John Holmes Jenkins was a Texan. He was a gambler. A rare book collector. Poker pro “Amarillo Slim” Preston described Jenkins as “a sneaky, clever rat.”  John Holmes Jenkins’ life and times is illuminated by Santa Fe rare books dealer, Manuscript Society member and onetime Jenkins acquaintance Michael Vinson. His new book is , “Bluffing Texas Style: The Arsons, Forgeries, and High Stakes Poker Capers of Rare Book Dealer Johnny Jenkins” (University of Oklahoma Press).

High stacks gambler. Trader in forgeries of Texas history. FBI informant. Arsonist. Never a loser. Vengeful. In the end his body fished out of a river. A life lived large. All this a more.