S. W. Erdnase
Encyclopedia
S. W. Erdnase is a pseudonym
used by the author of The Expert at the Card Table
, a book detailing sleight of hand
, cheating
and legerdemain
using playing card
s. Still considered essential reading for any card magician, the book, known also as either the Bible or, commonly, just Erdnase, has been in continual publication since 1902. Erdnase's true identity is one of the enduring mysteries of the magic
community.
S. W. Erdnase spelled backwards is "E. S. Andrews" leading many investigators to search for people named Andrews as possible candidates.
has proposed that a small-time con man named Milton Franklin Andrews was the author. Others argue against Andrews being Erdnase because the known examples of his writing are very much inferior to the polished writing of The Expert at the Card Table.
Andrews was wanted by police for questioning in relation to a murder inquiry. When the police found Andrews he shot himself dead after fatally shooting his female companion. Andrews was only 33, as stated in The Man Who was Erdnase.
Genii Magazine devoted a large portion of its September 2011 issue to an exploration of Alexander's theory, providing substantial circumstantial evidence that links Sanders to Erdnase.
has advanced the theory that Erdnase was written by the Peruvian magician named "L'Homme Masque" (The Masked Man), who lived in Europe.
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
used by the author of The Expert at the Card Table
The Expert at the Card Table
The Expert at the Card Table: The Classic Treatise on Card Manipulation, often referred to simply as Erdnase , is possibly the best book on cards and magic written in 1901 by S. W. Erdnase, a pseudonymous author whose identity has remained a mystery for over a century...
, a book detailing sleight of hand
Sleight of hand
Sleight of hand, also known as prestidigitation or legerdemain, is the set of techniques used by a magician to manipulate objects such as cards and coins secretly....
, cheating
Cheating
Cheating refers to the breaking of rules to gain advantage in a competitive situation. The rules infringed may be explicit, or they may be from an unwritten code of conduct based on morality, ethics or custom, making the identification of cheating a subjective process. Cheating can refer...
and legerdemain
Magic (illusion)
Magic is a performing art that entertains audiences by staging tricks or creating illusions of seemingly impossible or supernatural feats using natural means...
using playing card
Playing card
A playing card is a piece of specially prepared heavy paper, thin cardboard, plastic-coated paper, cotton-paper blend, or thin plastic, marked with distinguishing motifs and used as one of a set for playing card games...
s. Still considered essential reading for any card magician, the book, known also as either the Bible or, commonly, just Erdnase, has been in continual publication since 1902. Erdnase's true identity is one of the enduring mysteries of the magic
Magic (illusion)
Magic is a performing art that entertains audiences by staging tricks or creating illusions of seemingly impossible or supernatural feats using natural means...
community.
Identity
S. W. Erdnase was most likely a way for the author to conceal his real identity so he wouldn't be arrested but so that people could figure out his real identity later.S. W. Erdnase spelled backwards is "E. S. Andrews" leading many investigators to search for people named Andrews as possible candidates.
Milton Franklin Andrews
Martin GardnerMartin Gardner
Martin Gardner was an American mathematics and science writer specializing in recreational mathematics, but with interests encompassing micromagic, stage magic, literature , philosophy, scientific skepticism, and religion...
has proposed that a small-time con man named Milton Franklin Andrews was the author. Others argue against Andrews being Erdnase because the known examples of his writing are very much inferior to the polished writing of The Expert at the Card Table.
Andrews was wanted by police for questioning in relation to a murder inquiry. When the police found Andrews he shot himself dead after fatally shooting his female companion. Andrews was only 33, as stated in The Man Who was Erdnase.
Wilbur Edgerton Sanders
Some argue that Erdnase was probably a well educated, locally prominent individual, hiding behind an alias to protect his social standing. The most prominent individual mentioned in this regard is a mining engineer named Wilbur Edgerton Sanders, proposed by magician and private detective David Alexander. (Note that "S. W. Erdnase" is an anagram of "W. E. Sanders".)Genii Magazine devoted a large portion of its September 2011 issue to an exploration of Alexander's theory, providing substantial circumstantial evidence that links Sanders to Erdnase.
E. S. Andrews
Todd Karr has identified a Midwestern-based con artist and business swindler named E. S. Andrews who was active around the turn of the century and whose biography and range of known locations seems to fit Erdnase's.L'Homme Masque
Juan TamarizJuan Tamariz
Juan Tamariz-Martel Negrón is a Spanish magician.He is an experienced cardician, a magician specializing in magic with playing cards, and well respected by his peers as an authority in the field of misdirection...
has advanced the theory that Erdnase was written by the Peruvian magician named "L'Homme Masque" (The Masked Man), who lived in Europe.
- Juan Tamariz tiene la hipotesis que el Erdnase fue escrito por el mago peruano del siglo XIX L'Homme Masque que vivió en Europa y es considerado uno de las más grandes magos de toda la historia, hasta el propio Dai Vernon lo considera entre los tres más grandes. Durante el IX Congreso Latinoamericano de Magia FLASOMA 2009 realizado en Perú, explicó las razones y el fundamento por el cual el autor del Erdnase fue L'Homme Masque. Durante la explicación de esta teoria estuvo presente Gaetan Bloom respaldando esta hipotesis.
- Juan Tamariz has the hypothesis that Erdnase was written by the 19th century Peruvian magician "L'Homme Masque" (The Masked Man), who lived in Europe and is considered one of the greatest magicians in history, even Dai Vernon himself considers him among the three greatest. During the 9th Congress of the Latin American Federation of Magic Societies (FLASOMA 2009) held in Peru, he explained the reasons and grounds for which the author of Erdnase has to be L'Homme Masque. During the explanation of this theory Gaetan Bloom was present, supporting this hypothesis.