University Books editions from 19XX to 19XX

Carol-Citadel-Laine enter the picture and establish ownership by specifying 1966 ~ but this was well after the first, earlier decks. There was never any reason to re-set the printing plates so any copyright for the Tarot would be on the box ~ but it isn't there.

Click to expand...

By this I mean that "1966" is the legal framework for ownership,
rather than the specific publishing history. But there it is...
Stuart R. Kaplan picked "1971" as his copyright, after the fact.

"Zip" Code 1104 may well have been pre-1963 and for an area
of New York... and it does make 1963 a clear date for 5-digits.

I am sure there are people who know all of this information and
would be happy to clarify things ~ if anyone knew who to ask.

Paper Chase

Greetings Coredil,

I like Schnitzeljagd (shred hunt) better than
jeu de pistes (set of tracks), but both apply.

My copy of the Citadel Press PKT gives 1959
as the first year for publication, thus the deck
was surely being printed by University Books
at that time. Maybe USGames has hushed it,
in the "don't ask, don't tell" copyright game.

Sincerely,
Fulgour

Hello Fulgour,

curious about all the variations, I read former threads about RWS decks in this forum.
You once proposed decks without copyright from about 1970, as well colored to someone who wanted to choose zhe best RWS deck (I know I should better quote, but I am too lazy to learn it right now).
I suppose you were not talking about "University Books" decks.
My question is: how do the "University Books" decks compare (colors) to these one you mentioned?
And am I right saying that the University Books decks are Pamela A typ (according to Holly's site)?

Best regards
coredil

Guten Morgen, Coredil

The Pamela Colman Smith Tarot

Gouache with Pen & Black Ink 1909
Click:here
Note: This image shows what I call the cream faced fool,
whereas earlier printings have a more varieted shading on
the fool's face ~ what I call the blushing fool.

University Books Inc. 1959
Click: here
Note: Right Inner Sleeve of Tunic

US Games Systems Inc. 19-??
Click: here

*

University Books Inc. 1959
Hardback "The Pictorial Key to the Tarot"
http://www.cafes.net/ditch/waitetarot1.jpg

Reprint of 1911 British title. A.E. Waite is the author...
Known as the "Rider Smith" deck, or just "Colman Smith" deck,
it was drawn by illustrator Pamela Colman Smith...
Both the book and the deck were published by the Rider
publishing company in Britain.

In 1959, University Books published a version,
along with an accompanying deck.

Their deck is distinguished by having an Ankh symbol on the
reverse face of the card (the Ankh was University Books' Colophon).
The colors of this deck are much more vivid than the later printings
by US Games Systems. (edited from Cafes.net)


Fulgour

Guten Abend Fulgour

Thanks for the Images.
I like the 1909 gouache one!
I find it pretty similar to the 1993 Original Rider Waite but with blue instead of green.
Well the Fool of my 1963-1966 "University Books" deck looks exactly like your 1959 one.
The same yellow right inner sleeve and the same black point left on the top line (also exactly as the University Books Fool on Holy's site).
I suppose all University Books decks will look the same.
Maybe is my deck from 1959 and the box with the 5 zip digits from 1963 ;-)

I definitely prefer the University Books one to the US-Game one.

Best regards
coredil

My red slip-case box has the address printed in 3 places: on the top and on both sides. The sides read:
Complete [size=+1]Tarot Cards[/size] Authentic
Designed by Pamela Coleman Smith & Arthur Edward Waite
University Books, Inc., New Hyde Park, New York
No ZIP code is given.

The faces have The Fool and The High Priestess cards affixed to them.

Hello cSpaceDiva,

Can you describe the box physically, writing in a technical style?
Imagine me trying to picture exactly what you are describing...

That'd be a great help ~ and fun too! Sounds like you've got
something really cool there... and I'm dying to know what

Sincerely,
Fulgour

Not so sure about writing in a technical style, but I'll do my best

The box has 2 parts. Both are covered what I'd best describe as a dark maroon faux leather contact paper. (Reminds me of a leather-bound book) Standing the cards upright (as opposed to laying them flat) they slide completely into the bottom portion of the box. It has two semi-circle cutouts at the top so you can pinch the cards to pull them out. The top portion of the box is open at the bottom, like one of those VHS tape cases where the video slides out the bottom. So in this case, the bottom portion of the box with the cards inside would be like the video tape. Then with the cards still upright, you have writing on the top and the two sides, The Fool card (with his yellow inner right sleeve) stuck to the front, and The High Priestess card stuck to the back. They are not images printed on the box, but actual cards stuck on there. You can peek under the corner and see the pink background.

There was no LWB or title card or anything that came with it. I don't know if there was at one time.

Thanks cSpaceDiva! A very interesting addition to
the story and background of University Books, Inc.

I would even venture to imagine you have an original
first edition series release handmade way back when.

If anyone has scans of a deck that more closely resembles the colors Smith intended than the packs commonly available on the market, I would really enjoy viewing them for study purposes.