Mike Eufemia's unpublished book

[fk39673]

Eufemia's Circle of knowledge on Pocket Billiards emphasizing reference point system

It was 325. Before I saw it for long it was gone.

Anyone read it? Know anything about it. It was 661 pages.

Description


Mike Eufemia was a great New York pool player. He claimed to have eclipsed Mosconi's 625 ball run but it was unofficial and therefore never credited it to him. His knowledge of the game though was undisputed. His second home was the renowned pool room, the Golden Cue in Queens NY.

This is a copy of the manuscript he had put together for his book, Circle of Knowledge on Pocket Billiards. Unfortunately, he past away and the book never got published. There are a few of these manuscripts around but you will almost never see one on the market. The manuscript is 661 pages chock full of pool knowledge. If you want to learn the game of pocket billiards this is a great tool aside from being something that is unavailable in the marketplace, which makes it a real collector's item for the billiard enthusiast.

 

[straightline]

What is the reference point system?

 

[mikemosconi]

What is the reference point system?

The answer cost $325 right now - if you can find one for sale.

 

[straightline]

The answer cost $325 right now - if you can find one for sale.

Yeah I gathered. Wonder if you can buy ProOne and pretend you got it?

 

[fk39673]

No one heard of it ?

 

[Bob Jewett]

Shamos and I and the editor's daughter tried to get the family to let the manuscript be published. It didn't work out. I didn't notice anything amazing in it but the copy I had was really hard to read.

 

[Buckzapper]

$325 is an invitation to counterfeit. Working for Xerox, I had access to a Xerox DocuTec on a Saturday when the place is closed. 130 copies per minute, 2 sided. It would scan the whole book and duplicate every page, ...and boom...100 books in nothing flat. Don't get too proud of your rare book. Violating copyright law is as common as a politician lying.

 

[Bob Jewett]

$325 is an invitation to counterfeit.... Violating copyright law is as common as a politician lying.

I got a copy as a gift maybe 20 years ago from a friend in New Jersey. It looks like a fifth or sixth generation copy.

The family still holds the copyright so far as I know.

 

[fk39673]

Highway Robery on Ebay!!!

Mike Eufemia Billiard Manuscript | eBay

Mike Eufemia was a great New York pool player. This is a copy of the manuscript he had put together for his book, Circle of Knowledge on Pocket Billiards. There are a few of these manuscripts around but you will almost never see one on the market.

www.ebay.com

1200!!!

 

[Cuebuddy]

Highway Robery on Ebay!!!

Mike Eufemia Billiard Manuscript | eBay

Mike Eufemia was a great New York pool player. This is a copy of the manuscript he had put together for his book, Circle of Knowledge on Pocket Billiards. There are a few of these manuscripts around but you will almost never see one on the market.

www.ebay.com

1200!!!

Be careful, for sure. Seller does have a couple cues, advertised as perfect for "indoor games".

 

[Bob Jewett]

If it's real -- as opposed to just five pictures in the eBay posting -- it's in violation of the family's copyright.

 

[fk39673]

Shamos and I and the editor's daughter tried to get the family to let the manuscript be published. It didn't work out. I didn't notice anything amazing in it but the copy I had was really hard to read.

It's a shame. I'd love to own it.

 

[Biloxi Boy]

Shamos and I and the editor's daughter tried to get the family to let the manuscript be published. It didn't work out. I didn't notice anything amazing in it but the copy I had was really hard to read.

Is it any good or not? "Nothing amazing" says one thing, but the fact that publication was pursued by third parties implies another. There cannot be much money at stake, but the family must have thought they had a goldmine. Most folks would be happy just to get it published. Otherwise, it is most likely going to be lost. When was it copyrighted?

Am I wrong in assuming there is no money in technical pool books?

 

[jasonlaus]

Is it any good or not? "Nothing amazing" says one thing, but the fact that publication was pursued by third parties implies another. There cannot be much money at stake, but the family must have thought they had a goldmine. Most folks would be happy just to get it published. Otherwise, it is most likely going to be lost. When was it copyrighted?

Am I wrong in assuming there is no money in technical pool books?

There's no money in any pool book

 

[Bob Jewett]

There's no money in any pool book

Now it's hard, but Robert Byrne sold about 500,000 pool books in total. That was through a major publishing house which took care of the distribution. Ray Martin's book went through at least 13 printings and had a Korean version. Martin also went though a major publisher.

 

[Bob Jewett]

Is it any good or not? ...

There are much better pool instructional books available for under $20. The parts I remember were not particularly clear or complete.

The one thing I did notice that I had not seen before is that Eufemia recommended aiming by picking out a spot on the rail to shoot towards. Well, except, that's the way Ray Martin suggested for shooting spot shots.

 

[Dan White]

I think I have a digital copy of that book. The longer I play this game it becomes more clear what the real secret is: Play every day for at least several hours and pay attention. I don't think there are any secrets that will change anyone's pool career. You can, however, learn tips and tricks that help with the journey and keep things fun. You have to figure much of it out for your own style of play.

That reminds me... I had a cool idea on a particular shot and started making a video to explain it. If I ever finish the video I'll post it up. Kind of an "aha" thing for me... just another trick.

 

[Biloxi Boy]

I will never forget the '30s or 40's books I found in my college library, but I can't remember who wrote them or what they said -- some old, bald men in coats and ties. More importantly, I can't remember what it was exactly that I learned. What I do know is that they caused me to take my game apart and begin analyzing its every aspect in a disciplined manner -- quit slinging and start thinking. Anything that causes you to think is a good thing.

 

[Bob Jewett]

I will never forget the '30s or 40's books I found in my college library, but I can't remember who wrote them or what they said -- some old, bald men in coats and ties. More importantly, I can't remember what it was exactly that I learned. What I do know is that they caused me to take my game apart and begin analyzing its every aspect in a disciplined manner -- quit slinging and start thinking. Anything that causes you to think is a good thing.

So far as I know, the first real instructional book for pool was Mosconi's little red book that was published about 1948. Prior to that, the instructional books were about billiards or snooker.

 

[Biloxi Boy]

Could have been '50s -- clothing in photos was dated. I want to remember two books and two different authors. Could have been a single book. I'm talking 50 years ago.
Hardbound, expensive/quality stock/finish, well printed -- old academic quality, if that says anything. Not so much A, B, C, but more like A to Z (encyclopedic). I am thinking maybe snooker. I am sure they were not exclusively billiards, but definitely covered banks and the diamond system. Definite academic/English style.

I always wondered how they found their way to a state college in Mississippi.