THURSTON, Howard (1869 – 1936). Thurston Palace Theatre Throw Out Card. [London]: Goodall, ca. 1902. Pictorial souvenir throw-out card bears Thurston’s portrait at the center of a heart-shaped frame, surrounded by playing cards in red and black. The text “Palace Theatre W / Howard / Thurston / Premier / Card Manipulator / Of the World.” Flanks the image above and below. Poker size, with red and black Goodall Owl back. Back marred by scrapbook removal. RARE; the first we have encountered.A rare souvenir from Thurston’s earliest successes in London where he rose to fame with a short music hall act that remained a staple of his show for decades to come. After struggling in honkytonks and small-time vaudeville in America, Thurston hit the big time in England as part of a wave of specialty acts on the variety stage. He used this success as a catapult to further fame and built what would become the “wonder show of the universe” (the billing for his stage-filling illusion show) on the back of his long run at the Palace Theatre. It was also during this time that Thurston published his famous pitch book, Howard Thurston’s Card Tricks. The first edition played on the motif and design of this throw out card. Thurston used these cards not for his manipulations, but as giveaways thrown with amazing accuracy to theatergoers watching his performance.