Actually, I'm not so sure. The extra artwork is in different format - both wider and higher than the cards. Is it possible to print together and cut with different machines? The print quality and texture is different, too. I'm no expert but I would say that the cards and the artwork were not printed in one batch and then just cut to size.
This magical box just arrived here and I'm wowed. It's my first RWS deck, the closest I cam to RWS iconography was the much-beloved Morgan Greer. Now I have this wonderfully muted and somehow aged-but-fresh looking deck and it's just what I would have wished.
I'm so glad I bought it. It was a moment of madness because I bought too many decks since my tarot enthusiasm re-kindled (four in one month!!! after a dry spell of years without buying!) but this one is a must. Pamela Smith is really honoured as I feel she should. It's such a beautiful box. The only little thing that is a tiny but under par for me is the organza bag. I've seen better bags, i.e., I make my own bags. But really, considering the wonderful goodies in the box, it's ridiculous even to mention the little bag. It's nice enough - but the rest of the box is fabulous.
So now I will have to study this deck. I took out my old Rachel Pollack book and have been listening to John Ballantraes absolutely enlightening videos. And I might even try to grapple Waite himself. Phew.
A wonderful feeling. I can't help asking myself what the artist herself would have thought, could she have known how revered she would be one day.
... how many times have you seen an ad that says 'stock photo.'
