fullonpoker
Sitting Out
About 4-5 years ago I came across this special copy of Super System. Here’s the story that I’ve put together and gotten from Doyle as well before he passed.
“How I made over $1,000,000 playing poker” was a huge success. Doyle had shared his methods and people were buying in and now it was time for a 2nd printing. Doyle changed the title to “Super System” to show this was an educational tool and not just a bragging story. This original hard copy sold for $100 back in 1978 (around $500 in 2025 dollars) and when it came to the second printing, Doyle wanted to do something special.
Doyle came up with the idea to sell a Special Edition that was a little different. Gold leaf pages, little red bookmark like a bible, name engraved on front cover when purchased, no title on the front…just the artwork.
When I found this copy on eBay back 4-5 years ago, they said it was autographed by Doyle and I found that to be incorrect. There was a little message and signature but rather than Doyle, this was written and signed by the 1979 WSOP Main Event winner, Hal Fowler.
Hal was the first recreational player to win the main and his message that this book helped him made total sense.
Fast forward to 2022, I’m sent to Doyle’s house to film him recording the audiobook of his autobiography. I asked if I could bring this book to ask him about it and was told I could.
Doyle grabbed it from me, pointed to his own copy on his shelf and then says to me…
“Jesse… this copy should not exist. Every copy we sold of this had a name inscribed on the cover before leaving the shop and this book doesn’t have a name. This shouldn’t exist. Where did you find it?!?”
So what we figure happened… the publishing office was located near downtown. We think they had this test print copy on their desk when the Main Event final table was being played. Someone must have taken it to the horseshoe and asked the new champ to sign it.
I’m attaching all my pics and pics of other copies I’ve seen and Doyle’s tweet about it. It’s a fun piece of poker history.
“How I made over $1,000,000 playing poker” was a huge success. Doyle had shared his methods and people were buying in and now it was time for a 2nd printing. Doyle changed the title to “Super System” to show this was an educational tool and not just a bragging story. This original hard copy sold for $100 back in 1978 (around $500 in 2025 dollars) and when it came to the second printing, Doyle wanted to do something special.
Doyle came up with the idea to sell a Special Edition that was a little different. Gold leaf pages, little red bookmark like a bible, name engraved on front cover when purchased, no title on the front…just the artwork.
When I found this copy on eBay back 4-5 years ago, they said it was autographed by Doyle and I found that to be incorrect. There was a little message and signature but rather than Doyle, this was written and signed by the 1979 WSOP Main Event winner, Hal Fowler.
Hal was the first recreational player to win the main and his message that this book helped him made total sense.
Fast forward to 2022, I’m sent to Doyle’s house to film him recording the audiobook of his autobiography. I asked if I could bring this book to ask him about it and was told I could.
Doyle grabbed it from me, pointed to his own copy on his shelf and then says to me…
“Jesse… this copy should not exist. Every copy we sold of this had a name inscribed on the cover before leaving the shop and this book doesn’t have a name. This shouldn’t exist. Where did you find it?!?”
So what we figure happened… the publishing office was located near downtown. We think they had this test print copy on their desk when the Main Event final table was being played. Someone must have taken it to the horseshoe and asked the new champ to sign it.
I’m attaching all my pics and pics of other copies I’ve seen and Doyle’s tweet about it. It’s a fun piece of poker history.
