Shock and awe!
I just received the PCS Commemorative Set/Centennial Edition and am delighted by the whole kit and kaboodle, most especially the PCS life story book and the wonderful deck.
And the latter's really the source of my shock and awe. I, who for years did back-flips to avoid having to use an actual RWS; who turned to Robin Wood and a few dozen other close clones to learn the RWS meanings minus the clunky drawings and drab colors, who has never read with an RWS before...must now say a mea culpa to Pamela Coleman Smith.
Boy, did I misjudge her abilities. The book is chock-full of absolutely beautiful--and astonishingly varied in style!--artwork with gorgeous lines and saturation of color and expressive faces. There are way too many to count, but some of my favorites: Sherlock Homes (p6 and p.35, which is amazing!), Land of Heart's Desire (p.12), Tamar (p. 86)...all wonderful!
And I learned so much about Smith herself. Kaplan characterizes her as a deliciously quirky, witty person, much-loved by all who knew her (including many famous household names) but who never seemed quite one of "the in crowd." I was touched by her father's devotion to promoting her artistic talents, fascinated by details of her personal life such as suspected non-European ancestry and a conversion to (devout) Roman Catholicsm, and surprised by her political activism.
Now as to the deck...
This is insane, because vivid colors are usually my number one requirement in a deck, but this muted-colored, tea-stained deck is FAR more enticing to me than any previous incarnation of the RWS that I've seen online or in person. I was weirdly entranced by the online scans of this deck, and the respectable matte cardstock has done them full justice. And I LOVE the backs.They are some of the best I've ever seen in a deck.
I could actually read with this deck and enjoy it.
Well, shucks. I guess you should induct me into Former RWS-Haters Anonymous.