Salon de Magie: The Klosterman Collection Part I

Herrmann, Alexander. Alexander Herrmann’s Cards and Card Bouquet. Circa 1880. Toleware vase filled with loam and flowers rests upon the performer’s table. Four cards are chosen by spectators, and returned to the pack. On command, the selections appear on the bouquet in two fans, flanking the foliage. Hand painted toleware vase with faux flowers and internal mechanism for release of cards. Height of metal vase 10". From the Circus Museum of Sarasota collection, and bearing its inventory number CMS 253. The four playing cards accompanying the vase bearing a handwritten statement of provenance linking them to Alexander Herrmann, the famed French stage magician. See Salon de Magie, page 153; a complete description of the effect also appears in Hoffmann’s Modern Magic at page 457. The cards for this effect were presented to John Braun by Henry Ridgley Evans noted author and historian. The prop is accompanied by an original typewritten label from the Circus Museum collection.