Why "Rider Waite Smith" (RWS)

Mr. Rider, of William Rider & Son (United Kingdom, 1908), and Mr. A.E. Waite, are understandably perceived as part of the establishment, being "white" and male in the early 1900s. While Pixie, or Pam, or Pamela Coleman Smith was completely the opposite. She was female, of mix heritage, potentially queer, and an artist. In every way a minority and a fringe dweller in the early 1900s. It is perhaps also therefore understandable that there is a sense of need to "restore" her somehow in the 21st century tarot conversations that I have borne witness to. My own personal take on things based on the information that I came across so far is that both Rider and Waite had very explicitly included Smith in their publication of the landmark tarot deck now known as the Rider Waite Smith. A fair treatment of the artist, and some would argue more than fair, given that she received a flat sum for her work. Some would further argue, that given the social reality of the day, Waite's and Smith's membership in the Golden Dawn had served as an equaliser, and Waite did not fail to uplift Smith. It is interesting to note, that it was not until the 1970s, when US Games entered the scene, first as a partner for joint distributions, and then slowly took over as Rider disappeared, that Smith's name was phased out of history. Until the 1990s. (http://waitesmith.org/index.php/decks...) Today, in the year 2000s, Pixie, or Pamela Colman Smith, has become a buzz word worthy of a serious commercial attention. You can see today the numerous offerings from US Games of Pixie branded tarot decks and books published and for sale. They are very popular. --------------------------------------------------- "She received a flat sum for executing the tarot deck which was released at the end of 1909. The pack was to become the first commercially available tarot deck in England and has remained the most popular." (Farley, H., "A Cultural History of Tarot", 2009; p. 145) (A) Pamela Colman Smith was credited explicitly in: (1) Waite's "Key To The Tarot" booklet that came with the deck (my copy is a reproduction of Rider & Sons' early 1900s edition (?), by Rider Books, 1993), and (2) Rider & Co's booklet from mid 1970s. (B) It was US Games, in the 1970s - 1990s, who wrote Pamela Colman Smith out of history. Not Mr. Waite. Not Mr. Rider. (Source: http://waitesmith.org/index.php/decks... ) For more info and the story of the Rider Waite Smith please check out this website https://waitesmith.org .... especially the story about the Rider Blue Box, the last of Rider's, and that beautiful incomparable cardstock from AG Muller in Switzerland ... http://waitesmith.org/index.php/decks... (Check out my video on "Tarot of A.E. Waite" by AG Muller, now AGM - Urania, which English edition has been blocked for distribution in various English speaking countries - and maybe globally, I can't confirm - by US Games) THUMBNAIL: Deck A (1910-1920) from waitesmith.org https://waitesmith.org/index.php/deck... PRODUCTION NOTE: Apologies for the loud background music! I was trying to drown out the washing machine noises in the background :/ Background music: Studio Ghibli Jazz