Thurston, Howard. Early Howard Thurston ALS on Scarce Letterhead. December 4, 1900. Thurston writes to De Manche (an inventor of sleight-of-hand techniques), offering his services as an entertainer: ?I wish to offer my services for your private work. Am at Palace Theatre until Feb. If you so wish I shall call.? On scarce pictorial ?world?s premier card manipulator? letterhead. Boldly signed ?Faithfully Yours, Howard Thurston.? Old folds from mailing; very good. Thurston would seldom offer his services to others for ?private? work after this letter was written. After a triumphant run at the Palace Theatre in London, he would go on to tour the world with a massive illusion show, eventually returning to his homeland where he purchased the Kellar show and became, until his death in 1936, perhaps the most famous magician of his generation. Years later, biographers would look back at Thurston?s time at the Palace Theatre as a pivotal moment in his career.