THE POKER MANUAL: A Practical Course of Instruction in the Game, with Illustrative Hands and Chapters on Bluffing, and Jack-Pots. Together with the International Code of Laws.
Mudie & Sons, 1895. First Edition. Hardcover. First British Edition of this practical and philosophical guide with both strategic and statistical material as well as reflective flourishes on the beauty of the game: 'Bluffing, in one form or another, permeates the whole game. It is the finess of Poker. It is this element that gives to the game its intense human interest. Without it Poker would be mere chance. Bluffing is the operation of the performer upon the emotions, whether of hope or fear, of curiosity or contempt, of avarice or prodigality of his adversaries.' Color frontispiece, vi, [3], 119pp. + 8pp. Ads for Mudie & Sons books and gambling paraphernalia. Small 12mo, sewn binding in green cloth, lettered and ruled in gilt with all edges gilt. Title page and all hand illustrations in red and black. With just some trivial rubbing to the extremities and toning to the endpapers, this copy remains very clean and fresh, uncommonly nice for a book whose monetary incentive begets heavy use. [Jessle + Horr (1576) list an American printing by F. Warne but do not venture any priority between the two. Our copy Printed in London by George W. Jones]. NEAR FINE. Item #514163
ISBN: B00C3OHJBE
Price: $450.00