Gamblers' Tricks With Cards, Exposed and Explained. Illustrated

Dick & Fitzgerald, 1869. Hardcover. Very Good. Jessel 663 describes this work as an abridgment of Green's Exposure of the Arts and Miseries of Gambling and Gambling Exposed 'without the moral and religious element. The work is the first I have met with to describe "eucre" (sic) and poker. The author states that poker was played as far back as 1829'. Although Green is, as in his other works, identified on the title page as 'The Reformed Gambler', the tone in this work is less moralistic, offering instructions on how to perform card tricks as well as how to spot cheats. The copyright page seems to list 1869, but the considerably worn type (particularly on this page and visible in the page numbers) suggests a later printing, as does the price of 50 cents on the cover. Further investigation of the appended advertisements could identify a likely date. Half cloth and pictorial paper boards. List of 'Good Books' available from Dick & Fitzgerald on the back cover. Significant wear to boards, especially corners. 5 pages of ads, 114 pages, 27 pages of ads, ads double as endpapers. 12 x 17.5 cm.