Cut Signature Card sells for more than Original Letter it came from?

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Harry Houdini headlines the list of 1/1 cut signature cards in 2025 Topps Tier One and sells on eBay for $6,323.00 not including Tax and shipping charges.

Front

Back

It came from a Harry Houdini Typed Letter Signed to a Fellow Magician that sold at RR auction on 01/10/2024 for $3,478.

Description
Houdini pays the way for a fellow magician: “Enclosed you will find my check for $15. which will pay your round trip fares”
TLS signed “Houdini,” one page, 8.5 x 11, May 17, 1917. Letter to Boston-area magician Edwin Fay Rice, in part: “As you may want to make your own arrangements I think it best for you to do as you like and enclosed you will find my check for $15. which will pay your round trip fares, parlour cars both ways…Mrs. Houdini and I sorely disappointed that Mrs. Rice will not be down here but such is life.” In fine condition, with some minor chipping to the top edge. Encapsulated in a PSA/DNA authentication holder.

Accompanied by the original mailing envelope and a full letter of authenticity from PSA/DNA. A journalist for the Boston Daily Times, Edwin Fay Rice had a short but impactful career in the world of magic, and was a key figure in helping found the Mystics Circle of Boston as a member of the Society of American Magicians.

As a Houdini historian, I find these “cut” signatures a destruction of history. But these days, there’s more likely to be someone prepared to pay money for a cut signature card than a letter. In essence, while the letter is a piece of history, the card is a modern, manufactured rarity with high market demand among a large base of sports card collectors who value those specific attributes over the historical content of a simple letter. So sad!

Movie Related Correspondence with Quincy Kilby – July 14 1918

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I recently went through a Houdini scrapbook compiled by Houdini’s personal friend, Quincy Kilby, and thought I would share items related to his movies in chronological order.

Today, I share a July 14th Letter:

My Dear Q.K.,

…

I shall be very busy from now on, as I have the Serial to make, invest, construct and present two new tricks at the Hippodrome, for I have been so “Eminently” successful that the management have seen to reengage me.

With the Film Developing Corp [FDC]. I now have three business’ to attend to, hope I have not bitten off more than I can chew, for it’s a lot of work, but as it is the work I like we will start at it anyway.

Just think of it I must create and present two tricks of fifteen minutes duration up to my usual standard of mystification for the Hip and think I will be okay.

…

Houdini

Work on the Master Mystery Serial was just about to start.

And because Houdini’s “Cheer Up!” show was so successful, the Hippodrome extended his contract to do the “Everything” show in the Fall of 1918. “Everything” was a Mammoth Musical Spectacle with a ton of acts that would include Houdini producing his pet eagle “Abraham Lincoln” from beneath the folds of an American flag.

So Houdini was a busy man with  the Master Mystery Serial, his Hippodrome show, and the FDC to attend to.

Movie Related Correspondence with Quincy Kilby – June 14 1918

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I recently went through a Houdini scrapbook compiled by Houdini’s personal friend, Quincy Kilby, and thought I would share items related to his movies in chronological order.

Today, I share a June 14th Letter:

This is where we find out that he has “signed with B.A. Rolfe for a ten-reel serial” to be written by Arthur B. Reeve, and Charles A. Logue.

He signed the contract on June 5, 1918 and was guaranteed a salary of $1500 per week during production and promised half the net profit (a codicil over which he would later sue). The proposed serial’s length was contractually specified at 10 chapters but later increased to 15.

F L B letter to Q K: The loss of HH…

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99 years ago, we loss Harry Houdini. Today, I share a snippet of a letter F. L. Black of the Dearbourn Publishing Co. sent Quincy Kilby on Nov 9 1926:

Note: Dearbourn is located in Michigan.

Quincy Kilby was a personal friend of Houdini, who compiled a Houdini scrapbook which is in the Boston Public Library.

The letter is from an eye-witness who saw Houdini’s last performance in Detroit, talked to him afterwards, confirmed he was suffering intensely; and kept in touch with Hardeen until the end.

Also confirms Bess Houdini’s state as prostrated or one of extreme physical weakness and mental exhaustion, to the point of collapse.

Houdini was definitely more to her than the average husband and he is definitely more to the world as and we continue to celebrate and learn more about the life of this amazing man every year.

Next year is the big one, number 100!

Photoplay Magazine November 1919

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November 1919 Photoplay Magazine (Joe M. Notaro Collection)

I recently acquired the November 1919 Photoplay Magazine that included some Houdini Grim Game references that I thought I would share:

  • Paramount Artcraft Feature Ad that includes The Grim Game [page 4]
  • Photo of Houdini and Fatty Arbuckle [page 96]
  • Signs a new contract [page 99]
  • The Month In Brief “The Grim Game” [page 112 and page 115]

Page 4 (Joe M. Notaro Collection)

I just love these Paramount Artcraft Feature ads.

Page 96 (Joe M. Notaro Collection)

Houdini may be able to conjure cards from Roscoe’s ears, sleeve, and suspenders but our Fatty isn’t to believe it, he isn’t. He may look gullible, in this country-boy garb, but b’gosh he knows it’s only a trick and he can’t help looking skeptical. Yes–Fatty just dropped in for a visit, at the Lasky plant where the magician was working.

Per John Cox comment: The caption has it backwards, that isn’t Rosco dropping into see Houdini at the Lasky Studio. That’s Houdini dropping into the Comique Studio to see Rosco during the production of Back Stage, July 1919.

Prior to this photo with Arbuckle, Houdini risked his life and sustained injury making “The Grim Game”. So Houdini is showing off even with a cast on his left wrist he injured while making The Grim Game.

Page 99 (Joe M. Notaro Collection)

No sooner had Houdini finished “The Grim Game” for Famous Players-Lasky [FPL] than Jesse, manager of the last half of the concern, secured the signature to a new contract. By the terms of this agreement Houdini will remain with the Zukor organization for an indefinite time.

Houdini did Terror Island (TI) which did $111,000 in the United States and $54,000 abroad. Probably because of those low grosses Lasky and Paramount decided not to invest any more time or money in Houdini. His contract for further films was not picked up.

After FPL broke ties with Houdini following TI, he made two features (The Man From Beyond and Haldane of Secret Service) for the Houdini Picture Corporation.

Page 112 (Joe M. Notaro Collection)

“The Grim Game” (Paramount). This is the best play Harry Houdini has ever grappled with, or wriggled himself out of, and it is the best piece of the school which may be described as trick melodrama. In other words, all of Houdini’s celebrated stunts, such as shaking off a set of bracelets, writhing out of a straight-jacket, or breaking half a ton of manacles, are included, but there are also many new and entirely localized manifestations of his diabolic cleverness; and almost all of the feats, escapes and what-not are part of a well-woven, logical

Page 115 (Joe M. Notaro Collection)

plot. Included in this five-reel fracas, also, is the actual air-collision which stirred Hollywood a few months ago. Two machines performing at a great altitude for Houdini’s play, accidentally crashed together and fell to earth wrecking themselves, but fortunately not killing any of their occupants. Ann Forrest–who, at Triangle, was known as Ann Kroman–is a delightful ingenue lead in the adroit Harry’s adventures; and the cast includes, also Mae Busch–reappearing after nearly two years’ absence; she was formerly at Keystone–Arthur Hoyt, Tully Marshall and Augustus Phillips.

£100 Handcuffs, Exciting Scene at Hippodrome, and Bullet in Hand Story – The Illustrated Mirror March 19 1904

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Today I continue my series on The Daily Illustrated Mirror reports leading up to the Mirror Handcuff Challenge event of March 17th 1904, the event itself, and post-event reporting.

Previously I shared:

Today, I share the March 19, 1904 issue of The Daily Illustrated Mirror:

I think the £100 handcuffs (i.e., the Tatlers) he freed himself from, are priceless now.

The above is nice recap of the challenge.

While the above story is mainly fiction, what about the bullet in the back of Houdini’s left hand? Compare photo above (no bullet) with photo below (bullet) that appeared in the August 1904 issue of the British monthly Wide World magazine that included “A One-Night Engagement” by H. Houdini (The “Handcuff King”).  These photos appear to be of a right hand”

But Patrick Culliton’s, The Tao of Houdini, on page 78 has an image of the left hand:

Thoughts?

Related:

How He Picked the “Mirror Handcuffs in One Hour and Ten Minutes – The Daily Mirror March 18 1904

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Today I continue my series on The Daily Illustrated Mirror reports leading up to the Mirror Handcuff Challenge event of March 17th 1904, the event itself, and post-event reporting.

Previously I shared:

Today, I share the March 18, 1904 issue of The Daily Illustrated Mirror:

£200 Offered Houdini for Forecast of this Afternoon’s Test – The Daily Illustrated Mirror March 17 1904

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Today I continue my series on The Daily Illustrated Mirror reports leading up to the Mirror Handcuff Challenge event of March 17th 1904, the event itself, and post-event reporting.

Previously I shared:

Today, I share the March 17, 1904 issue of The Daily Illustrated Mirror:

You gotta love Houdini’s answer to the £200 question on whether he can get out of the MIrror Handcuffs!

And, the last part about another inventor having a much better handcuff is interesting, along with the fact that they would be in the audience, where the inventor of Mirror handcuff was not in the audience as far as we know.

Spoken as a Sportsman – The Daily Illustrated Mirror March 16 1904

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Today I continue my series on The Daily Illustrated Mirror reports leading up to the Mirror Handcuff Challenge event of March 17th 1904, the event itself, and post-event reporting.

Previously I shared:

Today, I share the March 16, 1904 issue of The Daily Illustrated Mirror:

Again, the paper mentions the Mirror Representative showing how its possible to jerk open regular handcuffs if you know the trick, but this time goes on to emphasize that when Houdini takes them from his wrists they are properly unlocked.

Also mentioned is shaking the hands of the British Blacksmith, whether beaten or not, implying the Blacksmith would be at the challenge (which AFAIK he was not present).

And Houdini asking the Daily Mirror (owners of the cuffs) to allow him to make a specification of the lock, whether succeeding or not, implies getting his hands on the cuffs after the event.

 

Two Houdini Chapters in The Art of Magic by Ken Trombly

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On Monday, September 15th, John Cox’s gave all his WILD ABOUT HARRY Patreon’s, a heads up, that The Art of Magic by Ken Trombly is available NOW:

I’ll be posting about this on the main blog tomorrow, but I wanted to give you all an early heads that our friend and fellow patron Ken Trombly’s lavish new book The Art of Magic has just been released by Vanishing Inc. You won’t see this in the sample images, but know the book contains two chapters showcasing Ken’s incredible Houdini collection.

The book is available in a Regular and Deluxe Edition. Only 200 Deluxe Editions are being offered so…you know what to do!

Congratulations Ken.

Right after John posted that, I immediately ordered a Deluxe Edition, which arrived on Thursday, September 19th

I was amazed by the size of it. It is 12 inches by 16 inches and weighs 11 pounds in the slipcase. And I love the title, especially “A Lifetime of Collecting” part of the title. I wish Houdini was somewhere on the cover, but that is just me being selfish, the book really is The Art of Magic, with emphasis on the Art part as it is truly “a work of art” and well designed.

I opened the beautiful book up and discovered there are actually 300 numbered and signed copies of the Deluxe Edition and I got number 279 out of 300.

I wonder who got 278?  Not sure, how the numbers were distributed, but it looks like this will sell out if it hasn’t already. Suffice it to say, glad I didn’t wait.

Author Ken Trombly is one of the industry’s most fervent collectors of magic art: lithographs, posters, etchings–if it depicts a magician in history, Ken probably owns a copy in mint condition. His house is a wonderland from the golden age of magic. But few of us will ever get to see his collection in person. So…The Art of Magic brings that collection right to your fingertips.

I was fortunate enough to see some of this amazing collection in person during a trip to the east coast in 2018.

And now I was about to relive that extra special day and see Houdini treasures I hadn’t seen in seven years, plus so many new treasures in this beautiful coffee table size book.

In the introduction of Ken’s book, Paul Kieve mentions the following:

Even if you don’t have the privilege of sifting through Ken’s amazing magical basement in person, you can now do so via the contents of this wonderful book. It’s incredibly generous of Ken to share his lifelong collecting passion, this way. Although vintage poster images have become more accessible via the internet, I promise you there are many examples contained within these pages that have never seen either online or in print before.

I echo Paul’s sentiments. The intro is followed by an essay on “The Making of a Collector” where Ken tells how he became a collector (which I love) and that his wish for anyone sifting through the book, “is that you encounter some things in these pages that you never seen before“. His wish came through in spades for me.

The first thing I did after reading the intro and Ken’s essay, was to bookmark the start of the Houdini material with the ribbon bookmark that was sewn into the spine (which was a nice touch.)  And then I started sifting through the two chapters on Houdini, which did not disappoint.

  • Houdini Poster and Advertising
  • Houdini Photos and Ephemera

Houdini is a focus of Ken’s and he shares some of his favorite pieces, which most have never been seen before.

These include posters like a relic from 1894, a small poster from a 1902 German tour, a letterpress poster from a 1902 performance in the UK, a letterpress poster for a music hall performance calling Houdini “the winner of the great handcuff contest“, a reference to the “mirror cuffs challenge“, a rare 1912 poster featuring the first performances of the Water Torture Cell, a portion of a poster displayed on the upper level of a double-decker bus when Houdini appeared at London’s Hippodrome.

Ken has also collected almost 100 different handbill challenges. Included in the book are challenges from a 1903 jail escape, 1911 escape from being strapped to the mouth of a canon, 1912 escape after being tied to a eight foot plank in sailor’s fashion, 1907 escape from a giant envelope, 1912 wet-sheet challenge, 1910 escape from a hamper, 1910 escape from a seabag, 1913 escape from a jail on The Convict Ship, and others.

And as Ken put it, “the only thing better than a chapter on collecting Houdini is a second chapter” that includes Houdini Photos and Ephemera.

Included is a 1894 program for The Houdini Bothers, 1897 receipt for magic props Houdini purchased from E.J. Dooley, a number of early cabinet photos of Houdini, a program for a talent show of passengers in a 1900 voyage, photos with a young Bess, early photos of Houdini’s parents, holiday cards, and post cards and photos depicting: his bust, Houdini holding the French Letter Cuffs misidentified as the mirror cuffs, various bridge jumps, and straitjacket escapes. Also included is a miss-dated announcement celebrating Australian aviators and Houdini’s first flight, material exposing fraudulent mediums, a 1924 artist’s rendering of Houdini’s shipboard performance for Teddy Roosevelt, and last but not least a cabinet photo of Houdini with the so-called Mirror Cuffs.

For me these two chapters on Houdini alone are worth getting the book, but there is so much more besides Houdini in this book:

So what are you waiting for, order your copy today and enjoy the journey.