Select Secrets: Rare & Important Magicana

Kellar, Harry (Heinrich Keller). Kellar. Cincinnati: Strobridge Litho, ca. 1896. One-sheet stone lithograph pictures Kellar with a large skullcap-clad demon whispering in his ear, and surrounded by owls, bats, and demons amidst vignettes from his show: the Levitation of Princess Karnak, Eva Kellar performing lightning calculations while blindfolded, and the Queen of the Roses. Framed to an overall size of 42 x 31 ½”. Visible folds and over-coloring; not examined out of frame. Rare. Printed at the height of Kellar’s popularity during his twelve-year reign as the most successful and accomplished magician in America, this poster evokes scenes of his show, but also alludes to a theme common in many other images created by Strobridge for the great magician: the aid of nefarious forces. The smoldering cauldron, whispering imps, and all-knowing owls that help fill out the scene all contribute to what many consider an iconic image. In fact, this poster was chosen as the cover to the monumental Taschen publication Magic. 1400s – 1950s by Ricky Jay, Mike Caveney, and Jim Steinmeyer.