Open research dataset
RWS vs Marseille vs Thoth: Open Tarot Dataset
A versioned, downloadable comparison of 30 structural correspondences across Rider–Waite–Smith, Paul Marteau’s Marseille method and Crowley’s Thoth Tarot.
Published 2026-10-17 · Version 1.0 · Editorial and technical review; no native-speaker review is claimed.
Download the open data
Differences that change a reading
| Layer | RWS | Marseille / Marteau | Thoth / Crowley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Numbered minors | Scenic illustrations. | Number, suit and composition. | Printed titles, decans and abstract compositions. |
| VIII / XI | Strength VIII; Justice XI. | Justice VIII; Force XI. | Adjustment VIII; Lust XI. |
| Court | Page, Knight, Queen, King. | Valet, Cavalier, Reine, Roi. | Princess, Prince, Queen, Knight. |
Why this exists
Search results often flatten three systems into interchangeable keywords. That can place an RWS scene on a Marseille pip, match a Thoth court by the English title instead of function, or swap VIII and XI. This crosswalk records structure before interpretation.
Sources and editorial rules
| System | Primary reference | Use | Boundary |
|---|---|---|---|
| RWS | A. E. Waite, The Pictorial Key to the Tarot (1911), illustrations by Pamela Colman Smith | Names, sequence, descriptions and Waite’s divinatory list. | Modern editorial keywords are not attributed to Waite. |
| Marseille | Paul Marteau, Le Tarot de Marseille (1949); French union catalogue | A named 20th-century method using number, suit, rank and image. | Not presented as every Marseille tradition. |
| Thoth | Aleister Crowley, The Book of Thoth (1944), artwork by Frieda Harris | Printed titles and court structure after verification. | Thoth meanings are not copied onto RWS imagery. |
Original comparison notes are released under CC BY 4.0 with attribution. Historical titles and source facts are not claimed as original.