one of these decks on order right now! I love this backing. Such an important deck in tarot no matter what the form. Good to have even if just for the sake of collecting. Illustrated pip cards started here, thank you PCS & A.E.W. The Smith/Waite deck, I say! Thanks to Stuart Kaplan as well for honoring her legacy.
The Original and Centennial decks are both imperfect replicas of two different early printings of the Rider-Waite-Smith cards. The face art of the Centennial cards attempts to replicate the first two printings: the brief initial printing (1909) and the “A” deck (1910-1920), which had the same art on better card stock than the initial run. The main inaccuracy here is that the back art is ahistorical (a new invention for this edition as far as I know, as the first print had blue flowers and the “A” deck had a brown crackle pattern). The first print were on thin and shoddy paper, whereas the “A” deck would’ve been much heavier (both were probably white, so the modern beige is faux aging that makes the Centennial appear softer and darker than the real thing). The face art on the Original deck appears to come from the “B” deck, a later but still “original” printing that may date to the 1930s (though the chronology of the B, C, and D decks is disputed). The B and C decks had slightly modified art from the other early printings (there are all sorts of wild hypotheses about why) but were almost identical to each other except for some discrepancies on the Sun card (cue more wild hypotheses); the original card stock would’ve been thin compared to “A” but actually of higher quality. The back of B, C, and D decks would’ve been the same brown crackle as the A deck; the blue floral pattern on the back of the Original deck comes from the 1909 first printing, meaning it would have been more historically accurate on the Centennial cards. The remaining early printing is the “D” deck, which was very similar to the first two versions but more cheaply made than “A.” It is speculated that its art might have been a reconstruction (photographed or redrawn) of the original art that was lost or destroyed. It’s hardest to place chronologically and may have even been sold simultaneously to the “C” cards (B, C, and D would’ve been printed in the 1920s-30s, but the timeline is disputed).
I think I read somewhere that the " original " Ryder Waite " you have there uses an earlier " Pam 1 " version of the drawings and are a bit heavier and expressions different ect. Though it's really let down by the over - the top ageing effect and muddy inaccurate colours. Regarding the " Strength " card. I looked at my 50 year old Ryder Waite deck through a magnifying glass for that green in the wreath that runs around the lions neck and just could'nt find any, nor is there any sign that it would have been green when new. I must check out a photo of an original vintage Strength card to confirm that. It's got me curious..😊
My favorite rider Waite style decks are robin wood and the gilded tarot decks. RWS is good to get your feet wet with but I find it a bit cartoonish and can sometimes be hard to interpret.
5 лет назад+1
True. I still feel I'm searching for that one Tarot deck to complete all Tarot decks for me... I don't have either of those ones! I feel the Mary El may be it for me but getting to grips with it is a STRUGGLE especially for someone versed in the RWS rather than the Thoth!
I just opened it (centennial, copyright 2015)... It seems a color photocopy and my deck is laminated... I'm so sad... My Marsella tarot (Jodorowsky restoration) is so high quality in comparison
It is important to notice the differences of what comes out more or less with the basic photo editing functions of cropping, tint, contrast, brightness, and stretch between different printings or presentation of Tarot decks and other art. Particularly, because I do not do art for art's sake, I tend to make ritual art that have different parts comes out differently in different settings. People obsessed with the original of anything are putting the same sort of significance to transmission as religious revelation and direct inspiration. The Centennial Rider Waite Smith does seem to do better, but some cards are more evocative from The Original conceived by A.E. Waite, illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith, and published by William Rider & Son. The backs are more mysterious.
You can see the original decks on waitsmith.org. They look pretty much the same as the AGM RWS decks of today - cartoonish colours and all. Nothing like the " Original" Ryder Waite you have there with the muted colours. Lo Sacarbeo has a lovely " clone " deck called the Universal Tarot premium edition. Its not muted but the colours are more delicate and the new style drawings look " less cartoonish ". Having said that, PCS was a really talented artist. Her figure drawing is actually better posed and much more confidently drawn than a lot of decks that might appear better at first glance.
I am like you, I have only just got my radiant RWS in a tin. The original deck was the reason why I couldn't connect to RWS for readings. Is it me, or does the charioteer in the original version remind you of He - Man? Lol Masters of the Universe lol. I love the centennial deck too.
I personally prefer the Centennial edition. However, its Wheel of Fortune and The Star have some proplems to them. Especially The Star. The color layer missed the drawing lines by a millimeter upwards, and as a result, the card looks quite messy. The Wheel of Fortune card only have one extra line one redundant drawing line on the Anubis, but it's not that proplematic to me.
I would love to know what you, or others, think about the Centennial vs the Radiant Wise deck. I'm new to tarot and bought the Centennial and love it. But I ran across the Radiant Wise Spirit deck, purchased it, and love its vivid colors. The problem is that I'm sticking to one deck until I get to know it well and these 2 are so different as far as colors go. ie, a card may have a nearly white background in the Centennial (I'm thinking of the pentacles) and then that same card in the Radiant Wise will have a deep blue-green background. It's kind of confusing and hard to decide which deck to go with. As a beginner I was thinking that although I really thing the Radiant Wise colors are gorgeous, the Centennial may be closer to the traditional RWS and a better place to start.
Thank you so much for this video. I've yet to get one of the many versions of the RWS that are in print now, but it's been hard for me to decide between just the two in the video. I see now that I too would prefer the Centennial Edition and the set it comes with looks very interesting as well :)
I'm trying really hard to like this deck but the sepia tones are just so somber to my eye. Ideally, I'd like to get an older Rider Tarot deck but with all the decks for sale online claiming to be vintage and not being so, I'm leaning more towards buying a new Rider Tarot deck. I know the coloring is much bolder but I was really surprised at how dark the Centennial edition turned out to be. I'm still going to try to do some readings with them to connect better with the cards.
I have and use a sharman-caselli tarot deck, it's essential a rider wait tarot deck but the cards were slightly changed in terms of imagery and color not huge changes but noticeable ones like the color it's not as bright as the us games rider Waite especially the radiant version but it's not darker like the older more original versions either and images are more traditional but have minor changes to them that you have to see the cards to get compared to me trying to explain them. It has good card stock but it's really thick and can be hard to shuffle but overall it's a great deck and would recommend it I think you might like it so check it out.
8 лет назад+1
I don't know if I've heard of it, will check it out, thanks :)
One aspect intrigues me, I read everywhere Pamela Colman Smith favored the more washed out colors. But is that a thing of her time, in terms of technical printing ability in that era in time, or is is truly her real taste and intention. I guess we will never really never know.
The "Original" is taken from the 1930's Pam B edition of the original Rider deck.. I have the 1930 original and in that Strength deck the woman's hand is somewhat reddish. Although with the re=printing here, it is pretty over done. Thanks for you video, Anne
the strength card. i think the centennial deck had the mistake not the original, because i have the rediant rider waite which is the most clear one and its the same as the original when it comes to the lion
I just watched a video showing the original Pam A and Pam B. There is no question in my mind that the Original RWS here was based on the Original Pam B. Colors and line work. Although I’m sure the card stock was better on that original edition. The card stock on this Original reproduction is complete crap. Anyone choosing between these two, there is no comparison. If you are going to have one deck, choose the Centennial Edition. Great colors, great card stock, full on Pam A Original line work.
I think both of these decks are pretty poor. I borrowed an original PAM-A deck (or most of one) some time back (in order to scan it for somebody) and, believe me, the original cards aren't in any way brown or sepia. The greys (e.g. in the lettering panels) are a mid-grey, for example. Just because something is old doesn't mean it has to be sepia! The effect is bad enough on the Centennial but is laughable on the Original (I call the packs "brown" and "browner"). I think Kaplan just took scans of the cards into Photoshop Elements and hit the "make it look old" button. Additionally, the blues are all swung around to look more turquoise that the originals, and, bizarrely some of the colour fills are more uneven/patchy than those on the original PAM-A deck, like he's applied a "make it patchy" effect as well. For example, look at the bottom PCS lettering background on The Fool card you show in the Original deck (5:57, on the right). Why is it all patchy like that? It isn't like that on the original cards. Similarly, the Centennial Hermit (7:52, on the left). Why is the background all grainy like that? The original PAM-A card is a bit grainy, but nothing like that. So, basically, despite these two botched attempts from US Games, we are still awaiting for a proper reproduction/fascimile of a PAM-X deck.
3 года назад+1
Thanks for sharing your opinion! I can understand the frustration with "brown" and "browner" haha. It's simply an aesthetic preference of mine that I like the "brown" look. But I would love to have a true facsimile of the originals.
... hi, and thank you. Want to purchase a first deck ... you've sold me on the Centennial edition, but can you confirm : is the Centennial Edition included in the Commemorative boxed set ? The cards are one and the same ? btw lovely accent... Irish, I believe ?
The color saturation of this video, like others, is set too high. Even scanned images found online have been altered as such. These editions are not this vibrant in person, especially the Centennial Edition (both versions of the CE are actually very faded and dull, moreso with the smaller stand-alone deck).
I was wondering about that. To me the "Original " deck , on the right , has deeply saturated reds. This was particularly evident on the Six of Swords, but she never even mentioned the red on that card.
does the commemorative set come with a colored pictorial key full book with color, im trying to look for a deck that comes with a great book for symbolism and meaning explanation, Any advice would be greatly appreciated thanks in advance.
5 лет назад
Sorry for the late response - unfortunately not! Or at least, not as far as I recall.
Does the centinnel deck contain any instruction manual for reading the cards in it?
5 лет назад
As far as I recall, not much beyond the standard little white book. There was a booklet with information as far as I remember, but I think mostly about the history of the deck, and I haven't seen it in a long time so I may have mislaid it!
The fool on the original is a bit more chubbier than the Centennial. The image probably passed through some computerized process to be like that. I bought the centennial. It's very good. But I want other versions too. Like the Universal and The Original. I'm very attached to this deck.
U are totally correct, the so called *Original RWS Deck* has nothing to do wid the original. Its color scheme is sooo oversaturated orangish - bright yellowish kind 😑 Please can u provide me the link for the IMAGES of tht 1909 RWS deck, I tried finding original color scheme pics, but couldn't find much of the cards 🙏 please or can u email them to me
Please NOTE: since this video was made, there has been a flooding on the market via eBay a ton of cheaper knock-off decks illegally printed in China. Please when you buy the Centennial deck, go directly through US Games to ensure you are not buying a cheap knock-off using stolen artwork. Going directly through US Games (or your local metaphysical shop that orders directly from US Games) is the only way to protect our beloved industry.
The fact is the Original Rider Waite deck is an EXACT reproduction THE deck that came out in 1909. Just so everyone will understand that... the ORIGINAL deck with the original coloring - 1909. The colors have NOT been altered, this is the original coloring!!!! The floral background is also the original back. If you do your homework this info is readily available.
I have an older rider waite deck I think 1971 .. the details are similar to the centennial here .. I lost the box but but bought it many years ago, I think 1971/2 .. I still love this old deck.. I also have the Radiant and it just does not cut it for me.. nice colours but has lost lots of detail than the older decks / thank you for this as I am looking for a new deck to buy and really not sure which one :) I wont be going for the original that you are mentioning here, what year is this one please .. thanks heaps great video
6 лет назад
Hmm I'm not sure, but it's currently in mass production as "the original wider waite"
These 2 decks are copied from two different printings of the Rider deck. The Centennial is a copy of the earlier Pam A from 1910 and the "Original" is Pam B from a later printing from around 1930. Lo Scarabeo has published a copy of the 1930 edition which is nicely drawn. And the first printing in 1993 of the "Original" is a better printing than the later editions like the one you have. So basically the Centennial and the Original are apples and oranges since they are copies of two different editions from the early 20th century. Probably this is old news to you but I thought I'd throw in my two cents. A fellow RWS geek,.....Anne
to me, I think it makes them harder to read if you're a beginner. I don't like the original. It should have been the actual artwork and her actual writings on the cards at the bottom but are not. Original should be like her original work so it's In my opinion it's far from it and is misleading to a new comer to the history and cards.
There are still many, many people, fans of the RWS, that don't know the deck selled as the "Original RWS Tarot Deck" is NOT original, that it is a hand made COPY from the original deck by Pamela Colman Smith made by an unknonwn and very inferior artist, after the original paintings and editing plates were destroyed by fire during I World War time. The deck now reproduced as "Centennial", is the most accurate reproduction of the original drawings and colors (that is called by experts the "Pam-A deck"). The post-fire hand made copies are now been edited by Lo Scarabeo (Pam-B, from a deck from Torino, with some painting mistakes) and U.S. Games (Pam-C [a rectified Pam-B], called "Original RWS Deck").
To say that Pamela Colman Smith is responsible of the crude art shown in the "Original RWS Deck" is an insult to her memory.
[Please note Lo Scarabeo edites too a mutilated version of Pam-A, with the same lilly back than U.S. Games false "Original"]
yep!
Absolutely on point! The only thing I wish to add here is that fortunately we still have the early original printed Pam-A decks from 1909 (three known deck copies) and 1910 (many existing copies), first edition first and second issues. And those are the original RWS in lines and colors alike! The Centennial Pamela Colman Smith release is based upon the 1909 first edition, first issue deck print.
Awesome, it took me a long time to figure this out. Should be common knowledge and producers of the non original versions of the deck should honour Pixie's memory and stop calling their versions 'original'. I would also like to add that AGM Urania have released two versions of the original Pam-A versions as well. They're called "deluxe" (blue box) and Premium (orange box). They are great as well!
Thank you. I am having a hard time watching this video. The word original on the box does not mean it’s THE original lol. ALL of the later printings really messed up the colors and black lines making them super dark or bright and the lines darker and thicker. The earlier printings like pre patent are muted and lighter and more detail. Also they are handwritten titles and not fonts like later printings. Also all of the later printings have the patent on the bottom right corner of each card. The earlier collectible first printings and pre patent or very early patent do not. Thank you for clarifying here.
thanks for the clarification. i didn't know that.
The blue may be a darker blue on the 6 of swords on the centennial deck because it’s supposed to represent crossing over troubled water. and troubled water is often associated with dark water.
Oh very true!
Good point.
"Sometimes you just want your blues to be blue". True that!
What a wonderfully helpful video, thanks so much. In addition to being a tarot student, I'm a historian, so the obvious authenticity of the Centennial deck, the finer detail, and especially the backs, which are clearly of the original period, sold me very fast as I watched this. But I did watch all the way through. Kudos!
I cant believe its taken me so long to find this video....I was always attracted to the centennial one and didnt know why...ive had other RWS decks and sold them cause they were either too bright....white borders hurt my eyes and the sloppy drawing of the US games RWS....now seeing this video and lookong at the actual differences I can see what it is that I love....the Cen. looks tea stained and like it was colored on with color pencils....I LOVE THAT! I will now finally get my Cen. Deck....thank you for this amazing video 💜
I know this is an old vid, but thank you for doing it as I wanted to know the differences to, and it does make a difference to some. But about those lines being thicker. It reminds me of when you make a copy of a copy of a copy on the xerox machine, same thing happens, the lines thicken. I imagine that could be the case. Or maybe it is needful for legal "copyright" conflict purposes, never know nowdays. Maybe it had to be a tiny bit different to qualify as their trademark. There is another vid by someone else comparing Spirit Wise borderless vs S-W borderless, which also has differences like this, but more noticeable things.
I found a " blushing Fool " blue box Ryder & Co deck in a junk / thrift shop in Dunlaoghaire. It's 50 years old now. I got it for €5 and could'nt believe my luck. The cards are off - white with age. I also notice the yellow sky on the Fool is a more sober yellow even more than the Centennial - again probably to do with age. One thing I also notice compaired to later versions is that the black is really jet black, much blacker than versions only 10 years later ( 10 swords for example ) you only notice it when you put them side by side but it's a marked differance.
Thank you so much for this review! I stumbled upon it as I was looking for a new Rider-Waite deck and wasn't sure which edition to get, and this was so very helpful! I absolutely love the colours of the Centennial edition.
My first deck was the "Radiant" version, and I agree, I dislike the coloration. Thanks for sharing a review of these decks!
Thank you for this review. You've helped me come to the decision to purchase the Centennial deck.
Me too! 💜💜
I love love love my centennial. The muted colours are beautiful. Same as you, I struggle to connect with the traditional RWS imagery, and the centennial allows me to, because of the colouring.
Thank you for this! The reddish palette of the original rws and the ruddy skin tones were distracting me so from enjoying the art of the cards, I ended up giving them away and purchased a standard Rider tarot, but the cartoony overdone colors killed me as well. Finally, I ordered the centennial version, and it's just the most beautiful and immersible version of the cards.
You just helped me decide to finally purchase this deck! I wanted to make sure the pictures were more clear on the commemorative deck than the original rider Waite deck especially on the King of Pentacles card and you clarified it for me. I’m fairly new to reading tarot cards and I need all the details I can get. Thank you so much for your review. It was very helpful!
The deck on the left seems to have a more "antique" quality. Very charming.
I personally prefer the Original RWS, the tinted colors really make it feel like it has been a family heirloom for centuries and the backgrounds of the cards are a gorgeous blue and really soothing to the eye. I think that the difference is minimal, and this one to me feels like such a more 'witchy' option
Thank you for this video. I have wanted a RWS for a while now and I know I made the right decision choosing the centennial edition.
OMG I love the Smith-waite version much more, thank you so much for your wonderful video
Thank you for this! I wanted the centennial but I almost bought the original because online photos were misleading. Big help!
I'm glad you put this up, I am really wanting this Centennial addition as compared to the US Games version I have the colors are so bright that especially skin tone becomes so red some looked creepily drenched in blood like in the Death card O.o I love the texture that you get from the Centennial, it's gorgeous. ~Kelly
***** Haha yeah I know what you mean. It really is a beautiful deck! Can't recommend it highly enough :)
in the early 20th century, printing costs were huge, and they generally stuck to reds, yellows, blues and blacks. The color blue was most expensive (if I remember correctly), and so it would have been used very sparingly. The Original deck is an exact replica of what an original deck, printed circa 1910, would have looked like, minus the coating and shine. All that said, there's no shame in preferring an updated version... my personal taste fits the Edwardian-era theme of the Original cards, including the imperfections and printing errors/ink bleeding. :)
I just had a thought ~ I wonder if the fact that they splurged on the pretty blue back designs, may have limited the availability of blue for the fronts. :)
Interesting, thanks! makes sense.
It's true about the blue, however I don't think it's the case here. Everything in the cards has a meaning, every shape and every colour. It doesn't sound like Waite would have preferred to renounce the significance of the colour blue because of costs, especially when splurging so much on the blue backs.
Thanks for this, Áine! It helped me decide which version to go ahead and order.
Thank you so much. I have the original deck and it has been loved. I want to buy another RWS, but overwhelmed with the choices. I knew I did not want glossy bright colors. I can't believe the differences you showed with the desks. Many descriptions I have read talk about blue this or that and I always saw green. I have also been bothered by the thick black lines and red faces. Some of the cards I just can't seem to connect to and know I understand why. They have lost important details. This was so helpful, now I know which one to get. Many thanks.
This is such a good video, Aine, thanks. As someone who doesn't know the RWS deck very well at all (and doesn't own it) I always assumed there was barely any difference between editions. I'm now really drawn to this Centennial deck! Thanks for taking the time, really helpful :)
Wolf Peach Wilds I was the same before I purchased my own deck! Glad to draw someone to the RWS, it took me a while to be interested in it but since I got it I haven't looked back :D
Áine Órga
Anni's Tarot Together videos have also pulled me in, coming along at jjst the right time for me. (I think there's about eight videos on the Fool alone!)
Thanks for this video, this new deck is much nicer than the original rider Waite deck. I will now stick to the newer version
Thank you for the comparisons. 🙏❤️
I have both editions and in the original some of the people's heads seem a tiny bit smaller than they should be, a touch out of scale, the 7 of penticals being a perfect example. Strange and something I didn't fully grasp until comparing. Love your in depth video.
Thank you very much for taking the time & trouble to post this interesting & useful video. Like a previous commenter, I too noticed the chubbier Fool in the Original, and I like that the Centennial Edition has removed the sunburn effect on some of the faces.Poor Pamela got a rough deal: not being mentioned in the deck title and not getting paid. So I echo another commenter in praising Stuart Kaplan for redressing this travesty of justice!I have wanted an RWS style deck for ages and this video has helped enormously. I really needed to see the side-by-side comparisons.Thank you again and best wishes. Adam
Awesome. Thank you for this. Was in the same boat - own the original RWS, loved the symbolism and ease of learning but hated a number of the cards (queen & king of pentacles in particular) where they are so 'busy' the detail is lost and becomes unreadable. Was close to getting universal or radiant when someone advised on this deck. Ordered today then saw your video! Looks exactly what i was after! 😀
I once had (gasp!) the Radiant Rider Waite. But not for long . . .
I got out my 1971 issue USG edition to compare with my recently received Centennial edition. The lines, colors, and facial expressions are very, very close, but there is actually detail in the 1971 USG that is slightly different. SLIGHTLY different.
Great video. So much fun to see the up-close comparision.
Jamie Morris Ooh interesting. I wasn't sure if that would be the case. I can get so nerdy about these things xD
The "Original" is based upon Pam B from the 1930's. I have A Pam B and the mane of the lion does not continue the flower belt on the woman. Maybe Pam A does that, I don't know. Thanks for this comparison. Anne
Fantastic review!
Thank you so much for this video. I just got the centennial version in the tin and wanted to get the original because I liked the blue backs. The centennial one speaks to me. As soon as I opened it my heart skipped a beat and it made me want the original thinking it’d be great to have as a set.
Boy was I wrong! I see the huge, to me, differences between the two decks and I changed my mind. I was fortunate enough to find the commemorative set but I wanted the same set in a box. I know, I’m weird. LOL So instead of getting the original because I really dislike it now, I got a stand alone of the centennial version. When it arrives I’ll have the tin, the commemorative set & the one in the box. Completist problem, what can I say. Haha
But seriously though, thank you again for posting this. I know I’d have been so disappointed upon opening that box.
This is so helpful. Thank you!!
Very good comparison btw, enjoyed watching it.
Thank yoouuu!!! 💜💜
Thanks for this. Good to know the details. Appreciated. -J.
I'm intrigued by this video, very nice. I have one of these decks on order right now! I love this backing. Such an important deck in tarot no matter what the form. Good to have even if just for the sake of collecting. Illustrated pip cards started here, thank you PCS & A.E.W. The Smith/Waite deck, I say! Thanks to Stuart Kaplan as well for honoring her legacy.
The Original and Centennial decks are both imperfect replicas of two different early printings of the Rider-Waite-Smith cards.
The face art of the Centennial cards attempts to replicate the first two printings: the brief initial printing (1909) and the “A” deck (1910-1920), which had the same art on better card stock than the initial run. The main inaccuracy here is that the back art is ahistorical (a new invention for this edition as far as I know, as the first print had blue flowers and the “A” deck had a brown crackle pattern). The first print were on thin and shoddy paper, whereas the “A” deck would’ve been much heavier (both were probably white, so the modern beige is faux aging that makes the Centennial appear softer and darker than the real thing).
The face art on the Original deck appears to come from the “B” deck, a later but still “original” printing that may date to the 1930s (though the chronology of the B, C, and D decks is disputed). The B and C decks had slightly modified art from the other early printings (there are all sorts of wild hypotheses about why) but were almost identical to each other except for some discrepancies on the Sun card (cue more wild hypotheses); the original card stock would’ve been thin compared to “A” but actually of higher quality. The back of B, C, and D decks would’ve been the same brown crackle as the A deck; the blue floral pattern on the back of the Original deck comes from the 1909 first printing, meaning it would have been more historically accurate on the Centennial cards.
The remaining early printing is the “D” deck, which was very similar to the first two versions but more cheaply made than “A.” It is speculated that its art might have been a reconstruction (photographed or redrawn) of the original art that was lost or destroyed. It’s hardest to place chronologically and may have even been sold simultaneously to the “C” cards (B, C, and D would’ve been printed in the 1920s-30s, but the timeline is disputed).
I think I read somewhere that the " original " Ryder Waite " you have there uses an earlier " Pam 1 " version of the drawings and are a bit heavier and expressions different ect. Though it's really let down by the over - the top ageing effect and muddy inaccurate colours.
Regarding the " Strength " card. I looked at my 50 year old Ryder Waite deck through a magnifying glass for that green in the wreath that runs around the lions neck and just could'nt find any, nor is there any sign that it would have been green when new. I must check out a photo of an original vintage Strength card to confirm that. It's got me curious..😊
My favorite rider Waite style decks are robin wood and the gilded tarot decks. RWS is good to get your feet wet with but I find it a bit cartoonish and can sometimes be hard to interpret.
True. I still feel I'm searching for that one Tarot deck to complete all Tarot decks for me... I don't have either of those ones! I feel the Mary El may be it for me but getting to grips with it is a STRUGGLE especially for someone versed in the RWS rather than the Thoth!
I wanted the "original"... thanks to this, now i want the centennial edition. "Original" is so redish and you can note the digital treatment...
I just opened it (centennial, copyright 2015)... It seems a color photocopy and my deck is laminated... I'm so sad... My Marsella tarot (Jodorowsky restoration) is so high quality in comparison
+++
It is important to notice the differences of what comes out more or less with the basic photo editing functions of cropping, tint, contrast, brightness, and stretch between different printings or presentation of Tarot decks and other art.
Particularly, because I do not do art for art's sake, I tend to make ritual art that have different parts comes out differently in different settings.
People obsessed with the original of anything are putting the same sort of significance to transmission as religious revelation and direct inspiration.
The Centennial Rider Waite Smith does seem to do better, but some cards are more evocative from The Original conceived by A.E. Waite, illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith, and published by William Rider & Son. The backs are more mysterious.
You can see the original decks on waitsmith.org. They look pretty much the same as the AGM RWS decks of today - cartoonish colours and all. Nothing like the " Original" Ryder Waite you have there with the muted colours.
Lo Sacarbeo has a lovely " clone " deck called the Universal Tarot premium edition. Its not muted but the colours are more delicate and the new style drawings look " less cartoonish ". Having said that, PCS was a really talented artist. Her figure drawing is actually better posed and much more confidently drawn than a lot of decks that might appear better at first glance.
Thanks!
waitesmith.org
I am like you, I have only just got my radiant RWS in a tin. The original deck was the reason why I couldn't connect to RWS for readings. Is it me, or does the charioteer in the original version remind you of He - Man? Lol Masters of the Universe lol. I love the centennial deck too.
I personally prefer the Centennial edition. However, its Wheel of Fortune and The Star have some proplems to them. Especially The Star. The color layer missed the drawing lines by a millimeter upwards, and as a result, the card looks quite messy. The Wheel of Fortune card only have one extra line one redundant drawing line on the Anubis, but it's not that proplematic to me.
I would love to know what you, or others, think about the Centennial vs the Radiant Wise deck. I'm new to tarot and bought the Centennial and love it. But I ran across the Radiant Wise Spirit deck, purchased it, and love its vivid colors. The problem is that I'm sticking to one deck until I get to know it well and these 2 are so different as far as colors go. ie, a card may have a nearly white background in the Centennial (I'm thinking of the pentacles) and then that same card in the Radiant Wise will have a deep blue-green background. It's kind of confusing and hard to decide which deck to go with. As a beginner I was thinking that although I really thing the Radiant Wise colors are gorgeous, the Centennial may be closer to the traditional RWS and a better place to start.
Thank you so much for this video. I've yet to get one of the many versions of the RWS that are in print now, but it's been hard for me to decide between just the two in the video. I see now that I too would prefer the Centennial Edition and the set it comes with looks very interesting as well :)
I'm trying really hard to like this deck but the sepia tones are just so somber to my eye. Ideally, I'd like to get an older Rider Tarot deck but with all the decks for sale online claiming to be vintage and not being so, I'm leaning more towards buying a new Rider Tarot deck. I know the coloring is much bolder but I was really surprised at how dark the Centennial edition turned out to be. I'm still going to try to do some readings with them to connect better with the cards.
@dat gnome wrote:
"UGH the copyright ruins it"
-Exactly. It amuses me how much focus people put into scrutinizing the reprinting/colour production elements of the various editions, while disregarding the fact that the worst eyesore about the US games editions (and a few others) is the completely unnecessary and disgraceful "USGAMES©" copyright text on the card face borders. It's absolutely ridiculous and I just find it laughable that people put up with that and keep buying US Games editions. Best thing to do there is trim the cards, if you unknowingly purchase the utter crap that that company sells.
Also, there's a seriously disappointing amount of misinformation amongst this videos comments and the video itself, regarding facts around the "original" RWS deck and its various printings/editions. I'm not even going to bother confronting it here, the initial headache of scrolling the comments and witnessing it all to begin with is enough to deal with haha. But I will admit that it is a confusing deck for people to historically research. However, the way in which people are commenting with "their" versions of "facts" around original versions of this deck, that are way off track, is laughable. Whats going on with people these days? No excuse except that of laziness in their approach to researching information.
Aside from that, Áine Órga, it's an informative video in other ways, particularly regarding colour tones. Thank you for taking the time to do the side-by-side review. You speak clearly and have a really nice presence in the way you convey things. Cheers.
I have and use a sharman-caselli tarot deck, it's essential a rider wait tarot deck but the cards were slightly changed in terms of imagery and color not huge changes but noticeable ones like the color it's not as bright as the us games rider Waite especially the radiant version but it's not darker like the older more original versions either and images are more traditional but have minor changes to them that you have to see the cards to get compared to me trying to explain them. It has good card stock but it's really thick and can be hard to shuffle but overall it's a great deck and would recommend it I think you might like it so check it out.
I don't know if I've heard of it, will check it out, thanks :)
One aspect intrigues me, I read everywhere Pamela Colman Smith favored the more washed out colors. But is that a thing of her time, in terms of technical printing ability in that era in time, or is is truly her real taste and intention. I guess we will never really never know.
The "Original" is taken from the 1930's Pam B edition of the original Rider deck.. I have the 1930 original and in that Strength deck the woman's hand is somewhat reddish. Although with the re=printing here, it is pretty over done. Thanks for you video, Anne
I bought the original RW and I agree it is misleading, so I am looking to get another set.
Wonderful,helpful review...thankyou.
Благодарю за такой чудесный, подробный обзор!)🌺💞
I loved the second one
Great video. Thanks! I feel the same way
the strength card. i think the centennial deck had the mistake not the original, because i have the rediant rider waite which is the most clear one and its the same as the original when it comes to the lion
Interesting, thanks!
I just bought both of those decks three days ago
This King of Pentacles feels like a hoarding situation here 😳
I just watched a video showing the original Pam A and Pam B. There is no question in my mind that the Original RWS here was based on the Original Pam B. Colors and line work. Although I’m sure the card stock was better on that original edition. The card stock on this Original reproduction is complete crap. Anyone choosing between these two, there is no comparison. If you are going to have one deck, choose the Centennial Edition. Great colors, great card stock, full on Pam A Original line work.
Can you do a comparison video for the original rider waite deck and the u.s games rider waite deck?
I think both of these decks are pretty poor. I borrowed an original PAM-A deck (or most of one) some time back (in order to scan it for somebody) and, believe me, the original cards aren't in any way brown or sepia. The greys (e.g. in the lettering panels) are a mid-grey, for example. Just because something is old doesn't mean it has to be sepia! The effect is bad enough on the Centennial but is laughable on the Original (I call the packs "brown" and "browner"). I think Kaplan just took scans of the cards into Photoshop Elements and hit the "make it look old" button.
Additionally, the blues are all swung around to look more turquoise that the originals, and, bizarrely some of the colour fills are more uneven/patchy than those on the original PAM-A deck, like he's applied a "make it patchy" effect as well. For example, look at the bottom PCS lettering background on The Fool card you show in the Original deck (5:57, on the right). Why is it all patchy like that? It isn't like that on the original cards. Similarly, the Centennial Hermit (7:52, on the left). Why is the background all grainy like that? The original PAM-A card is a bit grainy, but nothing like that.
So, basically, despite these two botched attempts from US Games, we are still awaiting for a proper reproduction/fascimile of a PAM-X deck.
Thanks for sharing your opinion! I can understand the frustration with "brown" and "browner" haha. It's simply an aesthetic preference of mine that I like the "brown" look. But I would love to have a true facsimile of the originals.
I wanted to know if the copyright bothers you while using this deck?
... hi, and thank you. Want to purchase a first deck ... you've sold me on the Centennial edition, but can you confirm : is the Centennial Edition included in the Commemorative boxed set ? The cards are one and the same ? btw lovely accent... Irish, I believe ?
The color saturation of this video, like others, is set too high. Even scanned images found online have been altered as such. These editions are not this vibrant in person, especially the Centennial Edition (both versions of the CE are actually very faded and dull, moreso with the smaller stand-alone deck).
I was wondering about that. To me the "Original " deck , on the right , has deeply saturated reds. This was particularly evident on the Six of Swords, but she never even mentioned the red on that card.
Thank you for this, going for the centinental version. Also, what's the best version or your favorite?
Any change you'd be able to flip through the AGM A.E Waite deck alongside the Centennial?
does the commemorative set come with a colored pictorial key full book with color, im trying to look for a deck that comes with a great book for symbolism and meaning explanation, Any advice would be greatly appreciated thanks in advance.
Sorry for the late response - unfortunately not! Or at least, not as far as I recall.
Are these tarot sized or playing card size? I bought a deck and it’s playing card size, does this matter?
Do you personally do readings for people online? I ask because I would be interested. Thanks.
the images of the original rider waite are based from the Pam C images. the only thing original about is the lily and rose backs.
What kind of flower is on the back of the Centennial? Is it the same flower as the one on the reaper's flag?
The flower in a rose ,in the style of a Tudor rose. It is the same as on the Death card.
Does the centinnel deck contain any instruction manual for reading the cards in it?
As far as I recall, not much beyond the standard little white book. There was a booklet with information as far as I remember, but I think mostly about the history of the deck, and I haven't seen it in a long time so I may have mislaid it!
The fool on the original is a bit more chubbier than the Centennial. The image probably passed through some computerized process to be like that.
I bought the centennial. It's very good. But I want other versions too. Like the Universal and The Original.
I'm very attached to this deck.
U are totally correct, the so called *Original RWS Deck* has nothing to do wid the original. Its color scheme is sooo oversaturated orangish - bright yellowish kind 😑
Please can u provide me the link for the IMAGES of tht 1909 RWS deck, I tried finding original color scheme pics, but couldn't find much of the cards 🙏 please or can u email them to me
Please NOTE: since this video was made, there has been a flooding on the market via eBay a ton of cheaper knock-off decks illegally printed in China. Please when you buy the Centennial deck, go directly through US Games to ensure you are not buying a cheap knock-off using stolen artwork. Going directly through US Games (or your local metaphysical shop that orders directly from US Games) is the only way to protect our beloved industry.
BEST TAROT DECK!!!👍👍👍
The fact is the Original Rider Waite deck is an EXACT reproduction THE deck that came out in 1909. Just so everyone will understand that... the ORIGINAL deck with the original coloring - 1909. The colors have NOT been altered, this is the original coloring!!!! The floral background is also the original back. If you do your homework this info is readily available.
+Raven Morrigan This is true, although I prefer the Centennial Edition myself. They both have their merits, artistically speaking.
+Raven Morrigan Is the "Original" deck reproduction off the 1909 version or a little later?
actually, it's not true. the images used for the original rider waite are based on Pam C images.
Diviner Detective you’re very wrong, the centennial edition is one of the closest reproductions to the very first tarot
I have an older rider waite deck I think 1971 .. the details are similar to the centennial here .. I lost the box but but bought it many years ago, I think 1971/2 .. I still love this old deck.. I also have the Radiant and it just does not cut it for me.. nice colours but has lost lots of detail than the older decks / thank you for this as I am looking for a new deck to buy and really not sure which one :) I wont be going for the original that you are mentioning here, what year is this one please .. thanks heaps great video
Hmm I'm not sure, but it's currently in mass production as "the original wider waite"
These 2 decks are copied from two different printings of the Rider deck. The Centennial is a copy of the earlier Pam A from 1910 and the "Original" is Pam B from a later printing from around 1930. Lo Scarabeo has published a copy of the 1930 edition which is nicely drawn. And the first printing in 1993 of the "Original" is a better printing than the later editions like the one you have. So basically the Centennial and the Original are apples and oranges since they are copies of two different editions from the early 20th century.
Probably this is old news to you but I thought I'd throw in my two cents.
A fellow RWS geek,.....Anne
UGH the copyright ruins it
thank youuuu
Centennial looks like a painting. Original looks like MS Paint
I regretted buying the original Rider waite which was so inferior to the Centennial edition... how i wished I watched this video earlier 😢
19:07 Go away 3 of Swords! haha
is the Centennial card stock a good thickness or is it thin and flimsy?
Very good quality, I would say a little thicker than the "original" rider waite shown here (though I don't have the regular RWS that most people own)
to me, I think it makes them harder to read if you're a beginner. I don't like the original. It should have been the actual artwork and her actual writings on the cards at the bottom but are not. Original should be like her original work so it's In my opinion it's far from it and is misleading to a new comer to the history and cards.
I *Love* Your Spread Cloth! :)
The orangy skin colour on the Original look so horrible and weird !
too bad no one can see the cards because your hand is in the picture all of the time what are u doing ?