The Pictorial Key to the Tarot

About “The Pictorial Key to the Tarot”

The Pictorial Key to the Tarot is a divinatory tarot guide written by A. E. Waite and illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith. It was published alongside the Rider–Waite–Smith tarot deck, following the success of the deck and Waite’s earlier work The Key to the Tarot. Both Waite and Smith were members of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. Waite focused on ensuring the symbols in the deck were accurate, conducting extensive research into the traditions and history behind the tarot cards. The book serves as a companion to the deck, offering explanations and interpretations of its imagery. (Summary adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.)