$14,000
Houdini, Harry. A Magician Among the Spirits. New York: Harper & Bros., 1924. First Edition. Blue cloth stamped in gilt. Frontispiece. Illustrated. 8vo. In a crushed leather clamshell box, titles in gilt. Inscribed and Signed on the flyleaf by Houdini, in German, to the magician Eugene Harkewitz, proceeded by a tipped-in 1925 Typed Letter Signed, “Houdini,” to Harkewitz, laid on the half-title, pertaining to their mutual friend F.W. Conradi, on various matters including “waging war on the fraud mediums in this country.” Filled furthermore with enclosed or tipped-in pieces from Harkewitz's collection, including: a typed note from Houdini giving Harkewitz permission to use a story of his, and providing a private address for future correspondence; Harkewitz’s personal copies of two letters (one to and one from) Houdini, and one letter to Bess Houdini from Harkewitz sent shortly after Harry’s death, inquiring whether Harry has “communicated with you from the beyond”; plus important correspondence from other magicians including a 1906 Autograph Letter Signed, “Chung Ling Soo/Robinson,” to Harkewitz; a 1904 Autograph Note Signed, “Angelo Lewis” (Professor Hoffmann), to Harkewitz; two postcards hand illustrated in color from Arthur Buckle, “The Manchester Wizard,” and a lengthy ALS from him; two ALSs from Chevalier Ernest Thorn; a pictorial Chung Ling Soo program; and a contemporary obituary of Houdini. A note added at the top of one of Harkewitz’s letters by Bernhard Benson, whom
Auctioneer:
Potter & Potter
Date:
2016-04-09
