The Collection of Jim Rawlins Part II

Joseffy (Joseph Freud). Joseffy Talking Skull Photo Signed. New York, 1932. Matte-finish silver print of the magician performing with a talking skull, boldly inscribed and signed “With keen appreciation of the men/ Mysteriously yours/Joseffy.” 10 x 8”. Hole-punched margin, slight creases. Mounted to the verso is a photo-facsimile of the front page of the July 11, 1932 issue of the New York World-Telegram, which reproduced the photo. An original print copy of the article is also included. The photo was taken at a New York performance Joseffy gave to members of the Society of American Magicians, marking his first appearance in Manhattan in more than 25 years. Excitement among the crowd for Joseffy’s presentation of Balsamo, his Talking Skull, was great. John Mulholland was quote as saying “that skull is one of the famous modern illusions of magic. No one knows how it works but Joseffy…It is magic for a magician.” So confident was Joseffy in the undetectable design, the article recounts, that even in a private performance for master magician Howard Thurston, the skull was placed only feet away, on a table directly between Thurston’s knees.