Tarot History · 4 min · 2026-01-15
Rider-Waite-Smith: Pamela Colman Smith and the Revolution of Tarot Imagery
The world's most popular tarot deck — and the woman who illustrated all 78 cards.
Three Names, One Deck
Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS) is named after: - Rider: William Rider & Son, the publishing house - Waite: Arthur Edward Waite, scholar and Golden Dawn member - Smith: Pamela Colman Smith (Pixie), the illustrating artist
Published in 1909, RWS was not the first tarot deck—but it became the most popular because it was accessible to everyone.
What Made RWS Revolutionary
Before RWS, most Minor Arcana cards simply displayed numbers and suits (7 of Cups, 3 of Swords, etc.)—much like standard playing cards. Waite and Smith made the groundbreaking decision to illustrate a complete scene on every Minor Arcana card.
For example: the Five of Cups is not just five cups—it shows a figure turning away from five cups, symbolizing disappointment or reassessment.
Pamela Colman Smith — The Overlooked Creator
Smith illustrated all 78 cards in a matter of months, received minimal payment, and went largely unrecognized for decades. Her work created a visual language that millions of readers worldwide still use today.
Today, the tarot community is reclaiming Smith's legacy. When you look at an RWS card, you are viewing the artistic heritage of a Symbolist painter.
Why RWS Matters to Melaap
Melaap uses the RWS system as its foundation because: - It is the most widely used deck in Vietnam and Asia - Its imagery is rich with narrative, ideal for visual interpretation - The Vietnamese reader community predominantly learned through RWS
Understanding the origins of your deck deepens your readings—not just looking up definitions, but truly reading the scenes depicted on each card.