The Gambling Magician by B. W. McCarron (“Mercurio”), edited by Roy Fromer, is an illustrated, 80-page softcover covering gambling-themed card magic and card sharp methods. Copyright 1976 by D. Robbins & Company, Inc.
 
The first section, “Card Shark Routine,” presents twenty effects, including How the Dealer Always Wins, Plain-Sight Cheating, Plain Sight Palming, A Blindfolded Poker Deal, Invisible Daub, Cutting the Aces to the Top of the Deck, Bad, Bad Leroy Brown, and The Dead Man’s Hand. Additional material includes Mercurio’s deck setup, poker deals, apparent second dealing, and a card-to-miniature-card-box effect.
 
The second section explores deck switches, short cards, crimps, bluffs and other ruses, followed by devices such as mirror rings, shiners and holdouts. Appendices cover poker hand rankings, special card construction, marked cards and a glossary of terms.
 
CONDITION NOTES: Good vintage condition with light cover rubbing, scattered scuffs and surface marks, minor edge and corner wear, and creasing along the spine. Covers and interior paper show light age toning.