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HOUDINI'S SCRAPBOOK ON SPIRITUALISM (HOUDINI, HARRY.) Important scrapbook belonging to Houdini and given to him by noted psychic researcher Henry
HOUDINI'S SCRAPBOOK ON SPIRITUALISM (HOUDINI, HARRY.) Important scrapbook belonging to Houdini and given to him by noted psychic researcher Henry Ridgely Evans. 287 pages, each filled with news clippings and other magic ephemera, most dealing with spiritualism and kindred arts, but also including much relating directly to Houdini and other important magicians of the time. Thick small 4to, original 1/2 calf, very worn, with 3 paper covel labels; some chipping and damage to some news clippings as usual; Inscribed and Signed to Houdini by Evans on the front pastedown. Np, vd
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Notes: primary source for houdini's study on spiritualism. The scrapbook appears to have been started by Bill Robinson, aka Chung Ling Soo. Many of the early clippings deal with Robinson and his delving into matters spiritualistic. This is further substantiated by a paper label on the cover reading, "The Master Mind of Magic Robinson, "Man of Mystery." In addition to the many clippings dealing with Robinson as Chung Ling Soo, there are numerous clippings from 18th century newspapers dealing with mediums and others with "supernatural" powers.
At some point the scrapbook was passed on to Henry Ridgely Evans, the most famous writer on spiritualism from the 1890s-early 1920s. Evans is widely remembered for his pioneering works on the subject, including The Spirit World Unmasked and Hours with the Ghosts. Evans continued to add material to the scrapbook as it came to him. On 25 September 1924 Evans inscribed the volume and presented it to Houdini.
Houdini had possession of the scrapbook for slightly over two years, dying in October 1926. But it proved useful to him and he added to it as well and made scattered marginal notations next to articles which he found of special interest. The volume passed to Oscar Teale upon Houdini's demise. Teale continued to add more materials to the volume, collected from newspapers or from materials found in Houdini's files. He even added two pages of Houdini's Autograph Notes used in preparing his demonstrations on the subject (one on a 4to leaf, the other on an 8vo leaf).
The scrapbook contains many items of value not related directly to spiritualism. There are many pieces related to Houdini's career and to the careers of his contemporaries. A selected sampling of the contents follows:
As mentioned, the first portion of the scrapbook is given over largely to William Robinson (Chung Ling Soo); page 101 includes a short review of Houdini's Miracle Mongers; page 103 has Maskelyne and Arthur Prince business cards; page 104 has materials on Zancig and business cards of Samri Baldwin and Davenport; page 116 has an invitation to the unveiling of the Houdini monument and a photo of the tomb, accompanied by manuscript notes by Teale on the unveiling; page 130 has a Manuscript poem in the hand of John William Sargeant (Preseident of SAM from 1905-06); page 132 includes throw-out cards used by Frederick Eugene Powell; page 132-143 contains materials relating exclusively to Powell, including 3 theatre broadsides for his performances; page 140 contains a Typed Letter Signed and a Typed Letter from Thurston to Oscar Teale; laid in between pages 143 and 144 are letters Signed by Thurston, Teale, and the "Watch King" Gus Fowler; pages 145-46 deal with the Showmen's Hospital Fund started by Houdini; page 149 has Oscar Teale's SAM membership card, Signed by no other than Houdini; page 154 contains an application form for membership in The Magic Mystic Fraternity, the earliest American attempt to organize magicians (1896), with Manuscript Notes on the matter in Teale's hand; page 156 has a small Thurston performance broadside; the following page with a theatre broadside for Floyd (1883); page 158 has a note Signed by Houdini; pages 160-61 contain a theatre broadside for Annie Eva Fay; page 163 has a Prof. Voxie broadside and a Thurston program on the facing page; page 164 has a note in Houdini's hand; page 181 contains a 3-page Typed Manuscript boldly Signed by Houdini taking issue with a magazine article on the same page; 192 has an Autograph Note in Houdini's with his signature; page 214 contains a fine program cover with mounted photo of Maskelyne, plus an obituary for Maskelyn (1920); following are a number of letters from Walter Franklin Prince to Houdini regarding the unmasking of fradulent mediums, including very detailed accounts of their methods.
There is much more of interest throughout this scrapbook. It must be seen to be appreciated. In a very real sense it epitomizes the final years of Houdini, years in which he gave most of his attention to unraveling the mysteries and fradulent techniques of spiritualists.
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October 31, 2002 12:00 AM EST
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