Favorite RWS versions and/or clones?

[RavenOfSummer]

My oldest deck is a Rider Waite Smith that I bought from the local hippie shop when I was about 15. I never learned to read with it, and when I unearthed it many years later when I was again feeling the call to learn tarot, I couldn't manage to connect with it. (The first deck that I really connected with and therefore learned to read with was Kris Waldherr's Goddess Tarot, which I still love!) Since starting to read I pull out my RWS occasionally to look at the symbolism, but I still don't read with it.

 

But lately...I've been feeling more drawn to the RWS, and I'm wondering if maybe a different version of the deck or perhaps a clone would work better for me. Since a lot of people seem to love and recommend the Smith-Waite Centennial, I was wondering what the differences are, if any, between that and the standard RWS deck? (By standard I mean the one currently sold by U.S. Games, with the crosshatching on the back, in the yellow box.) 

 

Or, are there RWS clones that you love and would recommend? Thanks for your thoughts <3

[NerdyShelties]

I found the centennial version to be very muted dingy and drab, colorwise. It seemed like it was supposed to looked aged but they went too far. Some people really like that of course, but it wasn't my preference. I really like the Universal Waite, and used that for a study deck for a long time. That deck is basically the line art from RWS recolored and softened slightly to better suit modern tastes. IMHO it retains enough of the symbolism to suit as a study deck, but you do lose a few lines here and there. I found it just right for me. The only problem is it is highly glossed, the edition I have anyway, and the cards slip around.

 

[Little Fang]

I too, have the Universal RWS deck.  It's actually my first true RWS I've ever had, and I just adopted it recently from AT.  I like how the gloss makes the images pop, but it's almost too glossy and sometimes I feel myself wanting to shuffle it until it wears a little. 

 

There's almost this inner feeling that I want to collect various RWS versions after I obtained this one, but I'm pretty happy with this one overall.

[Rose Lalonde]

 

I'm down with "dingy and drab" ;) I have the Centennial pocket and like the muted colors.

 

Centennial has been my only RWS, so I can't compare except for scans. But I think the colors you see on the US Games site look true to the cards in person - at least on my monitor.

 

[thorhammer]

I love the Centennial too. I don't know if it still comes in the box set with the book and postcards, but the whole thing is delightful, and the cards...mwah! Really lovely. Good texture, PERFECT size and aspect ratio, better print quality than most USG decks. I like the colour scheme. I tend not to use it because I don't really go in for the RWS "side" (not to say system) of things but despite its status as decorative only, this deck made it through a drastic cull to the collection about eight months ago. It's a keeper.

 

 

Regarding "clones....hmm. That's a hard one, because I think there are a series of definitions of "clone" that occupy a spectrum going from "recoloured but retains semi-original linework" through to "the 3 of Swords means heartbreak therefore it's a clone". I fall somewhere towards the left of this spectrum when defining "clone", so things like the Hoi Polloi, Aquarian, Robin Wood, Hanson Roberts and of course all the recolourings of the RWS are, to me, "clones", while things like Deviant Moon and Victorian Romantic are not.

 

 

Of the ones I'd consider "clones", my favourite is the Hanson Roberts, without a doubt. The artwork is adorable (a couple of munted faces notwithstanding), the card size is really wonderful to use, and if you can get an older printing from before they stopped printing Tarot cards and instead started making nuclear-proof coasters, the cardstock is both indestructible and a joy to shuffle. I've always found that despite its sickly sweet appearance, it has an acerbic voice in readings and I break it out with caution, but have deep respect for its connection to me.

[NerdyShelties]

 

I'm down with "dingy and drab" ;) I have the Centennial pocket and like the muted colors.

 

 

Muted is a much better word, thank you. More descriptive and less of a personal judgement.

 

And thorhammer is correct the cards are really nice, the backs are lovely and the feel of the cards is luxurious. I think I was extra-annoyed that the fronts were so not-for-me because I really wanted to like them.

[RavenOfSummer]

Thanks for the great responses all! Very interesting, I'm looking all these up and noticed that the Universal Waite beloved of Nerdy Shelties and Little Fang and the Hanson-Roberts beloved of Thorhammer are all by the same artist...I had no idea! And now that I've looked at the U.S. Games site I can see what you all mean by the muted colors of the Centennial. Hmm, I still can't decide how I feel about it. I want to see one in person. Maybe I'll come across one second-hand or in a trade.

 

Regarding "clones....hmm. That's a hard one, because I think there are a series of definitions of "clone" that occupy a spectrum going from "recoloured but retains semi-original linework" through to "the 3 of Swords means heartbreak therefore it's a clone". I fall somewhere towards the left of this spectrum when defining "clone", so things like the Hoi Polloi, Aquarian, Robin Wood, Hanson Roberts and of course all the recolourings of the RWS are, to me, "clones", while things like Deviant Moon and Victorian Romantic are not.

 

I too have been confused about the exact definition of RWS clones  :-\ But I agree, it's weird to me to try to think of something like the Deviant Moon as a clone since the artwork and feel is so incredibly different.

 

The artwork is adorable (a couple of munted faces notwithstanding), the card size is really wonderful to use, and if you can get an older printing from before they stopped printing Tarot cards and instead started making nuclear-proof coasters, the cardstock is both indestructible and a joy to shuffle.

 

Nuclear-proof coasters ;D That is fantastic.

 

In the meantime, I think I've managed to get myself in trouble by searching around for RWS clones. I stumbled across Carol Herzer's Illuminated Tarot and started to fall in love with it...only to then see her Starlight Illuminated which I've overnight become borderline obsessed with. I've actually been hoping to find a night setting tarot that spoke to me for a little while now, so this just seems too perfect. Must...resist...

[Page of Ghosts]

Out of the current printings of THE Rider Waite Smith I only have the Centennial and the Original. The Original was good before I had the Centennial as it too has some muted tones, but it is very blotchy in places so you can't see details and a lot of the faces are really red. So it was obviously dethroned by the Centennial as my favourite ;) I would also in time like to get both the regular yellow box so I can see it in person (the colours are a lot brighter in the current version than the two I already own) as well as the Albano! The Albano is a weird little recolouring that often gets left behind but I find it very interesting.

 

For clones I agree the definition is a bit hard to pin down. If we say a clone is a deck that follows the imagery almost to a T with poses and all that I think Tarot of the Magical Forest is a nice clone-ish deck (some symbolism has been omitted but I still feel it's very close to the RWS, more than Deviant Moon), if you can stand the bug-eyed animals  ;D

[eeviee]

I prefer the Centennial RWS, as well. Many who aren't fond of PCS's artwork gravitate to the Universal, as mentioned.

 

It's all about finding a deck/artwork that resonates with you. I hope you find a way to get your hands on preview for further exploration!

[Delizt]

my favorite RWS is my dingy pre-1971 copyright one, it's well used and less garish than the newer editions

 

Also love the Centennial...although my copy is still newish...I need to break it in some more

 

Occasionally I do use the Universal Waite for some color!

 

 

For clones, my current fav is the Distant Past Tarot by Jeri Totten

[Wheel of Fantastic]

I found the centennial version to be very muted dingy and drab, colorwise. It seemed like it was supposed to looked aged but they went too far. Some people really like that of course, but it wasn't my preference. I really like the Universal Waite, and used that for a study deck for a long time. That deck is basically the line art from RWS recolored and softened slightly to better suit modern tastes. IMHO it retains enough of the symbolism to suit as a study deck, but you do lose a few lines here and there. I found it just right for me. The only problem is it is highly glossed, the edition I have anyway, and the cards slip around.

 

Actually, according to one lucky person who owns an original 1909 Roses and Lilies deck, the Centennial is a pretty accurate reproduction of that deck. The Roses and Lilies deck is more muted/aged than the Pam A.

 

My favourite in-print RWS decks are the Centennial for it's old charm and the Albano Waite for its colours. If we're talking OOP then it's the Blue Box RWS and the vintage '60s Albano Waite - a different deck from the current version.

 

I believe the definition of a clone is a deck that copies the original images and symbology of the RWS. In which case my favourite clone is the Royal Fez Moroccan - originally created in the '50s which means it may well be the oldest clone.

[RavenOfSummer]

Well! I guess I was meant to explore my RWS questions further. Today I went to the Capital Tarot Society meeting- these are monthly meetings organized by rachelcat from AT. The focus of today's meeting was "speed reading", so we all got a few minutes to read for one person and they would read for you, then you switch partners until you've read for everyone. Wouldn't you know, one person has the Centennial with them, and another had the Universal Waite! So I got to see both of these decks in person :D

 

I do think the Centennial is lovely. The aged colors seem more natural for the deck...in the yellow box RWS I have, the colors seem very harsh. So I like the feel of the deck. I could see it being more like the original, as Wheel of Fantastic said.

 

And the Universal Waite! In person I really like it. I have to say that as much as I admire the Centennial now that I've seen it, I think the Universal Waite is probably more my style. I'm so glad I got to see both of this today! :)

 

I'm still infatuated with the Starlight Illuminated by Herzer since I saw it the other day. Why oh why must I have expensive taste!?

[CharlotteK]

I jumped on the Von Waite bandwagon after Wheel of Fantastic posted about it and it's a great deck with muted colours and crackle backs.

 

I recently replaced my Radiant Rider Waite too after a disastrous trim job. I learned with the Radiant (with the help of Joan Bunning) and I have such a soft spot for it. Planning to trim the new one too as it will look great borderless, but I will be more careful this time.

 

My favourite of all though is the Blue Box RWS with blushing fool. The colours are bright but rich. And there is something about that 45 year old cardstock, worn smooth with use.

 

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[Em]

I am using the After Tarot deck, which is very similar to RW deck but with one or two added features to each card that describes a situation if the RW deck were picked a moment later.

 

I love it. Connected very well with it too. But when I read the user review, actually very few individual are able to connect with the deck. Some of the images, to be honest, are rather abstractive. 

[Cocobird55]

I like the Universal Waite  best.  The cards are nicer with the muted colors.

[banbha]

I actually didn't like the look and coloring of the Smith-Waite Centennial until I got my own in a tin. Now I love it. It quietly won me over.

 

 

[Trogon]

Personally, I love the yellow-box RWS deck. It was my first and is always a "go-to" deck for me. However, I did pick up the Universal Waite a few years ago. Well, actually, I've now picked up 4 copies of the Universal Waite - I've given 3 of them away to people who are interested in learning Tarot.

 

Also, for a "clone", I just recently got the Tarot Illuminati and love it. The art is a kind of collage-type work where photos are apparently put together to form a single image (as opposed to other collage decks where they are obviously collages). I found it very easy to read with and loved the color and life in the cards.

[jema]

While I don't own them - I always loved the look of Robin Ators two clones, The Ator tarot and the International icon tarot.

 

[VGimlet]

The Universal Waite was my main reading deck for a few years after I switched from what was my one-and-only for 29 years, the Aquarian (also a RWS clone).    But there are a lot of pretty clones out there. 

 

The Illuminated is another favorite of mine, and Carol paid particular attention to the skies for me.  :)   

[CharlotteK]

The Universal Waite was my main reading deck for a few years after I switched from what was my one-and-only for 29 years, the Aquarian (also a RWS clone).    But there are a lot of pretty clones out there. 

 

The Illuminated is another favorite of mine, and Carol paid particular attention to the skies for me.  :) 

I've been looking at the Illuminated. Stunning! Lots of different versions though. Do you have the glittery one VG?

 

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[Lantana]

I'm fine with my US Games yellow box, though I would have preferred one of the older versions. I'm not really a fan of either the Universal or the Centennial honestly! I guess I'm a bit like Goldilocks: Not too muted, not too bright, just right.

 

As for clones, my favorite has to be the Morgan Greer. I'll grab a copy one of these days!

[AJ-ish/Sharyn]

took me about a month to figure out the Druidcraft Animal deck wasn't tarot :)

By then I'd signed on to AT and figured out what tarot was, and bought the 'original with lily backs. I also got the one with black backs with gold stars

 

I'm glad I started my true learning journey with those, and the Bunning class work. It was only about a year before they were gone though, never to return.

 

What they showed me was how the details mattered so much, and the one thing that bothers me about clones, any way you define them. Many details were simply swept away, to all our loss.

[Quester]

The Golden Tarot has always been one of my favorites.

[EmpyreanKnight]

I fell for the Centennial from the very first time I laid my eyes and hands upon it, and I don't think I shall ever need another RWS clone again, except perhaps for the Borderless Smith-Waite.

[chongjasmine]

I love the universal waite deck, too.

It is my favourite rider waite deck.