Expert(s) At The Card Table

[AsherF]

So, I'm constantly carrying around my copy of Erdnase. Reading it constantly and taking notes and whatever else. BUT, here's the question.

Who's the "We"? I am consistently seeing mention of "we believe this" or "We think that" or "We like to". I'm not sure if this has come up before, but I'm just curious who else was involved in this project? Was there a group of men that gathered in a dark cellar to do this? Or does Erdnase speak of the gambling/magic community as a whole?

 

[vipermagic]

I think it's the greatest conspiracy in sleight of hand history. I believe Erdnase was actually the name of a secret society of artists. Then one of their members betrayed the order by getting the book published under the group name. You see, they foresaw the day when a young David Verner (Dai Vernon) would create so of the most beautiful card magic ever conceived. And so it was the prophesy was fulfilled and as for the young man who betrayed the Erdnase, well he grew up become.... Danny Garcia.

Or does Erdnase speak of the gambling/magic community as a whole?

or that

 

[saborfang17]

So, I'm constantly carrying around my copy of Erdnase. Reading it constantly and taking notes and whatever else. BUT, here's the question.

Who's the "We"? I am consistently seeing mention of "we believe this" or "We think that" or "We like to". I'm not sure if this has come up before, but I'm just curious who else was involved in this project? Was there a group of men that gathered in a dark cellar to do this? Or does Erdnase speak of the gambling/magic community as a whole?

It's a form of writing back from the early 1900's, although it is only one person. Besides "Erdnase", there was only M.D. Smith, but I can't remember if he just didn't truly know Erdnase's identity personally, or if he refused to disclose that information. Martin Gardner has a book on the identity of the writer, and there's an extra chapter dedicated to the topic at the end of The Annotated Erdnase (Darwin Ortiz), although I don't think it has been reprinted since '91, so it might be hard to find.

 

[TeeDee]

As Saborfang says, "we", is the traditional way of referring to yourself when writing. You'll see it in many texts up until the early 20th century, even in some of Marlo's works.

Marshall D Smith didn't know the true identity of Erdnase, beyond a couple of bits of information which he remembered from the one day he spent with the author, and which he gave to Martin Gardner. He was about 5'6" tall, around forty years old, and mentioned that he was a relative of some kind to Louis Dalrymple, a well-known artist. The best sources of information about the identity question are the huge thread on the Genii Magazine forums, and Richard Hatch's contributions to the Geno Munari produced Expert at the Card Table DVD set (the one with Allen Ackerman).

 

[Rneogy]

and so it was the prophesy was fulfilled and as for the young man who betrayed the erdnase, well he grew up become.... Danny garcia.

lolololol!