Reddit reviews The Expert at the Card Table: The Classic Treatise on Card Manipulation (Dover Magic Books)

It looks like it honestly could have been the favorite spot of a magician/card cheat. Back in the early 1900s, and still today, most card cheats would have to keep their cheating a life long secret, because many of them were upstanding citizens in positions of power. Some just like the thrill. They would hole themselves up somewhere that nobody would care to look in order to master all of the sleights required to give them an advantage. You can read more about things like that in the preface to "The Expert at the Card Table" by S.W. Erdnase published in 1902, under 9 bucks. Even if you don't care to learn the secrets, it has some phenomenal insight into the lives of these guys back in time period.

As far as magician's go, many will find a place completely deprived of distraction in order to practice for hours. The great Dai Vernon used to rent two hotel rooms, one to store all of his belongings, and the other to sit in and practice magic. Given the playing cards, I'd say either is at least a possible option. That corner looks like an excellent space to practice.

Source: I'm a magician.

Hard to say, depends on how far into magic you are, but here's a book that should be in every magician's library:

https://www.amazon.com/Mark-Wilsons-Complete-Course-Magic/dp/0762414553/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1512052771&sr=8-1&keywords=mark+wilson%27s+complete+course+in+magic

If you are into cards specifically, and don't have them, here are three books you should own (and I would suggest reading them in this order):

https://www.amazon.com/Royal-Road-Card-Magic/dp/0486408434/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1512052913&sr=1-1&keywords=royal+road+to+card+magic

https://www.amazon.com/Expert-Card-Table-Treatise-Manipulation/dp/0486285979/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1512052934&sr=1-1&keywords=the+expert+at+the+card+table

https://www.amazon.com/Expert-Card-Technique-Close-Up-Table/dp/0486217558/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1512052952&sr=1-1&keywords=expert+card+technique

The very best thing you can do is find a magic shop in your area and tell them you're interested in learning. Buy books. Not tricks, books. They may actually have a reprinted copy of The Expert at the Card Table (by Erdnase), but in lieu of that, any card manip book by Dai Vernon will be both a wealth of knowledge for you, and an impressive selection for whomever the magician is that's selling it to you. Learn from the book, come back to the shop later and show some moves you learned, and ask if they're able to help you find some clubs to learn more and be more involved. You'll be introduced to at least two magic organizations, and one of them requires a couple other magicians vouch for you; which you'll have if you've shown you can learn something from Vernon.

It's likely the book you get will describe in stunningly precise detail exactly what you want to know anyway, but if you're serious about learning this stuff, being a part of the organizations will open up so many more doors and routes to have someone teach you these things face to face than any other method.

Good luck :)

Edit: If there's no magic shop near you, Amazon will do nicely too. The Erdnase book you're looking for is here. Amazon has a few Vernons too -- this wouldn't be a bad start. If you're having a hard time following the descriptions and desperately need video guidance, look up DVDs by Jeff McBride. He won't teach things like bottom dealing or double-lifts or passes, but his raw card manip is essential and will be a great gateway to building up the dexterity that you need to pull off full deck moves. Once you get the basic idea down, put a deck of cards by every computer you use, and force yourself to brainlessly repeat the moves as you browse Reddit. You will bleed between your fingers. It will be worth it.

Royal Road to Card Magic is mentioned by another response... Other books that are considered the Sacred Texts of card magic would include Expert at the Card Table and Expert Card Technique...

Expert of the Card Table is has an interesting history and covers many gambling sleights that have some application in card magic. Depending on the edition, I believe there is some errata, but you can find the corrections online fairly easily.


I personally love Expert Card Technique because it covers so many slights and classic card magic effects. It has illustrations that are helpful.

https://www.amazon.com/Expert-Card-Table-Treatise-Manipulation/dp/0486285979

"The Expert at the Card Table: The Classic Treatise on Card Manipulation" by S. W. Erdnase, originally published in 1902.

I'd like to add, Expert at the Card Table by S.W. Erdnase for a more experienced card handler, IE if you've tried some slight of hand and like doing it, this book contains a lot of basic and more advanced techniques you can use in card magic.