Tarot Vintage - classic Rider-Waite with a muted colour palette
The Rider-Waite deck has been in use for over a century and remains the most widely used tarot system in the world. This Vintage edition changes nothing about that: all 78 cards appear exactly as Pamela Colman Smith illustrated them in 1909, every symbol, every scene, every composition intact. What Lo Scarabeo changed is the colour. The bold primary tones have been shifted to a warmer, quieter palette with a simulated ageing effect.
The result looks like a deck that has passed through many hands over many years. The Fool still stands at the edge of the cliff. The Hanged Man still dangles from his tree. The Ace of Cups still shows the hand emerging from the clouds. Nothing about the symbolism or structure has been altered.
What the difference actually looks like
Anyone familiar with the standard Rider-Waite edition knows those colours: bright yellow, strong red, solid blue. That clarity has its purpose, but can feel harsh over long reading sessions. The Vintage edition reduces the contrast. The simulated wear suggests old letterpress printing without making the illustrations harder to read.
The cards have a smooth matte finish. They shuffle easily and feel sturdy in the hand.
The history behind this deck
British-American occultist Arthur Edward Waite commissioned this deck in 1909, working closely with artist Pamela Colman Smith. Smith made a significant contribution: she gave all 56 Minor Arcana cards their own figurative scenes, not just abstract arrangements of symbols. That decision is why the Rider-Waite system reads intuitively without requiring a list of memorised meanings.
The guidebook included with this Vintage edition was written by Sasha Graham, a tarot author with several published books on the subject.
Already familiar with the Rider-Waite system? Nothing here requires relearning. The Vintage edition gives the same cards a different atmosphere, not a different meaning.
About the creators
Arthur Edward Waite was a British-American occultist and member of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. He designed the system. Pamela Colman Smith, also a member of the Golden Dawn, created all the illustrations. Her choice to give the Minor Arcana figurative scenes was unusual at the time and has shaped the design of most modern tarot decks ever since.
Specifications
- Number of cards: 78
- Card dimensions: 70 x 120 mm
- Guidebook language: English
- ISBN: 9788865277032
- Publisher: Lo Scarabeo
- Design: Arthur Edward Waite
- Illustrations: Pamela Colman Smith
- Guidebook author: Sasha Graham
- Finish: Matte with digital vintage effect
Questions we often get
Is this the same as the standard Rider-Waite deck?
In terms of symbolism and illustrations, yes: every scene and figure is unchanged. The difference is purely in the colours. The Vintage edition uses a muted, aged palette where the standard Rider-Waite uses bright primary colours.
What language is the guidebook in?
The guidebook is in English only. It was written by tarot author Sasha Graham and is included with the cards.
