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Because if you dont know, i would be surprised if anybody knows.

when was the svengali deck first "exposed" for want of a better word, to the general public?
There must of been a time, when the thing was held secret, and in the domain of magician's only... come to that, who invented the deck anyway? I feel that there is a gaping hole in my knolwedge bank.

I am asking because Blaine has released 3 gaffed decks. 2 of them are svengali type decks. But teh 3rd is a deck marked up A-La ted lesely/ Boris Wild.
In conversations, Its been sugested that there isnt a difference beween this, and sven. I think there is, because tons of guys, myself included, use that style of deck.

According to Joe Stuthard the Svengali was invented by Burling Hull in the early 1900's. The earliest that I know of it being in print was in 1932 in 202 Methods of Forcing by Annemann. I do not know when it was first pitched or in what setting though I wouldn't be surprised if it had to do with carnivals. I believe the first national exposure was in the late 60's-early 70's in the USA via a short informercial on TV.

ETA: I didn't mean exposure as in revealing the secret but exposure as in, "Hey look! It's a magic deck that requires no sleight of hand!"

BTW, I heard that Don Driver is the real Pitchman Supreme...

Don Driver is an American "pitchman". I am a British GRAFTER. The American way of demonstrating svengali decks is pathetic and always has been. Therefore I am obviously the supreme expert in these matters. I would have thought that was patently obvious.

I have the greatest svengali routine in existence. If you do not believe this then look at it on my website at www.marklewisentertainment.com

When you get there go to the trade show page and view the videoclip and judge for yourself. Once you have done that go the the "For Magicians Only" page and you will seem my svengali routine book in all it's glory. Then naturally all you have to do is get your money out.

On viewing this masterpiece you can then look at the rather silly Don Driver version on You Tube and you will see that my routine is light years ahead.

I have seen Mark's routine, and it is good.

Mark is the master, no doubt. Just giving him a hard time about the raspy nemesis.

I have his book. It is adequate

It is not "adequate". It is superb. Actually it is one of the greatest classics of world literature but I am far too modest to say so.