Pamela Colman Smith (1878–1951)

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 show more 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. show less

From a technical standpoint I prefer books that do not seem to fall apart from just glancing at them. The two accompanying books (one is the "pictorial guide", which I already own) are really badly bound. Pity, for otherwise the package is quite nice (and the information on Pixie not new, but interesting).

The classic deck with nicer colouring. Not sure if the colours have changed enough to alter the symbolism, but as the artwork is the same, I'm not sure it matters too much. Cardstock is high quality and glossy; easy to shuffle. My one complaint is that some of the details have been lost on the smaller human figures.

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.