Pamela Colman Smith: The Untold Story

Pamela Colman Smith: The Untold Story brings together the work of four distinguished scholars who have devoted years of research to uncover the life and artistic accomplishments of Pamela Colman Smith. Known to millions as the creator of the Rider-Waite Tarot® deck, Pamela Colman Smith (1878–1951) was also a stage and costume designer, folklorist, poet, author, illustrator of ballads and folktales, suffragette, and publisher of books and broadsheets. 

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: 

• Select pages including autographs with sketches and scribblings reproduced from Pamela’s 1901–1905 Visitors book 

• Pamela’s personal documents, correspondence, portraits, and photographs 

• Rare archival material from several leading museums and libraries 

• Extensive Bibliography of 525 entries and Index with over 2,000 listings 

Pamela Colman Smith: The Untold Story is the most comprehensive and exhaustive collection of works by and about Pamela Colman Smith published to date.

Stories/ Biography/ Divination