Search Results: houdini

London: T. Werner, ca. 1908. First Edition. Hardcover. Near Fine. 8vo (203 x 138 mm). 11 halftone plates. Publisher's black cloth lettered in white, professionally rebacked preserving original spine, corners neatly restored. An extraordinary copy of this book, the best imaginable. From the library of Harry Houdini (twice signed) with numerous annotations by him. Inscribed by Houdini on the front pastedown, "I bought this book in Melbourne Australia March 1910 (I paid 12/6 ($3.00) for it Harry Houdini." (The book contains the ticket of the Australian bookseller E. W. Cole.). Beneath the inscription is mounted a photograph of Houdini's custom-made French Voisin biplane in flight in Australia. He has also signed the title-page, "Harry Handcuff Houdini Melbourne Australia March 1910," and the book contains both his and Beatrice Houdini's bookplates. Houdini clearly read the book carefully. The text analyses spirit photographs, cabinet stunts, and Houdini's own techniques, and the margins are full… Read More

New York: The Brown-Green Co., January 23, 1922. Rare stock certificate signed by the world’s greatest escape artist, master illusionist Harry Houdini. One page, partially printed in brown and black ink with an embossed seal, the document is dated January 23, 1922 and certifies that W.E. Jefferson hereby owns twenty shares of the Capital Stock of Houdini Picture Corporation. Signed by Harry Houdini as President of the Corporation and countersigned by Harry H. Poppa as Assistant Treasurer. In near fine condition. With a Houdini Picture Corporation Voting Trust Certificate awarding 30 shares of common capital stock of Houdini Picture Corporation to Abel Shearer. In 1918, Houdini signed his first contract with film producer B. A. Rolfe to star in a 15-part serial, The Master Mystery (released in November 1918), and after Rolfe went our of business, he was signed by Famous Players-Lasky Corporation/Paramount Pictures, for whom he made two pictures, The Grim Game (1919) and Terror Island (1920).… Read More

New York: The Brown-Green Co., July 18, 1921. Rare stock certificate signed by the world’s greatest escape artist, master illusionist Harry Houdini. One page, partially printed in brown and black ink with an embossed seal, the document is dated July 18, 1921 and certifies that George Popp hereby owns fifteen shares of the Capital Stock of Houdini Picture Corporation. Signed by Harry Houdini as President of the Corporation and countersigned by R.G. Risley as Treasurer. In near fine condition. With a rare Famous-Players-Lasky Promotional brochure for The Grim Game, Houdini's first full-length movie which is widely regarded as his best. In 1918, Houdini signed his first contract with film producer B. A. Rolfe to star in a 15-part serial, The Master Mystery (released in November 1918), and after Rolfe went our of business, he was signed by Famous Players-Lasky Corporation/Paramount Pictures, for whom he made two pictures, The Grim Game (1919) and Terror Island (1920). Following this successful… Read More

Finsbury: Finsbury Park Empire., 1910. First Edition. . Hardcover. Good. The presence of a press cutting of a letter by W S Rosee and that some of the photos are dedicated to Bill or Rosee suggest that the photos & other items belonged to W S Rosee who was box office manager on the opening Day (hence the presence of A souvenir of opening Sept 5th 1910. I cannot read two of the autographs. All these items are pasted into a copy of Flestead's "Stars who made the Hall". Including signed Houdini photograph from that era worth £3,000+

DENVER COLORADO CO. Very Good. 1939. On offer is a sensational scrapbook and homage to magic and magicians in pre-World War II America. Jack Fleming, of Denver Colorado, beginning as early as 1939 through 1947, collects ephemera, broadsides, business cards, photographs and clippings and much, much more nearly filling a lovely large folio sized scrapbook. Jack was a teenage magician using his real name and several stage names, including PEAWADI THE MAGICIAN. Items include letters from local organizations (boys and girls clubs, school events, etc.) thanking him for performing, local news articles about his performances, and much more regarding his own entertaining. The first page of the scrapbook has a pamphlet program of "The Colorado Society of Magicians" promoting its "First Annual Houdini Memorial Program". The program is dated 1943. It is a single fold, 4 panel, program. The inside has a page filled with portraits of 10 Colorado Society Magicians and 5… Read More

New York: Gotham Book Mart and Gallery, 1977. First edition, copy H of 26 lettered copies, lettered and signed by the author. Illustrated. Unpaginated, [16] pp. 1 vols. 8vo. Wrappers, hole punched with small padlock and key. Some toning to wrappers, near fine. First edition, copy H of 26 lettered copies, lettered and signed by the author. Illustrated. Unpaginated, [16] pp. 1 vols. 8vo. Copy H of 26, Signed by Patti Smith. Nice copy of the lettered state (100 numbered copies were also issued), with the original lock. Smith has lettered this copy "H Ha! Ha!" and signed below on the limitation page.

Houdini is known as one of the greatest escapologists  and stunt performers, as well as a skeptic and investigator of spiritualists. He was also a film producer and actor. The illusion of mind reading intrigued Houdini. Both he and Zancig had little to do with each other though both belonged to the Society of American Magicians. Houdini doubted mentalist Julius Zancig's ability to self proclaimed ability. In this three piece correspondence Zancig reveals his trick. This correspondence began with Zancig's Aug. 8 TLS to Houdini on "How to Thought Picture... here is the secret Harry nd (sic) no one lese (sic) has it but you up to this time...you promise not to Devulge (sic) it to any one here..." Houdini replied first with a three page holograph letter including bold capital letters detailing what he did not understand about Zancig's trick. The letter is not in is hand but is most likely a draft of the typed letter he sent to Zancig. The typed letter included in this group varies from the hand written… Read More

Yale University Press. New. 2010. Hardcover. 0300146841 .*** FREE UPGRADE to Courier/Priority Shipping Upon Request *** - *** IN STOCK AND IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE FOR SHIPMENT - Flawless copy, brand new, pristine, never opened -- 288 pp. ; 203 ills. -- with a bonus offer-- .

New York: Gotham Book Mart, 1977. First Edition, Limited Issue. Near Fine. First edition, limited issue. One of 100 numbered copies [and 26 lettered copies] signed at rear by Patti Smith; this copy marked "O/S," perhaps out of series, though there is no hole-punch at the fore edge margin, and no lock and key set present. Bound in publisher's illustrated stapled wraps. Near Fine with shelf wear.

New York: Blue Ribbon Books, (1930). Fifth printing. 8vo. Frontispiece. [viii], 384 pp. Publisher's red cloth; light wear to spine ends and tips, spotting to front cover, newspaper clipping to verso of ffep, bookseller's ticket Real photo postcard of Houdini flying a biplane in Australia affixed to the front pastedown. The postcard is captioned "Houdini piloting his biplane. The first successful aviator in Australia. Wins the Australian Aero League's Trophy, March 15th. 1910. Melbourne, Australia." According to a manuscript note beneath the card (possibly in the hand of magician Romuald Codare who owned this book) it was procured from Houdini's brother Hardeen, "who was playing in Boston on March 7th 1933 at the Bourdain Square Theatre." PROVENANCE: Romuald Codare, 1912-1933, professional magician (ownership inscription on ffep)

New York: Gotham Book Mart, 1977. First Edition. Stapled gray pictorial card wraps [octavo], printed with blue and black ink, 16 pp. Near Fine, tracest soiling and handling wear.. First edition, unsigned (not one of the 100 numbered or 26 lettered signed editions) of Smith's early poetry chapbook put forth by Gotham Book Mart in 1977, five years after it was authored.

New York: Albert and Charles Boni Inc, 1932. First Edition. Hardcover. Very Good/Very Good. Very Good in an about Very Good jacket, unclipped ($3.00), chipped at the foot of the spine, generally toned and soiled. Brown buckram, toned at the spine, a few stains, dulled gilt on the spine with brighter gilt on the front board. Square, bound with a green top stain and some reading wear, clean internally. An account of the strange friendship between Arthur Conan Doyle--devout spiritualist--and Harry Houdini--anti-spiritualist crusader.

Paris: A. Delahays,. Very Good with no dust jacket. 1868. First Edition. Hardcover. French Language; Sorcery; B&W Illustrations; 8vo 8" - 9" tall; 440 pages; Confidences and Revelations. How to become a sorcerer. French language text. Mounted albumen portrait of the magician [Houdini], as frontispiece, Contemp. 1/2 purple brown morocco leather & cloth, spine ends rubbed, edges with shallow fraying. Orig. Photo. Frontis. Portrait, wood engraved vignettes in text fo magic. Minor spotting to title page & fore-edge. Contents generally clean and VG. In the back lists 16 experiemnts he conducted while performing with results- enchanted roses etc.. "Born in America in 1874, Erich Weiss became one of the most famous magicians who ever lived. He took the stage name, Harry Houdini, in honour of Robert Houdini, a French conjurer and magician who died in 1871." Portrait of Robert Houdin. .

Battle Ground, Washington: CorBerry Press, 1961. Minor edge and corner wear; lightly scuffed and scratched; some toning to the front and rear of the wrapper; some shelf wear; light crease in the upper corner of the front of the wrapper and in the lower portion of the tail of the spine as well; overall a very crisp and clean collectible FIRST EDITION! Extremely rare and out-of-print! Pictorial wrapper with green lettering showing Harry Houdini in shackles and cuffs on the front and rear in black and white. 40 unmarked and uncreased historical pages nicely enhanced by black and white photographs and illustrations! Very very scarce and hard-to-find FIRST EDITION! Prolificly illustrated and wonderfully well-preserved! "Harry Houdini, the greatest escape artist the world has ever known and the idol of small boys of two continents, was born Ehrich Weiss in Appleton, Wisconsin, on April 6, 1874. He was the fifth child of Dr. and Mrs. Mayer Samuel Weiss. The story of the amazing feats of this… Read More

New York : Albert And Charles Boni, 1972. First Edition. Hardback. Very good copy in the original gilt-blocked cloth. Spine bands and panel edges somewhat rubbed and dust-toned as with age. Remains particularly well-preserved overall; tight, bright, clean and strong. ; 249 pages; Description: 249 p. , [1] leaf of plates : facsim. , port. ; 22 cm. Subjects: Houdini, Harry, 1874-1926 --Friends and associates. Doyle, Arthur Conan, Sir, 1859-1930 --Knowledge --Occultism. Magicians --United States --Biography.

New York: Gotham Book Mart & Gallery, 1977. First Edition. Softcover Paperback. Very Good Condition. 21.5cm x 13.5cm. [16] pages, black and white illustrations. Pictorial saddle-stapled wrappers. Smith's poetic tribute to illusionist Harry Houdini, dedicated to Jacques Stern. An unsigned, unnumbered copy of the first edition. Minor soiling and shelf wear. Shipped Weight: .15 kilos. BZDB407 Poetry; Unbranded Patti Smith Ha! Ha! Houdini!

London: Hutchinson, 1933. 1st edition. Nice copy. octavo. hardback in original cloth 255pp., frontis., b/w plates, An account of the strange relationship and friendship between Harry Houdini and his expose of fake Mediums and Spiritualists and Arthur Conan Doyle a devoted believer of Spiritualism. Some occasional spotting to first few prelims o/w a nice bright copy in red cloth boards. First British edition. Very scarce

Albert and Charles Boni, Inc., NY, 1932. First edition.. Hardcover. Good. 8vo. Hardcover, brown cloth. Vg condition in good dj. Dj chipped and edgeworn; appx. quarter-inch tear at top of spine; covers and contents clean, binding tight. 249 pp.

Good. [FIRST EDITION] New York: Albert And Charles Boni, 1932. Hardcover in pictorial dust jacket. 249 pages including frontis portrait. Bound in the original gilt-blocked cloth. Protected jacket soiled and chip with large piece missing at top, period ownership inscription on front blank, else very good overall condition. NOT EX-LIBRARY. (front r,s)

1961. Book. Good. Soft cover. 8vo - over 7" - 9" tall. BC01B Original 1961 printing. Some light soiling from handling to covers. Interior bright and clean, free of writing or marks. Light cream wraps with blue-gray lettering. A picture of Houdini chained and manacled on the both covers. Very rare and out-of-print. 40 pages of B&W photos and illustrations. This privately published book is another classic, the first to present good photographs of handcuffs and related restraints. Dick Wresch was lock smith who managed to buy a collection of restraints owned by Houdini. Each item is very nicely illustrated, but unfortunately many of them are identified incorrectly. Never-the-less the book is a valuable one containing pictures of several items that are shown no where else..