Hey guys,

I also posted this in the gambling section but thought I might get a response here as well.
I'm hoping someone could point me in the right direction. I'm looking to see if there are any references to the origins of the gamblers cop. Specifically I would be looking for a time period when the move first started being used (for any purposes) and possibly a text sourcre / reference. The earlier the source the better.

Thanks for any help in advance,

Dorian Rhodell

I take it you read up in Scarne and Erdnase.
You could try to "Ask Alexander":

http://www.conjuringarts.org/
(http://askalexander.org/)

If I remember right, it was a long time ago in a land far, far away...

Seriously, though, I have no idea Dorian. Maybe Gamblers Book Club could be of some assistance with the resource?

Dorian:

Luvisi would know.

SEY

The earliest mention of it that I'm aware of is in The Secrets of Conjuring and Magic by Robert-Houdin. Some oldish (depending on your perspective) 20th century sources that describe something more like the way it's usually done today include Stars of Magic, Action Palm, The Card Magic of LePaul, and Further Inner Secrets of Card Magic.

Andru
P.S. One of these days you're going to get me in trouble, Steven, by promising something that I can't deliver.