This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/19/2018
A Grand Exposé of the Science of Gambling. New York: Frederic A. Brady, (1860). Flexible green embossed cloth, gilt decorated. 16mo. Cloth punctured and soiled, a few toned pages and minor dampstains, edges rough, but binding sturdy. Good. In a one-third leather over cloth folding box. Rare. Long before the works of Evans, Quinn, Ritter, and Erdnase, the author of this book (identified only as “An Adept” on the title page) outlines sophisticated methods for holding out, altering cards (stripping, hollowing, and rounding), Three Card Monte, short cons, and much more – apparently from firsthand experience. While many explanations are written in a technical tone, a large portion of the book is authored in a narrative style. One of the earliest and rarest technical manuals describing the methods of crooked gamblers.