Rare items: Steve Forte Books, Russian Prison Playing Cards

I have some rare/collectible items for sale, and I'd rather try to offload them here before getting reamed by eBay fees. Free shipping to the lower 48. Paid shipping elsewhere. Pictures of everything available upon request.

Poker Protection by Steve Forte -- hardback, excellent/near mint condition. $100 o.b.o.

Casino Game Protection by Steve Forte -- hardback, excellent condition/near mint. Autographed by Steve Forte, but made out to me. There's also a bookplate on the inside front cover that I don't want to mess with trying to remove. I'll leave that up to the buyer. $500 o.b.o.

Two decks of playing cards, handmade in Russian prisons in the 1980's/90's. I purchased these from a collector in Russia, who claimed to have gotten them directly from former prisoners or guards (I can't remember exactly what he told me). One deck has 29 of 32 cards, the other deck is 30 of 32 cards. $200 EACH o.b.o.

Also, I will most likely be in Vegas later this year at some point so if you're like me and you don't trust shipping valuable items I have no problem hand delivering things to you if you live in the area.

Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/31183118@N02/albums/72157678064562877

Russian playing decks only have 32 cards?

Quote: unJon

Russian playing decks only have 32 cards?

Many European decks only have 32 cards because certain games are more popular over there that only require 32 cards. 7-10 and the four face cards. There's also 36 card decks that are 6-10 and the face cards.

I think the Casino Game Protection/Steve Forte for $500 is an attractive price, if you're a collector of this type of book. A little less certain about the price for Forte's Poker Protection - I just don't know on that one.

Could you possibly post an image of a couple of the Russian prison playing cards? There seem to be multiple varieties of these.

Quote: gordonm888

I think the Casino Game Protection/Steve Forte for $500 is an attractive price, if you're a collector of this type of book. A little less certain about the price for Forte's Poker Protection - I just don't know on that one.

I tried googling around, and looking on Amazon and eBay for comparable and fair prices. I'm also open to negotiations.

Quote:

Could you possibly post an image of a couple of the Russian prison playing cards? There seem to be multiple varieties of these.

Yes, give me a couple hours and I'll have some up here....

That Casino Game Protection for $500 had me searching as I thought I might have a copy. Sadly, mine is a similar title by Bill Zender.

Quote: TigerWu

I have some rare/collectible items for sale, and I'd rather try to offload them here before getting reamed by eBay fees. Free shipping to the lower 48. Paid shipping elsewhere.

TigerWu,

So you'll ship for free to Hawaii, but charge to ship to Maine? ;-)

Dog Hand

Quote: DogHand

TigerWu,

So you'll ship for free to Hawaii, but charge to ship to Maine? ;-)

Dog Hand

Hardy har har....

Honestly, I'd have to double-check the prices, but I probably could do free shipping to all 50. Nobody hold me to that, though....

Here's some photos. Sorry they might be all out of order.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/31183118@N02/albums/72157678064562877

Quote: TigerWu

Hardy har har....

Honestly, I'd have to double-check the prices, but I probably could do free shipping to all 50. Nobody hold me to that, though....

If you use USPS Priority or Express Mail, it's exactly the same price to Hawaii or Alaska (based on package size) as any other state. Your books would probably fit in medium or large Priority boxes. It's a federal regulation that USPS costs the same for all 50 ststes: not so for Fedex/UPS/etc, who use zones.

So when I was living in Hawaii, we only used USPS. The package price difference is formidable.

Note: I'm not sure about USPS Parcel Post pricing. I'm only referring to Priority and Express.

Quote: unJon

Russian playing decks only have 32 cards?

Damn commies have no respect for royalty.

Quote: billryan

That Casino Game Protection for $500 had me searching as I thought I might have a copy. Sadly, mine is a similar title by Bill Zender.

I used to have the Forte book. It is a textbook sized green monster. I paid $200 new, and left it at the last property where I worked.

It is a fabulous book, with lots of scams explained and diagramed.

I can't edit my original post but I'm lowering the price on these items in case anyone is interested. Check out the OP for description and pics.

Casino Game Protection (autographed) - $400
Poker Protection - $85
Russian Prison playing cards - $160 EACH

Free shipping in the US.

Lowered prices, plus more stuff added, free shipping in the U.S.:

Casino Game Protection (autographed) - $350 obo
Poker Protection - $80 firm
Russian Prison playing cards - $130 EACH, obo

Expert at the Card Table, 2007 Conjuring Arts Research Center, black pocket edition - $80
The Annotated Erdnase by Darwin Ortiz (autographed) - $130
Flim-Flam! by James Randi (autographed) - $40

Quote: beachbumbabs

If you use USPS Priority or Express Mail, it's exactly the same price to Hawaii or Alaska (based on package size) as any other state. Your books would probably fit in medium or large Priority boxes. It's a federal regulation that USPS costs the same for all 50 ststes: not so for Fedex/UPS/etc, who use zones.

So when I was living in Hawaii, we only used USPS. The package price difference is formidable.

Note: I'm not sure about USPS Parcel Post pricing. I'm only referring to Priority and Express.

Media mail is ,by far, the cheapest way to ship books. It does go by distance, but is still cheaper than priority. It will take much longer and is subject to being opened for inspection but it's a cheap alternative.

I'm cutting prices again on what I have left. See OP for photos:

Poker Protection - $70
Russian prison playing card decks - $85 each
Flim-Flam! by James Randi (autographed) - $30

All reasonable offers considered. Free shipping (in the U.S.).

Some russian popular home games use 36 cards deck. Game name Durak (Stupid) use 32 cards. Some of mariage use 36 cards too. Russian playing cards starts from 6, and finish ACEs.with same suits like in poker deck. But wothout JOKERSs (6,7,8,9,10,J,Q,K,A)