I am the proud owner of all 3 Houdini issues of 2004 reprints by Girasol Collectibles:

1. March 1924. “The Spirit of Fakers of Hermannstadt” (part 1 of 2) p3+. “The Eyrie – Ask Houdini” p83+.
2. April 1924. “The Hoax Of the Spirit Lover” p3+. “The Spirit Fakers Of Hermannstadt” (part 2 of 2) p52+. “Ask Houdini” p86+.
3. May-June-July 1924 (single issue) “Imprisoned with the Pharaohs” p3+. “Ask Houdini p167+.

While not as rare as the originals, these limited Girasol Collectibles are now out of print and extremely hard to come by all three.

The Girasol Collectible was a ‘Pulp Replica’ designed to give the reader a true taste of the pulps without the frailty or expense of a decades-old collectable.  That said, the replicas are no longer inexpensive ($60 to $100), but still cheaper than frail originals ($600 to $1000).

The outer covers, the interior pages and the advertisements are all taken directly from the pages of the original magazines. They were left intact to give the reader a true feel of the originals, as well as appreciating them for their interest.

The original magazines were printed on cheap pulpwood paper high in acid content, which contributed in part to their scarcity today. These editions are on an off-white bond paper intended to simulate the original look, while offering a greater longevity.

The overall construction and appearance are as faithful to the original items as was reasonably possible.

Future posts will look at the Ask Houdini sections of each magazine.