A New Appreciation for an Old Deck

[@FelipeZahta]

Lovely comparison video! In regards to the different versions you mentioned, there are 5 (I think): 1. The ORIGINAL one, published in 1909-1910, featuring Smith's original linework and the publisher's original coloring (Pamela never did the coloring). I think no modern version reproduces this original one. 2. Pam A, published a couple of years later by the same publisher (Rider & Son), featuring the same linework with subtle differences and a different coloring. This is the one the Centennial is based on, with a vintage filter of course. 3. Pam B, published in the 1910's-1920's by Rider & Son, featuring a new linework created by the publishers themselves based on the original drawings by Smith, but with a lot of differences, including a new coloring. This is the one the "Original Pack" one is based on. It is a complete redraw of the cards done by someone else. 4. Pam C, a reproduction of Pam A, published during the 1920's with some subtle differences in the linework and coloring. 5. Pam D, a reproduction of Pam B, published during the 1920's-1930's with some subtle differences in linework and coloring. The thing is: The closest material we have today to the original "Original" are the Pam A-based decks - the Centennial, the Pamela Colman Smiths RWS and the Tarot Vintage. Even though the colors are different, these 3 decks use the original drawings preserved by the old Pam A version. Remember that Smith never did the colors, so there's no right or wrong coloring. But there's an original linework (Pam A, etc.) and the redrawn linework (Pam B, Pam D & the "Original Pack"). For more information about the Rider-Waite-Smith deck history, visit this amazing website: waitesmith.org/

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

Fantastic information, thank you so much. I am fascinated by the whole progression of this deck over the years. So interesting. :)

[@FelipeZahta]

@@DawnMichelleTarot My pleasure! Yes, the progression and changes of this deck over the years are a very interesting topic for sure.

[@sashar7273]

So interesting! This has confirmed that for me, the Centennial is the only one I need. The way the Tarot Vintage mixes colour and monochrome is really cool though.

[@haleygoins6308]

This is exactly the video I needed to help me decide which deck to buy, thank you! So helpful to see the color variations all next to each other rather than hoping online product photos were accurately showing the saturation. Looking forward to using my Centennial deck when it comes in!

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

I’m so glad you found it helpful! Thank you for watching. 🥰

[@jennyfer_rebecca]

Totally not boring or a snoozfest. Loved seeing all of these side by side. I don’t think I’d ever seen the Vintage Tarot in a walkthrough before - I really like that one. I had the washed out one - I liked it but ended up gifting it out. I think I’m going to get all my RWS out and do a side by side too. Thanks for the video - it was super enjoyable to watch😊

[@MJ-sv1qt]

I love my Tarot Vintage. For me, it’s the perfect combination of vintage muted colorations with pops of color.

[@mattkiraly9869]

I like it too. It's actually the only version where Pixie's art looks appealing to me.

[@MJ-sv1qt]

@@mattkiraly9869 Yes, I completely agree with you.

[@straycat4427]

The rose on the back is called the Rose of Tudor or Tudor Rose or The Red Rose of the House of Tudor. My first tarot deck was a RWS that I found in a junk store in 1973. I have no idea where it is now....bummer. I do enjoy collecting vintage RWS clones like Albano, University Press, etc., but I don't own any current versions of the deck. Out of these 4 I definitely like the most saturated one. Thank you for the nice review!

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

Tudor, I don't know why I couldn't remember that. Thank you so much! :)

[@melissabrooks9680]

I really enjoyed this! I was between all of these decks and at first I thought the vintage was “ok” but wanted to love it online. Now comparing to all together I’m in love of the vintage tarot- the blues really pop and is gorgeous. I love the tissue look and its subtle, the borders aren’t white too I love Thank you!

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

I’m so glad you found it helpful! 🥰

[@WinterWitchTarot]

So with the “1909 Original” deck the line work is actually from a redrawing of Pixie’s artwork (which is called the Pam B). The Centennial, The Gray edition, and the Tarot Vintage all have Pixie’s true artwork and how you can tell it is Pixie’s true artwork is by looking at The Sun card. If you look up next to the Roman numeral on the right side of The Sun card, there is an extra black line (lovingly called the “Oh, crap” squiggle), that is a mistake done by Pixie herself and was just left there (this version is what’s called Pam A). Also, the sunflower under the red flag has seeds on it, while the 1909 Original does not. But it seems like that black squiggle and the sunflower seeds were added to the 1909 Original. Also, on the Tarot Vintage the flowers of the woman on the 9 of Pentacles has been removed (not sure why). But that’s how you can differentiate Pixie’s true artwork from other versions/artwork of the RWS.

[@appleoak3589]

The squiggle line is not a mistake. Everyone thinks that it is but it has a meaning.

[@WinterWitchTarot]

@@appleoak3589 Oh, okay. I also thought about that as well. But good to know 😎 do you know it’s meaning?

[@appleoak3589]

@@WinterWitchTarot Yes :) The clue is to count the rays of the sun card.

[@WinterWitchTarot]

@@appleoak3589 Okay, I am mind blown! I counted twice just to be sure and yep.. 22 sun rays 😎💯🫠🫢

[@appleoak3589]

@@WinterWitchTarot Then the next clue is one major arcana card is kind of different to all the others. That card is represented by the wavey black line 😊 Glad you like the riddle lol

[@ThatBarbGirl]

I loved all 43 minutes and 43 seconds of this! 💙

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

Oh I'm so glad! I was afraid I was gonna put people to sleep, but I enjoyed it either way. :)

[@reamce]

The Original and The Centennial decks are facsimile decks (photographs of the original decks) from the collection of Stuart R. Kaplan. The ORIGINAL uses a copy of the PAM C line work (check the sun card to identify) and the rose and lily backs from the first ever 1904 printing. The Centennial is photographed from the Pam A crackle back deck. The recent Pamela Coleman Smith deck is a digital construction that uses the Pam A line work and the muted colors are a digital invention. Same for the "Vintage" deck - it's just someone with a computer trying to come up with a "cool" product that folks will buy. For an excellent example of the PAM B deck (an actual photographed facsimile) purchase the "Tarot Original 1904" from Lo Scarabeo. If you purchase the PAM B buy the stand alone, non-kit version as the card stock is typical of Lo Scarabeo and you will be able to shuffle it. The kit version is printed on thicker, stiffer and laminated stock and you would dislike the way it shuffles. As far as I am aware there is not a Pam D deck for sale in a mass market edition. The only deck in this video with an "original" back is the blue rose and lily. The "vintage" digital deck has photoshopped the rose and lily back to the black, off white and red color scheme. The other backs are modern inventions.

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

Thank you so much for the information, that is so helpful! :)

[@DaraDione]

Thoroughly enjoyed the comparison and your ramble. :) I have the Centennial and really love Pixie’s artwork, but now I want one or the other of the muted colorations, just have to decide which one! LOL Thanks so much!

[@toadstooltarot]

I enjoyed this. Initially I came to collect many versions in search of the one that perfectly resonated with me in terms of authenticity to Pam's original intent. But I've expanded my collection to include more than a dozen variations in color, texture and line quality.

[@starlaburst]

i don’t like rws decks, but the grayish Pamela Colman Smith deck was the most appealing in the bunch. looking at the color differences during the flip through was so satisfying to watch

[@cordeliasbs32]

oh my. exactly the video I was looking for. thanks so much for how careful and thorough you are!

[@greylady1958]

The Original RW is my favourite version. It's been my ride or die deck for many years

[@careerchangewithpurpose]

Great video! My #1 fave, go-to RWS is my Centennial Borderless. I actually have the little mini Centennial in a Tin too for my purse! Thank you for doing this because this still confirmed my preference for the Centennial as my #1. It just seems to have a nice balance between a muted, classic, older look (compared to others) and really clean lines for clarity of details and symbols. And the backs are my fave too! The "Original" one has nice color but IMO loses a WEE bit of crispness and clarity in faces and details, and the 2nd from the right just kind of looks a little bleached out and duller to me. But the Vintage actually does look very interesting and antique-y and I may check that one out! Thanks! 🙏 (Also I actually have a VERY bright RWS deck called "The Original Tarot Deck" with brown backs and a linen finish that is not the "Original" one here, so I wonder which is the original "Original"? LOL 😂)

[@Untitled_Coffee_Art]

Well, I finally picked my RWS - The Pamela Coleman Smith thanks to this video. Yeah, I that darker rose back is the nicest of the bunch p.s. happy world tarot day!!!! I saw the suits next to the youtube logo lol

[@jamielinell]

Love my Centennial deck…it was my first and still my favorite that I use daily!

[@kashikitsune8724]

Im 7 months late in responding to this video as I just now came across it. But for an RWS nerd like myself this was a true joy to watch. My favorite back is actually the original blue and white roses and lilies design. Because that was from the very first printing of the deck in 1909 and I just adore it. However I also love the lo scarabeo tarot vintage back as well. Anyway....I am off to go watch more of your videos. I'm glad I came across your channel!

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

How fun! I am so glad you did too and I do hope you enjoy my other videos. :)

[@SilverCrowTarot]

I don't own a RWS deck but I'm really tempted to buy the Vintage deck now. Thanks for this side by side!

[@deelovesdave1977]

Thanks for sharing. I have the Universal (My fav) Centennial, Origional, Radiant and have backed Moon Baby 2nd edition. It took me a while to find my perfect RWS but when I got the Universal in my hands I just knew. I've had the Vintage on wishlist for a while and like others not sure I'd never seen a walk through side by side like this before. The Vintage is my next RWS purchase for sure 😊

[@angelaschredl9245]

Thanks for showing the differences in the decks. I liked it. I own one tiny deck of the original RWS. I don't work with it right, I use it for study references. I saw the tarot vintage in another video before and I really liked this version. These kind of old made cards with the pops of color speak to me. And yes, the backs are the most gorgeous ones, although I really don't care about the backs.

[@Arignon]

That was actually really interesting and not boring at all. It really is fun to see how different the same deck can look.

[@AnnieDusk]

RWS comparisons are cool!! I like the hues of the greyish one but the fact that it looks squished puts me off a lil bit. I love the quirky versions/clones of the RWS: Albano Waite, Lo Scarabeo's Dirty Pam (the bordered Radiant Wise Spirit), Golden Rider, Edith Waite, the Vintage you're showing... I have no idea why, bit they are precious to me and sometimes I just like taking them out and comparing them just like you did here! Thank you so much for sharing 💖

[@juliambada]

I flipped through my own RWS alongside and the colouration is again different to any of your four. Closest to the Centennial, but without the yellow filter. My personal taste is strong colour rather than the pastel or ‘washed out’ look. I’d probably have to get one of the really strong coloured RWS, that deliberately depart from the original colours, to get me to read regularly with it.

[@Rivercat0338]

Fun video! It's so interesting to see which details pop out of the cards with the different colors. I have the USG Pocket RWS--thought I would opt for Radiant when I went to buy it but my hand went to the Pocket and it's such an energetic and happy little deck that is a joy to shuffle and read.

[@jaywheeler760]

I love the Tarot Vintage. My only nit-pick is that, while they used several different "antiqued" treatments in a random pattern on the fronts, they used the same one across the backs. When you fan the cards, there's a big white stripe across them.

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

Oh interesting, I don’t often fan my cards, but that would bug me too!

[@rainbowwhisperss]

I feel the same way as you about the Thoth and RW tarot decks. I also love Marseille but I rarley work with the Marseille. I work every night with pocket size Radiant Wise Spirit RW deck. :-) Love your videos and lay outs:-)

[@amberglenaman397]

Dawn Michelle, Thank you for the comparison of the your RWS. I have the Centennial version. Which, is funny because I'm not a huge fan of yellow. I though it was the most muted version available. Thanks to you, and your video, I now know my error. All my best, Amber

[@lovejoyy]

I thoroughly enjoyed the whole video as I edged one of my decks. Not boring at all, though I have always been a nerd in one way or another. Man, I NEED to get me that Tarot Vintage by Lo Scar. It is beautiful. It’s calling meeeee. Next paycheck 😂 Thank you so much for filing this. It is so useful and entertaining.

[@truthinshadowdeed925]

This was cool.I have the Bicentennial in a tin.I really like the Pamela Coleman Smith.im glad you talked and didn't play music..

[@GeraldineJayne]

This is so timely. For the past few days I've contemplated just owning one deck... the original RWS. I moved onto a boat and need to downsize anyway, but my main reason is I want to use tarot for creative inspiration. The symbolism is important to me, so colour is a biggy. I love that you compared the RWS to being more earthly and the Thoth more the higher self/realms. This makes me think now that I will get myself two decks; one for both. I think the original is super saturated but good for symbolism, whereas the others are more aesthetically pleasing but lack clear colour symbolism. For my personal use anyway. Thank you for creating such a timely video! 🙏

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

I think having an RWS and a Thoth is great because they represent both sides of the spectrum and everything in between (at least for me.) I would totally agree about the colorations, the original RWS is probably the best because it holds the original intention... but I do enjoy a pretty color palette too. :)

[@oldsoulmermaid1543]

I acquired the Moon Baby Tarot last year and that got me excited to work with an RWS deck. I just got the Tarot Vintage and I love that! I prefer it over my Centennial copy.

[@AmethystAscensionTarot]

This is so visually stimulating 💖

[@lauriemadsen9051]

This was fun! I'm surprised by how much I like the Tarot Vintage! (I'm generally a bright colors person.) The interesting tea-dye texture of the backgrounds with those bright contrasting pops of color is really wonderful! Plus, no copyright on fronts/backs and a great box...yeah, pretty sure I'll be snagging that one at some point and taking the Borderless Centennial off my wishlist (and perhaps re-homing my Radiant Wise Spirit because that cardstock finish is so bad and has scratched and scuffed despite little use). If you want to go full nerdy on the RWS, Simon at the Hermit's Cave seems like the place to be! He did a top "10 favorites of the RWS" that I watched a couple of years back, and it blew my mind! (I had no idea so many versions were out there until watching that!) One of his favorites is the CS Tarot (available on MPC) and I think that coloration/varied, vibrant crackling effect is pretty amazing!

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

I think I watched that one when it came out, but I should give it another go. I will probably have a new appreciation for it. :)

[@anne111963]

I loved this, it wasn't boring at all, if anything I now need the Pamela Coleman smile one Love it.. My favorite too. :)

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

I am so glad you enjoyed it! I think the Pamela deck is still my favorite but I’m enjoying the vintage one too. 😀

[@restingwitchfacetarot605]

I ADORE the coloring for the Pamela Coleman smith one. Between that and my travel deck (the neo rider love, which is a copper and pink plastic deck) I am pretty set on decks with Pixi’s artwork IMO. I NEVER thought I would like the OG RWS deck until I saw the Pamela Coleman smith one because the vibrant colors of the Centennial are too much for me, visually. I also ADORE grey tones and am currently edging my Pamela Coleman smith deck in a “dirty, greyed and beiged out dusty blue” kind of aged color scheme with some distressing on the edges to help with the vintage look.

[@MichelleMontemayor]

For an actual clone I have the 1909, I think Simon recommended it, at least in the video I watched, to be the closest to the original. Don’t quote me though!! 😂 I believe the art is scanned and has some minimal clean up but no changes. On the deck it says it is an art restoration. I do love being able to see the texture from the paper in this deck. Of the true clones it is my favorite for being able to appreciate the art, instead of interpretations of the original art. Seeing it in person is easier to see the details versus videos, from what I can tell. Check out 1909, you might like. Colorwise it is a mix of semi bright yellows with more of a muted blue and lovely neutral greys. There is a natural vintage look because they are scanned images. Plus lots of beautiful textures from the original paper and you can see the different techniques Pamela used for shading and creating depth.

[@ketchupwitfriesplz7545]

I just thoroughly enjoy all your videos and this included. Thanks for showing us your vintage RWS decks. I love all of them!❤️ Like you, I prefer the original artwork and would rather not have details removed...

[@paperstorycraft]

I’m so happy you’ve done this. I have the Pam one. I like the coloring. It’s enough color to give detail but also doesn’t hurt my head during migraines. I wish it came smaller. Might email US Games and ask if they would consider it.

[@AzkabanGang765]

Very nice decks 😁😁

[@the_buddhist_witch]

I can't believe you did this video! I literally spent an hour today looking at different rws decks for one of my sisters. Such auspicious timing! Thank you, this was helpful. 🖤

[@Amalkavs]

I never liked rws but when I discovered Radiant waite and radiant wise spirit my whole appreciation for the deck changed. I now like every single RWS 🤭 I still prefer Thoth and Marseille.

[@ScholarBot]

I have the RWS pack on the far left, but I think the Tarot Vintage looks best to me! I really appreciated looking at the different version through a designer's eyes; like I wouldn't have noticed the Wheel had you not mentioned it. As for your question on the integrity of Pixie's art? Yeah, that's a helluva question. My short answer: Unless the color was symbolically significant (I legit don't know), I'd argue it's still Pixie's art. Long Answer: I'd say it depends on your perspective. The art is split between Pixie and whoever reproduces the deck. She supplied the art, US Games or Lo Scaraeo make small changes to fit the market in the moment. For a less critical answer, I think that for as long as we always acknowledge her art, it outweighs US Games' ownership of that art... Or you can claim Death of the Author (or in this case, Artist) and make of it what you're drawn to, regardless of Pixie's intentions. ...I'm sure there's a middle ground in there, somewhere. 🤔 Thanks a ton for sharing this!

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

So interesting, thank you so much for sharing your perspective. I'm just always curious what other people think about that kind of thing. :)

[@saltyred9164]

Watched the whole thing. Enjoyed it as well

[@saltyred9164]

You have a flare of creativity that is fun to participate in

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

Thank you so much! I really enjoy sharing what I'm up to with these types of videos. :)

[@saltyred9164]

@@DawnMichelleTarot so glad you do

[@NYCHFAN]

Love Smith/Waite decks. Every single thing drawn on the card means something! I'm taking a class on the symbolism in the Major Arcana right now. That being said, I am also learning pip deck reading which is a bit different. I love both, and look forward to becoming a better reader as time goes on. The SW deck has sent me exploring down different paths, and for that, it will always hold a place in my heart. Love this video! ❤️❤️ PS, I nerd out with decks like this, too. Especially with size and shuffling as my hands don't work so well anymore due to arthritis and autoimmune issues. Showing how decks shuffle, and their size is very important to me. 🔮🪄

[@bee_mailey]

As far as I'm aware, the "Original" on the left is a copy of a 'Pam C' and the Centennial is a copy of a 'Pam A' if I'm not mistaken. Hopefully someone can correct me if I'm wrong. I still dig the Centennial best though as it adheres to Pixie's supposed original colours fairly closely without being garish, has more muted natural colours compared to the current standard yellow box version (and the Original to some extent with its green skies), and it has cleaner linework than the Original. I also love the vintage style printing made up of dots in the Centennial. The PCS RWS is too anaemic in its colouring for me. I don't know anything about the Vintage but its certainly not my cup of tea haha! Great Comparison, thank you!😊

[@SN-sz7kw]

Thank you!

[@sherrimclain1561]

i have two rws tarot. and i have the ultimate guide to tarot by dean. and the designs in the clothing usually hold a meaning. even though i do like the ventage, but it could take away from the meaning of pixis work. I guess it would really boil down to how you read tarot. also, i love your videos!

[@MichelleMontemayor]

My favorite clone (not an exact clone in any way), which is based on the hoi polloi from the 70’s, is Moon Baby. I love it and it is the only RWS I actually love. It says the original was marketed to children so maybe that is why it caught my eye.

[@jennyamery4357]

Oooh how about using three decks in a past/present/future type spread. So pick a card for the past which would be the most washed out version (it looks like watching a black and white tv to me!), then choose whichever 2 decks would suit present and future and pick a card for each... my idea kind of being the past is past so it's all grey and done or like watching an old movie, and as we progress through time things begin to become more brighter and clearer... just a stupid thought I had while watching this. I must say the centennial and original are the best colour wise for me personally, I'm not a fan of the washed out, but then I guess it adds different meanings to the cards if your going by colour

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

That would be so fun! I might have to try that. Thank you for the suggestion.

[@rabenglanz8097]

Thank you for the video. I love my Centennial. Sorry, my English is not so good, but the first line in the white book says: “The Smith-Waite Centennial Tarot Deck faithfully reproduces the original 1909 tarot deck … .” Therefore, I‘m not so sure if they used a yellow filter. Maybe the deck actually looks like this?

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

Oh that could be. I'll have to look into it. Thank you!

[@user-vy3lx2jp8mPatty]

Love my vintage deck by Lo scarabeo

[@PrinceXSuperstar]

I have the centenial borderless edition. I want to love it more than I do but even though the cardstock is perfectly shufflabe (is that a word?), but the thickness of the deck makes it hard for me to hold on to (hello?! Small hands here!). I have been flirting with the idea of the Tarot Vintage for a while (so damn pretty 😍), would you recommend it, knowing what my problem is?

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

The Tarot Vintage shuffles pretty well too and it is a bit smaller than the Centennial. I think the easiest one to shuffle is the Pamela one. If a smaller size is more important, I'd go with the Vintage. But if it card flexibility matters more, then the Pamela deck. However, both are an easier shuffle than the Centennial so I don't think you can go wrong with either. :) Hope that helps!

[@PrinceXSuperstar]

I'm sorry... I realized at the end of the video that my question was answered. The thing with smaller decks is that they're not necessarily easier to shuffle if the cardstock is on the thucker side. For exemple, the Everyday Tarot was a rock. I litteraly had to beat it up to make it work! 😅

[@dreaming.willow]

I have both Borderless and Vintage as well as small hands! I would recommend Vintage do to size. I’m fact it’s my go to RWS.

[@PrinceXSuperstar]

@Dreaming Willow thank you SO MUCH for your reply. It is super helpful.🧡

[@m0rdresh]

Esthetically I like the Tarot Vintage edition, the color selection and consistency is plainly gorgeous. However, I am such a buff for authenticity and historical accuracy (when it comes to the art Pamela Smith intended) so decided not to buy the Vintage edition and keep rocking my Centennial edition. It's really hard though to find the perfect deck for oneself, there is always something that put's me off from having the ultimate deck; if not photoshop or drawing changes, it's color alteration, of none of those it's the back of the cards, or the card size or cardstock ;)

[@juliepapineau167]

I have the vintage of Lo Sca and the centennial. Love them both. But the blue in the vintage like in the hermit card....WoW.

[@Lisa_Papez]

The irony of you making this video when I'm about to 'trim down' my already very limited selection of RWS and similar decks is just..... 🤣🤣🤣

[@rhondairelandquiroz1070]

Question- Couldn't the different shades (warm colors vs. cool colors) play into your emotions and readings? Just curious, but to me it seems that it could influence the results. I have 3 out of the 4 decks you are showing here (don't own the Pamela Colman deck "yet"). Looking at them side by side convinced me to comment in regard to how colors/shades can perhaps shift the results. ???

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

Oh for sure! I often work with color in my readings and so I think it certainly effects the mood and and can shift the emotional landscape of a reading. :)

[@whalesong813]

RWS is not my favorite art style for tarot but when I see them compared in this manner I have a new appreciation for Pixie's art!. I have 1 RWS deck and I do use it often as a study deck and I keep it in order too. It is actually the plastic version, by US games plaid back. Which holds up to anything lol. My favorites out of these four that you have shown, are the Original Rider Waite Set and Pamela Colman Smith's RWS deck. The coloration on both is so different and lovely. I might just invest in another RWS in a coloration I find more appealing to actually use and see how it goes. I guess I wasn't aware there was such a difference in Pixie's decks-though I should have been with all the knowledge available.

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

I didn't realize how different they all were either until I put them all together like this. It was so much fun! I've actually been working with them this month so I'll report back on my thoughts in my monthly reflections. :)

[@whalesong813]

@@DawnMichelleTarot I will be looking forward to it :)

[@TheDodoshwedo]

@17:14 Why is that woman's face green? (in the Centennial)

[@DawnMichelleTarot]

Some weird recoloring maybe?

[@AzkabanGang765]

Very nice decks 😁😁