The Education Of A Poker Player. Including Where And How One Learns To Win -
Herbert O. Yardley, Ian Fleming (introduction)
1959 - Jonathan Cape, London - First English Edition
The preferred first English edition of Yardley's masterwork of poker lore and advice, with a suitably acerbic introduction from Mr. Fleming, in fine sarcastic form. Fleming was drawn to Yardley not not only for his gaming and high living, but as an icon in U.S. intelligence. After reading the American edition of this book in 1957, Fleming was so taken with it, that he urged his publisher, Jonathan Cape, to issue the book in Britain. Cape agreed, but on the condition that Fleming pen an introduction
‘Assume the worst, believe no one, and make your move only when you are certain that you are unbeatable or have, at worst, exceptionally good odds in your favor.’ - “Yardley’s Law” as Al Alvarez describes it in Big Deal: Confessions of a Poker Player.
Both an autobiography and a poker-playing manual which seeks to expose the cynical reality behind the "American Dream". Yardley describes many poker games and characters who include railroad men, travelling salesmen, speculators, drunks and no-hopers. Described by gambling specialist Cult Jones as "probably the best poker book ever written"
‘The book’s importance in the history of poker literature is unquestioned.’ - Poker News. Yardley [1889-1958] began his career as a code clerk in the State Department rising to chief of MI-8, the first U.S. peacetime cryptanalytic organization. MI-8 disbanded in 1929, Yardley published his sensational memoirs of MI-8, The American Black Chamber, in 1930. The Army were not amused and he was never again given a position of trust in the U.S. government [He worked for Canada and China during WWII].
Provenance: A gift/presentation copy from members of (presumably) a card-playing club or society, with several ink signatures to the first leaf.
Reference: Gilbert, Ian Fleming - The Bibliography, B1.
Large octavo (binding size 16x13.7cm), pp. 143 [1]. Elegantly hand-bound in three-quarter green oasis morocco over matching marbled boards, spine with black morocco title label lettered in gilt and raised bands ruled in gilt, black endpapers, publisher's original spine bound in at rear. Condition: Fine in fine binding. Ref: 112588 Price: HK$ 4,500
‘Assume the worst, believe no one, and make your move only when you are certain that you are unbeatable or have, at worst, exceptionally good odds in your favor.’ - “Yardley’s Law” as Al Alvarez describes it in Big Deal: Confessions of a Poker Player.
Both an autobiography and a poker-playing manual which seeks to expose the cynical reality behind the "American Dream". Yardley describes many poker games and characters who include railroad men, travelling salesmen, speculators, drunks and no-hopers. Described by gambling specialist Cult Jones as "probably the best poker book ever written"
‘The book’s importance in the history of poker literature is unquestioned.’ - Poker News. Yardley [1889-1958] began his career as a code clerk in the State Department rising to chief of MI-8, the first U.S. peacetime cryptanalytic organization. MI-8 disbanded in 1929, Yardley published his sensational memoirs of MI-8, The American Black Chamber, in 1930. The Army were not amused and he was never again given a position of trust in the U.S. government [He worked for Canada and China during WWII].
Provenance: A gift/presentation copy from members of (presumably) a card-playing club or society, with several ink signatures to the first leaf.
Reference: Gilbert, Ian Fleming - The Bibliography, B1.
Large octavo (binding size 16x13.7cm), pp. 143 [1]. Elegantly hand-bound in three-quarter green oasis morocco over matching marbled boards, spine with black morocco title label lettered in gilt and raised bands ruled in gilt, black endpapers, publisher's original spine bound in at rear. Condition: Fine in fine binding. Ref: 112588 Price: HK$ 4,500