Pamela Coleman Smith Commemorative Set BOX SET

Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Rider-Waite Deck, the Pamela Colman Smith Commemorative set will be cherished by all tarot collectors and art lovers.

The deluxe set includes the Smith-Waite Centennial Tarot Deck and two books; The Artwork and Times of Pamela Colman Smith, by Stuart R. Kaplan and Lynn Araujo, with over 100 examples of her non-tarot art, and The Pictorial Key to the Tarot by Arthur Edward Waite, in a new format. The Smith-Waite Centennial Edition Tarot Deck is reproduced from the original 1909 deck and comes with a 78-card deck with drawstring organza bag.

The set also includes: 2 prints of Pamela Colman Smith, one photo and one self-portrait, both 5” x 7” suitable for framing; six color postcards of artwork by Pamela Colman Smith; and Spread Sheet Guide. Everything is attractively packaged in a deluxe keepsake case.

About Pamela Colman Smith
She was born February 16, 1878, in Middlesex, England to American parents. Her childhood years were spent between London, New York, and Kingston, Jamaica. During her teens, she traveled throughout England with the theatre company of Ellen Terry and Henry Irving. Thereafter, she began formal art training at the Pratt Institute of Brooklyn, graduating in 1897.

Although American by birth, she returned to England, where she became a theatrical designer for miniature theatre, and an illustrator -- mainly of books, pamphlets and posters.

Around 1903, she joined the Order of the Golden Dawn. In 1909, under the guidance of Arthur Edward Waite, she undertook a series of seventy-eight allegorical paintings described by Waite as a rectified tarot pack. The designs, published in the same year by William Rider and Son, exemplify the mysticism, ritual, imagination, fantasy, and deep emotions of the artist.

Pamela Colman Smith would all but be forgotten except for the seventy-eight tarot paintings known as the Rider-Waite Tarot pack. She would no doubt be astonished and gladdened to know that today the deck touches the hearts and emotions of millions of people.

What Customers Are Saying About The Pamela Colman Smith Commemorative Set

I was giddy as could be when I recently acquired the Pamela Colman Smith Commemorative Set. This gorgeous box set is well done and any tarot lover will want to add this to their collection. The deck is a reprint of the original 1909 deck, with dreamy muted colors and a "vintage" finish that adds an authentic retro feel. There are many versions of the Rider Waite deck with different color schemes (Radiant Rider Waite comes to mind with its bright, energetic colors) but there is something about this version that grabs my attention and pulls me in like no other. Perhaps it is because the turn of the century is one of my favorite eras or maybe the softer color scheme is simply easier on the eye. Either way, I really find this faithful reproduction quite appealing. I especially liked the reversible image on the back of the deck -- a white rose framed by Colman Smith's signature. There is a little blue organza bag included for storing the deck -- another nice little touch that made this set very special.

"The Pictorial Key To The Tarot" by Arthur Edward Waite is a familiar book on many tarot lovers' shelves -- in fact, this was one of the first tarot books that I owned when I began my own journey with the tarot. I had lost my copy and was happy to be reunited with this classic! Even more exciting was the other book, "The Artwork and Times of Pamela Colman Smith" by Stuart R. Kaplan. This biography was small but did not lack details. Her life and family history are thoroughly covered and many images of Colman-Smith's work are lovingly displayed throughout the book with notes that help the reader learn about the mediums that Colman-Smith worked with throughout her life (watercolor, ink, pencil, etc.) as well as all the different places where her work was featured (book illustrations, sheet music, magazines, and more). I was saddened to learn that even though she had great talent, she still struggled financially throughout her life and died penniless due to bad business decisions. I found myself wondering if her work would have been forgotten if not for the tarot. How grateful I am to know that at least one aspect of her artwork is still revered, recognized and treasured!

Lastly, U.S. Games included a fold out with tarot spreads as well as some postcards and pictures, making this kit a treasure trove and well worth the $35.00 price tag! This is a bargain considering all that you get. I highly recommend this set for any tarot lover or fan of Colman-Smith’s work. This would also be a lovely gift for any of the tarot fiends in your life.

I give this boxed set an enthusiastic 2 Swords Up!

-- Theresa Reed, The Tarot Lady Blog

The Pamela Colman Smith Commemorative Edition by U.S. Games Systems Inc. has been created to celebrate the 100th anniversary of what is historically known as the Rider Waite Smith deck. It has been put together tastefully and respectfully, and pays honest and true homage to a great artist and her classic decks. Stuart Kaplan has long been known for his outstanding collections of historical and collectible cards. The periodic auctions are the stuff of legends. This is a man who is devoted to cards -- only he could articulate his love into a set this way.

Until previous years, Colman Smith's participation in the creation of Arthur Waite's iconic decks has largely been ignored. But, in 2007, the Association for Tarot Studies published 'The Story of the Waite-Smith Tarot' by K. Frank Jensen, former editor of Manteia (1989-1997), which threw unprecedented light onto Colman Smith as an artist in her own right.

Now, Stuart Kaplan and U.S. Games Inc. do one better by producing a set that lives up the description: "showcasing a lifetime of artwork by Pamela Coleman Smith." This set comes with a Waite-Smith Tarot Centennial Edition Deck as an additional vehicle for displaying Colman Smith's artwork, alongside 'The Pictorial Key to the Tarot' by Edward Waite, 'The Artwork & Times of Pamela Colman Smith: Artist of the Rider-Waite Tarot Deck' by Stuart R Kaplan, six postcards and three large samples of her work, plus a portrait of the artist herself.

The set comes in a sturdy cube shaped case that opens in half like a book tied together by ribbon pulls. The left side contains the books and the artwork; the right contains the deck and the blue organza deck bag. Although a reproduction of the original deck, this version has been renamed as the Smith-Waite Tarot Centennial Edition Deck. The backs are light blue and reversible with one of her roses centered with her signature initials on either end. The imagery is aged to make it look like a deck that has been handed down from generation to generation. The card stock is sturdy but flexible. When the cards pull out they snap deliciously, and shuffle like a dream. This is definitely a must have for any fan of Pamela Colman Smith or a user of a Waite deck in the past, or even anyone wishing to own a very tasteful and respectful homage to one of the great women in Tarot history.

-- Sheri Harshberger, Purple Luna