World Spirit/Smith-Waite question

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 08 Nov 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Talisman	08 Nov 2002
'Lo all, You know how in the Smith-Waite deck artist Pamela Coleman-Smith's stylized initials appear on every card, except the Fool? (I don't have the deck, but was looking at images in "Seventy Eight Degrees of Wisdom." I did go on line and check, however. Well, I use the World Spirit Tarot, and artist Lauren O'Leary's stylized initials, which look a lot like Smith's (artists can do these things), are also missing from the Fool. In the introduction to the little, and really nice, WS book, it is noted that O'Leary drew inspiration from Smith, as well as Frieda Harris, who worked for Aleister Crowly on the Thoth Tarot. (The story is, he pocketed all the royalities and gave her nothing for her trouble.) In fact, one of O'Leary's cards in WS is a portrait of Pamela Coleman-Smith. I guess my questions are two: One, did O'Leary deliberately not initial the Fool in homage to Smith?'; and, Two, why did Smith initial all the cards in her deck except this one? Aside: Look at Smith-Waite or the World Spirit deck. Where others might see clutter and confusion, I find that unexpected thoughts are encouraged by a symbol rich deck, and am always delighted when, no matter how long I've used a deck, I see something new in a card. To see what I mean by "symbol rich," compare the Major Arcana #2, the High Priestess, from the Smith-Waite deck and from a Marseilles-type deck. I am not arguing for one style over the other here. It is obviously a matter of taste, or, perhaps, in my case, how you began. Anyway, am sure Aeclectic can help with my questions, as always. Talisman

Lee	08 Nov 2002
Hi, Talisman -- I have no idea, but if I were you I would e-mail the artist, Lauren O'Leary. You can find her address here. -- Lee :)

wavebreaker	08 Nov 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Talisman In fact, one of O'Leary's cards in WS is a portrait of Pamela Coleman-Smith. I'm curious now: which one?? ;)

Keslynn	08 Nov 2002
I might be remembering wrong but I'm pretty sure it's the Sibyl of Cups. I know it's one of the Cups but I'm not sure exactly which. :) Kes

The World Spirit/Smith-Waite question thread was originally posted on 08 Nov 2002 in the Tarot Decks board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Tarot Decks, or read more archived threads.