{"product_id":"the-expert-at-the-card-s-w-erdnase-9781609426057","title":"The Expert at the Card Table: Artifice, Ruse and Subterfuge at the Card Table (Annotated Edition, with Newly Redrawn Illustrations)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Expert at the Card Table\u003c\/b\u003e (originally titled \u003ci\u003eArtifice, Ruse and Subterfuge at the Card Table\u003c\/i\u003e), published in 1902 by the mysterious S. W. Erdnase, is the most influential book ever written on card handling, card sharping, and sleight of hand. Its detailed explanations of blind shuffles, false cuts, stacking, shifts, palming, and bottom and second deals, together with its classic card tricks, have made it the foundational text for generations of magicians, gamblers, and card-magic enthusiasts.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis annotated edition presents the complete text of 1902, including the original Preface. It adds: \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eA new, extensively annotated editor's introduction\u003c\/b\u003e covering the book's origins, the world of turn-of-the-century gambling, and the century-long search for the true identity of S. W. Erdnase.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eAbout 200 footnotes\u003c\/b\u003e, both historical and practical. The historical notes explain period terminology, gambling practices, and references. The practical notes clarify ambiguous instructions to help readers actually perform the moves.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eRedrawn illustrations\u003c\/b\u003e based on Marshall D. Smith's original drawings, with new shading that shows hand positions and card placement more clearly.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eNewly typeset in Garamond, this edition keeps the precision and voice of the original while making it more accessible to modern readers. It is an essential reference for magicians, card players, collectors, and anyone interested in gambling history or one of the great unsolved literary mysteries.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ep\u0026gt;Topics covered include: p\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003eli\u0026gt;Blind shuffles and false rifflesli\u003cli\u003eFalse cuts and stackingli\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShifts, palming, and bottom and second dealsli\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eClassic card tricks and sleight-of-hand methodsli\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e S. W. Erdnase\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 1609426053\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781609426057\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Iap - Information Age Pub. Inc.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 10\/01\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 188\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.57lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.40d\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"S. W. Erdnase","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":50780206760191,"sku":"9781609426057","price":19.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/the-expert-at-the-card-s-w-erdnase-9781609426057","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}