In the late 1960s Llee Heflin [f] traveled to England to photograph Lady Frieda Harris’s original watercolors, then still in the personal possession of Gerald Yorke. Under Hymenaeus Alpha, the cards were published in color for the first time in 1969, from these photos. They were produced in a large, 5.5 x 3.75 inch format, and housed in a high quality two piece ‘slider’ box; a gold inner box which holds the cards and a white outer box that slides over it. With a traditional flair, the box printing was done in red and black; black text and a red O.T.O. lamen. The back was the Rose Cross in full color. There was no Little White Book (LWB), but each deck included a contact card with an introductory message and contact information for those interested in learning more about the Order. All editions thus out of print.
 

There is disagreement, even among experts with access to all records, as to which ‘White Box’ was published first and is the First Color Edition. I lean toward the conclusion that Weiser is the first edition, based on the lack of errors in the Weiser deck (suggesting access to the actual photos), the synchronicity of the printing dates with the printing of The Book of Thoth Weiser edition, and the fact that Llewellyn doesn’t clearly claim to have published the early edition. That said, no less an authority than Hymenaeus Beta himself disagrees with my timeline and states that the Llewellyn came first.

Please Note: Hymenaeus Beta generously gave comments; this should not be taken to mean that he endorses the accuracy of the information herein.