In Smith's Own Handwriting, a Reference to the Waite-Smith Tarot

Editor's Note: I've seen many references to a letter in which Pamela Colman Smith describes her work on the Waite-Smith Tarot ("I have just finished a big job for very little cash!"). This is the first time, though, that I've actually seen the letter itself. The photo -- and the rest of this post -- comes to us courtesy of Riccardo Minnetti at Lo Scarabeo. Thanks, Riccardo, for making this touching piece of Tarot history available to us and our readers.

This letter is the first historical reference to the Waite-Smith deck. (You can see a larger version by clicking the image included below.)

While this letter is an important document regarding the history of the early editions of the Waite-Smith, I just simply wanted to say that reading it has strangely moved me. Maybe it’s the way it’s written, so simple and sad, and childlike in the way only adults can be.

Pixie’s life is just another sad story of this world. Even so, it is part of the history of Tarot, and we should remember it. It is possible that Pamela Colman Smith's little, humble, art has changed our own history, and I think she deserved to be remembered as a person, not just as a "maker." When I found the letter, I appreciated the small window it opened into her life, her concerns, her way of writing.

Dear Mr Steiglitz

I wonder where you are!! I want Some money for Christmas !
I wonder if you got mrs Busches money for the “moon”?
Can you send it to me?
I have 8 or 9 new things. I am sending over next week. You will like them I think.
Perhaps a few people may care for one or two.
They are careful and nice color. And larger than any except the Wave one.
I hope you are doing well. And the little Galleries are still there!
I have just finished a big job for very little cash! A set of design for a pack of Tarot cards. 80 designs.
I shall send some over of the original drawings as some people may like them! I will send you a pack (printed in color by lithography) – (possibly very badly) as soon as they are ready – in Dec 1 I think.
With good wishes to you and mrs Steglitz and the ????? all of it.
From yours sincerely,
Pamela Colman Smith

-- Riccardo Minnetti

Comments

[Janet]

I've been an amateur handwriting analyst since my husband introduced me to the art before we were married.

Off the bat, I can tell a few things from this letter:

1. Pixie was sad and depressed--possibly suicidal. I say "possibly" because it's hard for me to tell if she has what's known as a false ascending baseline or a suicidal baseline. I'm leaning towards the former since it's pretty frequent in the letter. (Notice how her last word "crashes" down at the end of her sentences?)

2. The fact that her left margin narrows at it descends (i.e., pulls away from the left margin) could mean that she started out feeling hopeful about the future--but then lost steam. Perhaps she was feeling fearful or apprehensive--like she "ran out of steam" for some reason.

3. She was probably a procrastinator. The fact that she has a narrow lower margin seems to indicate that she delays the inevitable.

4. The crushed right margin is usually, unfortunately, a sign of dangerous impulsiveness. People who do this are often "air heads" that are accident prone. Metaphorically, they're the type that never learn from their mistakes--bashing their head into the proverbial wall over and over again.

5. There's a lot of "horizontal movement" in her letter (notice the hyphens, underlined words and T-bar crossings) which indicates a strong work drive--or ambition towards work-related goals.

Just a few observations for fun. :o)

Janet