France, Edwin D. (1906-1992).

American magician. FRANCE THE MAGICIAN: THROW-OUT CARD. Circa [1945]. Black-and-white pictorial card, approximately 3-3/8 inches high by 2-5/8 inches wide, with a photographic portrait of Edwin France on the recto & 6 photographic vignettes of him performing on the verso. Very good.

Card throwing was the practice of hurling standard playing cards for speed, distance and accuracy. It was a popular feat with magicians who often threw out specially printed souvenir cards. These cards often had the performer's picture on one side and advertisements or playing-card backs on the other.

The present card has a head-and-shoulders portrait of France on the recto with two tiny devils with horns, one with a forked tail, perched on his shoulders. "Good Luck" is printed above his head and "France" below the image. There is a picture of a wand down the left margin. The vignettes on the verso depict France at work, including card-throwing with the caption "Creator and Performer of 'The Rocket' Playing Card thrown from the stage into the balcony"; the magician in Oriental dress with a turban; two acts involving skulls; and a depiction of him "Driving an Auto while Blind-Folded".

Edwin D. France [1906-1992] was an American magician from the Baltimore area who billed himself as the "Del-Mar-Va Magician" and "France the Magician". He performed some spectacular stunts, such as driving a car blindfolded, as depicted on this card. He also ran a mail-order magic shop, specializing in inexpensive tricks, jokes and novelties. He was an energetic and enthusiastic self-promoter.