U.S. Games Rider-Waite Colour Variations: Regular Deck vs. Giant Size Deck

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 05 Feb 2005, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Rusty Neon	05 Feb 2005
I've noticed that the regular size US Games Rider-Waite deck (circa 1975) and the giant size deck have colour variations. For example, in the scan at http://www.tarotpassages.com/sizes.jpg, the High Priestess card has colour variations as between regular size and giant size: The regular size deck's High Priestess card shows the J pillar as white, and the card title frame at the bottom of the card is a light green. In contrast, the giant size deck's High Priestess cards shows the J pillar as greyish-purple, and the card title frame at the bottom of the card is grey. Are the two decks using different 1909 colour schemes? What accounts for the colour scheme differences? Does the giant size deck that's currently available in stores have the same colour scheme as the giant size deck whose High Priestess card is in the scan? Thanks.

Fulgour	05 Feb 2005
The Giant Rider Waite has been re-printed and it's a shame. Card stock is flimsy (for such large cards) and the colours are now like the standard 1971. Plus, it has been TYPESET.

Fulgour	06 Feb 2005
Rusty Neon wrote: Thanks. You're welcome! :)

Emily	08 Feb 2005
I have the Giant reprinted Rider Waite and the first thing I noticed about them are just how sticky they are. I've just had to shake them from their box and even now trying to shuffle them, they just stick together. When I first had them and counted them out I only got 60 cards, the second count was around 70 and just as I was losing my mind I counted the full 78 cards. Its like they are full of static. I don't read with this deck, just keep it for study - its probably a good job. :)

Sophie-David	14 Feb 2005
Rusty Neon wrote: The regular size deck's High Priestess card shows the J pillar as white, and the card title frame at the bottom of the card is a light green. In contrast, the giant size deck's High Priestess cards shows the J pillar as greyish-purple, and the card title frame at the bottom of the card is grey. [list] [*] Are the two decks using different 1909 colour schemes? What accounts for the colour scheme differences? Hi Rusty I've just been trying to sort this out for myself since I am also interested in the Giant Rider-Waite. If I understand correctly from the posts by Pamela-A owner Truelighth at this thread: How Original is Original (RWS)? the Giant may be closer to the Pamela-A since it uses the 1971(?) colours. The "Original RWS" of 1993 may be closer to Pamela-C. Cheers David

The U.S. Games Rider-Waite Colour Variations: Regular Deck vs. Giant Size Deck thread was originally posted on 05 Feb 2005 in the Tarot Decks board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Tarot Decks, or read more archived threads.