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Lot 52
 
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Harry Houdini (Erich Weiss)
(1874 - 1926)
Harry Houdini signed vintage postcard. Photograph from the "Handcuff" period.



A vintage black and white matte postcard measuring 5.25 x 3 in (13.34 x 7.62 cm) that with a portrait of Harry Houdini (born Erik Weisz, he later spelled his birth name as Ehrich Weiss; March 24, 1874 - October 31, 1926), the world-famous illusionist, signed and inscribed by him obliquely at centre as "sincerely / yours / Houdini." The signature is big and prominent.

Half-length portrait of the stuntman Houdini dressed in a black suit with a stiff white collar, a bow tie, and a watch chain, showing him with thumb in his vest pocket with the caption Harry Handcuff Houdini in the upper right corner. Correspondence side blank.


The attractive turn-of-the-century Hungarian-born American entertainer wasn't very talented at card tricks, but he excelled at performing escapes from any and all restrictions. During his Handcuff phase, from 1899 to 1908, Houdini entertained audiences by escaping from custom-designed handcuffs, chains, shackles, ropes, and straight jackets. Later in his career, Houdini was buried alive, suspended over water tanks, sealed in milk cans, and interred in 500 pound whale carcasses, all of which he triumphantly escaped.







  Lot 52 of 65  

SIGNED, FIRST AND LIMITED EDITION BOOKS
16-17 MAY 2023
Estimate









Category: Books


 









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