This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/19/2021
Harbin, Robert (Ned Williams). Large and Important Archive of Robert Harbin Ephemera and Correspondence. A remarkable collection gathered over the course of decades, including a broad range of memorabilia from throughout Robert Harbin’s storied career. Among the highlights are dozens of letters both to and from Harbin, many to his close friend and colleague Bayard Grimshaw, two TLSs from Levante to Harbin, and many more; extensive correspondence regarding Harbin’s final days and the settlement of his estate (including many details of the illusions he constructed and their disposition), as well as his work with John Gaughan, Eric Lewis, and Robert Ragatz; signed agreements for his book The Magic of Robert Harbin; scripts, manuscripts, and explanations of Harbin’s tricks and illusions; an extensive collection of of Harbin’s publicity material, including brochures and other promotional materials, some dating to his earliest days in England; nearly 50 photographs of Harbin, as well as images of his props in use by other magicians, including candid photographs of him performing his famed Zig Zag Girl; dozens and dozens of programs, including several for his appearances at St. George’s Hall; and a great quantity of related memorabilia, perhaps most significantly his own sketches for one of his final illusions of his own invention, the Jigsaw (or Aztek) Girl. The collection also includes an early scrapbook of Harbin’s, presented to his friend Billy McComb and bearing McComb’s holographic note of provenance on the first leaf; pocket tricks invented by Harbin and marketed by Davenports and other dealers; representative samples of many Harbin publications, including his first book Something New in Magic; and tributes both in the public press and magic journals at the time of Harbin’s death. In all, a truly significant and impressive archive of approximately 400 individual items related to the life and work of a man who was, almost without question, the twentieth century’s most accomplished, inventive, and significant illusionists. An irreplicable and important archive that should be seen.Born in South Africa, Harbin (Born Edward Williams, 1908 – 1978), emigrated to England at the age of 20 where he quickly became known as an original and polished prestidigitator. Working for the Maskelynes as well as in nearly every great music hall and variety palace in the country, it was not long before Harbin was widely regarded by his peers and the public as the best-known and most inventive illusionist of his generation, ostensibly taking the reins from David Devant. Were it for the creation of his famous Zig-Zag Girl illusion alone, Harbin would have established himself firmly in the history books, but his output of original routines, tricks, and stage illusions was not only immense, it was impressive. Many of his best creations are chronicled in his legendary book, “The Magic of Robert Harbin,” published in 1970. He was also a well-known television personality, not only as a magician, but as an origamist, and authored many popular works for the general public on the Japanese art of paper folding. This archive spans nearly Harbin’s entire life and career, casting light on his accomplishments, performances, inventions, and publications, providing data and details unobtainable elsewhere, including the many books published regarding his secrets and magic routines.