$6,500
Academy of the Art of Magic. New York, 1936. Gold plated token. The obverse bears the logo of the Academy and its name; the reverse bears the text "D.W.V./Elected/5-7-36." Very good condition. Rare. The Academy of the Art of Magic was an exclusive society of magicians founded in New York in 1933. Members included: Dai Vernon, Cardini, Paul Fox, David Bamberg, Malini, Nate Leipzig, S. Leo Horowitz, Garrick Spenser, Bill Atherton, Arthur Finley, and J. Warren Keane. Magicol No. 172 (August, 2009) lists this token as one of four that collectors will likely "never see." Each example of this token was unique, being engraved with the member's initials and date of election on the reverse. Only three AAM tokens have survived the years, this example belonging to, arguably, the Academy's most influential member.
Auctioneer:
Potter & Potter
Date:
2010-01-30
