\ Albano-Waite Deck
The Astrology Center of America, 207 Victory Lane, Bel Air, MD 21014
Tel: 410-638-7761; Toll-free (orders only): 800-475-2272
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The Albano-Waite Tarot Deck

by Pamela Colman-Smith, recolored by Frankie Albano

The Albano-Waite Tarot Deck, $20.00

Don't forget the books for this tarot deck (a Rider-Waite class deck). Chose any or all:

Pictorial Key to the Tarot, by A.E. Waite, Dover, $9.95

Number of cards in deck: 78

Measurements: 2.75 x 4.75 inches; or 70 x 120 millimeters.

Back of card: Solid white. In the center, a small gold rectangle with a gold sun in the center with 16 assorted rays.

Booklet included: Yes, small, 23 pages, 2.5 x 4.53 inches, or 64 x 115 mm.

Publisher: U.S. Games. Printed in Belgium.

Comments: Stuart Kaplan's notes for this deck are instructive: Pamela Coleman-Smith created the deck as black & white drawings. Kaplan isn't sure who did the original coloring. My guess would be Coleman-Smith. My thinking is that since she designed the cards, she would know how she wanted them colored. If the publisher colored them, they would have had to get an artist & pay him for his time. On the other hand, the original coloring of the Rider Waite deck is as crude as it gets. Much better printing was available at the time. It's hard to imagine the artist was pleased with a deck that looked like the Sunday comics. Colored newspaper comics first appeared in the 1890's, a decade before.

Rachael Pollack compares the Fool to the male in the two of cups. She thinks it may be the same guy. In the original Rider Waite coloring, the color of the two tunics are nearly the same. What do you think?

Kaplan also says that Frankie Albano, who recolored the deck in 1968, has disappeared. Anyone want to try & find her/him?

The Astrology Center of America

207 Victory Lane, Bel Air, MD 21014
Tel: 410-638-7761; Toll-free (orders only): 800-475-2272

Tarot Home Tarot Decks Tarot Books Astrology Home E-Mail:

Established 1993, The Astrology Center of America is owned & operated by David Roell. Except where noted, this entire site (AstroAmerica.com) & its contents are Copyright © 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 by William R. Roell. All rights reserved. Tarot card images are Copyright © by the copyright holder (generally the publisher).