Smith-Waite® Tarot Borderless Edition Cards – August 11, 2017

This truly feels like it was created by people who know, respect, and love Tarot! I have owned more than 30 tarot decks over the past dozen years or so (all kinds of Rider-Waite, Crowley and Marseille styles) BUT this one feels like the penultimate, and I wish it had been the first. And I did get the bordered Commemorative edition when that first came out - this is way better and exactly what I’ve been hoping for!But onto this deck: First, the treatment of the artwork is exquisite; wholly respectful of Pamela-Colman Smith’s original work without garish re-coloring or technological re-working/editing, the artistic “patina” of age given the coloring just enhances the timelessness of the deck. Without borders I also feel an immediate connection and relatability to the content - as well as relationships between cards. Next, the card stock feels Excellent without being overly thick or flimsy. It’s not super glossy like other decks and I’m excited to see how time weathers this baby. Card size (2 7/8” x 4 3/4”) is just fine by me, but I have medium-large men’s hands.If i had one gripe it’s the backside of the cards, which is a matter of personal taste. Though I appreciate they put the copy right on opposite corners so you can’t tell if a card is reversed. On the whole I much prefer it to (for instance) a muddy blue and white plaid pattern or a checkered floral design - and the deep sage green gives it more life and an improvement to the soft blue of the first centennial batch...I’m fine with it - I don’t mind it - BUT the placement of Smith’s signature initials bug me, that’s it. Wish it were centered instead.[Because it doesn’t feel like it’s part of the design and more like someone’s stamp on my deck. If it were centered in line with the rose it’d feel more subtle. But as it stands it distracts me from seeing the cards as standalone tools and feels like someone else’s ownership of something I’m allowed to buy. I know it’s the Smith-Waite deck (we all do) - and maybe I’m just over sensitive about it - but in general I don’t like Seeing Labels (like Chanel sunglasses with big C’s, or Louis Vuitton patterns with LV everywhere, etc.). I love seeing her initials on the art side of each card in the artwork itself, and I believe in giving credit where credit is due, but on it’s own on the reverse of the deck it just distracts me - like when you have closed captioning on tv even though you can hear the words perfectly fine - you can’t help but read anyway. ]That very small thing aside, getting the cards out of the plastic wrap felt like welcoming a new friend to a new home. I’m noticing details I haven’t before, or connections and associations I didn’t have before even though I’ve been familiar with the imagery for years. I have a lot of beautiful decks I love but this is exactly the deck my tarot journey has been searching for, and of all the Rider-Waite-Smith decks I’ve had, I’ve never felt a connection to them as much as with this one.

My GO TO deck is the US Games Smith Waite Centennial. I had hesitated getting this deck for some time, but after looking at some vids online, decided I really wanted it.HERE'S why I gave FIVE STARS:CARDSTOCK - ok, yep, this is a biggie. I really like cardstock a lot. Nice heft. My preference would have been more of a linen texture, but NOT worth taking off even half a point.BORDERLESS - Love how the borderless makes it pop. Yep, the Smith Waite Centennial still my fav, but this is a close second. I also love how the borders are rounded so nicely.COLORS - I compared with Radiant Borderless and JUST prefer this one because it feels more authentic. I like the vintage coloring and it has stayed pretty darn true to the Centennial. Yes, some images are expanded more, but the colors, the faces, look pretty spot on. The Radiant, and I GET why some prefer it, the colors do pop more, just feel like a knock off of the original, which it is. The really deal breaker why I won't get that one is aside from the colors, they have changed some of the images, the faces. That makes it NOT a Pixie deck to me. But that's a PREFERENCE thing. My suggestion is watch a YouTube vid COMPARING the two, side by side, card by card.BACKS - Yes, I prefer the color of the backs of the Centennial, but GLAD they're not exactly alike. I like they changed the color of the backs. Makes it more it's own deck.EXTRA PIXIE CARDS WITH DRAWINGS! GREAT BONUSPRICE - Got this for about 20 bucks and for the quality, VERY HAPPY. Actually, would have gladly paid more.BOTTOMLINE: If you liked the Centennial, you may wish to check this one out. YouTube vids will tell you if it's one you need in your collection.

I have no idea what's taken me so long to pick up this deck. I own around 20 decks and this is simply the best one for me. Here's what I love about it (some of these things may be negatives for you, it's all personal preference):1) The cardstock is sturdy US Games stock, but thinner than other decks I've purchased from US Games. (I'm thinking right now of the Spiral Tarot which has such thick cardstock that it sometimes gives me cuts from shuffling.) I don't imagine there will be chipping anytime soon. This is such a big difference from some other companies whose decks feel like they fall apart if you use them a lot, and start chipping basically the first day.2) The price. I'm not one to spend $50 on a deck, but I am used to spending $20-$30. Under $15 is SUCH a good price for a quality deck, even knock offs go for more sometimes.3) There are a million YouTube videos comparing the coloring of this edition to other RWS editions. This is my fave. Not too vintage or muted (although it is vintage and muted), and not too garish or bright. The blacks and the blues are particularly evocative and beautiful.4) I get a lot of fliers with this deck, some decks just don't do that for me.5) I appreciate that it comes with a few tarot-sized prints of Pixie's non-tarot work. I didn't expect to care, but I enjoy having them.6) The US Games copyright stamp isn't on the image side. It's on the card back, but not the side with the actual tarot images. I really hate when companies put their copyright on the image side, and sometimes US Games does this. I find it so distracting.7) The images themselves are nice and large but even without borders they still feel "complete." Some decks with borders really hem in the image, and with some borderless decks it feels like the images are just floating when you lay them in a spread.There's nothing about this deck I don't like. For the money it's an excellent choice.

My favorite and the most used original RWS deck. I also love that there are the cards with other paintings of SCS.