Tarot de A.E. Waite Pocket Blue Edition Spanish - the Rider-Waite in pocket size
There are dozens of pocket tarot decks on the market, but not all of them are worth your time. This one is. The Tarot de A.E. Waite Pocket Blue Edition is a faithful reproduction of the original 1909 Rider-Waite, scaled down to a portable format without losing the symbolism.
The deck is published by AGM Urania and is fully in Spanish. All 78 cards are included, from The Fool to the Ten of Pentacles. Pamela Colman Smith's illustrations remain intact, including the rich detail in the Minor Arcana.
What you see on the cards
The cards are printed on sturdy cardstock with a matte finish. This means they do not stick together when shuffling and fingerprints do not show. The size of 57 x 89 mm sits comfortably in your hand, even with smaller hands.
The colours are the same as in the classic edition: soft yellow, blue, green and white dominate. The lines are sharp enough to see all symbols clearly, even at this smaller size.
The cards come in a sturdy blue storage box that protects without taking up much space. The guidebook is compact but contains explanations for each card and a few standard spreads.
Why this format works
A pocket deck is practical. It fits in a coat pocket, a handbag, a backpack. You can take it to a café, a park, a train journey. It takes up no space, but you lose nothing in content.
Many people use a pocket deck as a second copy alongside their standard version. The large deck stays at home, the small one comes along. Other people prefer to work with small cards all the time because they are easier to handle.
Draw a card in the morning and carry the deck in your pocket for the rest of the day. When you have a moment halfway through the day, take the card out again. That works better than reading once and putting it away.
About Arthur Edward Waite and Pamela Colman Smith
Arthur Edward Waite was a British mystic and author who commissioned a new tarot deck in 1909. He wanted a system that was more accessible than the esoteric decks common at the time.
Pamela Colman Smith was given the task of drawing the cards. Her most important contribution was that she also gave the Minor Arcana full scenes instead of just the traditional symbols. This made the deck readable for people without years of study.
The Rider-Waite deck became the standard. Almost every modern tarot deck refers to it, either by adopting the symbolism or by deliberately deviating from it.
Specifications
- Number of cards: 78 (22 Major Arcana, 56 Minor Arcana)
- Card size: 57 x 89 mm
- Finish: matte cardstock
- Language: Spanish (cards and guidebook)
- Publisher: AGM Urania
- Packaging: sturdy blue box
- Guidebook: yes, with card meanings and spreads
- Illustrator: Pamela Colman Smith
- Designer: Arthur Edward Waite
Questions we often get
Are the images as detailed as in the standard edition?
Yes. The cards are scaled down, but all symbolism is preserved. The lines are sharp and the colours are the same as in the classic version.
Is this deck suitable for beginners?
Yes. The Rider-Waite is the most widely used tarot deck in the world and almost all tarot books and courses are based on it. The guidebook contains basic explanations and spreads.
