Pamela Colman Smith: The Untold Story
This collaborative work presents: a richly illustrated biography of Pamela's life with essays on the events and people that influenced her including Jack Yeats, Ellen Terry, Alfred Stieglitz, Bram Stoker and William Gillette. There is also a chronological survey of her folktales, art and poetry and an exploration of her lasting legacy.
Over 400 color images of Pamela's non-tarot art have been curated from her publications including A Broad Sheet, The Green Sheaf, Blue Beard, Annancy stories, Russian ballet, costumes, stage designs, Irish magazines, book illustrations, posters and much more.
This 440-page volume also includes:
Pamela Colman Smith: The Untold Story is the most comprehensive and exhaustive collection of works by and about Pamela Colman Smith published to date.
Reviews (109)
Very engaging biography that really broadened my knowledge of Pamela Colman Smith
This is a wondrous introduction to a fascinating and unbelievably creative woman. Beyond her pivotal role in the making of the Colman-Waite tarot, I was excited to learn that she handcrafted miniature figures of people and animals, which she moved about on a tiny stage to act out public performances of stories of the trickster spider, Anansie and other Caribbean folktales! The book is full of reproductions of her artwork and I found her theatrical costume design sketches to be another previously unknown to me and very engaging facet of her work. This is a book that I'll revisit and page through often to unwind and fire up my imagination! -Len Warner
Who was Pamela Colman Smith really?
It was 1971 when Stuart Kaplan took Donald Weiser’s advice and acquired the rights to what is now commonly known as the Rider-Waite tarot deck. It was the beginning of Kaplan’s tarot empire. By the end of 1971, the deck was selling internationally. It was a time when no one thought to question whether or not Smith’s role in creating the deck was represented accurately.Like most people, I dismissed her input into the project, thinking that she was a technician following Waite’s instructions. The truth is that she was a respected professional artist, entrepreneur, occultist, and suffragette when Waite tapped her to create the visual imagery for his tarot project. Kaplan has stepped to the forefront once again, publishing over 400 pages documenting Colman’s skill, experience, and her major contribution to the most famous tarot deck in the world.This book firmly establishes that Colman brought her own extensive occult background to the project, and the drawings/reference materials in this timely book demonstrate that the foundations of some of the most notable tarot images were well established in her repertoire for years before she applied them to the tarot cards. It has been clear to me for decades that Waite was an initiate of the highest order. This book has convinced me that Smith was his peer not his handmaid. The time is right for this woman to be elevated to her rightful place in tarot history. Kaplan, along with Greer, O’Connor, Parsons, and the very capable U S. Games staff, have made this scholarly work a page turner.
At last... I have waited Pamela's story for decades
I have taught tarot for over 40 years and for the first years I fought with the "Waite Smith" deck. I always used it when teaching but not in doing readings. It was not the prettiest deck on the market, just the smartest and most knowledgeable. Eventually I got it. No other artist has captured the meaning and story of each card in such a simpl way. No other artist has demonstrated the ability tocommunicate the meaning and depth of a card with such uncluttered illustrations. Why is this the best-selling tarot deck? It's not Waite's book nor is it Ryder's publishing. I often comment that as an artist her workk may have been seen by more people than almost anh other artist. Surely she is in the top echelon. Her life has been largely unknown to us but she has deserved better than this. And who etter than Stuart at US Games? What a feast of a book. Oh Pamela, if only you could see how wonderful we think you are. Thank you Stuart. This is a genuine gift to the Tarot World.
A Masterpiece
Almost all of your questions answered about the mystical artistic genius who illustrated the most popular Tarot deck in use today. This book is meticulously researched, lavishly illustrated, and beautifully bound. You will love Pixie more than ever as you read the story of her work and life. Even as large and heavy as this book is, you will not want to put it down!
Beautiful book, horrible shipping!
I was really looking forward to getting this book. The book is beautiful. I haven't read it yet but I've flipped through it. I'm very happy I got this book. It's a beautiful collectors item for Rider Waite Tarot card owners or collectors. I'd say it's a must have. It's packed with beautiful art and photos. The book is just beautiful! I'm just really disappointed with whoever shipped my book. My book, a big hard cover book was simply shipped in a manila envelope...no bubble wrap, no nothing. Needless to say the edges of my book are crush3d in. Most obviously due to postal workers chucking parcels around and travelling from one continent to another. Beside the state of my book I'm ecstatic. I wouldn't hesitate to buy again. I wanted to give this 1 star just for the horrible packaging and the state of my book but that doesn't reflect on the book. The book is definitely 5 stars so I'll just say 4 stars, but the book is 5 stars.
AMAZING BEAUTIFUL BOOK
I thought the book was a normal hardcover but what a surprise! Was BIG Hardcover book beautifuly done, with great quality pages and printing. The images of Pamela Colman Smith's art look Great. Stunning colors ...all the art or images looks clear and detailed. A gifted English artist from the late 19th century and early 20th century on a time were women hadn't much rights as men, but pushed strongly for her art to be recognized as artist,painter and author and editor. For those we know about the now classic Rider-Waite tarot but not knew anything or much of the gifted artist who realized the art, is a JEWEL this book. I knew of her later after years of knowing of that famous tarot deck. Too bad in the medium of mystic/holistic/esoteric culture (where I frequented) when people tell you or recommend the Raider-Waite never the topic of the artist come around. And when I researched by myself and asked or told about her, people didn't knew about her...maybe of Arthur Edward Waite ..but even little or not much too. Just a minority of those I met on those early years of my learning of tarot knew who She was. This book is a MUST for people who are in the path of esoteric or tarot (as of course the Raider-Waite deck always is one of the most used) , are artist or studying art history or love History only for the learning as I do love history too. Great redacting the information about Pamela Colman Smith, and the other art apart from the tarot deck. The only downside but wasn't amazon's fault ...the ups service threw the box above the front iron fence of 6 ft. into the front porch but Good it was well protected packaged (Good service on packaging) . Sometimes things like that get one mad. But all is well and undamaged.
Waht a wonderful book:)
I want to say "Thank you" to someone who published this book. She is amazing artist and this book is fantastic!!
Keepsake!
This is a beautifully done book! Really well researched and laid out nicely. Lots of pictures of original work. You can really see the growth of Coleman Smith as an artist over her life. It took me back in time!
Beautiful book, extremely thorough, beautiful illustrations
I didn't realize this is such a big, and I mean, BIG book - heavy, large, densely and beautifully illustrated , accompanied by interesting information about Smith's life and art.
excellent quality pictures and fascinating story
Great pictures, fascinating story. Was really impressed with the size and quality of this book.
