This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/25/2020
Houdini, Harry. Houdini Stanhope Lens Viewer. France, ca. 1911. Miniature brass optical viewer through which contains a micro-photograph of Houdini making his historic flight at Digger’s Rest in Australia. Here, Houdini is pictured both in mid-flight in his biplane, and in a separate posed close-up shows Houdini behind the controls of the plane. The word “FRANCE” is embossed around the viewing end. Uncommon. Houdini is generally acknowledged as the first man to fly a plane in Australia. He made the historic flight just north of Melbourne in 1910. The viewer offered here is one of two types known to have been manufactured to commemorate the historic event.