Specializing in Houdiniana

The Stephen A. Sparks Collection

Specializing in Houdiniana

RARE and SCARCE HOUDINI Section

Part One

Weather In Spring, Texas

Welcome to the: "RARE and SCARCE Houdini - Part One" WebPage.

Below you'll find quite an assortment of Houdini material to choose from.

All photos below are "Thumbnails". This means, what's showing on your screen is a smaller version of the actual photo. Click on the smaller photo and this will bring up the regular size photo -then- use your "Back Arrow" to come back to this WebSite Page.

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2390-2287) THE RIGHT WAY TO DO WRONG, an Expose' of Successful Criminals by Harry Houdini.

This IS NOT a reprint, but an actual ORIGINAL COPY from 1906!!

Front Cover has pieces missing, as does the Back Cover (see photo's below). Inside pages are just fine.

For those of you not familiar with this book, the chapters include:

Income of a Criminal - Professional Burglary - Difficulties of Burglary - Burglars’ Superstitions - Thieves and Their Tricks - The Aristocrat of Thievery - Pickpockets at Work - Beggars and Dead Beats - Begging Letter Swindles - Tricks of Bunco Men - The Game of Wits - Fake! Fake! Fake! - Bogus Treasures - Famous Swindles - The Fair Criminal - The "Brace" Game - Cheating Uncle Sam - Humbugs - About Myself - Conclusion

Gee, seems we could use this book TODAY!!

Were the book in Near Mint condition, we would price it at $1000.00.

Don't miss out of this RARE FIND!! - $500.00

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3436-6534) TOWER "DOUBLE LOCK" LEG-IRONs. From the HOUDINI-HARDEEN Collection.

In 1995, I purchased a wonderful Houdini Collection from a gentleman in Florida. In addition to all the items in this Collection, there were several sets of Handcuffs which belonged to Houdini.

What’s offered here is the Tower "Double Lock" Leg-Irons.

The TOWER company came into being some time around 1874, the date of the first Tower patent. Its restraints remained in production, in one form or another, until the 1940s. Some collector's believe that its products were made by the Union Hardware Company, right from the start, but others think that this firm only became involved when it took over the TOWER business at an unknown, but rather later date.

The TOWER cuffs have a lock case, on the inside of the bow, and is distinguished by the position of the keyhole at the bottom of the lock case. This keyhole proved to be awkward, making it difficult to unlock the leg-iron cuffs. These leg-iron cuffs came with an improved Double Locking feature.

The TOWER DOUBLE LOCK cuffs were the standard of the industry for decades.

Below, are assorted photos of the Leg Irons, their display box, a close up of the name plate and the assorted provenance letters.

The Leg Irons are in working order. The photos, below, show the cuffs in the closed and open position.

The key is the Original Key, which came with the Leg Irons.

The Leg Irons come with three letters showing, you, how they are traced back to HOUDINI.

One letter is a xerox, from the gentleman in Florida, telling about the collection and how it came to be in his possession.

The second letter is another xerox (dated 1979) from William Mahan (to the gentleman in Florida), stating the handcuffs, etc. were obtained from Hardeen, who had told Mr. Mahan, the material came from Houdini’s collection.

Mr. Mahan was a CLOSE Personal Friend of the Hardeen family and obtained a lot of Houdini’s material during Hardeen’s later life.

A portion of the letter from Mr. Mahan (dated October 10, 1979) states:

I am sorry that you missed out on the collection of magic I sold to Goulet. But, I am happy that you got the things Ray didn't. The red drape I gave you belonged to Adelaide Hermann; it was given to Lady Ruth, my wife. Also, the ivory (yellow) tipped wand you received was Theo Hardeen's. We were close to Hardeen you know. I'm giving you this wand with with a set of lock picks. I got the picks, and the handcuffs I sold, from Hardeen who told me they came from Houdini's collection. Theo's gifts were the heart of my collection. Pete, if I can be of any assistance regarding any of the posters, magic apparatus, memorabilia, etc., please don't hesitate to ask.

The last letter is from me, stating how the collection came to be in my possession.

The handcuffs have been placed in a Walnut Box, which has a glass lid, so the handcuffs may be viewed. The box measures 12"x18"x3" Deep. The box has a nice varnish and is a bit darker than the photos, below, show. The handcuffs are resting on a pillow of Red Satin (also, a bit darker than the photos show below).

There is a name plate, on top of the glass lid, describing the cuffs. The box has two latches which can either be opened or locked (keys included).

As a little Bonus, I will include a Copy of a Lengthy Newspaper article (Sunday, July 3, 1988, with photo’s) written about the gentleman in Florida by Times Staff Writer Laura Griffin. - $7,500.00

Leg Irons in display box, closed and open.

Display box open

Close up of Leg Irons in closed/locked position, showing both sides.

Leg Irons stamped as being "Tower Double Lock".

Close up of Leg Irons in open position.

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3384-4658) HOUDINIs PAPER MAGIC by Houdini.

First Edition. HardBound with 206pages.

The content pages were so detailed, I have reproduced them, below, for ease in reading.

Book is exLibrary and original covers have been replaced.

With the exception of the title page missing a portion (and repaired with velum) the book is in great condition. Nice tight covers, pages, etc. etc.

Book measures approx. 5 1/4"x7 1/4" - $35.00

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Remember, after viewing this page, click any of the Buttons above, to be to taken to one

of the Other Seven WebPages - where you'll find ManyMore items for sale.

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3300-9032) HOUDINIs PAPER MAGIC by Houdini.

First Edition, 2nd printing British Edition.

While the American edition shows up from time to time, you hardly ever see the British Edition.

HardBound with 206pages.

On the free end page is probably the first owners handwritten name:

J.M. Barker

Beneath this he's written:

Buenos Aries
1923
(at least, I 'think' that's what it reads)

Rubber stamped beneath this is:

J.M. Barker
29:BR:1923

The content pages were so detailed, I have reproduced them, below, for ease in reading.

Book measures approx. 5 1/2"x7 3/4" and has seen some use, but the covers are tight, as are the pages inside.

As a BONUS, I have included a reproduction of the Original DustJacket, which would have been issued with the 1st edition American book. - $100.00

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3386-1522) HOUDINI BRONZE COMMEMORATIVE TOKEN

Issued for the Society of American Magicians, by the Franklin Mint, to honor the 100th birthday of Houdini, in 1974.

OBVERSE: Bust of Houdini, facing slightly to the right.

"100th ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIRTH OF HARRY HOUDINI * 1874 * 1974" around the inside rim of the Token.

REVERSE: Houdini standing, bent over at the waist and cuffed. And, there's another image of Houdini's shackled wrists.

"MY CHIEF TASK HAS BEEN TO CONQUER FEAR" around the inside rim of the Token.

Hard to believe this token is now 37 years old!! - $35.00

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3387-4218) HOUDINI SOUVENIR PROGRAM

Published by Lee Jacobs Productions Publications of Pomeroy, Ohio - in 1979.

This is an exact reproduction of the last HOUDINI SOUVENIR PROGRAM. It has a protective cover and tissue sheet before you come to the actual program. The cover of the actual program has faithfully been reproduced to show the original, which was duotone printed in two colors, blue and black. In fact, the only thing which is white, beside the lettering, are the whites of Houdini's eyes. This helps explain why people have always found this image of Houdini, and this cover, so very striking and hypnotic.

The outer cover shows what the program Cover looked like for the previous 1925-26 Tour Season. Notice the "Price 25 Cents" on the Cover to the right. This is how you tell the 1926-27 Season program from the 1925-26. The outer Covers also contain additional Houdini information - such as "How Houdini Really Died". - $20.00

Outer Cover) (Inside Cover

(Covers are actually the same size, I made a mistake and made my ThumbNail photos different sizes)

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3397-1789) TYPED/SIGNED LETTER BY HARDEEN

Hardeen, Brother of Houdini

This letter is on Hardeen's personal stationery and addressed to Stanley Burns.

Mr. Stanley Burns
1088 Bryant ave.
Bronx, N.Y.

My dear Stanley;-

                               Enclosed you will find application blank. Kindly fill
out and return to me.

                                 You paid Al Flosso three dollars for the Magazine
as you send me a cheque for seven dollars for your dues, as you get the
magazine for nothing from the Guild.

                                    Kindest regards, I am

                                                        Cordially yours

                                                                                  Theo.

                                                                           Theo. Hardeen

Dated March 13th, 1945, just three months before Hardeen would pass away on June 12th - ~~$350.00~~ Now priced @ $300.00

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3398-6547) CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY GROUP PHOTO OF BESS HOUDINI and FRIENDs

The photo measures approx. 7 5/8"x9 1/2".

On the backside: "1937-9" written in pencil -and- "Photo by G. E. Baxter" written in ink.

Those I've been able to identify, on the front row are:

Edward Saint, Jacob Hyman (the original Brother's Houdini partner of Harry Houdini), Bess Houdini, Mr. and Mrs. R.M. Walker.

Mr. and Mrs. Walker owned the house at 2435 Laurel Canyon, where Harry and Bess Houdini lived in 1919, while making motion pictures.

Then Bess and Ed Saint lived in the house, for a while, in the 1930s.

Some of the others in the photo are:

Gerald Kosky, Caryl Fleming. L.O. Gunn, Vic and Carolyn Trask, Lyda Hyman.

Great fun photo, full of Houdiniana history from 75+ years ago. - $250.00

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3399-2794) POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY, Volume 108, #2 - February 1926

Inside: "My Rope Escapes" by Houdini

The article is three pages, in length, and accompanied with a dozen great photos and illustrations.

Some of the escapes Houdini explains include:

The Handkerchief Release
You Can Slip Out Of Your Coat With Your Wrists Tied
The Thumb Tie
The "Full View Of The Audience" Release

This article published just Eight Months before his death. - ~~$45.00~~ Now priced @ $35.00

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3357-2563) HOUDINI 8x10 PHOTOs IN DESK FRAME

For the most part, the photo's below tell the whole story. This offering is for three different Houdini reproduction photographs.

First is a nice portrait photo of Houdini from the waist up, slight turned to his right, wearing a suit with bow tie. This is the same image Houdini used in the upper left corner of his stationery. As can be seen in the photo below, there's a great signature: Harry Houdini - Jan 31, 1914 going along the left side of the photo.

The second is Houdini's famous "Hollywood pose". Wonderful starring look by Houdini with his right hand covering part of the left side of his face. One of his most famous photo's.

The last photo shows Houdini in a three piece suit, hands in his pockets. Harry Handcuff Houdini written across the middle of the photo. Except Houdini has had some fun with his signing and only used two H's, instead of three. How clever!!

If these were a genuine photo's, they would cost you hundreds of dollars and the signed one, thousands. No one has to know it’s not real, unless you tell them....

Each comes in an ‘antique looking’ frame, would sit nicely on your desk. Plus, there's a tab on the back, should you wish to hang it on your wall. Overall size of the frame is 9 7/8"x11 3/4". Don’t want to spend hundreds? Then this is for you.... Just click on the 'thumbnail' photos for a better look. - ~~$25.00~~(each) Now priced @ $15.00(each)

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3359-2669) HOUDINI PUZZLE. Springbok Jigsaw Puzzle. "The Mystery of the Vanishing Magician".

"The Great Houdini" has disappeared during a performance...and it's not part of the act! Or is it?

Read the Marcus Q. Hall mystery inside, then piece together the jigsaw puzzle which shows a totally different scene (than the box cover), revealing the vital clue to Houdini's mysterious disappearance!

500 pieces and measures 18"x 23 1/2" when put together..

A challenging puzzle and would even look nice framed. - ~~$20.00~~ Now priced @ $15.00

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3365-4125) Houdini Fraudulent Spirit Medium Lecture

Print this out and give to your Mom/Dad - Husband/Wife - GrandMother/GrandFather - BoyFriend/GirlFriend - Lover, etc. etc.

Tell them THIS is what you'd like to have for a gift this December -Or- January, February, March if your Birthday, Anniversary, etc. is then.

You get the idea.....

Looking for something to spice up your magic club meetings, annual magic banquets, that "Special Show"?

Or, just collect, since no one's offered something like this before?

Well, then this is for you!!!

You will receive:

(1) The 3-ring binder, with a reproduction of one of the posters Houdini used to advertise his lecture, filling up almost the whole cover.

(2) The Photo CDRom, with all 67 photo's. Each numbered in the exact order as the lecture text.

(3) 5 pages, double spaced for ease in reading, of Houdini's opening speech prior to giving the lecture.

(4) 14 pages, also double spaced, consisting of the original Houdini Fraudulent Spirit Medium Lecture. Followed by detailed description of the additional photos added by Oscar Teale and Frederick Eugene Powell.

Ready to be presented to your intrigued audience. Photo numbers listed at paragraph beginning, so you'll know when to change the photo on the screen during your PowerPoint presentation.

(5) Two color contact photo sheets, showing the 67 photo's. A visual "Index" you might say -and- a must, should you remove any of the 4"x6" photo prints from their sleeves. If you do, you can refer to these two "Index" sheets and make sure the photo's go back in the correct order.

(6) 67 4"x6" color photo prints. Each in its own sleeve and in the same order as the lecture text -and- photo "Index" sheet.

(7) A Xerox reproduction of the letter which lists the slides and with a typed note indicating that the hand painted colored slides were the property of Houdini.

Price for all this history is $75.00

Please CLICK HERE to see the full description for the HOUDINI LECTURE

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3366-8546) HOUDINI 1919 MOVIE LOBBY CARD For The Silent Film:

THE GRIM GAME

Scene shows Houdini struggling to get out of a car, while surrounded by policemen and detectives.

One policeman holding Houdini's handcuffed right hand, while a second policeman has Houdini's left hand behind his head, trying to put on the second set of handcuffs.

The caption reads:

"Thwarted - But Only For a Moment!"

This Lobby Card is in color, which makes it even more RARE, than the same Non-Colored image Lobby Card.

Lobby Card measures approx. 11"x14". - ~~$3,500.00~~ Now priced @ $2,500.00

LayAway is available, should you wish this service.
I ask for a 10% deposit (and this can be more if you wish), then you set up your own monthly payments.
I'm a firm believer, only the buyer knows their finances best - so it's only right they set up their payment plan.

The words "Houdini Lobby Card" are only superimposed on the Lobby Card -and- as you can see by the photo, the Lobby Card is in great condition. For a better view, click on the 'thumbnail' photo to bring up the larger photo.

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3367-4538) HOUDINI Advertising Flyer From 1913 Apollo Theatre in Nuremberg (#1)

Houdini's mother passed away on July 17th, 1913.

For the whole month of August, Houdini visited his Mother's grave, till he sailed on August 30th from New York City on the Hamburg-American line "Imperator".

On September 16th, Houdini opened at the Apollo Theatre, in Nuremberg, Germany, opening the show with his needle swallowing act - and closing with his famous Water Torture Cell illusion, which he had just debuted a year earlier, during his performances at the Circus Busch theatre in Berlin.

As a publicity stunt on Thursday, September 18th, Houdini would have himself placed in shackles, handcuffs and chains, then jump into the Dutzendteich river.

What's offered here are two different advertising flyers for Houdini appearance at the Apollo Theatre in Nuremberg.

The first measures 6 5/8"x9" and is shown below.

Portions of the right edge are missing and is a little hard to see in the photo below, since I scanned the image with a black background. Look closely and you'll be able to see.

And, of course, "GranHoudini.net" doesn't appear on the actual item.

Both are in German, below is the translation.

The flyer states:

Harry Houdini offers a 5000 Mark reward to anyone who proves that he receives air in the Underwater Escape cabinet.

The trick that Houdini performs every evening in the Apollo Theater is awesome. In order to prove this, Harry Houdini will try to escape openly under water.

On Thursday, the 18th of September, in the afternoon between 4 and 5 o'clock, the American Houdini will jump off a boat (into the water), after he has been locked into heavy shackles, handcuffs and chains, by the public and representatives of the local press -- Not into the Pegnitz, which is not deep enough, but into the Dutzendteich, at the deepest point.

The chains alone are so heavy that Harry Houdini must sink to the bottom because of the weight.

Comes with a quality reproduction 8x10 (not computer print out) photo of HOUDINI, upside down, inside the Water Torture Cell.

The two would look GREAT framed with each other!!

A great early piece of advertising for Houdini and his "Underwater Escape Cabinet". - ~~$2,500.00~~ Now priced @ $1,750.00

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3368-2366) HOUDINI Advertising Flyer From 1913 Apollo Theatre in Nuremberg (#2)

Houdini's mother passed away on July 17th, 1913.

For the whole month of August, Houdini visited his Mother's grave, till he sailed on August 30th from New York City on the Hamburg-American line "Imperator".

As a publicity stunt on Thursday, September 18th, Houdini would have himself placed in shackles, handcuffs and chains, then jump into the Dutzendteich river.

What's offered here are two different advertising flyers for Houdini appearance at the Apollo Theatre in Nuremberg.

The second measures 6 5/8"x9 1/2" and is shown below.

A piece or two is missing from the right edge.

And, of course, "GranHoudini.net" doesn't appear on the actual item.

Both are in German, below is the translation.

The flyer states:

Apollo --

A. 8 1/4 (possibly 8.15 in the evening) Telephone 1743 16th - 30th of September.

Completely
new Variety Program
and Guest Performance
For the first time
In Nuremberg!

Harry
Houdini

During his local guest performance, Houdini brings for the first time the Underwater Escape
(one mistake means death)

Houdini offers a 5000 Mark reward to anyone who can prove that
Houdini receives air while in the cabinet.

Tickets 10:45 - 1 then from 5:00. Telephone 1743. Doors open at 7:30,
show starts at 8:15 ends shortly before 11:00. All seats are numbered.
Ticket prices without taxes or program -- Gallery seat 0.70, II Level
seats 1.00 II level front seats 1.30 -- Reserved seats salon 1:30,
Reserved seats salon front 1.50. I Level seats 2.10. I level front 3.40,
Orchestra-armchair seats 3.10 Standing room 0.50, 0.70 and 1.20

Every Wednesday afternoon 3:30, Ladies performance
Every Sunday afternoon 3:30, Public Performance (literally, people's
performance) reduced prices.

Comes with a quality reproduction 8x10 (not computer print out) photo of HOUDINI, upside down, inside the Water Torture Cell.

The two would look GREAT framed with each other!!

A great early piece of advertising for Houdini and his "Underwater Escape". - ~~$2,500.00~~ Now priced @ $1,750.00

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3370-8987) HOUDINI FINAL TOUR PROGRAM "Coast To Coast Tour"

From Houdini's 1926-27 Season

The Program is Filled with information about the most famous magician of all time HARRY HOUDINI. And when you stop to think about it, this program would have been originally purchased close to the time of Houdini’s passing. I say this, because Houdini’s tour Season was from August to August. So, Houdini’s 1926-27 Season would have started during August 1926 and only continued for a couple months till, Houdini’s death on October 31, 1926.

A few edge tears, but the covers are attached -and- no loose pages inside. Small (very small) paper loss on back cover. These show up as small white areas. Click 'thumbnail' photo, below, to see larger photo.

In all the years I've been selling Houdiniana, I've only had two of these "Coast to Coast" programs.

One in Near Mint Condition, sold for $500.00 -and- the other, in about the same condition as the one I'm offering here, sold for $400.00.

One of the things I really like about this program, has to do with the back cover. It shows the first editions of Houdini books and what their DustJacket's look like. If there was a DJ.

The Program would be a Nice Addition to anyone’s collection. - $400.00

As a BONUS to this offering, I'm including the1997 reprint, published by Lee Jacobs Productions Publications of Pomeroy, Ohio.

Outer Cover) (Inside Cover

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3331-9731) HOUDINI - THE MASTER MAGICIAN. His early hardships, the beginning of his fame, and the explanation of some of his tricks by Harold Kellock

From the April 1928 issue of The American Magazine. Volume 105, #4. Measures approx. 8"x11 1/2"

This clipped out article is spread out over a total of TEN Pages and has SEVEN Photos. This is the "Second Article" of the five. Each Article Stands Alone, so you really don't need all five. Great early reading just 18 months after Houdini passed away. - $12.50

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3332-5544) NOT EVEN THE ELEPHANT KNEW by Harold Kellock.

This clipped out article spreads out over SEVEN pages and is from the May 1928 issue of The American Magazine. Measures approx. 8"x11 1/2"

As the magazine puts it:

"What happened when Houdini, the master magician, caused him to disappear, suddenly and inexplicably, from the plain view of thousands of sane spectators. - And not even the Czar's chief of secret police knew what happened or how it happened that Houdini, stripped stark naked and searched before hand, escaped from a Siberian prison cage".

Great early reading just 19 months after Houdini passed away. - $12.50

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3333-7887) HOUDINI’S CONQUEST OF AMERICA by Harold Kellock.

This clipped out article spreads out over NINE pages and is from the June 1928 issue of The American Magazine. Measures approx. 8"x11 1/2"

As the magazine puts it:

"He gives a séance that baffles Theodore Roosevelt; he gratifies a lifelong ambition by filling his Mother’s apron with gold; he escapes from a Federal prison cell; releases the prisoners and then locks them up again; he is buried under six feet of earth, but comes to the surface".

The last three pages are missing a small portion from their edge. This affects some of the printed article, but not very much as you can still read almost every line and understand what the article is saying.

Great early reading just 20 months after Houdini passed away. - $12.50

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3335-9875) SECRETs OF THE GREAT HOUDINI by Beryl Williams and Samuel Epstein

Six page (pp102-107) clipped out article from The Catholic Digest, February 1954.

Condensed version of the author's book: "The Great Houdini"

Measures approx. 5"x7 1/2" - $5.00

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3336-6546) THE VALLEY SCENE Magazine

Volume 2, #2 - September 1994 - published in Appleton, Wisconsin.

Cover shows assorted items from the Houdini Historical Center.

Inside the magazine is a full page article by Tom Breuer:

HOUDINI
Appleton's most famous native son still
draws crowds to his former home town

Measures approx. 11 1/4"x14" - $20.00

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3337-6600) Clipped out Article from ARGOSY Magazine for December 1974. Volume 280, #6.

There are a couple of informative articles about Houdini from this issue.

This starts with a nine page article by Bert Randolph Sugar entitled: "THE SECRET LIFE OF HOUDINI". Includes several nice photo’s of Houdini and Houdini Posters. Sugar was also Editor in Chief of the Argosy magazine at the time this issue was published. Two years later, Sugar went on to co-author the book: "HOUDINI, His Life and Art" with The Amazing Randi.

Following this is the three page article: "THE REAL SECRETs BEHIND HOUDINIs TRICKs". This is an "excerpt" from J.C. Cannell’s book "The Secrets of Houdini" "brought to you, the Argosy reader for the first time in any magazine".

Good reading 100 years after Houdini’s birth in 1874. - $15.00

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3338-6832) Jail Breaking With Houdini, "THE ESCAPE KING"

Clipped out article from THE LITERARY DIGEST Magazine, June 16, 1928 - Volume 97, #11

Spread out over just under 4 of these large pages, a great bio story on Houdini.

Photos of Houdini as a young man; his wrists chained; last photo of he and Bess taken together; and one of Houdini with Sarah Bernhardt, who begged Houdini to please use his magic to replace her leg.

Very good reading and quite above average on the Houdini articles you'd see in magazines of this nature.

Article measures approx. 8 1/2"x12". - $35.00

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3339-8555) Clipped out Houdini Magazine Photo and Theatre Review Article

The magazine photo measures approx. 6"x5 3/4" and has to do with Shelton Pool underwater test on August 5, 1926.

The Hindu fakir, Rahman Bey, was getting quite a lot of publicity by demonstrating his powers of producing uncanny effects. He would enter a cataleptic state, would have himself buried in a coffin for ten minutes to half an hour. He would then receive the attention of scientific men who would write up the "phenomenal feats". Of his having mystical powers.

Houdini felt the fakir was deceiving the public and said he, HOUDINI, would prove that an ordinary man could do the same thing. So, at age 52, (and not in the best physical condition, he had always been through out his life) came the Shelton pool event.

Was he nuts? No, he was: HOUDINI!!

Houdini was thus sealed in a metal coffin and submerged to the bottom of the Shelton Pool. Assistants had to sit on the coffin, to keep it from rising to the surface. Houdini not only stayed down for an hour, he actually stayed down for one hour, thirty–one minutes and thirty seconds. Thus making the fakir look the fool and getting Houdini all the publicity he could ever want.

------

The article measures 2 7/8"x10 3/8" and appears to be a review of Houdini's performance at the New York Hippodrome Theatre on November 1, 1918.

Houdini vanishes an elephant -and later in the show- Houdini is nailed in a box, placed in a large tank of water and escapes from the box.

Neither of these items state which publication they came out of.

Both pieces for the one price. - $15.00

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3307-4428) NOTES TO HOUDINI!!! by Kenneth Silverman

If you have the GREAT Houdini biography (HOUDINI, The Career of Ehrich Weiss) by Kenneth Silverman, then you need the book of ‘NOTES' published by Richard Kaufmann and Alan Greenberg.

This is the First Edition, published in 1996.

HardBound and measures approx. 6 1/4"x9 1/4" with 182 pages.

A wonderful addition to the biography. With over a dozen photos not in the biography -and- some of them Never published.

As the author puts it:

"The notes contain additional new material about Houdini, discuss a few fine-points, and , most important, document the information in the book. And they point to sources for further research".

Book and DustJacket (in protective acetate holder) are virtually in mint condition. Only a small ding to outside cover (lower left corner). This, of course, is hidden by the DustJacket. Previous owner's bookplate on inside cover.

Reflection, at the lower left corner of the DustJacket, is from the acetate holder.

Extremely limited to only 500 copies and Sold Out for many many years. - $175.00

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3308-9643) Houdini and Conan Doyle, The Story of A Strange Friendship

By M.L. Bernard Ernst and Heweward Carrington

HardBound FIRST BRITISH EDITION with 255pages.

Chapters include:

The Houdini-Doyle Correspondence - Houdini: Life and Character - Doyle’s Explanation of Fraud Among Mediums - Houdini’s Performance at the London Hippodrome - Sir William Cookes’ Investigations of Spiritualistic Phenomena - Brief History of Spiritualism - The "Crewe Circle" - The Houdini’s and the Doyle's at Atlantic City - The Scientific American Prize - Correspondence Between Doyle and Mrs. Houdini After Houdini’s Death - Correspondence Between Doyle and B. M. L. Ernst (Houdini’s lawyer and co-author of this book)

Fascinating material between these two Giants of their time.

Spine of cloth cover has a waffling appearance, which continues onto a small area of the back cover. Covers are nice and tight, not loose - as are all the pages inside. - $150.00

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3276-5487) THE HOUDINI CODE MYSTERY by William V. Rauscher

A Spirit Secret Solved

This book is a very fascinating story about Harry Houdini and his wife, Beatrice Houdini.

From The Back Of The DustJacket:

In a sworn document, Beatrice Houdini testified that the message delivered to her by Arthur Ford was accurate and that Houdini had positively communicated from the grave. If you gave credence to either of these claims, prepare to have your beliefs shattered. By bringing together the opinions of those who actually knew and worked with Houdini, the author has painted a most accurate portrait of this American icon. The author's long friendship with Arthur Ford puts him in a unique position to finally reveal the truth behind one of the 20th Century's greatest mysteries: DO THE SPIRITs RETURN?

The content pages have been reproduced, below, for ease in reading.

HardBound with DustJacket and 192pages.

Book measures approx. 7 3/8"x10 3/8".

This is a Limited Edition Book. Hand numbered inside: #229 of 1000, along with a nice portrait photo of both Harry and Bess Houdini.

The BONUS of this offering - the book is AUTOGRAPHED by the author on the title page.

Book and DustJacket are new and in MINT Condition.. - $50.00

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3279-7555) DEATH BLOW! Was Houdini Murdered? by Norman Bigelow.

Stapled manuscript measuring approx. 8 1/2"x11"

As the author puts it:

"In writing this manuscript, I realize that the theory of murder will not be well received by some, but at the same time, I would like to propose the idea that the theory of murder in the Houdini case is as reasonable and as good as any that has been offered since his death.....we will review just a few of the many, many comments made by historians which may have some bearing on the case."

Referring to interviews the author, himself, has conducted.

Along with many excerpts from a ton of sources, the author weaves the plot of Houdini having been murdered by the ‘spiritualist’, etc. during the days Houdini was campaigning his WAR against their efforts to deceive the public.

This was the first book/manuscript ever written about the subject -and- is actually a pretty good read, if you know what I mean?

In addition to the DEATH BLOW manuscript, you receive three additional items:

1) Norman Bigelow - Grandmaster. A one page bio about the author.

2) An 8x10 of Norm performing the DOORs OF DEATH, back in 1972, at Brown University

3) An eight-page piece entitled: MARGERY's MEDIUM - This relates to the subject and according to the author, Manny Weltman loved it.

The BONUS of this offering is both the manuscript and photo have been Personally Signed by Noman Bidelow!! - $50.00(for everything)

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REMEMBER, all photos are Thumbnails - click on the photo to bring up the LARGER photo.

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3286-3361) HOUDINI, A CIRCUS OPERA Original Near-MINT Condition Poster

For you Houdini and Magic Poster Collector's, I am offering a VERY SCARCE item. This Poster is from Amsterdam.

In 1977 "HOUDINI, A Circus Opera" debuted in Amsterdam, Holland. It also had performances in Aspen, Colorado(1979) - then again back in Amsterdam (1981). Jerold Norman played HOUDINI for all the productions. Howard Peters played the Escapologist for the 1977 production, then Mark Mazzarella played the Escapologist for the 1979 and 1981 productions.

The Striking image of Houdini, used for the Poster, came from an Original Painting by the Set Director, Floris Guntenaar.

The original painting measured a Massive 8'x13' (that's feet, not inches) and valued at over $12,000.

The photo, below, shows the approx. 31"x65" Poster, which was used to advertise the Houdini Opera.

This is the Original Poster, not a reproduction.

As mentioned at the beginning of this listing - this Poster is in MINT CONDITION!!

Originally purchased, years ago, from Floris Guntenarr, shipped to me from Amsterdam and has remained rolled in its housing tube.

How nice would this look hanging on your wall?!! - $125.00

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3265-8956) HOUDINI ESCAPE ARTICLE FROM 1918

As the articles state, Houdini would (for the most part) always perform escapes from behind a curtain. For the sake of this article, Houdini performed this escape before the cameras and editors of Ladies Home Journal. As can be seen from the photo below - there are some Great Pictures of Houdini.

From the May 1918 issues of Ladies Home Journal magazine.

HOW I GET OUT OF A STRAIT-JACKET by Harry Houdini.

It shows a fine batch of pictures of Houdini performing his escape.

Article measures approx. 10 1/2"x16" - $65.00

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LayAway is available - if this is for you, just email for details.

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(After viewing this Houdini Section - Part One page, please click on any of the buttons above to move to any of the other Pages)

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Please CLICK HERE to check out my BioPage. Besides the Bio - there are 40 great photos of RARE Houdini items. Many from my Personal Collection.

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We, at SASC, are pleased to offer a LayAway plan for those of you who would like this service. Just email for more information.

All photo's are the Copyright of Stephen A. Sparks Collectibles and may not be reproduced in any form or manner without permission of Stephen A. Sparks.

Stephen A. Sparks (a/k/a Sparky)
The Stephen A. Sparks Collection
Specializing in Houdiniana
PMB 114
2880 Bicentennial Parkway, Suite 100
Henderson, Nevada 89044 USA

702-558-6110 (Phone -or- Fax)
832-296-3624 (Cell)

Email: Houdini374@aol.com Ebay's: Gran*Houdini

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