IRELAND, Laurie L. (1889 ? 1954). L.L. Ireland's Own Set of Cups and Balls. Chicago: Ireland's, ca. 1930s. Three spun steel cups brightly chrome plated with a single shoulder bead and tapered design, similar (but not identical) to the commercially-made models sold by Ireland's and Magic Inc. for decades. Includes three hardened blue rubber sponge balls, and accompanied by a worn card lettered in Jay Marshall's hand which reads, ?Laurie Ireland's own set of cups ? made and designed." Height 4", mouth diameter 3 1/8". Tarnished and worn but good condition overall.Ireland was a circus and carnival magician hailing from Minnesota who later settled in Chicago where he established Ireland's Magic Shop, first in the suburb of Oak Park, but later in the Second City proper. After marrying Frances Ahrens in the 1920s, the business began growing; Ireland made the tricks and sold them, but it was Frances who kept the shop humming, and who would eventually take over upon Ireland's death in 1954. In addition to his skills as a demonstrator of tricks, Ireland was a well-regarded exponent of crooked gambling techniques as well as the Cups and Balls. This is his personal set of equipment (first offered for sale by Potter & Potter in 2010), for this ?oldest trick in the book." His routine with the Cups was first published in 1937.