AUTOGRAPH NOTE SIGNED BY HARRY HOUDINI ON HIS"LETTERGRAM" LETTERHEAD
St. Louis, MO, 1923. Item #99-6058
Two printed photos and a printed explanation at top of one sheet, oblong 6 x 8.5", toned, folds, minor wear and soiling, but WRITTEN AND SIGNED BY HOUDINI. Houdini writes:"Dear Dr. Prince [?]. Hope alls well. I can"visualize" the test of the 24 year old boy after I left tour. All[?] but it was effectful. Regards and complements of the season. Sincerely yours Houdini. I had a good thought re the Séance at which I attended. You want to be careful re cabinet! I'll tell you what I mean in person." At top of the page, Houdini writes"Week 23 Orpheum St Louis MO / Dec 30 Orpheum K. City Mo." The"cabinet" and"séance" refer to Mina Crandon, who almost won a $2500 prize offered by Scientific American to prove telekinesis...until Houdini attended her séances in July and August 1924 (at which time Mina was locked in a wooden cabinet to keep her from ringing a bell)."Dr. Prince" was Walter Franklin Prince, a friend of Houdini, who was out to expose fake mediums (though, he himself believed some were genuine). The experience was related in the book HOUDINI EXPOSES THE TRICKS USED BY THE BOSTON MEDIUM"MARGERY" (Adams Press: NY nd), a copy of which is included here (worn, folded, torn, soiled), which includes both photos and illustrations of"the cabinet" and"Margery" (Mina).
Price: $8,500.00