An other way to compare the "Crackled Backs" Pamela decks

[truelighth]

I finally got round to putting the scans of my decks together for comparison. They are a Pam-A Roses&Lilies back, Pam-A crackled back, Pam-A crackled back 1920 printing, Pam-B, Pam-C and a Pam-D.

I have send the scans to Coredil, because I can't post them. I hope you all enjoy them.

 

[coredil]

Thanks a lot truelighth for your amazing scans!
You really have a nice old Pamela deck collection with even a Roses and Lilies back!

You also made a really great job to prepare the scans with titles
I had to cut each of your JPEG in two parts as they were a little too big in size to upload.
So there are now 3 cards on each file.
I upload 4 files pro post.

After a quick look, comparing only the 9 of pentacles and the 5 of wands , I already found following:
1. One can indeed recognise the same pattern on several editions for the flowers on the 9 of pentacles and for the blue points on the 5 of wands.
2. The pattern may just be shifted a little
3. Concerning these two cards: Your 3 Pamelas A deck + Holys one are identical
4. Your D an my D are also identical.
5. The Original Rider Waite seems to be identical to your B
6. The Blue Box seems to be identical to the A

So here are the 9 of Pentacles and the 5 of Wands from truelighths collection:

 

[coredil]

The Fool and the 6 of cups from truelighths collection

 

[coredil]

The Ace of pentacles and the 3 of Pentacles from truelighths collection

 

[coredil]

And finally the 5 of pentacles from truelighths collection

 

[Abrac]

WAAAY cool

 

[Peredur]

Missing lines

On the 3 of Pentacles, is there any significance to the lines missing from the right arch on the Pam-B and Pam-C versions? This omission is also apparent on the "original" rose and lilly pack.
Bob

 

[Abrac]

Hi Peredur-

I'm no expert on this matter by any means, but recently I have started noticing many small similarities like this between the B and C. There are differences too, to be sure, but there are enough similarities to make a person wonder if there is some kind of relationship going on there.

As for why the right side of the arch is bare, I have no clue. Maybe someone forgot to put the lines in.

 

[truelighth]

Apart from minor details (like that line on the Sun card), I find that the Pam-B and the Pam-C are more or less identical in line-art. I am pretty sure they are related. My guess is that the plates for the B were made first and the little line on the Sun card was added later for the C printing.

When comparing the Pam-B/Pam-C to a Pam-A you can notice a real difference in the line art. The art from the Pam-A is like the one in the Key to the Tarot, definately Pixie's. The B/C ones miss a lot of detail. The faces look different and they also have some left over spaces. Like on the Empress, there is a void between the arm of the Empress and the trees behind her that is only visible on the B and C, not on the A.