Original Tarot Cards: A Guide to the Classic Rider-Waite

When you search for original tarot cards, one deck appears more than any other: the Rider-Waite. But while it’s widely considered the classic, it isn't the oldest. This common point of confusion often leaves beginners wondering where to start and why this specific deck holds such a legendary status in a rapidly growing field.

The Rider-Waite-Smith deck, first published in 1909, revolutionized tarot with its fully illustrated minor arcana, making its rich symbolism accessible to everyone, not just esoteric scholars. Its artwork became the universal language for modern tarot, establishing a visual and interpretive foundation that nearly every contemporary deck builds upon. Understanding its history is not just an academic exercise; it is the key to unlocking the meaning behind the cards and the entire system of tarot itself.

This guide clarifies the story behind the classic Rider-Waite deck and its essential role as the starting point for any tarot reader. Let's explore the artwork, symbolism, and enduring legacy that make it the true original for the modern era.

What is The Original Tarot Deck? A Tale of Two Originals

When newcomers ask, "what is the original tarot deck?" the answer is more complex than it first appears. The term "original" can point to two very different, yet equally significant, decks in tarot history. Understanding this distinction is the first step in choosing the right deck for your journey, as one is a priceless piece of Renaissance art, while the other is the foundational tool that shaped modern tarot as we know it today.

The Oldest Surviving Tarot Deck: Visconti-Sforza

The earliest and most complete set of tarot cards known to exist is the Visconti-Sforza deck. Created in the 15th century for the Duke of Milan, these cards were less a divination tool and more a masterpiece of Italian Renaissance art, likely used for a card game called Trionfi. They are breathtakingly beautiful, featuring hand-painted figures in period clothing, often embellished with real gold leaf.

However, for a modern beginner, this deck presents a major challenge. While the Major Arcana cards (like The Fool and The Magician) are illustrated, the Minor Arcana—the numbered cards of the four suits—are not. A "Three of Swords" in this deck simply shows three swords, offering little symbolic imagery to help a reader interpret its meaning. It is historically the oldest surviving deck, but it is not the functional "original" that most aspiring readers seek to learn from.

The Modern Foundation: Original Rider-Waite Tarot

For the vast majority of people searching for original tarot cards, the answer is the Original Rider-Waite Tarot. First published in 1909, this deck was a radical departure from everything that came before it. It is considered the original tarot deck of the modern era because it was the first to feature fully illustrated narrative scenes on all 78 cards, including the Minor Arcana. This single innovation transformed tarot from an esoteric game for the elite into an accessible tool for intuition and self-reflection, shifting the focus from simple prediction to deeper personal insight.

This deck, often called the Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS) deck, established the symbolic language that nearly all contemporary tarot decks are built upon. Its rich, evocative artwork provides a visual story for every card, making it profoundly intuitive for beginners. While the Visconti-Sforza is the historical ancestor, the Rider-Waite is the true progenitor of the modern tarot tradition, and its creation marked a pivotal moment in the history of esoteric arts.

A Brief History of the Original Rider-Waite Tarot

The enduring legacy of the Rider-Waite deck is a testament to the unique collaboration between its creators. It wasn't simply a commercial product; it was a carefully constructed esoteric system designed to unlock deeper layers of meaning. Its revolutionary design choices are the reason it remains the gold standard over a century later, blending mystical tradition with psychological depth.

The Visionaries: Arthur Edward Waite and Pamela Colman Smith

The deck was conceived by Arthur Edward Waite, a prominent British occultist and member of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, a secret society dedicated to the study of paranormal and metaphysical subjects. Waite was the project's director, providing the esoteric framework, symbolic structure, and detailed instructions for the imagery he wanted to convey, drawing from Kabbalah, astrology, and other mystical traditions.

However, the soul of the deck comes from its artist, Pamela Colman Smith, an immensely talented and intuitive artist affectionately known as "Pixie." It was Smith who translated Waite's complex concepts into the iconic images we know today. Working under a tight deadline in 1909, she created all 78 illustrations, infusing them with a sense of movement, emotion, and narrative depth that was entirely new to tarot. Her contribution was so vital that the deck is now commonly referred to as the Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS) to give her proper credit for her indispensable artistic vision.

A Revolutionary Design

The true genius of the Original Rider-Waite Tarot lies in its treatment of the Minor Arcana. Before this deck, the numbered "pip" cards were plain and non-illustrative, similar to modern playing cards. Waite and Smith's revolutionary decision was to create a unique pictorial scene for every single card, turning abstract numbers into relatable human experiences.

• The Ten of Swords no longer just showed ten swords; it depicted a figure lying face down with ten swords in his back, instantly conveying a sense of betrayal, rock bottom, and finality.
• The Four of Pentacles became a man clutching his coins, a powerful visual metaphor for a scarcity mindset, control, and the preservation of resources.
• The Two of Cups illustrated a man and woman exchanging cups under the watch of a caduceus, a clear symbol of partnership, mutual attraction, and harmonious connection.

This transformation made the tarot accessible to everyone. Readers no longer had to rely solely on memorizing abstract meanings; they could now connect with the story in the artwork, using their own intuition to understand the card's message. This groundbreaking design is precisely why the Rider-Waite became the quintessential classic tarot cards deck for beginners.

Why the Rider-Waite is the Classic Tarot Cards Deck for Beginners

While understanding its history explains its significance, its practical design is what makes it an unparalleled learning tool. For anyone starting their tarot journey, the sheer number of available decks can be overwhelming. Yet, time and again, experienced readers recommend starting with the Original Rider-Waite Tarot. This advice isn't based on nostalgia; it's rooted in the deck's utility in building a solid and lasting foundation for intuitive practice.

Intuitive Symbolism and Artwork

The primary advantage for beginners is the deck's visual directness. Pamela Colman Smith's illustrations are rich with symbolism that is easy to grasp. The posture of the characters, the colors used, and the objects in the scene all work together to tell a story. A beginner can look at the celebratory figures in the Four of Wands or the dejected person in the Five of Cups and immediately understand the card's core emotional energy. This intuitive connection makes the learning process feel less like academic study and more like learning a universal visual language of human experience, useful in everything from self-reflection to creative brainstorming.

A Wealth of Learning Resources

Because the Rider-Waite system is the modern standard, the vast majority of educational resources are based on it. When you purchase an original tarot cards deck for beginners, you are also gaining access to an entire ecosystem of support that accelerates your learning curve.

• Guide Books: Nearly every introductory tarot guide book uses the RWS images and interpretations as its foundation, ensuring your studies align with your cards.
• Online Courses and Videos: Tutorials, walkthroughs, and card-of-the-day explanations overwhelmingly feature this deck, providing endless learning opportunities and making it a reliable source for online guidance.
• Community Support: Online forums, social media groups, and local study circles predominantly discuss the RWS system, making it easy to ask questions and share insights with a global community.

Starting with the Rider-Waite ensures that the book you pick up or the video you watch will align perfectly with the cards in your hands, creating a seamless and supportive learning experience. Once you have mastered this foundational system, you can confidently move on to exploring other decks, recognizing the RWS "DNA" in each one.

Choosing Your First Deck: A Practical Guide

Understanding its value as a learning tool naturally leads to the practical question of how to select the right deck for your practice. This is an exciting part of the process, and a little knowledge can help you make a purchase you'll be happy with for years to come.

What to Look for in an Original Rider-Waite Tarot Deck

Not all reprints are created equal. To ensure you're getting a quality deck that honors the original vision, consider the following:

• Authentic Branding: Look for decks officially licensed and published by U.S. Games Systems, which holds the copyright. The packaging will often say "The Original Rider-Waite Tarot Deck" or "Smith-Waite Tarot Deck."
• Color Palette: The original 1909 printing had a muted, subtle color palette. Many modern versions have been digitally re-colored with brighter, more vibrant hues. There is no right or wrong choice; look at images online and see which artistic style resonates most with you. The "Smith-Waite Centennial Edition" is popular for its faithful, vintage-inspired coloring.
• Cardstock Quality: A good deck should have sturdy, flexible cardstock that is easy to shuffle without bending or creasing. Reviews from other buyers can be very helpful in assessing the physical quality of the cards.

Popular Alternatives to Rider Waite Smith

While the classic RWS is the best place to start, perhaps its art style doesn't speak to you. Fortunately, countless modern decks are based on its structure, making them an excellent alternative to Rider Waite Smith for beginners. These "RWS clones" or "RWS-inspired" decks use the same 78-card system and symbolism but with different artistic themes.

• The Morgan-Greer Tarot: This deck features bold, borderless artwork with a warm, 1970s feel. The close-up perspective on the characters makes the cards feel very personal and emotive.
• The Modern Witch Tarot: This popular deck reimagines the classic RWS scenes in a contemporary, diverse, and fashion-forward urban setting, making it highly relatable for many modern readers.
• The Wild Unknown Tarot: While deviating more in style, this deck uses nature and animal imagery to evoke the core RWS meanings, appealing to those who connect more with the natural world than with human figures.

By choosing a deck that follows the RWS system, you retain access to the wealth of learning resources available while enjoying an aesthetic that you personally connect with.

Conclusion

The search for the "original" tarot deck reveals a crucial distinction between the oldest historical artifact and the true foundation of modern practice. While the 15th-century Visconti-Sforza deck is a priceless work of art, it is the Rider-Waite-Smith deck from 1909 that serves as the functional origin for today’s readers. Its revolutionary decision to illustrate all 78 cards with rich, narrative scenes transformed tarot into an accessible and intuitive tool for introspection and guidance.

For beginners, this deck provides a direct gateway to a rich symbolic language supported by an unparalleled wealth of guidebooks and community resources. Looking ahead, the principles established by the Rider-Waite-Smith deck continue to empower new generations to explore their own consciousness. Whether you choose the classic edition or a modern deck built on its system, you are engaging with a legacy designed for clarity, connection, and self-discovery. The real journey begins not with finding the "original" deck, but with using it as the key to unlock your own intuitive wisdom.