Pamela Colman Smith Commemorative Set

Pamela Colman Smith Commemorative Set - the artist behind the Rider-Waite

Many people know the Rider-Waite tarot. Fewer know the name of the woman who drew all 78 cards. This set reverses that and places Pamela Colman Smith, often called 'Pixie', at the centre.

The set contains the Smith-Waite Centennial Edition deck, a reproduction of the original 1909 printing with the muted colours Smith used. Alongside it, two books, six postcards featuring her illustrations, three large art prints and a portrait photograph. Everything comes in a solid collector's slipcase.

What you get

The deck itself follows the structure Arthur Edward Waite conceived, but the images come directly from Smith's hand. The colours are softer than in later editions, closer to what she originally made. No bright recolouring, no digital retouching.

The two books cover different ground. The first, 'The Pictorial Key to the Tarot', is Waite's own explanation of the symbolism. The second, 'The Artwork and Times of Pamela Colman Smith', is biographical and shows how broad her work was: not just tarot, but also illustrations for folktales, theatre designs and poetry.

The art prints are large enough to frame. They show three of Smith's designs separate from the tarot.

About Pamela Colman Smith

Pamela Colman Smith was born in 1878, grew up between London, New York and Jamaica, and studied at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. She illustrated books, designed theatre sets and published her own work. In 1909 she received Waite's commission to create a tarot deck.

She completed all 78 cards in six months. The fee was low and she received no royalties. Yet with those cards she set the standard for almost every tarot that came after. Her name disappeared into the background for a long time, but recent editions name her again as creator.

Who this works for

This is not a starter deck. You can use it as your first tarot, but the set is clearly intended for people who already know what the Rider-Waite is and want to see where it came from. The books are informative, not instructional. There are no spreads in them, no step-by-step explanations.

Many people buy this set as a collector's item. The combination of cards, books and art prints makes it more than a working deck.

Place the art prints next to the deck and look at the lines. Smith's style is recognisable everywhere: the curved edges, the stylised faces, the decorative border. You see it return in her other work.

Specifications

• Number of cards: 78 (Smith-Waite Centennial Edition)
• Card size: 70 x 120 mm
• Material: sturdy cardstock with matte finish
• Language: English
• Books: 'The Pictorial Key to the Tarot' and 'The Artwork and Times of Pamela Colman Smith'
• Additional contents: 6 postcards, 3 large art prints, 1 portrait photograph of Pamela Colman Smith
• Packaging: deluxe collector's slipcase
• Publisher: U.S. Games Systems

Questions we often get

What is the difference between this deck and a standard Rider-Waite?
The cards in this set are matched to the original 1909 printing, with the muted colours Smith used. Later editions often have brighter, recoloured cards. In addition, this set contains the books, postcards and art prints you do not get anywhere else.

Is there information in it about how to work with the deck?
Waite's book contains his own explanation of the cards, with emphasis on symbolism. The second book is biographical and does not cover reading. There are no practical instructions or spreads.