Great 1938 US gambling history, 493 pages, great condition, softcover, only $10.99 plus $2.99 media mail postage. (I just picked up some more of these books.)

Buy from me here (this message board, email me first) (PayPal OK), but see my eBay description:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/152786736065?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1558.l2649

Very readable. Many pictures. 493 pages. Covers all the gambling games (faro, poker, craps, lottery, policy, etc.), all the gambling centers (Washington DC, Saratoga, NYC, Mississippi River, MidWest, etc.), all the personalities (Morrissey, Canfield, et al), from early US founding to 20th century. A "must" for the gambling enthusiast.

Synopsis:
"Originally published in 1938 by Asbury (The Gangs of New York), this informal history of gambling in the United States explores its legal, and illegal, origins as far back as Colonial times by examining the gambling houses, big and small, which peppered the American landscape. Illustrations., Originally published in 1938, Sucker's Progress is a complete look at old-time gamesmanship in America. From Midwestern riverboats to East Coast racetracks, Asbury explores the legal, and illegal, history of gambling in pre-World War I America. With a keen eye and acerbic voice, Asbury defines the world of gambling as one of "sharpers" and "suckers": those who excel at the games by cheating, and their victims. From notorious gambling havens like Chicago and New Orleans to lesser-known outposts in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Cincinnati, Ohio, Asbury examines the gambling houses, big and small, which peppered the American landscape. Also included are photographs and details of the lives of some of America's most famous gamblers, including Mike McDonald, John Morrissey, and Richard Canfield, as well as their infamous counterparts like "Canada Bill" and "Charley Black Eyes," who made their names as grifters and con men. Asbury also details the games these men played, describing the rules and origins of a number of dice and card games. From one-dollar lottery tickets to thousand-dollar poker antes, America's love of gambling thrives today, but it was during Asbury's era that gambling was established as an American passion."

Robert