Pamela Colman SmithRecensioni

The work page on this deck in librarything is a mess.
Different versions such as the "Original", "Universal", "Radiant", "Centennial" etc. should NOT be stacked under the same work since they are different as every discerning tarot collector knows.
This is NOT a "classic" deck! That denomination is only appropriate for the 15th, 16th and 17th century decks such as the Italian Tarocchi and the following several editions of the Tarot of Marseille (you can browse my books and decks).
This is a MODERN Tarot designed entirely for divination purposes and introducing controversial fundamental changes in the original names, symbols and order of the "Triumphs" (Aka "Major Arcana"): for example, the VIII (Justice) was swapped with the XI (Strength/Fortitude). The other cards were given pictorial "meanings" which, of course, facilitate (accounting for most of its popularity) but also seriously limit their interpretation.
The changes introduced followed pseudo-arcane turn-of-the-century mystical concepts developed inside the intellectual "Golden Dawn" sect based on a cosmological holistic "hermetic" miscellany claiming to be a tradition-of-the-ages endearing to the non-scientific elite of the time. The remade images of the Triumphs show lots of Egyptian, Hebrew and new-age elements irrelevant to the old tarot original symbolism.
It famously features the worst card design ever in its "Wheel of Fortune".
Unfortunately, after this deck's publication most modern English-speaking "Tarologists" follow Waite's short-sighted personal view of the tarot cards and the Tarot as a Renaissance allegoric and symbolic documentary statement lost much of its charm and archetypal potential to the general public.
It's a pity people keep following these misguided recent "traditions" thinking they are all about the real tarot. However they are unknowingly just "playing in the secondary league" with no further evolution in sight.
When this deceiving deck were first invented allegedly "to correct and perfect" the tradition (as unashamedly claimed by Waite in his book) tarot had already more than 5 centuries of history and even now we are only beginning to fully understand its mysteries.

This tarot deck published by US Games and AG Muller rates as a close (vastly overrated) second in influence ever, right after the Paul Marteau's edition of the "Tarot of Marseilles" today sold by publishers Grimaud and Dussere.

Rated high because it's considered a classic deck. I'm not so wild about the art, but it's a good deck to own for tarot students, if only for reference.

The size of these cards is just wonderful for carrying them around and having them available everywhere. Sturdy cards that will last a long time and asthonishingly good too shuffle. As the only deck they are too small, but if you know the cards well from studying normal size versions, this is the edition to have. I have three of these decks :-)

These are so cool!½

Probably the "archetypal" tarot deck, the deck upon which so many other decks and systems are based. This was my first deck, and I read with it for a while. Now, though, I read with the Hanson-Roberts, which is derived from this very closely, but the images are a bit softer. The symbolism in this deck is amazing, though, making it an all-time classic, and good bet for anyone just starting out with the tarot.½

This is considered the "classic" tarot deck and many people use it for its simple imagery and bold coloring. It isn't one of my favorites--but it is a good beginner deck as many guides use it; the images are quite traditional and conform to the tarot iconology; and the miniature size is a little easier to handle than the larger cards.