Tiny Universal Waite (mini mini) - full tarot at 38 x 67 mm
This is not a novelty. This is a working tarot deck of 78 cards, printed in a format so small it fits in a coin pocket. The Universal Waite symbolism, all the details, the complete system of Major and Minor Arcana, on cards no bigger than a postage stamp.
The deck is published by U.S. Games Systems, the official custodian of the Rider-Waite tradition. The print is sharp. Colours and lines are preserved. You see the wand of the Magician, the lantern the Hermit holds, the dog at the feet of the Fool. Everything is there, just much smaller.
Why this format works
Most people who buy this deck do not use it as their only deck. They take it with them. In a jacket pocket, a wash bag, a small backpack. It is about access.
Some draw a daily card on the go. Others place it beside a larger deck to clarify a card they have drawn. The format forces you to look differently: less space means more focus on what is actually there.
Shuffling takes some getting used to. The cards are so small you cannot fan them like a standard deck. Many people lay them on a table and slide them around, or hold the stack in both hands and let cards jump across.
What you see on the cards
The imagery is that of Pamela Colman Smith, unchanged. The same figures, the same compositions, the same symbolism that became the standard for nearly all modern tarot decks in 1909.
The colours are slightly softer than in the standard Rider-Waite, leaning more toward yellow and beige. That comes from the Universal Waite colouring, developed in the 1970s to make the cards clearer. At this small format it gives calm.
Lay a few cards next to each other on a white sheet of paper. The small format makes you see patterns and connections between cards faster than with a larger deck.
Who this deck works for
This deck is made for people who already know how tarot works. There is no guidebook. The cards stand on their own.
It works well for people who already own another Rider-Waite based deck and want a travel version. Collectors also pick up this deck because of the format, which is unique within the U.S. Games catalogue.
Not everyone finds this format comfortable to work with. If you have trouble with small details or prefer large, clear cards to lay out, choose a standard format.
About Arthur Edward Waite and Pamela Colman Smith
Arthur Edward Waite was a British mystic and member of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. He designed a tarot system in the early 1900s based on esoteric and Christian symbolism.
Pamela Colman Smith drew the cards. She was the first to apply full scenes to all 78 cards, including the Minor Arcana. That made the deck usable for intuitive reading, without prior knowledge of Kabbalistic systems.
U.S. Games Systems holds the rights and produces several variants, including this miniature version.
Specifications
- Number of cards: 78
- Size: 38 x 67 mm (ultra-compact)
- Finish: Matte card stock
- Publisher: U.S. Games Systems, Inc.
- Language: English
- Guidebook: Not included
- Illustrations: Pamela Colman Smith
- Design: Arthur Edward Waite
Questions we often get
Are the cards still readable at this size?
Yes. The print is sharp enough to see all the important symbols and colours. Details like facial expressions or small background elements are smaller, but recognisable.
Is there a guidebook included?
No. This deck contains only the 78 cards. For meanings you can use any standard Rider-Waite guidebook, the symbolism is identical.
