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Auction: 312 - Numismatic Collector's Series Sale
Lot: 1650

Houdini, Harry Excellent magic history content Typewritten Letter Signed "Houdini" in pencil, 1 page, 4to, (Brooklyn, NY), March 1, 1918. Typos show that Houdini himself must have typed this letter to Edwin Fay Rice, magician and curator of the Boston Public Library. He sends thanks for "Photos of Prof Young and Mrs...I believe they must have been taken from before Young was entering the last mile stones of his life...I am working a number of benefits for the soldiers and Navy, so am as busy as possible. 278 is being gradually being [sic] brought to a clean state..." He adds in a postscript, "Did you see the Sphinx this month? There is an article by Harry Thompson, re early history of magic in Chicago. How would it be to have such an article re Boston?...It would not cost much?? And wud [sic] be a good article for M.U.M..." Minor wear at upper right corner, otherwise VG/F. With original typed embossed envelope of the Society for American Magicians, of which Houdini was president. M-U-M was the society´s newsletter. "Prof. Young" was one of the most prominent American stage magicians of the 19th century. Houdini´s interest in the history of his craft, and in those who mastered it, was obvious in his own stage name, which he chose to honor the great French illusionist Jean Robert-Houdin. But the truth meant more to him than his hero, and he later wrote a book exposing Houdin for stealing others´ illusions and taking credit for devising them!

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